A Technique for Making Least Tern Decoys

The implementation of plans for the population recovery of the endangered California least tern, Sterna antillarum browni , requires the protection and management of nesting areas in California. Successfully used least tern nesting areas are typically near coastal wetlands, lagoons, or embayments and can be characterized by sparse vegetation, light-colored, sandy substrate, and low levels of intrusion by humans, vehicles, feral and domestic mammals, and avian predators. Decoys are used as a nest site management tool to increase the likelihood that the birds will be attracted to, and nest within the relatively small, protected, nesting areas rather than attempting to nest in physically suitable but more vulnerable locations.