Least Terns on Wrightsville Beach

One of the more successful shore birds that nest at the south end of Wrightsville Beach is the Least Tern. They are the smallest of the American Terns. Their weight averages a mere 1.1 - 1.6 oz.

These birds return to Wrightsville Beach from Central and South America in April and begin their breeding by offering a fish to a potential mate.

Sometimes she says, "Yes!"

Least Tern nests are very shallow and minimally scooped out. Here is a link to a short video I took this afternoon showing a Least Tern clearing an area before creating a scrape.

Least Tern Creating a Scrape for a Nest

A Least Tern laying just below the surface of the sand is probably on a nest. Today there seemed to be nesting Least Terns all over the beach!

This Least Tern is sitting on a nest. One egg can be seen if you look closely. The eggs are speckled and generally blend well with the sandy surface.

Since the incubation period is 20-25 days we expect to have baby chicks by the beginning of June. Mark your calendars!

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