As we mark 55 years of taking action for birds in a changing world, we are proud to name the Elegant Tern as our anniversary bird. A lesser known seabird, but pivotal, its story helped shape the future of our work.
What Is an Elegant Tern?
You may have seen an Elegant Tern without realizing it. Along West Coast beaches, it can be mistaken for a small gull in flight at first glance, until a distinctive high-pitched call stands out and a black-capped, sleek silhouette glides by.
True to its poetic name, Thalasseus elegans, an Elegant Tern is a graceful seabird with a slender body, long pointed wings, a forked tail, and a bright orange bill. Along the Pacific Coast, they can be found gliding over the ocean or gathered in lively, chatter-filled groups on beaches and sandbars. These large gatherings serve as a defense strategy in the wild. By staying in numbers, terns increase their vigilance, spotting predators quickly and making it harder for any individual to be singled out.
They are skilled fishers, hovering briefly above the waves with precise timing before plunging at high speed to snatch small fish. Their agility allows them to twist and adjust mid-dive for a perfect catch.
The Elegant Tern is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to its highly-restricted breeding range. Historically, the majority of Elegant Terns nested on Isla Rasa in the Gulf of California, but in years with unusually warm seas and low prey abundance (such as during strong El Niño events in 2003, 2009, 2010, and 2014), nesting there failed or was greatly reduced, pushing the birds northward to California, according to a research article published by Science Advances.
Saving an Entire Generation
With few suitable places to nest, even small disruptions can have major consequences. In the summer of 2021, after their nesting site at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve was disturbed, a colony of roughly 10,000 Elegant Terns re-nested on two barges moored in the Long Beach Harbor. What looked to them like a stable, empty surface was a trap. Newly hatched chicks wandered off the flat-sided barges and fell into the cold water below. They were too young to fly and too small to climb back up. Without intervention, they would all have drowned or died from hypothermia. What followed became a case study in modern conservation for Bird Rescue.
Within days, Bird Rescue and an extraordinary network of partners mobilized. Boat teams patrolled the harbor, rescuing chicks from the water. After more than 600 terns were brought into Bird Rescue’s hospital, the team had to quickly find another solution to ease the strain on staff and resources while giving the birds the best possible outcome. Parents give chicks the best chance of surviving in the wild. Field teams innovated in real time, triaging cases on the barges and deploying floating platforms so chicks could climb out, recover, and be reunited with their parents. Over seven intense weeks, more than 3,000 young Elegant Terns were saved. An entire generation was protected.
Every chick raised in care received a red band in addition to its federal band, along with temporary paint markings to make them easy to recognize in the wild. Numerous re-sightings of these birds thriving have been reported, most recently in Alameda, CA, in August 2025.
This response drew on lessons learned over 55 years of wildlife rescue. Conservation succeeds when care for individuals scales to protect populations. It succeeds through early intervention, shared expertise, and partnerships that move faster than the crisis itself. It is moments like this when hope is built through action and rapid innovation.
Learning From the Past, Preparing for the Future
The Elegant Tern is our anniversary bird because its story reflects the future of our work. Birds today face complex environmental challenges that demand innovative conservation solutions. Seabird crises are becoming more frequent as coastlines change and food sources shift. These emergencies demand preparation, innovation, and collaboration across agencies, disciplines, and borders. By sharing knowledge worldwide, Bird Rescue has responded to repeated oil spills, pelican emergencies, mystery goo, algal blooms, bird flu, and large-scale habitat-driven rescues.
As crises continue to evolve, Bird Rescue remains committed to the idea that every bird saved is an act of hope. In celebrating 55 years and honoring the Elegant Tern, there will be opportunities to learn more about these resilient seabirds and how to protect them. By working together, just as terns thrive in numbers, we strengthen the future of birds in a changing world. Join us by taking action for birds today.