Least Tern Chesapeake Bay New Point Comfort Virginia

New Point Comfort Lighthouse

The least tern is a small gull-like bird that flies along the shoreline in a hurried and darting like pattern. It will hover and plunge head first after minnows and small fish. They were hunted to near extinction in the late 19th century for their distinctive forked-tail feathers that were used to accent designer hats and headwear.

New Point Comfort beach is an important nesting habitat for the least tern. Their eggs can often be found sitting in small depressions in the sand within beach grasses and needlerush. Eggs that are disturbed by sun bathers or dogs will often be abandoned by the least tern.