Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea), Painted Rock Dam, Maricopa County

This Arctic Tern was photographed by Robert Witzeman on 10 July 1974

This tern was photographed by Robert Witzeman on 10 July 1974 and published on the cover of the Roadrunner in November 1975. David Stejskal just noticed this cover and thought the bird looked like an Arctic Tern. Amazingly, when Bob passed away, Janet Witzeman gave me many of Bob's original slides - and going through his many labeled boxes, I found a box labeled Forster's Tern - 10 July 1974 - and they were the originals!!!

At the time this would have been a third Arizona record, and it is a first for Maricopa County

ID Points:

10 July 1974, photo by Robert Witzeman