migrating juvenile salmon and steelhead each year, many of them from
populations listed under the Endangered Species Act.
The plan’s goal is to attract many of the birds down river to nest at
East Sand Island, where more marine fish are available as prey. Salmon
made up 75 percent of Rice Island terns’ diet according to a study
last
year compared to 40 percent at East Sand Island. By dislodging the
colony, the work group expects to reduce salmon smolt losses this year
by 25 to 40 percent
