Scientists Deceive Seabirds Into Returning Home

A recent study demonstrates that you can use trickery to lure seabirds back to Caribbean islands they once populated.

The Puerto Rican Island of Desecheo historically housed such dense aggregations of seabirds that 19th century explorers mistook their airborne flocks for dark clouds. These birds disappeared from Desecheo Island within the next century, however, as human activity brought predatory invasive species and target practice from the U.S. military.

Since Desecheo Island’s establishment as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1976, invasive species have been eradicated and local flora and fauna have flourished, creating an opportunity to also help seabird populations on the island rebound.

Over the past three breeding seasons, scientists from several organizations have been trying to lure back three of the 15 species known to inhabit Desecheo using some clever manipulation. Specifically, they have deployed recordings of mating calls, mirrors, and decoy birds to create the illusion that other bird colonies exists on the island.

Multiple Bridled Terns have been spotted laying eggs - some of which were near decoy colonies. Camera footage also demonstrates that a few Audubon’s Shearwater individuals have been roosting on speakers playing mating calls. And, Brown Noddies have been observed exploring decoy colonies, despite not establishing more permanent settlements.

“We are forging a new path for seabird conservation by using complementary techniques to lure once abundant species back Desecheo,” explained Jose Luis Herrera-Giraldo, lead author of this study and project manager at Island Conservation, “This the first active social attraction project in the Caribbean to combine these tools and stands to inform restoration on nearby islands, securing a future for some of our most threatened birds.”

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