Floating Island Project

Creating a Safe Haven for Hoboken’s Honorary Bird

Terns take flight from the nesting platform off the coast of Maryland. Photo: David Harp

Our Tern is dedicated to protecting Hoboken’s Honorary Bird – the Common Tern – by creating a floating nesting platform at the cove in the north end of Hoboken.

The Challenge

While the return of the Common Tern to Hoboken beginning in 2013 was a welcome sign of the Hudson River’s improved health and biodiversity, the terns chose a privately-owned pier as their colony’s main nesting site, leading to inevitable conflicts.

Our Solution

Our Tern seeks to safely usher Hoboken’s Common Tern colony to a space where they and everyone on the waterfront can thrive.

Inspired by similar successful projects, our goal is to create a floating nesting island. The island will remove conflicts with property owners and the public and provide terns space to safely nest and raise their young, away from common predators.

Terns are social creatures. Scientists placed decoys on the platform to entice Common Terns to take up residence. Photo: David Harp
Fake eggs and decoys are all part of the plan to lure real birds to the platform. Here a faux Common Tern, center, is flanked by Black Skimmer decoys. Photo: David Harp
A say-old common tern chick waits for its siblings to hatch in July. Photo: David Harp
By mid-June terns were flocking to the nesting platform. Photo: David Harp
With all of sections of the platform connected, the crew adds decoys and other finishing touches. Photo: David Harp

Photos from the Maryland Floating Island Project

Located at the north end of Hoboken in the cove at the border with Weehawken, the floating nesting platform would complement the City of Hoboken’s plans for a living shoreline at Weehawken Cove.

We are currently working to identify partners and funding sources for the project.

The living shoreline at Weehawken Cove
The living shoreline at Weehawken Cove

Get Involved

Your support is crucial to the success of the Floating Island Project! Whether you can contribute time, expertise, or resources, there are many ways to get involved. We are looking for partners to help with planning, funding, education, research, volunteer work, and advocacy,

Please contact us if you’re interested in being part of our exciting project.

Links & Resources