A Least Tern Colony Adventure
by
Bobby Harrison
Come summer, the one thing on my mind is
to get out of the south. Now, I love
the south, but sometimes the heat and humidity becomes unbearable; so summer is
a great time to chase the birds that I love in the more comfortable northern
clime. However, every few years or so
before heading north, I head for the gulf coast where the heat and humidity is
almost intolerable. I bear the brunt of
such uncomfortable condition for one purpose, and that is to photograph the
largest least tern colony in the country.
Least
terns have nested on islands off the coast of Mississippi for hundreds of
years. In the seventies terns began
nesting on the manmade beaches at Biloxi and Gulfport. Today those beaches host a few thousand pairs
of least terns and black skimmers from May thru early August. The tourist, for whom the beaches were built
give the birds the right-of-way, and enjoy the spectacle.
The shallow nest with egg of the Least Tern, Sternula antillarum.
Terns and skimmers begin to congregate on
the beaches during May, and by the end of the month most have settled onto
their nests. Nest is perhaps a misnomer,
as they are nothing more than shallow depressions in the sand. Each nest cradles two, three or four speckled
eggs that are perfectly camouflaged in the sand. Finding an unattended nest takes a keen, and
discerning eye.
Least Tern Colony along the beach between Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi.
Photographing terns is arduous work in the
relentless June heat and humidity, but the rewards are worth the efforts. Great care must be taken when working in a
colony as any disruption could be detrimental to the birds. Viewing and photography should always be
conducted from the colonies edge.
At the Biloxi and Gulfport colonies sign have been placed along the perimeters warning people to stay out. Birds however, do not read, and some nest beyond manmade boundaries to the edge of heavily used sidewalks. Terns that nest close to heavily used areas are more adapted to humans, and are much more tolerable to human presence than those deeper within a colony.
This adaptation however, does not protect the passerby. Once a person crosses the invisible, established boundary of the colony they are instantly bombarded by terns.
At the Biloxi and Gulfport colonies sign have been placed along the perimeters warning people to stay out. Birds however, do not read, and some nest beyond manmade boundaries to the edge of heavily used sidewalks. Terns that nest close to heavily used areas are more adapted to humans, and are much more tolerable to human presence than those deeper within a colony.
This adaptation however, does not protect the passerby. Once a person crosses the invisible, established boundary of the colony they are instantly bombarded by terns.
Least Tern, Sternula antillarum, attacking a colony intruder.
The least tern, though small can be
protectively aggressive. Dive bombing is
just one method terns employ to protect their eggs and young; and I do mean
bombing, as they swoop toward their targets and defecate on the intruder. I always wear a wide brim hat when working near
a colony; I’ve learned my lesson the hard way.
If dive bombing dosen’t drive the trespasser away, the terns resort to
swooping so close to its’ would be victim that it pecks the interlopers head
and pulls hair. Those passing by the
colony are certainly hurried along their way with this scenario.
On the morning I arrived to shoot, twilight
was still in progress, but waning rapidly. As I hurriedly walked along the beach, the
sky above the colony was filled with terns buzzing overhead.
The scene looked more like a swarming hive of giant Bees than it did
birds. By the time I reached the edge of the colony I was being bombarded by a horde of swooping terns. Each bird was attempting to pull hair from my
head, but with so little hair on my head, their attempts were in vain. With the terns buzzing around me I quickly
lay down on the sand and covered myself with my beach camofludage. No sooner had I covered my self, the females
returned to their nest and males turned to squabbling with each other,
forgetting that I was even there.
Least Tern returning with a fish for its mate.
Previous visits lead me to believe that
eggs on the colonies periphery would hatch within a few days of my arrival, and
this was crucial to get my target images of adults feeding young. As I lay under my camofludage, males flew to
and from their nest bring fish to the incubating females. As soon as the females took the offering,
the males were off to catch another fish.
As soon as the sun broke the horizon both the birds and I became more active. The pair of terns closest to me put on a
wonderful show. The male was a superb
provider, as he brought more fish than his mate could eat.
Least Tern looking into my camera lens.
As I lay on the sand, shooting frame after
frame the terns paid almost no attention to me.
I say almost because, on occasion, the male would walk right up to my
camera lens and look into the lens. Perhaps he
knew a human was there, or perhaps he saw his own reflection. Whatever the reason, it made for stunning
photographs.
Two hours in to my last, and fourth day of
shooting I resigned to the fact that I wasn’t going to get that image of an
adult feeding a chick that I was seeking.
Though the adults had been incubating eggs during my stay, none of the eggs in the nests I was privy to watch had hatched.
While I had a wonderful time at the colony and had taken hundreds of
really nice photos, I was a bit disappointed I had not taken the shot I
needed.
Then, as I was preparing to back off the
colony a tern landed right in front of me with a small fish in its beak. Suddenly, from behind a clump of beach grass
a young tern rushed toward the adult to take the fish. It all happened so fast that I only got one
frame, it was the shot I was hoping to get.
Least Tern feeding chick.
After four days of
shooting everything finally came together, and forty
minutes later, exhausted from the heat and humidity, I was back on my feet with
a cool bottle of water to quench my thirst.
I had the images I sought, and the little least terns were steadfastly
sheltering eggs from the heat of the day, patiencently waiting for them to
hatch.
There are always great lessons to be learned from photographing nature, and having patiences, is the one I am continual taught.
This article is a combination of two articles first published in Creation Illustrated. The first "Gulf Coast Tern Colony;" Vol.19, No2; pp12-13 and second "Return to the Terns;" Vol. 22, No. 4; pp18-19.
There are always great lessons to be learned from photographing nature, and having patiences, is the one I am continual taught.
This article is a combination of two articles first published in Creation Illustrated. The first "Gulf Coast Tern Colony;" Vol.19, No2; pp12-13 and second "Return to the Terns;" Vol. 22, No. 4; pp18-19.
SIDE BAR:
Plan your visit to the gulf coast least
tern colony:
Learn more about the colony at:
http://pascagoulariver.audubon.org/birds/mississippi-coastal-biridng-trail
http://www.gulfcoast.org/listings/least-tern-nesting-areas/2599/
http://www.biloxi.ms.us/visitor-info
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g43802-Gulfport_Mississippi-Vacations.html
Learn more about the colony at:
http://pascagoulariver.audubon.org/birds/mississippi-coastal-biridng-trail
http://www.gulfcoast.org/listings/least-tern-nesting-areas/2599/
http://www.biloxi.ms.us/visitor-info
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g43802-Gulfport_Mississippi-Vacations.html
Hotels and Restaurants in the Boloxi and Gulfport, MS
Hotels:
Hotels:
Best Western Oak Manor Comfort
Suites
886 Beach Blvd 9121
US 49 Gulfport, MS 39503
Biloxi, MS 39530 Gulfport,
MS 39503
(228) 435-4331 (228) 206-6446
Quality Inn Biloxi Beach Americas Best Value Inn
2414 Beach Blvd 9375
US 49,
Biloxi, MS 39531 Gulfport, MS 39503
(228) 388-1000 (228) 868-8500
Days Inn Biloxi Beach Ramada
Gulfport (228) 370-0981
1768 Beach Blvd 9415
US 49,
Biloxi, MS 39531 Gulfport,
MS 39503
(228) 432-1997 (228) 868-8200
Super 8 Biloxi Holiday
Inn Gulfport-Airport
1870 Beach Blvd 9515
US 49
Biloxi, MS 39531 Gulfport,
MS 39503
(228) 385-7919 (228) 679-1700
La Quinta Inn Suites Biloxi Days Inn Gulfport
957 Cedar Lake Rd 15250
Poole St,
Biloxi, MS 39532 Gulfport,
MS 39503
(228) 392-5978 (228) 864-5135
Holiday Inn Biloxi Fairfield
Inn & Suites Gulfport
1686 Beach Blvd 15151
Turkey Creek Dr.
Biloxi, MS 39531 Gulfport,
MS 39503
(228) 436-0201 (228) 822-9000
Hampton Inn Courtyard
Gulfport Beachfront
1138 Beach Blvd 1600
E Beach Blvd,
Biloxi, MS 39530 Gulfport,
MS 39501
(228) 370-0981 (228) 864-4310
For more hotels go to: http://www.gulfcoast.org/places-to-stay/gulf-coast-hotels-motels
Resturants:
Mr Greek El
Aguila Mexican Restauran
1670 Pass Rd Ste H 187 Tegarden Rd
Biloxi, MS 39531 Gulfport, MS 39507
(228) 432-7888 (228) 284-1742
Shaggy's Biloxi Beach Half Shell Oyster House
1763 Beach Boulevard 2500 13th Street
Biloxi, MS 39531 Gulfport, MS 39501
(228) 432-5005 (228) 867-7001
Yuki's Japanese Restaurant Panda House
2389 Pass Rd 1315
E Pass Rd Gulfport, MS 39507MS
Biloxi, MS 39531 Gulfport, MS 39507MS
(228) 388-2233 (228) 897-7771
McElroy's Seafood Restaur. Taco Sombrero
695 Beach Blvd, Biloxi 12275 Highway 49
MS 39530 Gulfport,
MS 39503
(228) 435-5001 (228) 832-9644
The Buffet at Beau Rivage White Cap Seafood Restaurant
875 Beach Blvd 560 E Beach Blvd
Biloxi, MS 39530 Gulfport, MS 39507
(228) 386-7111 (228) 604-444
For more restaurants go to: https://www.zomato.com/gulfport-ms/biloxi-restaurants
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