Least Terns are small seabirds that nest on the beach, typically in large colonies. These coastal birds depend on expanses of clean, healthy habitats to raise their families, and are increasingly having difficulty finding good nesting areas in the Sunshine State. To combat this, Audubon staff use decoys to lure birds to high-quality nesting habitats. But where to source these unique wooden decoys? “We use Least Terns’ colonial-nesting behavior to our advantage by placing decoys that signal safe, suitable nesting areas as the birds arrive from their wintering areas and search for places to raise their young,” says Megan Hatten, project manager for Audubon’s Southwest Florida Shorebird Program. Ed Brackett, a woodcarver in New Hampshire, learned about the use of decoys in bird conservation through a National Audubon Society article about the reestablishment of Tufted Puffins in Oregon. When his online search showed a similar effort underway in Florida for Least Terns, he reached out to offer his services.…