It is that time of the year when we re-elect our officers. Please take the time to review the nominations listed in our newsletter. We are still looking for a recording secretary, but the other positions are filled.  Nominations will be accepted from the floor at our April general meeting (any member can make a nomination). These nominations will be voted upon during our May General Meeting.

We have some really great news from Matt Anderson, our Science Advisor, regarding the project we support to provide a perfect habitat for least terns and/or black skimmers here in the Indian River Lagoon in downtown Ft. Pierce. 

Most of you are aware that there are some man-made islands surrounding the Ft. Pierce Marina in the downtown area.  These islands were built as a result of the double hurricanes we experienced that totally broke up the marina at that time.  The new marina now has them as barriers to help protect the boats and floating docks there.  They are built from coral rocks and sand.

This island, now named “Terning Point,” is being prepared to try and attract least terns and/or black skimmers to nest there.  Matthew has been working with various other agencies to prepare a small area on one of the islands so the birds will make a home there to raise their chicks.  There is a noticeable scarcity of habitat for these birds and this would be a perfect and very safe place for them.  They started with pulling out the weeds that were all over the top of the island, then they began applying a salt water application to kill off any more weeds (to avoid using harsh herbicides). This is a process they hope to standardize and it was recommended to coastal resource managers in the hopes of decreasing our reliance on glyphosate applications.

Just recently they have applied a layer of shell hash. The shell hash donations and transport were a collaborative effort involving Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management and Savannahs Preserve State Park.

So the “Terning Point” Island is mostly ready to go except for the audio tape playback system and the decoys. I am told the nesting season begins April 1st, so if you visit downtown Ft. Pierce, try to find the island and see if any birds have visited or even nested there.  It would certainly be a feather in the cap of these hard-working scientists that are trying so hard to provide a new nesting place for these wonderful birds!

— Ellen Lynch, President