Sooty Tern

Sooty tern (Sterna fuscata)

Wingspan 900mm body weight of 180g

Sooty terns or Wide-a-wake as locals call them are the most abundant sea bird here over summer around 100,000 of them. They are here from August to May. Lord Howe being the only place in NSW where they breed. Easy to find this one Neds Beach, Mt Eliza and North bay. Their eggs were once collected in the good old days for food.