The Spectacular High Divers of Carillon Stonegate Ponds!

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Have you walked the paths around or between the Carillon Stonegate ponds or sat on your deck in the morning and noticed that crazy, aerobatic diving bird!
It is not a seagull, although it is in the same family.
It is a Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne Caspia). And what you are seeing are these birds feeding.
According to All About Birds and the Audubon Society (my sources for information in this blog), the Caspian Tern flies over water with bill pointing down before it plunges itself into the Carillon Stonegate ponds to catch fish.  You may actually see these birds hover over the water prior to plunging below surface of the pond to catch fish. If you have not experienced this sighting and event, keep a watch out for these birds. Or listen for  a low harsh sound similar to a "kam" or "kraa-ah".



Caspian Tern diving to surface of Carillon Stonegate Pond to feed.

While Caspian Terns are basically white – similar to seagulls; they are characterized by their large coral red bill and black cap on the top of its head.
Photo by Elizabeth Nishiura on FeederWatch.org.


Interesting Facts About Caspian Terns:
  1.  Caspian Terns are part of the gull and tern family.
  2. The Caspian Tern is the largest tern in the world with a wingspan averaging 31 inches.
  3. Caspian Terns can be found across the globe and are found on all continents except Antarctica. And yet we find some visiting our Carillon Stonegate Ponds!
  4. They are found on both fresh and salt water; they favor more protected waters such as bays, lagoons, rivers, lakes and ponds, but not usually the open sea.
  5. It is quite graceful in flight - flying with deep powerful wing-beats and resulting in a strong and swift motion.
  6. The world's largest breeding colony is on a small, artificial island in the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington; there is a sizeable colony near Lake Michigan in Chicago – our terns may be from that colony.
  7. The oldest recorded wild Caspian Tern was at least 29 years old; although the average life span of Great Lakes Caspian Terns is estimated to be 12 years.
  8. They feed primarily on fish – which may explain their interest in our Carillon Stonegate Ponds (they do not abide by our “catch & release” policy!).

Range Map by Birds of North America via All About Birds.org.

For more information on Caspian Terns and sources of information used in this blog (these are the sources that I am using to learn as I blog), please visit All About Birds and Audubon Society.  And the Cornell Lab of Ornithology provides a wonderful source of information for anyone interested in learning more about birds.
The Carillon at Stonegate community is very fortunate to have a variety of wetland, forest and prairie environments conducive to a variety of birds and other wildlife. Our community and the Kane County Forest Preserve does an exceptional job in maintaining this natural environment – both for the benefit of the birds and wildlife and for our residents to enjoy. Take a hike and see what you can find – and identify!
And please come back to our blog – “Life on Carillon Stonegate Pond” to learn more about the birds and wildlife the either live or visit this wonderful habitat.
And please come back to our blog – “Life on Carillon Stonegate Pond” to learn more about the birds and wildlife the either live or visit this wonderful habitat. As I learn, I share with you.

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