One of the most interesting aspects of bird behaviour is watching parents feeding their young. In this case, I can’t be sure that this Arctic Tern is the parent of this chick. The colony has been largely unsuccessful and parents which have been unsuccessful are busy coming in to feed the few chicks which are left.
They are all so tender in their devotion.
More Arctic Terns
Arctic Tern feedingA memory of last summer with the Arctic Terns of Westray. There were so few chicks in this colony that… read more
An Arctic Tern colonyThere's an Arctic Tern colony on Westray which is next to a road with a couple of parking spaces. It's… read more
Fish on paradeThe Arctic Terns which breed on Westray come back with a constant procession of fish and then parade them up… read more
Time, slowedArctic Terns live their lives in a rush. They've got to get their family ready for a journey from pole… read more
First flightI watched an Arctic Tern colony struggle to raise chicks over the last summer. There was plenty of food, although… read more
Fish from a strangerWhat happens when your colony collapses, your numbers are too low and you can't protect your chicks from predators? What… read more