Along with the morning piping plover ~ least tern interaction I observed, I spent a fair bit of time in the afternoon following a particular least tern male around as he was rather intent in making sure that the species continued.....fortunately his fishing endeavors were always right in front of me, which made him rather easy to stay with.
He would bring fish constantly and approach any female with his offering in an attempt to coax her into mating. More often than not, he would be loudly dismissed and he'd fly off to find another potential mate.
Believe me when I tell you that these gals weren't to be mated with easily!
Finally, after nearly an hour, one of the females didn't turn on him upon his approach, but rather stayed put...with seemingly total indifference at first.
He would dance behind her for minutes at a time and finally, after what seemed like an eternity to me at least (it was actually more like twenty minutes), she entered into a wonderful courtship ritual with him.
Her head went down and he back flattened which must have meant good things, as it got me excited that breeding would finally commence....and it certainly caught his attention.....
We had to take a break for a momernt as a gull attempted to intervene and harassed the male in an effort to steel his offering...fortunately it didn't work and after a short relocation flight, the courtship commenced once again.
He danced behind her for ten minutes or so, their heads turning swiftly back and forth in total opposite cadence to one another. For a brief moment their rhythms matched and he instantly made his move....
Alighting on the platform she had provided for him with the flattening of her back and wings, he began dancing upon her, calling softly at the same time. Giving into his foreplay, she turned her head back as if to survey the offering he had been attempting to coax her with....
A moment later his gift was accepted.....
At the end of this spectacular courtship, she held his offering in her beak as they did exactly what nature intended for them to do....
He would bring fish constantly and approach any female with his offering in an attempt to coax her into mating. More often than not, he would be loudly dismissed and he'd fly off to find another potential mate.
Believe me when I tell you that these gals weren't to be mated with easily!
Finally, after nearly an hour, one of the females didn't turn on him upon his approach, but rather stayed put...with seemingly total indifference at first.
He would dance behind her for minutes at a time and finally, after what seemed like an eternity to me at least (it was actually more like twenty minutes), she entered into a wonderful courtship ritual with him.
Her head went down and he back flattened which must have meant good things, as it got me excited that breeding would finally commence....and it certainly caught his attention.....
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We had to take a break for a momernt as a gull attempted to intervene and harassed the male in an effort to steel his offering...fortunately it didn't work and after a short relocation flight, the courtship commenced once again.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
He danced behind her for ten minutes or so, their heads turning swiftly back and forth in total opposite cadence to one another. For a brief moment their rhythms matched and he instantly made his move....
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Alighting on the platform she had provided for him with the flattening of her back and wings, he began dancing upon her, calling softly at the same time. Giving into his foreplay, she turned her head back as if to survey the offering he had been attempting to coax her with....
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
A moment later his gift was accepted.....
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
At the end of this spectacular courtship, she held his offering in her beak as they did exactly what nature intended for them to do....
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
