| Actual Image
White-fronted Tern Rock (20)
Janice
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (18648) | White-fronted Tern
Sterna striata
Maori: Tara
We went out on a cruise on Akaroa Harbour in Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand, and as we went out of the heads we came across this rock literally covered in theses White-fronted Terns.
These terns are the most common tern in New Zealand. We don’t usually see many of them flying around home up in Auckland, but down here there were many. As you can see they were all over the rock and mainly facing into the wind. They can’t have been nesting there because it was autumn – and the wrong season.
The photo isn’t too clear – remember I was on a moving boat, there were waves, and the birds were flying too. Just as well I'd taken my sea-sick tablet!!
There is a closer look at them as a workshop. Can you see odd bird out?
They feed in large flocks on small fish by plunge diving. Shoals of small fish and pilchards which have been driven to the surface by larger fish are easily caught by the terns, which also scoop up the surface-shoaling fish as well. |
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