I recently helped out with US Fish and Wildlife Service surveys for Interior Least Terns on an 80-mile section of the Mississippi River centered on Vicksburg. I'm a Mississippi transplant, and so these two days were my first significant time spent on the river. What struck me most about the river - besides its beauty - was how every mile of it had been engineered. Levees, dikes, concrete mats, riprap, etc. - all to contain the power of the Great River. It's both impressive and act of extreme hubris. I'm glad that I had the experience before beginning Boyce Upholt's book.
More than anything, the book makes me want to get out on the River. But it also makes me sad for how much has of it has been lost. I want to hear more about your survey experiences!
Not much more to tell about the surveys: motor along the river until there's a likely-looking sandbar (large and possibly cut off from the shore), then stop or move slowly along the shore, counting adults. Then stop and walk the higher portions of the sandbar, looking for nests, which are mere scrapes. (I'd attach a photo but there doesn't seem to be a way to do that?) What's stunning to me is how the incubating adults and their eggs and chicks survive in the summer heat; ground temperatures must approach 140F. They are such tough and impressive birds! Upholt mentions the terns in his book.
Boyce Upholt will be speaking about this book, which my husband is reading right now, at History Is Lunch this Wed., July 3. It should be good!
Beverly, I plan to be there! Hope to see you!
I hope to be there, too!
I recently helped out with US Fish and Wildlife Service surveys for Interior Least Terns on an 80-mile section of the Mississippi River centered on Vicksburg. I'm a Mississippi transplant, and so these two days were my first significant time spent on the river. What struck me most about the river - besides its beauty - was how every mile of it had been engineered. Levees, dikes, concrete mats, riprap, etc. - all to contain the power of the Great River. It's both impressive and act of extreme hubris. I'm glad that I had the experience before beginning Boyce Upholt's book.
More than anything, the book makes me want to get out on the River. But it also makes me sad for how much has of it has been lost. I want to hear more about your survey experiences!
Not much more to tell about the surveys: motor along the river until there's a likely-looking sandbar (large and possibly cut off from the shore), then stop or move slowly along the shore, counting adults. Then stop and walk the higher portions of the sandbar, looking for nests, which are mere scrapes. (I'd attach a photo but there doesn't seem to be a way to do that?) What's stunning to me is how the incubating adults and their eggs and chicks survive in the summer heat; ground temperatures must approach 140F. They are such tough and impressive birds! Upholt mentions the terns in his book.
Tough birds, indeed! Thanks for sharing, Christopher. That sounds like a really interesting experience.
Can’t wait to read this!