The Common Tern {stema Urundo) 



By Gerard Alan Abbott 



Length : 13 to 16 inches. 



Range : Greater part of the northern hemisphere and Africa. In North 

 America, chiefly east of the Plains. 



The pearl-gray breast and belly distinguish the adult of this tern from its 

 relatives. The outer web of the jouter tail feathers is darker than the inner 

 web; the reverse is true of Forster's Tern, its nearest ally. 



Range: Breeds from Great Slave Lake, central Keewatin and southern 

 Quebec, south to southwestern Saskatchewan, northern North Dakota, southern 

 Wisconsin, northern Ohio and North Carolina; winters from Florida to Brazil. 



Our common tern is, alas, common no longer. The Atlantic coast is pecu- 

 liarly fitted to be the home of the terns by reason of the extensive shallows and 

 the great number of sandy islands on which terns and gulls used to breed in 

 absolute safety. At the bidding of fashion, however, thousands of these beautiful 

 creatures were slaughtered till the sand was red with their blood, and island 

 colonies that used to number thousands were exterminated. No excuse serves 

 to palliate the crime of the wholesale murder of these graceful sea swallows, as 

 they are aptly termed, which used to make our shores so attractive by their 

 presence. But the tide seems to have turned, partly at least. The Government 

 has set aside islands as breeding resorts and places of refuge, and, through the 

 activity of Audubon societies and of individual workers, a certain measure of 

 safety seems now assured to these persecuted birds. It may even prove possible, 

 by the bird sanctuary plan, to increase their numbers again and make them a 

 familiar sight along our deserted shores. Could the sentiment of the women 

 of the United States be united for their protection, all doubt as to the future 

 of these beautiful creatures would be removed, but so long as the arbiter of 

 Fashion decrees feathers on hats so long will the eternal vigilance of their 

 friends be needed to assure the safety of the small remnant of this species and 

 its kindred. 



The Common Tern, often called Wilson's tern, sea swallow, red shank, 

 summer gull and mackerel, is often confused with arctic tern and Forster's tern. 

 This beautiful little sea swallow was first reported by Wilson, one of our earliest 

 ornithologists. Formerly abundant, this bird is now threatened with extinction 

 unless protected from plumage and tgg hunters. These terns perform extensive 

 migrations, passing the winter months on the coasts of South America, often 

 far below the equator. In summer they may be found breeding on the islands 

 of the Great Lakes in company with herring gulls and Caspian terns. 



The birds are as agile on the wing as our barn swallow, and capture many 

 flying insects. They also feed upon marine life, but refrain from playing the 

 role of scavenger, leaving the gulls to devour any decaying animal matter. 



Hundreds of terns may be found nesting together, depositing their three 



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