At the Beach with a Least Tern Chick

  I stopped by Parker Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport Mass on Saturday, hoping to photograph the Endangered Least Tern and Piping Plover juveniles.While there were plenty of juveniles around, I was somewhat surprised at the number of scrapes still containing eggs. It is pretty late in the season, although a biologist I spoke with said the same scenario occurred last year.

 I don't want to think of the number of eggs or hatched chicks that are killed by unsuspecting beach goers. These birds are on the Endangered Species list, so the refuge ropes off a large area of known nesting sites, but the birds don't know that, and typically lay their eggs in a scrape in the sand most anywhere.

Least Tern Nest Scrape outside the ropes

Least Tern Nest with Chick and Egg

This is a photo of a Least Tern scrape with a newly hatched chick, and an unhatched egg, outside of the roped off nesting area. If you were walking along the beach not paying attention, it would be very easy to step right on them without even noticing. Hopefully, if the parents are near by, you will know you are near a nest by the reaction of the parents who will dive at you, or spread their wings and "look menacing".

While there are certain disadvantages to "blending into your surroundings" ie getting stepped on, there also distinct advantages. The chicks and eggs are prone to predation from hawks, eagles, dogs, herons and egrets to name a few, so looking like your surroundings makes it more difficult for predators to find you.

Great Egret with a Plover Chick

 This is a photo of a Great Egret who has plundered a Plover nest killing one of the chicks.(photo taken at Fort Desoto in Florida)

Least Tern Chick being fed by parent

Once a chick has hatched, the Least Tern parents spend most of their time feeding their young.

Least Tern Chick being fed by Parent

Least Tern chick with a fish

Reddish Egret and the Dance of the Drunken Sailor

    The Reddish Egret is a medium to large heron who can be found in the salt water and brackish marshes around the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana and on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of southern Florida. It is a stunningly beautiful bird who was nearly hunted to extinction for its feathers in the 1800's.


    Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of watching a Reddish Egret fish shallow waters, has witnessed a bizarre but highly effective tactic sometimes referred to as "the dance of the drunken sailor". The egret staggers and darts through the water to confuse the fish. Then, the egret raises his wings to form a canopy which casts a shadow onto the water and reduces glare. When the bait fish swim into the shaded area, the egret strikes.


   These photos were shot at Fort Desoto State Park in Tierra Verde Florida. I hope that someday you will have the pleasure of seeing this dance for yourself.


Additional photos of Reddish Egrets can be seen at : http://jerichohillsphotography.com/herons

Drunken Sailor Dance

Drunken Sailor Dance

Drunken Sailor Dance

Canopy Hunting

Canopy Hunting

Strike !!

Success !!