Nesting along the sandy fringe of the North American coast from Maine to Florida, terns are graceful symbols of our coastal beaches, yet they lead fragile and frantic lives. Join educator, storyteller, and photographer Peter Trull as he describes the physical and behavioural differences among the four types of terns that nest in the Cape Cod area, their migratory habits and predators, and why they are called birds of paradox. Both a photographic journey and an ornithological diary, Trull describes his ten-plus years watching, recording, and photographing these birds from Massachusetts to the coast of Guyana. More than 100 photographs depict day-to-day life and never-before-seen behaviors from inside the dynamic, noisy nesting colonies. This engaging book offers momentary glimpses into the complexities of these erratic, agile seabirds - seemingly carefree but always on the hunt - and their struggle to survive. AUTHOR: Peter Trull has been involved in research and education for over four decades. He was education director at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History and the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies and is currently researching the Wilson's storm petrel. SELLING POINTS: * An ornithological diary describing the fragile, yet frantic, life of terns * 140 photographs document the daily life of the colony and its struggle for survival * Covers the breeding, nesting, migration, and predation of these graceful seabirds 141 colour images.