Sunday Stills: Pets

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

Sunday Stills, the next challenge: Pets
Posted in Sunday Stills Challenge of the Week, the next challenge with tags Sunday Stills on December 5, 2010 by Ed

Well has it been 2 years already???? Last week was our 2nd anniverary and so as an annual challenge we are doing the pet thing again. Some of us have added new friends to our lives and a couple of us lost some, so lets see some pets and thanks for participating in Sunday Stills everyone…:-))

Sorry Ed, I don't have any pets. Here are the "pets" of New Zealand.

Yesterday, I went to Whatipu Scientific Reserve. I didn't see any endangered birds, but I saw some White-fronted Tern (Sterna striata). They were nesting and I saw some chicks. The birds were very protective of their young and at one stage, I thought a mum was attacking me.

The commonest Tern in New Zealand, present throughout the year, although a large proportion of young birds appear to migrate to Australia. In breeding adults the bill is black, feet reddish black. Body plumage, including tail, pure white, wings pearly grey above. Young birds in first plumage have variable mottling on the shoulders and a mottled pattern of black and white on the crown behind the eye. In wintering adults the black cap recedes with the replacement by white feathers, producing the same general appearance as in the young.