This evening I ventured to a Least Tern Colony in Reeves Bay and observed about 1 dozen Least Tern chicks in various stages of growth plus several fledged birds which leads me to believe there were quite a few nests that had been washed out at the site early in the season (predation is very unlikely due to the seclusion of the site). I also noted 1 deceased chick that was likely a few days old at the time of its demise. A Common Tern nest with 3 eggs had been abandoned some time ago. A single salt marsh sparrow was also seen at the site. Photos can be seen here: http://birdsoflongisland.blogspot.com/2011/08/least-tern-chicks.html
-- - Luke www.birdsoflongisland.blogspot.com www.wildlongisland.blogspot.com -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
