Gull-Billed Tern
Gelochelidon nilotica
Even though the Gull-Billed Tern prefers to remain close to the oceanic coasts of North and South America, it is primarily a terrestrial feeder, often eating insects, crabs, and lizards. A recent breeder in San Diego, its residence and breeding activity is closely studied. Its presence here is a mixed blessing; as a terrestrial, not aquatic hunter, it sometimes preys on the chicks of the endangered California Least Tern and Western Snowy Plover. Biologists studying this species and its endangered prey, wish it would stick to one of its favorite prey species; the Pacific Mole Crab.
There are six recognised subspecies of these birds:
- G. n. nilotica breeds in Europe and northern Africa, and east through the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent, and China. They spend winters from tropical Africa through the Persian Gulf and India.
- G. n. affinis breeds in eastern Asia and spends winters in southeast Asia.
- G. n. macrotarsa makes its home in Australia. In winter, some roam to New Guinea.
- G. n. aranea breeds in the eastern USA and south to the Caribbean, and spends winters along the Central American coasts and south to Brazil and Peru.
- G. n. gronvoldi lives from northern South America to Argentina.
- G. n. vanrossemi breeds in the western USA in California, Mexico, and spends winters south to Ecuador.
Most of my meetings with Gull-Billed Terns have occurred while in the company of biologists studying these and other tern species. However, I’ve also met them at the Salton Sea in Imperial County (California).
36 Photos
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Normally, Gull-Billed Terns are solo foragers, and are rarely seen in groups. Photographing multiple Gull-Billed Terns in flight is not common. These birds were nesting in the Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 14:16 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/6000 |
File Name: JCD3556.GullBilledTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 13:51 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: Cut_JCD3443.GullBilledTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gull-billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: This image was collected as a contribution to the San Diego Bird Atlas project. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:02:10 11:44 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A3G02c01-GullBilledTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:17 12:06 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD8625.GullBilledTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Gull-Billed Terns are terrestrial foragers, as shown in this image with a Side-Blotched Lizard. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 14:34 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD3602.GullBilledTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Some parent-chick interaction. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 14:32 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD3588.GullBilledTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Some parent-chick interaction. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 14:31 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD3573.GullBilledTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 11:47 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/3 |
File Name: D3X4703-GullBilledTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 13:52 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD3450.GullBilledTern.Chick_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 13:51 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD3443.GullBilledTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(© 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com) |
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Description: Gull-Billed with Forster's Tern (Red Legs) at Chula Vista Bayfront Park in South San Diego Bay, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2005:04:15 6:40 |
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Location:
D-Street |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/9.0, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD0804ForstersGullBilledTerns |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Gull-billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: The weigh in, science in action. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 13:51 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 310 mm, f/9.0, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD0243.GullBilledTern.Chick_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern Chicks(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Brand new generation. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 13:50 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 280 mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 |
File Name: JCD0236.GullBilledTern.Chick_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 13:48 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 280 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD0228.GullBilledTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Unless at their nesting sites, group flight of these birds images are uncommon. Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 13:47 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 280 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD0213.GullBilledTern |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gull-Billed Tern Nest(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Gull-billed Tern nests are monitored very closely at the Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 13:46 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD0209.GullBilledTern.Egg_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Salton Sea along Lack Road. Imperial County near Calpatria, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:04:27 19:04 |
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Location:
Lack Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X7940-GullBilledTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Salton Sea along Lack Road. Imperial County near Calpatria, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:04:27 19:03 |
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Location:
Lack Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X7924-GullBilledTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertibrate Zoology in Camarillo, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:02 11:48 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/11.0, 1/3 |
File Name: D3X4704-GullBilledTern |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:08 13:00 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X2605-GullBilledTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:08 13:09 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/10.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X2675-GullBilledTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: This bird is on the hunt for the endangered Snowy Plover and Least Tern chicks nesting on the beach at Border Field, south of Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:02 11:17 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X1994-GullBilledTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: This chick is only days old at the Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:06:03 13:52 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD3450.GullBilledTern.Chick_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: At the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 9:02 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: GullBilledTern_D5X1209 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:11 6:21 |
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Location:
J-Street |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X6983-GullBilledTern |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: At the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 10:35 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/8000 |
File Name: GullBilledTern_D5X1662 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:08 13:00 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/10.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X2599-GullBilledTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Gull-billed Tern nests are monitored very closely at the Saltworks at South San Diego Bay NWR. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:27 13:46 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD0209.GullBilledTern.Egg_ |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Seen bringing Mole Crab prey back to feed chicks during Tern survey day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:08 13:08 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 400 mm, f/11.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X2667-GullBilledTern |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Brand new chick at the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 10:40 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 280 mm, f/6.3, 1/6400 |
File Name: GullBilledTern_D5X1708-Chick-Nest |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Brand new chick at the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 10:41 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: GullBilledTern_D5X1722-Chick-Nest |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: A chick has just "pipped" the egg a the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 10:40 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 280 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: GullBilledTern_D5X1702-Chick-Egg |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Banding chicks at the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 10:39 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 280 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: GullBilledTern_D5X1684-Chick |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Brand new chick at the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 8:58 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 280 mm, f/7.1, 1/4000 |
File Name: GullBilledTern_D5X1185-Chick-Nest |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Brand new chick at the South San Diego Bay Saltworks in Chula Vista California. Part of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:17 8:59 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 280 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GullBilledTern_D5X1189-Chick-Nest |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gull-Billed Tern(Gelochelidon nilotica) |
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Description: Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:05:11 6:17 |
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Location:
J-Street |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X6945-GullBilledTern |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
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