Shorebird Nesting Platform

Refuge staff members designed, constructed, and installed a shorebird nesting platform on the old dock at Atsena Otie Key. The primary target species for nesting is the least tern with secondary targets being black skimmers and/or American oystercatchers.  The Refuge partnered with biologists from the State Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission who provided a speaker and recorder that is loudly playing a constant barrage of least terns calls in hopes of attracting the attention of homeless birds to the nest site.  Least tern decoys were also deployed to lure in curious birds. Although no nesting has been documented to date, least terns have been observed loafing on the gravel laden platform.