BirdNote Daily How Terns Read the Water
Jan 13, 2026
Terns have an incredible ability to read water to catch their next meal. Researchers used drones to track these skilled hunters as they sought out areas of turbulent water. Colliding currents create vortices that trap fish near the surface, making it easier for terns to snap them up. This fascinating observation reveals how these birds use surface cues as their map for locating prey. Their method of fishing showcases the intricate relationship between wildlife and the ocean's dynamics.
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Terns Read Water Patterns
- Terns read surface water patterns to locate prey rather than rely solely on chance sightings.
- Researchers used drones to reveal that terns target turbulent zones where currents collide and trap fish.
Drone Study Of Tern Foraging
- Scientists piloted a drone at 100 meters to track tern flight paths without disturbing them.
- The footage showed terns repeatedly flying to bubbly upwellings and vortices to snatch trapped fish.
Vortices And Upwellings Guide Hunts
- Terns preferentially dive where colliding currents form vortices that hold small fish near the surface.
- They also fly toward new bubbly upwellings because rising water can carry other prey upward.