The Least Turn is a protected species. The DEC monitor where they nest and fence it off till the chicks are on their own.
Both this chick and egg were on the unprotected side of the fence. We saw an egg that was stepped on, and a bunch of eggs that were gathered and placed on the protected side of the fence by someone who cared enough to move them but was unaware that once touched they would never be hatched.
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10 comments:
So very precious! What a joyful surprise you discovered! Lucky you.
good luck, tiny tern.
the first photo shows me a very beautiful area. there is so much to learn about the things around us that we don't always notice.
Oh that's heartbreaking! Was this fuzzy little darling abandoned or was the mother around to care for it?
Hilary, the mother was close by screeching away at us! The colonies dive-bomb intruders when you get too close to a nest. These chicks are mobile from birth and can run very fast. The DEC places PVC pipe on the safe side of the fence so the chicks can hide from natural predators. We saw ten or more running from one such pipe as a mother bird bird returned with something to eat.
Thanks for letting me know, Steve.
They are so close to the color of the sand.
Oh, what an amazing little creature! I never grow tired of beach photos.
Such sweet pics.
Wow, lucky you!! No wonder they close off the beach. Those eggs and babies would be trampled!
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