Decoys are being used at Gulf Islands National Seashore to protect threatened least terns/NPS

Duck and goose decoys long have been used by hunters to lure in the real thing, but at Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida biologists hope decoys will keep least terns from nesting in and around high public use areas of the national seashore.

Last year two park biologists, Kris Dudus and Kacey Srubas, came up with a great idea to make and deploy decoys to entice state-designated threatened least terns to colonize in more protected areas away from parking lots and pavilions. Together they hand-made and painted 29 least tern decoys made from 2x4 lumber.

“Least terns prefer to nest in flat, open areas which unfortunately often coincides with high-visitor-use areas,” said Kacey Srubas, the seashore's biological science technician. “In these areas least terns may experience a large amount of disturbance, which can cause them to flush from their nests, leaving their chicks and eggs vulnerable to predators and extreme heat.”

Prior to the arrival of the 2021 least terns breeding season, Gulf Islands Science and Resource Stewardship staff selected flat, open areas of the beach away from high-visitor-use areas to place the decoys.

“Least terns nest in large colonies to increase the chances of survival and their ability to fend off potential predators,” said Ashley Warren, a seashore biologist. “Hopefully, the least terns will see the decoys as the start of a breeding colony that they can join, decreasing the potential impacts of human disturbance. So far the deployed decoys are working because we have seen scraping and nesting near them.”

Although the decoys are working, least terns are still nesting in the high-visitor-use areas. Visitors can help by staying out of temporarily posted breeding areas. These areas are identifiable by white posts with “Do Not Enter” stickers or sign, and white paracord strung between posts. Visitors should only access the shorelines using marked access points instead of walking over dunes and vegetation.  

“When little white and black birds dive-bomb a person, this is a defense mechanism used to protect their eggs and chicks,” said Warren. “Visitors should leave the area immediately."

"While least terns are loud and will let you know that they are nesting nearby, there are other imperiled birds nesting in the area, such as snowy plovers, that are much more inconspicuous. Visitors walking through the dunes and vegetated areas could easily disturb these birds or even step on their well camouflaged eggs and chicks without even knowing it.”

There are currently 14 least tern decoys placed within blocked-off beach areas of the Florida portion of the park. Please do not remove or go looking for decoys. This is considered a habitat disturbance and violation of park regulations.