Nordmann's tern is a type of gull. Its flying capability is extremely clever. Long-distance flights over water are one of its natural talents. Every winter, the North Pole Nordmann's tern, born at the North Pole, flies towards the South Pole and then flies back home in the summer. The distance covered in this long journey measures 22,000 miles. This distance remains the greatest in the migration of any type of bird.
With such capability the Nordmann's terns' range of food isn't limited to the coastal areas where they rest. Except during breeding, the birds venture far from the nest. You may often see them go far out to sea to "make a living." Seeing the bridled terns and the black-naped terns, and knowing their eating habits, the fishermen of Penghu head their boats in their direction to gather fish. The yield is often more than would be expected.
The eating habits of Normann's terns vary from species to species. Let's take a look at the few species which may be found on Maoyu: The Philippine noddy likes to fly low over the sea. As it eyes its prey both claws reach into the water to make the catch as its wings flap about providing balance and support. Afterwards, the prey is swallowed whole. The Nordmann's tern and the black-naped tern are like two fighting planes over the sea. They first hover around in the air waiting for their prey. Once they spot it they make a vertical dive. After they get their hands on the prey they quickly apply the brakes, then soar back up into the air to savor the victory.
Normann's tern, whose body length is most similar to that of the dove, breeds mostly in the north temperate zone. Both Penghu and Maoyu are located in the tropics so the large number of Nordmann's terns which have nested and proliferated there for many generations is remarkable.
On Maoyu, the bridled tern and the Philippine noddy make up approximately 99 percent of the gulls. During the winter, most leave for a period of time. There's no evidence as to whether they go a great distance to look for food, or go south for the winter. At the beginning of March, the Philippine noddy is the first to return to Maoyu. In April, the bridled tern returns to breed. On account of this order the Philippine noddy usually makes its nest on the high cliffs while the bridled tern has no choice but to make its nest on the grassland.
The Bridled tern soars dashingly above the sea. （photo by Jack Chang）
After low tide, the marine life that remains behind on the sea platforms is one of the reasons Nordmann's terns pay a visit.
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