Common Tern nesting project on Chincoteague Bay

Kim Abplanalp, Bird Habitat Coordinator of Maryland Coastal Bays Program will give a presentation on the  Common Tern Nesting Project on the Chincoteague Bay near Assateague Island at the Caroline County Bird Club special program on Sat., Nov. 15, 2025 9:00 a.m. at the Wharves of Choptank J.O.K. Walsh Visitor & Heritage Center, 3 Crouse Park Lane, Denton, MD.

In 2021, a floating island or raft was constructed to provide breeding habitat for Common Terns and placed in Chincoteague Bay near Assateague Island. Originally 32' x 32', in 2022 the raft was expanded to 48'x48', more than double its original size. In 2021, its pilot year, the raft had 23 nests and 22 fledglings. In 2022, there was more than a 7-fold increase with 155 nests and 153 fledglings, becoming the largest breeding colony in Maryland.

From 2023-2025, the raft has attracted over 304-349 Common Tern nests, and we believe nearing its carrying capacity and fledging over 400 chicks each year.  This year, the raft had a second State-listed Endangered species, the Royal Tern breeding on the raft as well, creating an interesting adaptive management strategy for the team monitoring the raft.  While not an inexpensive or low effort solution, artificial islands can be an important stopgap conservation technique to provide critically needed breeding habitat while permanent natural habitat solutions are planned, permitted and implemented. Come learn the process from one of the lead researchers of the project, Kim Abplanalp from Maryland Coastal Bays near Assateague.

Kim Abplanalp is the Bird Habitat Coordinator for Maryland Coastal Bays Program. She is the lead researcher on the Common Tern Raft along Assateague Island bayside. The raft is a cooperative effort of Maryland Coastal Bays Program, The Department of Natural Resources and Audubon Mid-Atlantic. Her duties in part are to help monitor, maintain and respond to the growth of the raft and make adaptations, as well as banding both adults and chicks for tracking the colony. She is also the project photographer for Audubon, most recently published in Chesapeake Bay Magazine. Kim has a B.Sc. from the University of Delaware, and a background in the behavioral study of Horseshoe crabs in Lewes, DE, for the University of Florida, which pivoted her focus to the growing needs of Colonial Waterbirds, bird migration, and the need to restore and maintain breeding habitats. An avid birder, she resides in West Ocean City, MD.

All Caroline County Bird Club programs and events are free and open to the public.