#752: Tern

Terns are various species of seabird, specialised for an aerial lifestyle. In flight, he can be differentiated from a gull by his long, tapered wings. Many species also have a forked tail. Species are spread across the world, with one - the Arctic Tern - flying annually from the Arctic to the Antarctic, thus never experiencing a polar winter. Terns spend much of their time on the wing, scouting the water for appropriate prey and diving to catch it. They are known to follow dolphins and other large predators, as these drive prey close to the surface. Breeding colonies are large and noisy, sometimes neighbouring those of other seabirds. In most species, the eggs are laid on the bare ground. The White Tern, however, lays her egg on a tree branch.

This fellow, the Chinese Crested Tern, is Critically Endangered. and was actually considered extinct until four pairs were found in 2000. With less than 50 individuals currently surviving, his future seems pretty grim.