Stand-Off On The Sand

Least Terns (Sternula antillarum) nest on South Carolina beaches, just above the high tide line on flats of mixed shells and sand. Their nests are little more than a small depression and are especially sucesptible to predators and human disturbance. Despite their dimunitive size, Least Tearns are feisty. Today while walking the permiter of a protected nesting area I saw a stand-off in progress. A ghost crab attempted to charge a nesting tern. For about 10 minutes the crab charged and retreated. The paired terns fought him off, defending their nest. After dive bombing, squawking, poking and blocking, the female was finally able to rest easy on her nest. No doubt, the crab will come calling tomorrow. Not lions and zebras on the Maasai Mara, but the same principle...all animals face a struggle for survival.