Terns and Noddies!

The island is full of terns and noddies. FYI: noddies actually nod all the time! I would love to find out why! They are always staring at their feet like they want to make sure they are still there! These are the smaller seabirds, and some flock in mass! The Sooty Terns return to the island during breeding season and circle their perspective nesting area for weeks looking and calling for their mates. They are really, really loud and obnoxious!

White Tern egg:


Newly hatched white tern chick:


Adult with young chick:


Adult and older chick - check out the cool 'do the chick is sporting:


Adult bringing back fishies for the chick:


Adult:


Gray-back Tern chick:


Brown noddy adult with small chick:


Older brown noddy chick:


Black noddy chick - note they nest in trees, while the brown noddies are on the ground:


Juvenile Blue-gray noddy - usually don't occur on Laysan:


Brown noddy adult on a misfit buoy: