Tern raft is a temporary fix to a much larger issue for our colonial nesting birds.
Island loss is a phenomenon that is occurring all along the Atlantic Coast in response to sea level rise, increased storminess, and development. Birds such as Royal Terns, Common Terns, and Black Skimmers lay their eggs on bare sand, and use islands since they lack mammalian predators, such as foxes, raccoons, dogs, cats, and humans. Due to significant island loss, the breeding populations of these species are dramatically declining and are nearly eliminated from coastal Maryland.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Coastal Bays Program, and Audubon Mid-Atlantic are teaming up to restore important bird nesting islands beginning with Reedy Island this spring. Click onto the link to learn more.