It is neat to hear reports of black terns around the state. This is the time of year these terns, almost certainly from nesting grounds north of Ohio, begin their fall movements south to salt-water winter habitats in central America. A century ago, they were regarded as very common summer residents and breeders in marshes up in northern Ohio, but it seems to have been human alterations of their habitat--especially aquatic vegetation--that drove them away. Trautman described draining of their marsh breeding grounds to allow crops to be grown and especially for waterfowl to be hunted in season. Now an Ohio tern nest is big news. Even farther north, they are hard to find; Michigan birders report that black terns are being harassed by alien introduced swans--mutes and trumpeters--in their ancestral breeding grounds. I can't imagine Ohio's introduced swans have helped, either. Anyway, this is prime time to see members of this remnant population on their way south, and if you're lucky you can still see these slinky black beauties over a variety of watery settings on their way. Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]