Snake Mountains is actually a line of four reef islands winding through the sea like a snake. Another explanation for the name is that the water entering and flowing from the sea-eroded terrain in front of the main peak of Snake Island resembles the darting tongue of a snake. In the old days people could walk into the sea to harvest shellfish at low tide here, but now this area is part of the tern preserve. Birds that nest here include the roseate tern, bridled tern, black-naped tern, and greater crested tern, and the mythical Chinese crested tern. When summer comes, from the bird-watching pavilion you can see terns soaring in flocks and bathing on the beach, and you might even have a close-up eco-date with the rare Chinese crested tern!