Children’s Book Aims To Educate About Plight Of Maryland’s Endangered Tern

Prolific author Jennifer Keats Curtis has released her 27th book, entitled “Return of the Terns: How Scientists Are Saving Island Birds.” The illustrated kids’ nonfiction book details how and why experts are creating artificial habitats for migrating birds because their normal summer place, a small island off the Maryland coast, has washed away.

Fourteen birds are on Maryland’s list of endangered animals, with loss of habitat due to sea level rise and erosion of their habitats as the primary causes. Keats Curtis’ latest children’s book tells the real-life story of Maryland’s common tern, one of the most endangered colonial nesting waterbirds on that list, and what scientists are doing to bring the migratory birds back to Maryland.

A Severna Park High School graduate, Keats Curtis works with biologists, environmental specialists, herpetologists, and animal care specialists to research and write her books. Not only will people read about the tern’s story in “Return of the Terns: How Scientists Are Saving Island Birds,” but locals will soon be able to see the newest habitat raft after it’s towed to a location off Assateague Island in time for migrating birds to use as their summer getaway.

The tern raft, a partnership between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Audubon Mid-Atlantic, and Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP), is a 48-by-48-inch floating island built to temporarily replace the island where common terns once summered. The raft was built by MCBP scientists and volunteers and will be towed to a spot not far from where their island once was.

“I’m excited to help kids understand how Maryland scientists are saving these birds from being ‘locally extinct.’ With this book, I want kids to understand what happens when a migrating animal faces habitat loss and how MCBP worked together to save them from local extinction,” Keats Curtis said. “Kids relate to animals, saving animals, and this raft. When I talk with them, they are already thinking of ideas to improve it. I think it’s important for them to think about that.”

The latest tern raft isn’t the first. MCBP states on its website that the initial year of the project had an immediate impact. A tern raft was “successfully used for nesting by 23 pairs of common terns, making it the largest breeding colony of this species in the coastal bays in 2021.” In 2022, that season ended with 155 common terns nests, 181 chicks banded, 91 adults banded, and at least 140 fledglings, which the program called “a very nice boost.”

Though her latest book focuses on the tern, Keats Curtis reminds readers to be kind to their animal friends on land and at sea. The Chesapeake Bay and Maryland coastline provide habitats for thousands of land- and sea-life animal species. Humans can do their part to protect all animal neighbors by obeying posted signs in and around parks, shores and islands.

“If you see posted signs that animals are using sandy areas as habitat, please heed those signs!” Keats Curtis emphasized. “Many birds who nest in or near the sand lay eggs that are well camouflaged and can easily be missed and crushed.”

The same is true for grassy, swampy areas along shorelines.

For more information about the tern raft project, go to www.mdcoastalbays.org/the-programs/nesting-platform.

To learn more about Keats Curtis or her books, or to schedule a presentation at a school or community organization, go to www.arbordalepublishing.com and select the “books” tab or email jenniferkcurtis@verizon.net.