County: Jefferson
By Bruce Ross, Executive Director
All photos copyrighted and courtesy Paul Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
I hope some of you caught the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article on Mike Alaimo’s black tern nesting project . Unfortunately, it’s only available to MJS subscribers right now, but it’s a great article, and has great photos (some of which we can share with you) of the young terns that hatched on Mike’s floating nest platforms and are now fletched and flying. This article has spurred a lot of interest around the state to replicate Mike’s success for these endangered birds, and we are thinking a “how-to” guide may be needed.
Alaimo, pointing out one of the nesting platforms at Rome Pond Wildlife Area
In recent habitat project posts you’ll have seen Mike Alimo’s efforts, and lately, successes in the black tern nesting program at Rome Pond. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Outdoors writer Paul Smith also heard of it, and wanted to learn more. He joined Mike a couple of weeks ago to watch endangered adult and immature Black Terns frolic overhead, while learning more about Mike’s creative initiative with floating nest platforms that were pivotal to their breeding success at Rome Pond Wildlife Area. “It was mesmerizing to watch the graceful birds feeding and inspiring to see the innovative work of Alaimo”, said Paul. You may not be able to see the article if you are not an MJS subscriber, but here are a few pictures, and our previous coverage of the project fill in the details.
A nesting platform at Rome Pond
Mike’s success has not only caught the eye of writers like Paul—the DNR, the USF&WS are also “going to school” on Mike. And a friends group that hasn’t had success with their own efforts may soon benefit from this program’s experiences, too. WWA’s Project Director, Peter, is also working with such groups that we may find common ground to our mutual benefit. We’re trying to spread the word even wider since this program shows the overlap between hunter conservation efforts and the interests of nature-minded non-hunter groups as well. Know a birder? Share this article with them. Have an idea for similar projects in your “backyard? Drop us a line
This nesting program sprung from our Adopt-a-Wildlife Area program – another of Mike’s initiatives.