Terns resemble gulls in general appearance, but are smaller and fly with amazing dexterity, as indicated by their name, derived from Scandinavian words for "sea swallow." About 14 inches in length, the tern has a white body, gray mantle, black cap and wings, and a forked tail. There are several varieties of terns.

Land Trust member Roland Clement, former scientist/Vice President of National Audubon Society assures us of a fairly good collection in this area. He cites three residents and a half dozen visitors - some regular, some rare. Residents include the Common, Roseate, and Least Tern. The Least has a yellow bill with a dark tip; the Common tern, a red bill with black tip, while the Roseate has a black bill with yellow tip (summer coloring).

All of these birds are on the Endangered Species list for the state: Roseate Terns, endangered; Least Tern, threatened, and Common Terns, special concern species. Part of this is due to hunting at the beginning of this century. According to Winston Williams, in Waterbirds of the Northeast, the demand for the fashion trade was so great that the price of plumes rose to over double the price of gold. Hundreds of thousands of birds were slaughtered in their nesting areas, so the young did not hatch - a devastating situation. Thanks to the formation of New England Audubon societies, who fought for protective legislation, this was halted. Now the Least Terns' numbers have dropped from loss of habitat, since they prefer "spits" in open, sandy beaches.

Sometimes in storms, other terns come into the area. For example, a Cabot's Tern was spotted off Milford Point when a hurricane passed offshore. Earlier, a Royal Tern passed through. We also get an occasional Sooty Tern. I enjoy the terns for their playful dispositions and often locate them by the exquisite, versatile flight. A good place to watch terns in early evening is at the Vedder tract, where they often can be seen playing tag. One holds onto an object in its bill while others fly by and try to take it. Chiding with high-pitched calls resembling a young child's excited squeals, the birds loop and turn in agile acrobatics. They never really seem to "steal" the object, in their communal dance, with swift turns, downward swoops and sudden lifts.

This fall, look also for the Caspian, Forster's, and Black Tern, which may pass through.