Establishing Forster's Tern Nesting Colonies

Scientists from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) are conducting a "social attraction" study for seabirds in the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Historically, this region offered wetland habitats to local wildlife. With the introduction of industrial salt ponds and human development, however, much of this habitat was lost. Now, former salt ponds are being converted to a mix of restored tidal marsh and managed ponds for animals. USGS WERC scientists are using lifelike models of terns (small seabirds) and electronic call systems to draw Forster's terns to new habitat in managed ponds.