The smallest of them all, the Sterna albifrons ...

Avatar · 8th June 2005

Following skfoo's inspiring post "Fish Delivery" of the Little Tern (Sterna albifrons), this sea-bird is no longer a stranger to the community.

Terns?
The Terns, a species of sea-bird that is a close cousin of the gulls. These birds are often related to many astonishing records for migration over great distances. The Arctic Terns, for example, are recorded to travel up to 11,000 miles (over 17,500km), that is pole to pole per trip (they make another trip back to their winter home after they breed).

A little on the "little"
The Sterna albifrons or Little Tern, the smallest species in its gene (22-24cm), is one of a few breeding migrant terns that grace our shores. Nesting along our sandy beaches, it feeds on ample supplies of small fishes and crustaceans from the sea.

Presenting thee, a mini series of my humble shots of this fabulous subject ...

Food! Spotting its mate, the female tern sparks in excitement

Returning with its catch, this little tern homes in to hungry mate

Flapping its wings exuberantly, this hungry female is expecting nothing less of a good meal

Passing on its catch to its mate, the male proves itself capable of the art of a good hunt

Threats of extinction
The Little Tern is listed as an endangered species in many countries (eg. Australia). Like many other species of avian out there, their natural habitats are fast dwindling in our island state. Many of our costal shorelines are currently under the threat of construction/excavation work, leaving behind vast stretches of inhabitable beaches for these sea-birds. To add, human pollution of water sources and beaches are not doing much to help this struggling species too.

I hope that by capturing these images, me and my fellow nature-loving photographers will be able to do our part in educating the importance of conserving nature habitats so that our future generations can too enjoy the beauty of this bird and learn to respect nature more.

For your comments and viewing pleasure.

wkcheah76 · 8th June 2005

Pretty pretty Chua!

hazmee · 8th June 2005

You people just cant leave the birds alone. Hehe... superb catch! You must have been eyeing on this bird for a long time I guess. Great effort. Cheers!

Garion · 8th June 2005

Simply stunning captures.

Good action captured with clean background. The last 2 pics get my vote. Well done my friend!

sumball · 8th June 2005

Great photos!!!

walker · 8th June 2005

superb!!!! very nice catch......are u waited for so long for this shots? wish to how long u take to get those shots, mind to tell? thanx

benchang · 8th June 2005

SUPERB!!!

Will03 · 8th June 2005

wow........... great shots.........

Avatar · 9th June 2005

wk/hamzee/garion/sumball/walker/benchang/will03:

Thank you. It took us some time to get this accomplished but it is well worth the effort. Your input is greatly appreciate.

fruitree · 9th June 2005

The pics are lovely

Took it at sungei buloh?

Avatar · 13th June 2005

Thanks fruitree. They are taken elsewhere

fengwei · 13th June 2005

Oh man, don't know what to say. WOW!, I guess that's the only word when seen these pics.

Thanks for sharing.

Avatar · 15th June 2005

Thanks fengwei, appreciate your kind comments.

8th June 2005	#1
Avatar Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Singapore / Taiwan Posts: 1,244	The smallest of them all, the Sterna albifrons ... Following skfoo's inspiring post "Fish Delivery" of the Little Tern (Sterna albifrons), this sea-bird is no longer a stranger to the community. Terns? The Terns, a species of sea-bird that is a close cousin of the gulls. These birds are often related to many astonishing records for migration over great distances. The Arctic Terns, for example, are recorded to travel up to 11,000 miles (over 17,500km), that is pole to pole per trip (they make another trip back to their winter home after they breed). A little on the "little" The Sterna albifrons or Little Tern, the smallest species in its gene (22-24cm), is one of a few breeding migrant terns that grace our shores. Nesting along our sandy beaches, it feeds on ample supplies of small fishes and crustaceans from the sea. Presenting thee, a mini series of my humble shots of this fabulous subject ... Food! Spotting its mate, the female tern sparks in excitement Returning with its catch, this little tern homes in to hungry mate Flapping its wings exuberantly, this hungry female is expecting nothing less of a good meal Passing on its catch to its mate, the male proves itself capable of the art of a good hunt Threats of extinction The Little Tern is listed as an endangered species in many countries (eg. Australia). Like many other species of avian out there, their natural habitats are fast dwindling in our island state. Many of our costal shorelines are currently under the threat of construction/excavation work, leaving behind vast stretches of inhabitable beaches for these sea-birds. To add, human pollution of water sources and beaches are not doing much to help this struggling species too. I hope that by capturing these images, me and my fellow nature-loving photographers will be able to do our part in educating the importance of conserving nature habitats so that our future generations can too enjoy the beauty of this bird and learn to respect nature more. For your comments and viewing pleasure. Last edited by Avatar; 8th June 2005 at 01:07 AM.

8th June 2005	#2
wkcheah76 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Tanah Merah, Singapore Posts: 2,469	Pretty pretty Chua! __________________ "A closet Nykon lover"

8th June 2005	#3
hazmee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Teban Gardens Posts: 2,638	You people just cant leave the birds alone. Hehe... superb catch! You must have been eyeing on this bird for a long time I guess. Great effort. Cheers! __________________ The hideout // My flickr page

8th June 2005	#4
Garion Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: West side of S'pore Posts: 5,581	Simply stunning captures. Good action captured with clean background. The last 2 pics get my vote. Well done my friend! __________________ [ deviantart selections \| Photoblog ]

8th June 2005	#5
sumball Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4,226	Great photos!!!

8th June 2005	#6
walker Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: KayuTanah (w00dLaNds) Posts: 132	superb!!!! very nice catch......are u waited for so long for this shots? wish to how long u take to get those shots, mind to tell? thanx

8th June 2005	#7
benchang New Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 33	SUPERB!!!

8th June 2005	#8
Will03 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 4,411	wow........... great shots.........

9th June 2005	#9
Avatar Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Singapore / Taiwan Posts: 1,244	wk/hamzee/garion/sumball/walker/benchang/will03: Thank you. It took us some time to get this accomplished but it is well worth the effort. Your input is greatly appreciate.

9th June 2005	#10
fruitree New Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Singapore / Taiwan Posts: 45	The pics are lovely Took it at sungei buloh?

13th June 2005	#11
Avatar Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Singapore / Taiwan Posts: 1,244	Thanks fruitree. They are taken elsewhere

13th June 2005	#12
fengwei Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bukit Gombak Posts: 9,592	Oh man, don't know what to say. WOW!, I guess that's the only word when seen these pics. Thanks for sharing.

15th June 2005	#13
Avatar Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Singapore / Taiwan Posts: 1,244	Thanks fengwei, appreciate your kind comments.