[BCNnet] FW: Sun-Times article on Common Tern, Donald Dann

[jackiejpd@yahoo.com]

A very nice article on the effort by Donald Dann and many others, to
help the nesting Common Terns at Great Lakes, was in the Sun-Times this
morning.
Unfortunately, the photo of Donald isn't online.   Good photo, Donald!
and
of course, nice work!  (sounds like you've put yeoman effort into this!
wow!)    .... Alan

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-tern26.html

Efforts to repopulate bird species pay off

May 26, 2003

BY GARY WISBY Environment Reporter

Donnie Dann is doing the common tern an uncommonly good turn.

The conservationist is helping build a population of the
state-endangered shorebird at the Great Lakes Naval Base near North
Chicago.

By the end of last summer, there were 18 tern nests and 44 eggs, more
than the last 23 years combined. Already this year, Dann has counted 12
nests and 27 eggs.

The birds live on a small unnamed island in a corner of the harbor at
the naval base. In the summer of 1999, Dann found broken tern eggs
there, evidence of nesting attempts.

The following summer, he noticed more nest-building, but raccoons and
foxes were eating the eggs. With the help of biologist Brad Semel of the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources and environmental officer Bob
Van Bendegom of the Navy, he built an electrified fence to isolate the
island.

A second electrified fence, 400 feet long, was erected on the island
itself in 2001. It has a finer mesh to keep rats from getting through.

Last fall, 50 college students and other volunteers cleared brush to
make the island more tern-friendly. "Protected Bird Sanctuary" signs
were put up.

Peering at the island through binoculars the other day, Dann said,
"There are at least 16 terns I can see. This is really a good sign."

Moments later, he raised the binoculars to take in a flurry of noise and
motion. "There are five terns, vocalizing like mad," he said.

Terns share the island with ringbilled gulls. The terns are 14 inches
long, compared with 21 inches for the gulls. Terns have a black-capped
head, an orange-red bill with a black tip, and a gray and white body.

Gulls eat fish and garbage. Terns are choosier, dining only on fish.
They like the island because it is sandy with some vegetation. Theirs is
the only settlement of terns in Illinois.

Retired from the insurance business, Dann, 68, is on the boards of five
environmental groups.

He monitors birds for DNR, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the U.S.
Geological Survey. He teaches schoolkids about the environment and is on
the environmental advisory board of U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.).

"The hand of man has been so oppressive to wildlife," Dann said, "that
the only way we can make sure of a heritage for future generations is to
get involved in management."