Least Terns hunt by flying low over shallow water, often hovering briefly before plunging headfirst to catch small fish.
The Least Tern utilizes the shallow waters and exposed mudflats around Carlos Point as ideal foraging grounds. These areas provide the necessary environment for the birds to locate small fish and crustaceans throughout the day. Their presence in Southwest Florida during the spring and summer marks their migratory return for breeding and raising young.
These delicate shorebirds perform precise, shallow dives to capture their food, often submerging only their heads and shoulders rather than their entire body. In flight, the terns use their short, pointed wings and deeply forked tails to achieve agile and buoyant maneuvers over the water surface.
The shallow waters surrounding Carlos Point are part of the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve, which offers critical protected estuarine habitat essential for this species. This reliance on undisturbed coastal areas underscores why the Least Tern is listed as a State Threatened species in Florida.
The shallow mudflats and calm open water are essential for the terns to successfully locate their small meals. Follow adventures in Southwest Florida for more hidden wonders.
More about this animal:
https://adventuresswflorida.duckdns.org/wildlife/least-tern/carlos-point
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