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Various subspecies of least terns are found across much of the planet, but are a threatened species in California, largely because their preferred nesting beaches are also popular with bathers, dogs, joggers, volleyball players, and (in one or two military bases) Marines on war games. As their name implies, least terns are quite small, and adults -- all the birds on this page -- can be easily identified by their yellow bills and white foreheads. Most of these photos were taken on an overcast day, lending a soft light to the pale birds. These least terns were fishing the waters of Bolsa Chica estuary in coastal Orange County, and a small pond in the southeastern desert, both in California. Bolsa Chica has a small protected island and some fenced-off areas that are used by several species of terns for nesting, and hopefully will boost the prospects of least (and other) terns. This page has images of sitting least terns, and this page has more pictures of flying least terns.
Click here for more flight pictures of elegant terns, royal terns, Forster's terns, and Caspian terns.
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