Black-naped Terns Nest on Magong Breakwater; Penghu Birdwatcher Captures Full Record of Raising Chicks

A rare sight has emerged on a breakwater in Magong, Penghu, where a Black-naped Tern has chosen to nest and raise its young. This marks a significant observation for local bird enthusiasts, following a similar event several years ago when a Bridled Tern nested on a floating fish farm.

Penghu birdwatcher Tsai Ting-yu has meticulously documented the Black-naped Tern's nesting process on the breakwater's stone structures. This particular tern is a 'new mother,' undertaking the crucial task of incubating eggs and caring for chicks. The birds exhibit extreme wariness, employing a clever 'decoy' strategy if they sense human presence. They will feign foraging activity away from the nest to draw attention elsewhere, only returning to their young once the area is deemed safe.

Understanding the sensitivity of nesting birds, Tsai Ting-yu maintained a respectful distance, refraining from prolonged observation to prevent disturbing the parent birds and their offspring. He expressed a sincere hope for a peaceful and undisturbed breeding season, allowing the new life to grow healthy and avoiding the tragedy of nest abandonment. Tsai also issued a heartfelt plea to fellow photographers and birdwatchers, requesting they photograph from the shore and refrain from boarding barges or approaching the nesting area.

To protect this delicate situation, the exact location of the nest is being kept confidential. The Black-naped Tern, also known as the Black-tipped Tern, is characterized by its black eyes, beak, and feet, with a slightly white beak tip. A black line extends from its eyes to the back of its head. Its body is predominantly white, with greyish-white wings and back. These terns primarily feed on small fish and typically nest on islands or coastal areas, laying one to two eggs directly on rocks or sand. Both parents share incubation duties, with chicks hatching after about 20-27 days. Penghu, along with Kinmen and Matsu, hosts significant breeding populations, with an estimated 200-300 Black-naped Terns in Penghu annually.