Least+Tern+2010



By:Brennan M. The Least Tern is a species of terns that breeds in North America and is found locally in South America. It is closely related to and formerly often considered conspecific with the Little Tern of the Old World. Closer relatives include the Yellow-billed Tern both are from South America. This is a small tern with a length of 22-24cm and a wing span of 50cm. The Least Tern may spend their whole first year in the wintering area. The Least Tern hunts for its food in lagoons were small fish are abundant in the lagoons of South California and North Mexico. The favorite foods are anchovy, smelt, silversides shiner surfperch, and small crustaceans. Mostly the terns feed on the shore in the open ocean especially in lagoons or bay mouths. Wester population of the Least Tern was put as endangerd in 1972 with a population of around 600 pairs. With aggressive management the population has rebounded though its still listed as a endangered subspecies. Only after courtship has confirmed mate selection does nesting begin by mid-May and is over in mid-June. When the Least Tern usually has around 2-3 eggs but sometimes there are four. Young birds are can fly at the age of four weeks. The Least Terns have left the breeding ground by the end of August. The Least Tern is endangered because of dams, reservoirs, channelization, and changes to a river system. To help the Least Tern we can preserve their habitat and let channels in rivers make them self. So after all the information you should make sure the Least Tern does not DIE OUT.