Another week at Tern -- Mardi Gras, Conners, and Birds

Another week passes at Tern, with the crew working really hard, and the albatross chicks growing.

Finishing up the season for one researcher:   As part of an on-going study led by Scott Shaffer (SJSU/UCSC), Melinda Conners (UCSC) has conducted field work at Kanemilohaʻi for the winter season each of the last four years.  Melinda has served as a half-time researcher and half-time volunteer.  Her work focuses on breeding season foraging and diet of Laysan and black-footed albatross, as well as boobies.   She has been satellite and GPS tagging these birds, figuring out where they go to eat; then when they come back to feed chicks, she collects samples that will let us know what resources these birds depends on.  Today, Melinda collected back the last of her satellite tags for the year.  She has worked very hard to increase our knowledge about albatross and boobies.

In addition to her research, we thank Melinda for the thousands of hours she has served as a volunteer, and the enthusiasm she has shared with FWS staff and volunteers.  Thanks, Melinda!

Melinda Conners (right) with FWS Volunteer Sarah Youngren.  Conners has served as a half-time volunteer/half-time researcher each winter for the past four years on Tern. Having spent about 5,000 working hours on Tern, she has an enormous amount of institutional knowledge and bird handling experience.  Her greatest impact may be on more than a dozen young volunteer biologists she has worked with and inspired.  We will miss her greatly when she leaves Tern for the last time in March 2011.    Photo by FWS Volunteer Dan Rapp.

 And some misc photos from this week:

Sleeping on the beach....This 27 year old female seal ("2LL") has had 5 pups in the past 10 years.  (She deserves a nap!)

 


Black-footed albatross chick playing (building a nest) while its parent snoozes overhead. 

The masked boobies, red-footed boobies and frigatebirds are still working their way up to laying... With great demonstrations of their prowess for intended partners...



Who are YOU looking at???  While masked boobies have flat feet and nest on the ground, red-footed boobies have 'monkey-feet' that feel like little hands holding onto you -- all the better for nesting in bushes.  Photo by FWS Volunteer Sarah Youngren.

Here's a great video by FWS Volunteer Kristina Dickson demonstrating what happens when you set your camera down on Tern Island:  Silly albatross (video)
I'm thinking about discontinuing this blog...please let me know if you'd like to see it continue.

Mahalo nui e a hui hou!

Kristina Dickson baked us a King Cake for Mardi Gras (with Jimmy Macaulay looming for a first bite).