Terns
By Claudia Duckworth, PWC Board Member
Terns are
members of a large Family of birds called Larids that also includes
gulls, skuas, and jaegars.
There are about 40 species of tern and most spend their lives around
water. Here, on the central coast of California, there are eight
species that are seen regularly including Caspian, Royal, Elegant, and
Forster's and less frequently, Common, Black, Arctic and Least. The
Arctic Tern which is sometimes here in early fall, is known for its
prodigious 25,000 mile migration from its wintering grounds in the
Antarctic to its breeding grounds in the Arctic. The smallest among
them, the Least Tern, an endangered species, is carefully monitored and
protected while nesting on our beaches.
As this edition of the SLO Coast Journal goes to print, we have in
residence at the Wildlife Clinic, an Elegant Tern. As you can see from
the photograph, our veterinarian, Dr. Riggs, has made special
accommodations for this uncommon patient. These beautiful, agile
seabirds are summer and fall visitors to our area. With only five known
nesting colonies along the coasts of California and Mexico, Elegant
Terns are vulnerable to predation, loss of habitat and climate change.
They are considered a species of special concern in California and
designated as near threatened by some conservation groups.
During the winter and early spring, Elegant Terns can be found as far
south as Chile and as far north as British Columbia.
Although related to gulls, Elegant Terns are more streamlined, nimble
and graceful in flight. They hunt by hovering in one place over open
water, then plunging to catch their prey. Our visitor's upper parts are
light gray with a white belly and chest. The tern has bright black
eyes, a long orange beak and he or she has a black cap with a shaggy
crest looking a bit like a bad hair day. The wings are long and
pointed, the tail is forked and he/she has black legs and unexpectedly
tiny feet. Elegant terns are gregarious birds, nesting in large
colonies and raising their chicks in crèches for warmth and
protection. While in the group crèche, parent birds continue
to feed their own young with both sexes caring for the typically
single, precocial chick. After it fledges, the parents will continue to
support the young tern for about 6 months while it develops its
survival skills.
Our patient was brought to Pacific Wildlife Care with a broken wing. It
is now recovering from the required surgery and we are hopeful the bird
can be released in the near future.
A group of terns is called a cotillion which seems particularly
appropriate since watching terns in flight is almost like watching a
choreographed ballet. We are fortunate to have these lovely birds
showing off their flight acrobatics each summer and fall. Enjoy!
As with all the injured and orphaned wildlife that is rescued by
Pacific Wildlife Care, Dr. Riggs has used her knowledge of this bird's
natural history to make it as comfortable as possible while it is in
our care.
The bird will only eat live minnows which has necessitated many trips
north to obtain the live fish and a special pool set-up with aerators
to keep them healthy.
Special Enclosure with Sand Floor |
Bin with Ramp Where the Elegant Tern is Expecting to Find Live Minnows. |
Special Pool Setup to Keep Minnows |
For
more information on Pacific Wildlife Care, a 501 (c)3 non-profit
organization,
or to volunteer or make a donation, go to the website:
http://www.pacificwildlifecare.org/
If you find an injured wild animal, call the PWC Hotline (805-543-9453).
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For more
information on Pacific Wildlife Care, a 501 (c)3 non-profit
organization,
or to volunteer or make a donation, go to the website: Pacific
Wildlife Care
If you find
an injured wild animal, call the PWC Hotline (805-543-9453).
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