Rare & Endangered Seabird Restoration
Decoys
The art of making and using decoys to attract birds has been
around for at least a thousand years. Traditionally, decoys
were used for hunting, to lure game within weapon range.
Mad River Decoy is located in Waitsfield, Vermont and we
specialize in making decoys that are used in various types
of seabird colony or research projects such
as colony restoration, colony relocation, banding
and management studies. Our decoys have been used in numerous
projects around the world to successfully re-establish
or move colonies of seabirds.
SOCIAL ATTRACTION – Why it works
Social attraction is a technique developed in the
early 1970’s by ornithologist Dr. Steve Kress where
colonial seabirds are lured to historic, new or safer breeding
areas by using decoys, sound systems and mirrors. For birds
that nest in colonies, seeing other birds is important. This
set-up creates the appearance of an active colony which lure
in the first birds who in turn, attract more. Using social
attraction, Dr. Kress successfully re-established long abandoned
American Puffin colonies on the Maine coast (www.projectpuffin.org).
Since then social attraction has been used to relocate
nearly 40 species of birds in 12 countries. |
ABOUT OUR DECOYS
To make our decoys, we start by carving a master from wood
or molding one from clay. A high temperature mold is then
cast over this master and the decoys are made with polyethylene
plastic by rotational or injection molding processes. Decoys
are hand primed and painted. Anchoring methods vary by species
and include:
- 1/4” hole for wooden dowel – Least Tern
- 1” hole for plastic plug or wooden dowel –
all other terns and Black Skimmer
- 1/4”/20 threaded insert – Brandt’s and
Double-Crested Cormorant, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot
and Crested Auklet
- Bent metal rod – American and Black Oystercatcher,
Puffin, Whimbrel
- Stick mount– Laysan Albatross and Northern Gannet
- Custom metal stand – Laysan Albatross and Northern
Gannet
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Decoys with 1” holes come with a plastic plug so
they can be filled with sand for weight. Bent metal rods and
stick mounts are provided. Dowels and threaded rods are not
included. Custom metal stands are available at an additional
cost. All our decoys are shipped in protective bags which
also provide protection during off-season storage. These decoys
are durable and stand up well to field use year after year.
Many of our decoys have been in service for over 10 years.
Typical maintenance includes cleaning at the end of the season
and occasional touch-up painting. Some projects have incorporated
the painting into an educational program at their local schools.
 In
addition to the research aspect of the decoys, they also have
great decorative appeal, both indoors and outdoors. Organizations
have used them successfully in fund-raisers.
A portion of our decoy sales go to foundations and organizations
committed to restoring threatened and endangered seabird habitat. |
