Seabird Sue Hand-Paints Decoys to Restore Lost Seabird Colonies Worldwide

In Bremen, Maine, Sue Schubel, known as 'Seabird Sue,' meticulously hand-paints approximately 500 seabird decoys each year for the Seabird Institute of the National Audubon Society. These decoys play a crucial role in a worldwide seabird restoration initiative that employs social attraction techniques. Since its inception in 1973, Audubon has distributed decoys representing 55 species globally, including brown boobies to Australia and terns to the Netherlands. The initiative began with Atlantic puffins, spearheaded by ornithologist Stephen Kress, who successfully restored the first seabird colony by the early 1980s. A dedicated volunteer since 1984 and the lead painter since 2016, Schubel utilizes recycled plastic and latex paint. The program now tackles climate change, achieving milestones like the restoration of puffins in Maine and supporting the Chinese crested tern, which has grown to over 40 individuals in China. Schubel's current endeavor focuses on creating decoys for South American terns destined for Argentina.