god of wind, calmed the winter ocean
breezes so she could nest and raise her
young on the surface of a calm sea.
Today, we know that the kingfisher
nests in the ground, not on the sea.
Nevertheless, we continue to honor the
Greek myth, with the belted kingfisher
bearing the scientific name megaceryle
alcyon after the goddess and the term
“halcyon days,” signifying a calm or
happy period. What could provide a
better memory than halcyon days spent
watching a belted kingfisher hovering
above a Kiawah lagoon in search of its
next meal?
Least Tern
It’s hard not to admire the spunky least
tern. Given its name because it is the
smallest of the terns, it weighs only
about an ounce to an ounce and a half
with a body approximately nine inches
long. By comparison, the largest tern
can weigh as much as 24 ounces and
measure up to 23 inches long. Though
small in size, the least tern is large in
determination.
Listed as a threatened species by the
State of South Carolina, the habitat of
least terns has long been under attack
from vacationers who inadvertently step
on the shallow scrapes these birds create
as nests in the sand. These ingenious
avians compensate by nesting on flat
gravel rooftops and even on the Ravenel
Bridge, creating scrapes with gravel or
broken clam shells dropped by gulls.
These homes, however, are far from
ideal as they present their own hazards.
Kiawah is among the few areas in the
State where least terns can be found in
their natural setting. The quiet beach
at the east end of the Island provides a
perfect spot for them to nest with few
disturbances. They usually lay eggs
only once a year, but if something goes
wrong, a least tern couple will try again,
re-nesting up to three times in a season
until they succeed. These little birds
provide a real lesson in persistence! NK
WINTER/SPRING 2020 • VOLUME 42
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