Documenting the return of the terns to Poplar Island

U.S. Geological Survey is monitoring two species of vulnerable seabirds

By Alexis Myers |
One hands hold a grey and white bird (tern) while the other applies a band to its leg.
A juvenile common tern is tagged by researchers at Poplar Island. (Marielle Scott/Chesapeake Bay Program)
[LEFT] A common tern takes flight over Poplar Island. [RIGHT] A common tern nest seen on the sandy beach at Poplar Island. Terns require minimal vegetation in their nesting areas. (Marielle Scott/Chesapeake Bay Program)
Four female researchers look for tern nests on the ground.
Researcher wear helmets during tern surveying to protect against potential strikes from birds. (Marielle Scott/Chesapeake Bay Program)
left, birds fly over an island, right, close up of two hands applying a band to a tern's foot.
[LEFT] Common terns take flight over Poplar Island. [RIGHT] Researcher tags a tern chick. The tagging process is done in a way to inflict no damage on the bird. (Marielle Scott/Chesapeake Bay Program)
An adult tern and a smaller chick stand on a sandy beach.
A common tern chick and an adult common tern forage near their nesting ground at Poplar Island. (Marielle Scott/Chesapeake Bay Program)

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