The Lake Puckaway Protection and Rehabilitation District has placed
two modified pontoon boats along the central dredge bank of Lake Puckaway. The Common Tern is an endangered species in
the state of Wisconsin because their natural nesting habitats--beaches and sand
bars--have disappeared due to development and dam building. The rafts placed on the lake simulate this
habitat, while being less susceptible to fluctuating water levels and
predators. Lake Puckaway is already home
to another endangered species of tern, the Forster’s Tern. Forster’s Terns and Common Terns look very
similar, but the Forster’s Tern typically nests on mats of vegetation.
Please only observe terns at a distance to avoid disturbing the
birds. If the rafts are visited too
often, the birds may abandon the colony. Keep at least 100 yards distance, and never
enter the rafts. Wildlife watchers can
get a good look at these 4.5 ounce terns when they are resting on buoys, posts,
rocks, or exposed sandbars. They are fun
to watch as they search and catch fish throughout the shallower regions of the
lake. When they spot a fish they hover
and go into a dive, plunging and briefly disappearing into the water. Males will often give their catch to their
mate.
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| Common Tern on nesting raft railing |
Rafts will be placed in early May and
be removed after the breeding season in late summer. Funding is provided by a Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources Lake Protection grant and the Lake Puckaway Protection and
Rehabilitation District. Check the Lake
Puckaway blog for weekly updates during the breeding season.
UPDATE: 5/19/2013
Up to ten Common Terns, and two Forster's Terns have been seen using the raft simultaneously and least for loafing purposes. The western raft sees most of the use, and appears to have a nest on it with no eggs yet. Common Tern nests are often just scrapes in the sand, but sometimes they add nearby sticks and grasses. Rafts will soon get official looking signs.
Click for more photos
