Least Terns nested last year on the Masonic Lodge's rooftop, and hopefully will return this season. This year, Dave Webster (Lodge Secretary) and Jeff Clark (retired roofer) teamed up with St. Pete and Clearwater Audubon members to build a fence around the outer edge of the Masonic Lodge's roof.

For 2 months out of the year, Jeff Clark's car and pool are bombarded with bird droppings. Jeff sits under his backyard umbrella and tries to enjoy his pool, even though the bird droppings are acidic and alter the PH of his pool. Despite the inconvenience, Jeff loves the terns and volunteered last year as a "chick-checker", returning any fallen chicks which survived the drop in good condition to the roof using a "chick-a-boom".
 
SPAS member Barbara Howard organized the whole affair. Try explaining to Home Depot that we need materials to corral rooftop chicks and we're not raising chickens on rooftops!

After the supplies arrived, Dave Webster, Jeff Clark, Dave Hopkins from Clearwater Audubon and SPAS members Monique and Barb Howard formed a human chain. They passed wooden pallets, fencing, angle brackets, bricks and sandbags up 2 different ladders to the lodge's second story rooftop. Jeff Clark coordinated the installation of the chick fence.

Thanks to the Audubon volunteers who helped with designing and installing the fence and donated supplies. Thanks to Dave and Kim for showing up to help with the second round of supplies. Thanks to Jim Rubin for dropping off the wooden pallets. Our biggest thank you goes to Dave Webster from the Masonic Lodge and Jeff Clark for providing the space and the installation of the first rooftop Chick Corral in Pinellas.

Check out the new Chick Corral in the photo gallery. The installation is explained in more detail with photo captions.

We will monitor this site from the ground to see how the installation works. That's assuming (and hoping) the terns will nest again on this roof. They already were circling it.