Late spring 1964 was the last time Common Tern nests were found on Belle Isle. Prior to that up to 500 pairs nested there every year. I know, because I used to help my Dad, Wilbur Bull (long-time Detroit Audubon board member) and Dr. Walter P. Nickell (ornithologist at the Cranbrook Institute of Science and an early president of Detroit Audubon) band the chicks in their ground nests on the gravel covered peninsula jutting out near the water intake for the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). I remember that Dad got a call from “Uncle Nick” that year to tell us that banding on Belle Isle was cancelled that year because he had discovered that somebody had gone through the colony with a riding mower and chopped up the nests along with eggs and chicks. As a 10 year old with several year’s experience banding tern chicks there, I was devastated to learn that the Belle Isle colony had been destroyed in such a brutal fashion.

This was the 1960s, and wildlife species in unusual places where people did not plan or expect their presence were often seen as annoyances and misunderstood.Uncle Nick had counted 360 nests that were in progress at that point. Only 51 survived the carnage. Terns were a hot topic at the Detroit Common Council meeting where Nickell and a Wayne State ornithology graduate student, Gordon Peterson, testified in protest. Even Congressman Charles Diggs weighed in on behalf of the federally protected terns. At first the council seemed to favor paving the area to discourage tern nesting but finally decided not to pave it and leave the area for the terns. But the terns did not return. Over time the gravel nesting area became covered with grass and shrubs—no longer suitable tern nesting habitat.

Detroit Audubon Society, long an advocate for terns and other avifauna in southeast Michigan, submitted a grant proposal to create Common Tern habitat on Belle Isle about 10 years ago. The Detroit Department of Recreation and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources were supportive, but our plan to use an island in an inland lake raised concerns that it might become a Canada Goose nesting area instead. We had stayed away from the water intake, not wanting to create a conflict as there had been in the 1960s.

The misconceptions about Common Terns in the 1960s have given way to appreciation and investment in its recovery today. Two years ago habitat was restored on the point near the water intake because the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department saw an opportunity to show that native wildlife can coexist with the daily operations of any organization or company, including one as large as DWSD. They wanted to bring back the common tern for Detroiters and visitors to observe on Belle Isle. DWSD has shown unwavering support for the project, promoting the site for terns and offering equipment for it, and has shown leadership in innovative conservation efforts that create immediate benefits for wildlife and people. Other partners were the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, the Detroit Zoo and the Downriver Stream Team. These individuals along with volunteers cleared the area of vegetation and spread gravel over the area. Then the zoo placed Common Tern decoys around the site, and played the sound of terns through loud speakers in order to attract terns to the area. Leaders from DWSD were present on that Saturday when the work was done and helped in the creation of the habitat. However, no terns nested at the site in summer of 2010.

But this summer—SUCCESS! The site was colonized for the first time in over 40 years. The colony was protected with an electrical sheep fence and twelve nests made it to the late stages of incubation. The colony was monitored by: Greg Norwood, USFWS Biologist with the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (DRIWR); Tom Schneider, Curator of Birds at the Detroit Zoo; Jessica Jozwiak, Supervisor of Birds at the Detroit Zoo; and field workers, Bruce Szczechowski, Natalie Ray, and Mike Puppan.

Unfortunately, all the chicks at this colony were predated by raccoons. Greg Norwood and the Detroit Zoo folks discovered how to make the fence impenetrable and they are confident that next year the terns will not succumb to predation. But the good news is that terns came back. Who knows, in several years they may even build back up to their former numbers of 300-500 nests. That would really be fantastic for Detroit, our American Heritage River and for this state threatened species. One can hope. Thanks to all who helped make this happen.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to Greg Norwood and the DRIWR for providing the data on this colony and for permission to use it in this article.

 

Read about Detroit Audubon's efforts to help Common Terns at Wayne County’s bridge to Grosse Ile Here