This species will also nest in a nesting box. Birds and small mammals also nest in ivy. Pairs of owls will sometimes nest in loose colonies. The fledglings are able to fly short distances after leaving the nest. American red squirrels rarely nest below ground. Also, great grey owls may not nest in years of drought. Cuckoos have various strategies for getting their egg into a host nest. Gulls also compete with terns for nest sites. Most nest in trees, often with spoonbills or herons. The mockingbirds usually nest several times during one breeding season. However, they frequently nest in the trees as well. Each seabird species has specific sites on the atoll where they nest. Less is known about the range of nest predators. This species is largely silent away from the nest. It is one of the most aggressive terns, fiercely defensive of its nest and young.