Least Tern, Sternula antillarum nest: Least Tern Colony; Biloxi, Mississippi
Like most birds that nest on the beach, the Least Terns nest is a simple depression in the sand, without the eggs you would never know that this depression is a nest at all. Least Terns lay 1 to 3 eggs, but I have never seen more than 2 eggs of this species in the same nest. Both sexes incubate, but the female tends to do most of the incubation in the early stages of nesting. Eggs hatch between 20 to 25 days after they are laid, and the young remain with the parents for about 2 to 3 months. In the Biloxi colony it is not uncommon for a pair of birds to raise 2 broods.
To learn more about Least Terns check out Audubon's, Guide to North American birds at: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/least-tern
Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/2000 second @ f/14
No comments:
Post a Comment