While often overlooked, terns are an amazingly diverse group of birds. Nesting in marshes, on beaches, rocky outcroppings, and even rooftops, these birds exhibit a remarkable range of habitats and behaviors. Florida supports the highest diversity of nesting terns of any state in the US while also providing critical resting and foraging areas for migratory species. Join us to explore the fascinating lives of Florida's terns, the challenges they face, and the importance of protecting the habitats they depend on throughout the year.
Collette Lauzau has been working on shorebirds and seabirds in Florida since 2018. In her current role as the Panhandle Shorebird Program Manager for Audubon Florida, she leads a team of biologists and stewardship staff working with partners and communities to protect Florida’s imperiled beach nesting birds. Prior to her time in Florida she has worked on avian research and conservation projects across North America, a few of which include seabird conservation with Project Puffin in Maine, cormorant research in Lake Michigan, and Caspian Tern monitoring throughout Oregon.
Least Tern (background) and Caspian Tern (foreground) at St. George Island, by Collette Lauzau.
