Least Terns Return
The terns have returned! Here we have a pair of Least Terns photographed off Stratford Point in Connecticut last week. Both Least and Common Terns, two of the focal species in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, are back in Connecticut and we will be monitoring them as we do Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers. Other terns, such as Forster’s and Caspian, have returned as well. Also keep an eye out for Roseate, Royal and even more rare terns like Gull-billed. We hope the birds will cooperate and Least Terns colonies will set up in Stratford, Milford, West Haven,...
Read MoreLeast Terns
Here is one of those birds that would have been extirpated if not for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act – the Least Tern (Sternula antillarum). One of the focal species of the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Least Terns were a target of the millinery (hat-making) trade and market hunting nearly wiped them out. Besides such a direct threat these birds must also be legally protected from harm via unaware beachgoers and unfortunately the select few who still wish to ignorantly hurt them in some way if we want them to make it through the 21st century. These photos show courtship in...
Read MoreLeast Tern hatchling (Sternula antillarum)
We have a bunch of our Connecticut locations with hatchling Least Terns right now though they are not anywhere in the state in high numbers this year. They can be a difficult species to predict and protect, sensitive to a multitude of disturbances both natural and introduced by humans and vulnerable to changes in prey levels.
Read MoreLeast Tern (Sternula antillarum)
Beautiful in flight shot of a Least Tern by Sean during our surveys this week for the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds. It looks like Hurricane Arthur will be avoiding us in New England but wet weather is still on the way to our shores. It may help the little ones more than hurt them as this heat on the beach in the strong July sun can be deadly to the growing birds.
Read MoreLeast Terns (Sternula antillarum)
If Least Terns (Sternula antillarum) are dive-bombing you or screeching alarm calls then it’s a sign you may want to give them additional some room. Thankfully we have plenty of space on the beach for all of us to enjoy or, in their case, create a family. Pairs like this are starting to see their eggs hatching right now across Connecticut. Here’s hoping for temperate and mostly dry weather for the little ones. Why didn’t I put up a photo with adorable hatchling Least Terns? Because we have not had many successful nests in recent years and when we do even folks like Twan and...
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