[obol] Re: Slightly out of state RBA: ROYAL TERN in Humboldt Co. CA
- From: Jeff Gilligan <jeffgilligan10@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: llsdirons@xxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 23:39:24 -0700
Dave and all
My recollection is that Royal Terns once were regular to northern California
before the crash of the anchovy population due to over-harvesting. In "The
Distribution of the Birds of California" (1944) Grinnel and Miller wrote that
the northern limit of the species was about San Francisco Bay, with the
northern most record being Tomales Bay.
I have always looked through Caspian Tern flocks (as well as Elegant Tern
flocks) for a Royal Tern on the Oregon coast - but perhaps now there is
greater hope for one.
Jeff Gilligan
On Apr 17, 2014, at 10:45 PM, David Irons <llsdirons@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> From the heads up dept.
>
> Got word that a ROYAL TERN was found today along the Eureka waterfront on
> Humboldt Bay today. The bird was photographed and seen by a number of folks,
> including former Oregon resident David Fix. This is the northernmost record
> ever for the Pacific Coast. Beyond being a really remote possibility, this
> has never been on my radar as a likely vagrant to Oregon. The bird was found
> by David La Puma, Ken Burton, and Rob Fowler, who were leading a trip for the
> annual "Godwit Days" festival in Humboldt County, CA.
>
> Dave Irons
> Portland, OR
>
>
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