Posted by Luke Ormand on August 31, 2010 at 6:47 PM
Many of you have taken the time to comment on my Common Tern photos and a lot of you noted how it has been difficult for you to get catchlight or proper lighting etc. Well, I just thought I'd post a photo of me at "Tern Island" so some of you can get an idea of the opportunity I had.
A little background:
"Tern Island" is a dredge spoil island in Moriches Bay which had been overrun with vegetation (mostly phragmites, but also bayberry shrubs, milkweed and a few trees). It is owned by the Town I work for, and in conjunction with the USFW Service and NYS DEC, the island was cleared of about an acre of vegetation in the Spring to accomodate Terns who have previously been nesting on an extremely low lying marsh island to the West. Last year the island was flooded and hundreds of tern eggs and chicks were drowned (Common Terns are Threatened Species and the marsh island was also home to a few pairs of Roseate Terns which are Federally Threatened).
After clearing the vegetation (and removing the trees which would have been perfect perches for Peregrine Falcons and Black Crowned Night Herons [both notorious Tern/Tern Egg hunters] decoys were placed in the ground and a "caller" was installed that played the call of the Common Tern that had been recorded at another nesting colony. Within minutes of the caller being turned on, Common Terns started showing up. Exact hatching numbers for this year are not known because the birds fledged before we were able to return, but there were at least 100 pairs of Common Terns and there was no evidence of predation and there was no flooding.
We visted the island twice when the birds were setting up their nests and stayed for about 15 minutes. If you stand still or move slowly, the birds don't notice you and it was a great opporutinty. Obviously not everyone will be privy to this experience, but for those that can visit a colony it is the best way to photograph Terns.
Thanks again for all the encouraging comments, I hope we are more successful next year and I can employ a blind.
- Luke
P.S. photo by Fiona of Tasmania (Don't recall her last name, sorry!)
Posted by Richard Ditch on August 31, 2010 at 9:31 PM
I'm glad you posted this - nice to see so many terns with a place to nest. I know how most such habitat along the mid Atlantic coast has been lost to people so any work done to restore some lost habitat is good to see.
Posted by Brian Gatlin on August 31, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Luke, I'm also glad you took time to post this--it looks like a great place. I've been thinking about taking and posting a few photos of the place where I've been shooting lately, and would love to see others' favorite spots.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on September 1, 2010 at 11:21 AM
Good back story to some nice photos, Luke.
Posted by Jeff Loomis on September 2, 2010 at 10:11 AM
Thanks for the info Luke. I think success stories like this are encouraging and should get more publicity. However, it doesn't explain how you get such sharp images of terns in flight!
Posted by Luke Ormand on September 2, 2010 at 2:33 PM
Jeff,
It may not explain it BUT the photo gives you an idea of the chance I had with all of those Terns practically hovering above me... If I told you my secret I'd have to kill you.
Posted by Ákos Lumnitzer on September 3, 2010 at 1:35 AM
This is awesome Luke. Good work and you sure are privileged. I have been in tentative talks with local researchers now to do something similar late this year or early next year. I would be awestruck and humbled to be able to participate.
Discussion
6 repliesA little background:
"Tern Island" is a dredge spoil island in Moriches Bay which had been overrun with vegetation (mostly phragmites, but also bayberry shrubs, milkweed and a few trees). It is owned by the Town I work for, and in conjunction with the USFW Service and NYS DEC, the island was cleared of about an acre of vegetation in the Spring to accomodate Terns who have previously been nesting on an extremely low lying marsh island to the West. Last year the island was flooded and hundreds of tern eggs and chicks were drowned (Common Terns are Threatened Species and the marsh island was also home to a few pairs of Roseate Terns which are Federally Threatened).
After clearing the vegetation (and removing the trees which would have been perfect perches for Peregrine Falcons and Black Crowned Night Herons [both notorious Tern/Tern Egg hunters] decoys were placed in the ground and a "caller" was installed that played the call of the Common Tern that had been recorded at another nesting colony. Within minutes of the caller being turned on, Common Terns started showing up. Exact hatching numbers for this year are not known because the birds fledged before we were able to return, but there were at least 100 pairs of Common Terns and there was no evidence of predation and there was no flooding.
We visted the island twice when the birds were setting up their nests and stayed for about 15 minutes. If you stand still or move slowly, the birds don't notice you and it was a great opporutinty. Obviously not everyone will be privy to this experience, but for those that can visit a colony it is the best way to photograph Terns.
Thanks again for all the encouraging comments, I hope we are more successful next year and I can employ a blind.
- Luke
P.S. photo by Fiona of Tasmania (Don't recall her last name, sorry!)
It may not explain it BUT the photo gives you an idea of the chance I had with all of those Terns practically hovering above me... If I told you my secret I'd have to kill you.