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Regurgitated food samples from 41 fledged or unfledged juvenile Bridled Terns breeding on Nakanokamishima Island, South Ryukyus, were investigated in 1986 and 1987. A total of 204 individual prey items consisted of 190 fishes, 13 squids, and 1 insect. Small fishes were the most important prey of the Bridled Tern, most being smaller than 6 cm in standard length. The five most important prey families were Exocoetidae, Clupeidae, Ommastrephidae, Lobotidae, and Mullidae, in descending order. There was no dominant, specific prey. Seventy-five (37%) of 204 prey items were small fishes known to associate with drifting seaweed. Such fishes were found in 17 of 41 juveniles.The relationship between the feeding behavior of Bridled Terns and floating objects such as seaweed was discussed. |
