Terns

Typically grey with white plumage, they have webbed feet and are about 23 cm tall. They are called terns, migrational seabirds that have worldwide distriution. Every year, the terns make a migration to the warm climate of South America. Here in Connecticut, many terns can be found on the local wildlife sanctuary Faulkner Island located in Guilford, Connecticut. However, even in this sanctuary, these little birds are in danger. The tern lays their eggs in open nests, making them prime targets for predators. One RHAM teacher, Margaret Quinn felt passionately for the struggle of the terns and contacted the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge wanting to know what she and the school community could do to help these little birds. Established in 1997, the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge was created to "conserve, protect and enhance the abundance and diversity of native plant, fish and wildlife species and the ecosystems on which they depend throughout the 7.2 million-acre Connecticut River watershed". This watershed area is home to many species of migratory birds, including the tern. During the summer of 2008, Mrs. Quinn led an assortment of locals, including RHAM teachers Mr. Deliman, Mr. Moyer, Principal Leslie, among others, as well as Marlborough First Selectmen Bill Black in the construction of three hundred tern nests. These nests are small wooden boxes closed at the top, but with a mesh window over the top of the doorway. The terns lay their eggs in the dark back of the nests, with the mesh window for ventalation and comfort. RHAM technology education teachers George Deliman and Keith Moyer cut the wood for the nests while all the other volunteers assisted in putting the nests together. In exchange for their honorable work, RHAM science teachers are permitted to use the island for research and experiments with their classes. In the future, there are plans to expand this program to allow more field trips and research to be done throughout RHAM's science curriculum. If you have interest in supporting this cause, please visit Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge website at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Conte/ccphome.html.