By: Debra Hess
Yankee Freedom II Naturalist

Six Sooty Terns were observed on January 17th cruising over Bush Key during the day and large numbers of Terns were heard calling at night during the Christmas Bird Count (Dec. 16-18).

The actual arrival of large numbers (several thousand) occurred around January 26th, and this is the earliest ever recorded for these Terns for their nesting season. Their arrival has coincided with several strong cold fronts which may spell disaster for the early egg laying. The Terns have been arriving earlier and earlier for nesting for about 15 years – researchers say Sooty Terns may be an indicator species for global warming. But those earlier arrivals leave the birds subject to egg predation from migrating gulls and the effects of springtime cold fronts stressing the colony.

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by: Deb

Fall birding in the Dry Tortugas has been outstanding. More bird watchers should take advantage of the excellent sightings in the Dry Tortugas in the Fall. Just about every trip this Fall yielded a good bird or more. Not as dramatic as Spring migration, this Fall has been consistently active with rains grounding numerous unusual sightings. (more…)

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Bridled tern egg at the Dry Tortugas.

Thunderstorms and early morning downpours bring a deluge of birds to the Dry Tortugas National Park. Fall migration is well underway and these early morning storms bring to the ground an interesting array of birds. (more…)

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Debra Hess
Yankee Freedom II Naturalist

For the past three years in a cooperative effort from the National Park Service (NPS) and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Roseate tern decoys and a taped recording of these terns are set up on Long Key in the Dry Tortugas National Park. (more…)

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Debra Hess

Yankee Freedom II Naturalist

The northeast coaling docksat the Dry Tortugas National Park have been yielding daily sightings of Black Noddy Terns. (more…)

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Debra Hess
Yankee Freedom II Naturalist

I recently spent four days in the Dry Tortugas volunteering on Sooty Tern research. These are highlights of my trip: (more…)

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The second official sighting in the United States of the Loggerhead Kingbird was made in the Dry Tortugas March 22, 2008!

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I was born in New York in 1955. I attended Penn State University, where I played field hockey goalie. I graduated in 1976 with a B.S. in Environmental Science specializing in Marine Science.

My passions in life include bird watching, fishing and nature in general. My husband, Glenn, and I reside in Alaska during the summer and commercial fish for stone crab in the Keys in the winter. I have been a part time seasonal CAST member on the Yankee Freedom for eight years and a resident of the Florida Keys for 30 years.

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Debra Hess
Yankee Freedom II Naturalist

Warblers are starting their northbound spring treks and bird watching activity is increasing dramatically in the Dry Tortugas National Park. The last week in February brought our first Ruby Throated Hummingbird of 2008, with many more to follow. Several Northern Parula Warblers, Blue Grey Gnatcatchers, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Palm Warblers have been seen. Herons and egrets are moving north. Numerous Black-bellied Plovers and even a Belted Kingfisher were observed the first two days of March. We also sighted a Yellow Throated Warbler and a Cape May Warbler.
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Debra Hess
Yankee Freedom II Naturalist

Recent excitement about the annual arrival of Sooty Terns for the 2008 breeding season were realized on Wednesday, January 30, 2008. The arrival of the Yankee Freedom II to Dry Tortugas National Park docks that Wednesday coincided with a sky darkened by thousands of Sooty Terns, swooping over Bush Key, and calling enthusiastically in mating bliss. The birds commence egg laying immediately, and by early February chicks should hatch and adult parents will scramble in a fish catching frenzy to feed the chicks.

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