Photo exhibition “Terns – graceful shuttles” in Directorates of Pavilniai and Verkiai Regional Parks
26-07-2022
The terns are the most common by the rivers, lakes, fishery ponds, the Curonian Lagoon and at the Baltic seaside. While some solitary couples can be observed in the natural areas of Vilnius, such as Buivydiškiai and Zujūnai ponds and the Nėris river. There are five tern species in Lithuania, however the most common is only Common Tern. Whiskered Tern, White-winged Tern, Black Tern and Little Tern also breed in our country. These species are rare and included into the national Red book. Whiskered, White-winged and Black terns breed in shallow and muddy water bodies. While Little and Common terns prefer open sandy, peat or low-grass-covered islands. The terns prefer living in colonies. They feed preferably on small fish, and hunt for prey by constantly flying above water surface. Insects might take a significant part of the ration of some terns.
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Although terns quite commonly can be observed by water-bodies, however some lesser experienced people confuse them with seagulls, which are event more common and the species also have some resemblance. The seagulls are bulkier and often crowd around agricultural machinery on fields or feed in landfills. While terns are more graceful, have slender bodies and scissors-like tails.
Lithuanian Ornithological Society has organised photo competition “Terns – graceful shuttles”. The competition aims to educate society and promote protection of the terns. Nature photographers could submit photos of all species of the terns. Many photographers have submitted to the competition many unique photographs documenting the gracefulness of the terns’ world. The contestants captured their social structure, acuteness of their hunting, exclusive features of their appearance, and important issues of the nature conservation.
The photo exhibition “Terns – graceful shuttles” was organised by Lithuanian Ornithological Society, State Enterprise Inland Waterways Authority, Nemuno Kilpos Regional Park Administration and UAB “EKO STOMA”. It is a part of the project “Adjustment of key stakeholders’ capacity for improvement of Common and Little terns conservation status in Lithuania (LIFE TERNS )” (LIFE17 NAT/LT/000545). The project is co-funded by the EU LIFE programme, Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Lithuania and project partners.
The project aims to improve breeding population of the Common and Little Terns in the areas important for their protection through proper management of their breeding sites and other protection measures.
Contact person: Gediminas Petkus, e-mail p. gediminas.petkus@birdlife.lt
