In the Buttermilk Channel, the small tidal strait between Governors Island and Brooklyn, and in the surrounding habitat, terns feed on small fish, such as Summer Flounder. Like most fish, Summer Flounder (also known as Fluke or Paralichtys dentatus) hatch with an eye on both sides of their bodies, and as they grow older one eye migrates around so that both eyes are on the same side. They are left finned, meaning when they lay on the bottom with both of their eyes up, their left fin is up, while Winter Flounder are right finned. Flounder camouflage to the bottom of the strait, laying flat on the bottom with their eyes up so they can ambush smaller fish swimming by.
