Hello all, I check Purgatory periodically and haven't noticed any attempted nesting on "Tern Island". The problem with Purgatory is that it functions as the Eden Prairie municipal storm water holding basin which limits it's utility as nesting habitat. Water levels in the wetland change dramatically after a good rainfall and the island can disappear for days or even weeks at a time. It was underwater for at least several days earlier this summer after we had a couple of good downpours in August. I can't remember a recent year where the island was above water for the entire summer.
Joel Claus Eden Prairie > Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:50:48 -0500 > From: dbmar...@skypoint.com > Subject: [mou-net] ? on Caspians Tern at Purgatory creek > To: MOU-NET@LISTS.UMN.EDU > > I noted this AM that one of the Caspian Terns at Purgatory Creek this AM was > a juvenile with a yellow bill, white and gray speckled back, etc. While I was > there it did not fly (so have no idea if it can or not) and was fed by an > adult. I know many other birders are much more regular about checking this > site than we are. > > Did these bird nest here this year? If so, this is very interesting as there > are, I believe, only two previous nesting records for the state of Minnesota, > Cass and Mille Lacs Counties. The Mille Lacs record was on Lake Mille Lacs > (Hennepin Island I think I remember) and I presume that the Cass record was > on Leech Lake, although I am not sure of that. > > Looking forward to any responses. Responses should be sent to the list as I > am sure that many others are as interested in the answer as we are. > > Denny > > Dennis and Barbara Martin > Shorewood, MN > dbmar...@skypoint.com > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
