1576 TUVALU - Crested Tern

Located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia, Tuvalu, the fourth smallest country in the world, consists of three reef islands and six true atolls, with poor soil and limited fresh-water resources. As a result, indigenous plants are rare, as well as the animal life. Twenty eight species of indigenous birds are known, approximately 20 species being sea birds, a few of which are migratory. One of this birds species is the Crested tern (Thalasseus bergii), a seabird in the tern family that nests in dense colonies on coastlines and islands in the tropical and subtropical regions, in the area from South Africa around the Indian Ocean to the central Pacific and Australia

The crested tern has grey upperparts, white underparts, a yellow bill, and a shaggy black crest that recedes in winter. Like all members of the genus Thalasseus, the greater crested tern feeds by plunge diving for fish, usually in marine environments; the male offers fish to the female as part of the courtship ritual. This is an adaptable species that has learned to follow fishing boats for jettisoned bycatch, and to use unusual nest sites such as the roofs of buildings and artificial islands in salt pans and sewage works. The crested tern is highly vocal, especially at its breeding grounds. The territorial advertising call is a loud, raucous, crow-like kerrak.

The postcard reproduces a stamp from a large series of birds, issued on March 2, 1988.

About the stamp
The stamp is part of a series depicting corals, issued on October 12, 2006 and comprising 12 stamps.

References
Greater crested tern - Wikipedia

Sender:  Salvatore
Sent from Funafuti (Tuvalu), on ??.04.2015