We have spent time discussing a few of the bush dwellers but as Mission Beach also boasts superb beaches, this blog will look at one of our shorebirds. Several species of Tern are either resident or migratory in these waters but some rarely travel far inshore preferring the quiet of the outer reef and cays.
The Crested Tern is an exception frequently being seen inshore or along the beach front.
Fish feeders, Terns either skim the water surface or dive in shallow water to catch their prey. Most are colonial breeders with some species breeding in Australian waters and others as far away as South America yet even these distant breeders find their way annually to our waters as Tern migration is legendary in the bird world. The birds long wings and aerodynamic structure enabling prodigious feats of flight with gliding ensuring maximum energy retention.
More information on Mission Beach birds can be found in my small booklet – Birds of Mission Beach and Environs, available at the Visitor Information Centre at Porter Promenade, Mission Beach.
