One of the birds that we at Audubon California are particularly anxious to see this spring migration is the Least Tern. This isn't just because this species is a wondrously cool bird, but also because it's one that Audubon at the local and state levels have been working to help for some time. Of particular interest are chapter programs that monitor and protect key nesting sites on beaches. We couldn't help but notice last week two of the first sightings of this bird down at the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge (see these sightings and others on eBird), which is quite a ways from the birds' wintering grounds in southern Mexico, Central America, and sometimes even further south. We should also note that the California Least Tern is listed as Endangered due to dramatic population declines. While the Least Terns are currently popping up in large numbers along the Gulf Coast, we usually don't see a lot of them in California until mid- to late-April. So who knows what a few more days will bring? We'll certainly have a lot more to say about this bird and Audubon's efforts to help it in the coming days. But for now, if you're along the southern coast, keep an eye out. (photo by California Least Tern by USFWS)