Return of the Terns: How Scientists Are Saving Island Birds

What would you do if your usual summer vacation spot vanished? Migratory animals worldwide are facing this issue as their warm-weather habitats disappear. Rising sea levels further complicate this problem as small islands wash away. This book is about an artificial-habitat program partnership between Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP), Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Heritage Program, and Audubon Mid-Atlantic after a Common Terns’ nesting island eroded away. A 48-square foot raft island was designed to give the birds a safe place away from disturbances, flooding, and predation. It is made of sections that are assembled, locked together and anchored near the old island for the terns’ summer nesting season. With the island gone and a raft to take its place, will the terns return?

Written by Jennifer Keats Curtis & Kim Abplanalp, Illustrated by Phyllis Saroff
32 pg, 8.5 x 10, Ages 6-10, Grades 1-5

Reviews:

“The simply written but informative text is enhanced by attractive, realistic illustrations, offering good views of the rafts, which attract terns with artificial grasses, small wooden shelters, sand, crushed shells, tern decoys, and sound systems playing recordings of their calls. Hundreds of nesting birds might use a single raft each year. A fascinating book with fun, photo-based games (learning activities) appended.” —Booklist

Author/Illustrator Info:

Award-winning Jennifer Keats Curtis has penned numerous stories about animals, including Creek Critters, Kali's Story: An Orphaned Polar Bear Rescue (Children's Choice Book Award Winner) and After A While Crocodile: Alexa’s Diary (NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children), with co-author Dr. Brady Barr of Nat Geo Wild's Dangerous Encounter, Baby Bear's Adoption with wildlife biologists at Michigan's DNR, River Rescue with Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, Inc.; and Moonlight Crab Count with co-author Dr. Neeti Bathala. The long-time writer's other recent books include The Lizard Lady, with co-author Dr. Nicole Angeli, Maggie: Alaska's Last Elephant and the Animal Helpers series. When not writing, Jennifer can be found among students and teachers, talking about literacy and conservation.

Kim Abplanalp (pronounced ab-plan-alp) is Maryland Coastal Bays’ Bird Habitat Coordinator in charge of bird habitat restoration, waterbird monitoring, and the artificial breeding habitat project, the Tern Raft. She has presented at the Waterbird Society Meeting and Pacific Seabird Group and serves as the tern raft photographer for Audubon Mid-Atlantic. Her photos have been featured in Chesapeake Bay Magazine, the Capital Gazette, and other publications. Her images are the basis of this book’s illustrations and appear in the For Creative Minds section. Besides researching horseshoe crab behavior, Kim has had a myriad of life experiences as a myofascial release therapist, art gallery owner, jewelry designer, and as a dock worker! She was also a yoga and meditation teacher spanning decades. In her spare time, she remains an avid birder and a bird guide.

Since childhood, Phyllis Saroff has brought together her loves of science and art. In addition to Creek Critters, Maggie: Alaska's Last Elephant, Vivian and the Legend of the Hoodoos, Tuktuk: Tundra Tale and Sounds of the Savanna for Arbordale, Phyllis has illustrated nonfiction books about the natural world such as Teeth and Mary Anning: Fossil Hunter. She also illustrates for children's magazines, wayside signs and other educational material. Phyllis works digitally and with oil paint. Phyllis lives in Maryland with her husband and two dogs. Visit her website at saroffillustration.com.