Least Tern - Sternula antillarum
*Another photo for the 'Talking to Birds' tag. Note the cocked head. ;)
I thought these terns were so cute when I first spotted them on the beach. It was a rainy day and I was looking for insects on seaweed that had washed up on the beach. I saw the birds, took some photos, and went back to the seaweed.
Before long, I heard the most obnoxious bird calls that sounded like a cross between machine gun fire and a smoke alarm. I stood up and turned around to be faced with at least half a dozen furious terns. I get along with most creatures in nature, with the exception of Canada geese. Terns are now added to my list of creatures to avoid. I tried to calmly walk away, assuring them that I was harmless, but they flew after me anyway, dive bombing my head and pooping on me with terrifying accuracy. Thankfully I had a hat and hoodie on, but these mean little birds managed to poke 2 holes in my sweatshirt and pooped on me at least a dozen times. I was happy to escape with my eyeballs intact.
They were probably protecting nests and although I didn't enjoy the encounter, I can say that they did an excellent job of traumatizing me. Had I been a potential predator, they definitely would have scared me away.
*I didn't put the exact location because this species is endangered in Maine.
The least tern is a species of tern that breeds in North America and locally in northern South America. It is closely related to, and was formerly often considered conspecific with, the little tern of the Old World. Other close relatives include the yellow-billed tern and Peruvian tern, both from South America.
