Adult Elegant Tern at a private Audubon Sanctuary (off-limits to the public) in Hillsborough County, Florida, 23 May 2002.

The bird was found by Audubon wardens Ann and Rich Paul and Ann Hodgson during a breeding survey of the island. (Over 50 islands from Crystal River to Sarasota are surveyed during the breeding season, usually only one time each). To avoid disturbance to the breeding birds -- especially to American Oystercatchers, which are extremely susceptible to disturbance -- surveys are conducted by boat when possible.

The Elegant Tern was found in a mixed Royal and Sandwich tern colony. Knowing the significance of this event, Rich approached closer to the colony and observed the Elegant Tern in brooding posture, then get up from brooding an egg.

Lacking a camera, Rich called me at the office (with his cell phone), and Dave Powell and I rushed to the dock with cameras and videocameras. Within three hours, we were back at the colony, but the Elegant was not there, and a Sandwich Tern appeared to be in its place. (Brooding adults relieve each other every so often, to allow the other bird to feed). After a few minutes, Rich suggested we leave (we were keeping some Laughing Gulls off their nests, and the mid-day sun can "cook" unprotected eggs fairly quickly).

At that moment, the Elegant Tern flew in and walked over to where Rich saw it earlier. Unfortunately, the bird did not sit down and brood the egg, but got up and flew down the beach. We left the colony to avoid further disturbing the birds, but we did videotape the Elegant Tern as it preened on the beach.

The following videograbs confirm the presence of an adult Elegant Tern in a mixed Royal and Sandwich tern colony in Hillsborough County. In direct comparison with the two other terns, note the Elegant's much smaller size compared to the Royals, its much finer, down-curved, reddish-orange bill, and its shaggier crest. The Elegant Tern is not much larger than a Sandwich Tern, a few of which are to the bird's left.

It is hoped that photographs or videotapes of the Elegant brooding the egg, or perhaps later feeding the chck (if it survives), can be obtained by Rich Paul over the next few days or weeks, therby definitively proving breeding of Elegant Terns in Florida.

Digital videograbs (probably 30-60 power zoom) by Bill Pranty, 23 May 2002