The endangered California Least Tern is making its annual trip up the coast to breed on our beaches. The bird is particularly sensitive to habitat loss and disturbance during this period, so if you see any on the beach, keep your distance. While we know this bird is coming from Mexico, exactly where it winters has always been something of a mystery. San Diego Audubon Society is currently in the middle of a study using tracking devices to determine exactly where these birds go in the winter -- and that's research we're all looking forward to seeing. In a future email, we'll talk more about everything that is being done to save these birds. Check out the maps below to see their movements (photo by Steve Ryan):As you can see, in March there were no sightings recorded into eBird for California Least Terns:
But now, in just three weeks, we're starting to see more of them on our coasts:
By Garrison Frost
HOTSPOT: Flyover of California's Birds and Biodiversity
California is a global biodiversity hotspots, with one of the greatest concentrations of living species on Earth.
Popular Stories
- Calling all Californians: Join Audubon's 125th Christmas Bird Count
- Planting the Seeds for a Tribal and Community-Empowered Future in Water Resiliency
- Seasonal Magic: Just Add Water to Create 60,000 Acres of Bird Habitat
- Tricolored Blackbirds on the Rise!
- Empowering Coastal Stewards: A Look Inside the Coastal Leadership Program