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Forster’s Tern
Sterna forsteri


Description
Forster’s Terns are medium-sized slender white birds with black caps during the breeding season, orange legs, and a deeply forked tail. 

Range
Found only in North America, the Forster’s Tern breeds in northern California, south-central Canada, the interior of the western United States, and along the Gulf Coast.  The bird winters in southern United States, Baja California, and parts of southern Mexico.

Diet
Eats mainly fish in the Point Reyes area.  Will also eat dead fish and live and dead frogs. 

Natural History Facts
In Point Reyes, the Forster’s Tern is rare in the summer, fairly common in the fall and winter, and common during spring migration.  Some Forster’s Terns winter on Bolinas Lagoon and Tomales Bay, but the majority of terns in the Point Reyes area are transients.  Migration begins in early April and lasts until May.  Forster’s Terns breed in the San Francisco Bay from April until September with the first young fledging in late June. 

Bolinas Lagoon Population Trends
The number of Forster’s Terns on Bolinas Lagoon has increased from under ten birds in 1973 to about 115 birds in 1998.  Since then, the population has decreased to fewer than 80 birds on the lagoon.