Notes about your surroundings.

Banner Year--The numbers are coming in on the recently concluded breeding season for the endangered California least tern, and 1990 shaped up as a banner season at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Last season, 115 pairs of least terns nested there; this year, 239 total nests were counted.

Because some birds build more than one nest for various reasons, the number of breeding pairs this season was probably slightly less than 239. But the most important number is how many successful fledglings were produced: 150, compared to last year’s 45.

The news on the small, gull-like bird was mixed at the Huntington State Beach colony. Last year, 70 pairs nested there, a number that dropped to 40 pairs this season. The good news is that 20 fledglings were produced, up from a disastrous five last season. The chicks at Huntington continued to fall prey to kestrels, while no predation problems were noted at Bolsa Chica this season.

Estimated numbers for least terns at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve remained relatively steady, between 60 and 70 pairs compared to last year’s 74. About 50 fledglings are likely, according to state Fish and Game biologist Esther Burkett. She has not received numbers for the colony at Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge.

“Overall, I would say that we had a really, really good year,” Burkett said.

This is the first season that all the least terns nested on Bolsa Chica’s south island, having been pushed off the reserve’s north island by the continuing success of larger tern species that have moved northward in recent years.

At Bolsa Chica this season, counts estimate 1,000 elegant tern nests, 100 Caspian tern nests and 100 Forster’s tern nests. Black skimmers are at 295 nests, up from 170 last year, and their breeding season continues. The breeding success of the skimmers comes despite the fact that many received some oil damage in the Feb. 7 American Trader spill off Huntington Beach.

We’re With the Band--The state Fish and Game department is continuing to band many of the tern chicks that fledge at Bolsa Chica, particularly elegant tern and black skimmers. Chicks hatched this season have pink bands; 1989 birds have blue bands and 1988 birds have yellow bands.

If you spot birds with these bands, you can help biologists by noting the date and location of the sighting, the number of birds with bands, the color of the bands and the species. Call Esther Burkett with the information: (714) 537-0696. Museum News--The Museum of Natural History and Science, which recently closed its doors in Newport Beach, has announced a Nov. 17 opening date for its new interim site in Aliso Viejo. Exhibits planned for the new facility include space exploration, robotic dinosaur models, local Indian artifacts and local marine mammal fossils.