Birds of the Massachusetts Coast

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"High-Tailing It" -- Display rituals–seen here between a pair of Roseate Terns in Maine–are an important element of courtship, serving to reinforce bonding between male and female. As noted, the long tails are a key distinguishing feature of Roseates. Over Memorial Day weekend in 2009 we took a morning's excursion from Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine to nearby Eastern Egg Rock. We weren’t able to land on the tiny island, but we saw birds in profusion.
Copyright © 2009 John Van de Graaff

"High-Tailing It" -- Display rituals–seen here between a pair of Roseate Terns in Maine–are an important element of courtship, serving to reinforce bonding between male and female. As noted, the long tails are a key distinguishing feature of Roseates. Over Memorial Day weekend in 2009 we took a morning's excursion from Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine to nearby Eastern Egg Rock. We weren’t able to land on the tiny island, but we saw birds in profusion.

Bird Photographs by John Van de Graaff