A young black tern on its nest. Image note: side view.

Two young black terns in a nest, one eating a minnow.

Irene Finley with a camera on a tripod photographing a royal tern colony.

Irene Finley with a camera on a tripod photographing a royal tern colony.

Irene Finley crouching with eggs in her hands in the middle of a royal tern colony.

Irene Finley crouching with eggs in her hands in the middle of a royal tern colony.

Irene Finley crouching with eggs in her hands in the middle of a royal tern colony.

Irene Finley walking through nests in the sand in a royal tern colony near Aransas Pass.

Royal tern eggs distributed in the sand at a royal tern colony.

Royal terns in flight and on the shore with eggs visible on the sand in the foreground at a colony near Aransas Pass.