I “ The Whitest “
The whitest species
nearly exterminated
in order to adorn hats
black crowns stout bills
stocky bodies
white underparts
moderately forked tail
upperparts pale
raspy sharp, “ge-rek”
catching insects
casual to accidental
while concealing detritus
hatching and hiding
in dense small ends
being fed by both sexes
distinctly whistling,
“ whee-you “
II The Second Largest
The second largest
early summer adults
shaggy black forked tails
seen snatching
food from pouches
squawking monogamous
pumpkin-orange
mixed colonies
mottled dark markings
roosting on bars
pinkish tinges on underparts
gray outer margins
following the common
“ kik-kik-kik “
in breeding season
almost complete
hovering when feeding
generally wreathed
frosty wings
III The Smallest
The smallest
yet very protective
of its nests
seen divebombing
screeching
and releasing
droppings
dusky carpal bars
swooping
capturing prey
regurgitating
airy wing beats
buoyantly
and gracefully
hovering
however briefly
then dipping
down and seizing eels
lined with debris
pale to buff green
marshes prairies
strange grays
attached ear patches
squeaky, “ ka-sheek “
following people
uneven foraging
stopping and starting
long winged
dried stalks and reeds
pairs heard singing
in late evening
camouflaged by coloring
while loafing on beaches ...
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