| The largest
of the Australian terns, it has a worldwide distribution. It can be identified
by its heavy, bright red beak, with other terns having yellow or black
beaks. There is a small breeding colony on Mud Islands and it may be these
birds that regularly patrol the ocean beach estuary, Connewarre Lakes
and the Barwon River. They feed on fish up to 15cm long that they catch
by diving from heights of 10m or more. On Mud Islands, they nest in compact
groups to gain protection from predatory gulls. |
