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Trude | profile | all galleries >> bolsa_chica_wetlands >> least_tern_nesting_colony tree view | thumbnails | slideshow
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The teenage Audubon Junior Naturalists visited the Least Tern nesting colony at Huntington State Beach
The teenage Audubon Junior Naturalists visited the Least Tern nesting colony at Huntington State Beach		 California Least Tern is the smallest tern, and it is ENDANGERED due to loss of nesting sites on sandy beaches
California Least Tern is the smallest tern, and it is ENDANGERED due to loss of nesting sites on sandy beaches		 Parent terns catch small fish offshore and bring it to their chicks on the sandy beach
Parent terns catch small fish offshore and bring it to their chicks on the sandy beach		 Chicks repsond to their parents high-pitched calls. This chick below belongs to another tern.
Chicks repsond to their parents high-pitched calls. This chick below belongs to another tern.
Chicks fed, the parent flies off for more fish
Chicks fed, the parent flies off for more fish		 Chicks wait to be fed, camouflaged to match the sand
Chicks wait to be fed, camouflaged to match the sand		 This feeding cycle repeats, and the chicks grow
This feeding cycle repeats, and the chicks grow		 This juvenile will soon be ready for the winter trip to Mexico and Central America
This juvenile will soon be ready for the winter trip to Mexico and Central America
California Least Terns are only present in California from April to August to breed
California Least Terns are only present in California from April to August to breed		 Threats include human disturbance and predators (crow, gull, falcon, cat, coyote)
Threats include human disturbance and predators (crow, gull, falcon, cat, coyote)		 If chicks scatter instead of remaining still, they become easy prey for nearby predators
If chicks scatter instead of remaining still, they become easy prey for nearby predators		 After being escorted around the colony perimeter, everyone bicycled north to Bolsa Chica (except for the photographer)
After being escorted around the colony perimeter, everyone bicycled north to Bolsa Chica (except for the photographer)
Other chicks awaited us at the end of the Bolsa Chica boardwalk
Other chicks awaited us at the end of the Bolsa Chica boardwalk		 Snowy plovers are also ENDANGERED and nest on sandy beaches
Snowy plovers are also ENDANGERED and nest on sandy beaches		 Snowy plover chicks are also camouflaged to match the sand
Snowy plover chicks are also camouflaged to match the sand		 This heavily marked western willet resembles an eastern willet
This heavily marked western willet resembles an eastern willet
Black skimmer cruising for fish
Black skimmer cruising for fish		 Double-crested Cormorant catches fish by diving from the water's surface, not from the air
Double-crested Cormorant catches fish by diving from the water's surface, not from the air		 Fish like these topsmelt are an important source of food to many species of birds
Fish like these topsmelt are an important source of food to many species of birds		 Two skippers: Funereal Duskywing (right) and possible Wandering Skipper (left)
Two skippers: Funereal Duskywing (right) and possible Wandering Skipper (left)
Funereal and Mournful Duskywings are very similar. Look for the brown patch on the forewing!
Funereal and Mournful Duskywings are very similar. Look for the brown patch on the forewing!		 Birds like terns, egrets and this Belding's Savannah Sparrow often perch on the boardwalk railing
Birds like terns, egrets and this Belding's Savannah Sparrow often perch on the boardwalk railing		 We tried unsuccessfully to walk by this Forster's Tern without spooking it off the railing
We tried unsuccessfully to walk by this Forster's Tern without spooking it off the railing		 End of the foot (-bridge)
End of the foot (-bridge)
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Guest 07-Jul-2008 18:52
Trude-
I'm glad your group made it to both of these very approachable nesting sites. At Huntington State Beach, the colony is at the heigth of activity and should be there for another month or more. Great snaps.

David Pryor, State Parks
Trude05-Jul-2008 05:14
This Least Tern nesting colony is at the Santa Ana River mouth at Huntington State Beach, Orange County, CA. It is surrounded by fencing to minimize human disturbance. Volunteers patrol the perimeter to chase away predators and educate the public.
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