Fascinating Sooty Tern on Eastern Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (00004847)

Description: The Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata oahuensis) is a fascinating seabird species that inhabits Eastern Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Approximately 50,000 pairs of these elegant birds nest on the islands of Eastern and Spit. The female lays a single egg either in the sand or on the hard runway surface of Eastern Island, a relic from World War II. These Sooty Terns breed in a large colony and remain continuously at sea for up to three years after fledging. They rest on driftwood or sometimes on sleeping sea turtles at the ocean surface. With their graceful flight and hunting skills, Sooty Terns are captivating creatures of the seas.

Location: Hawaiian Islands, Midway, USA

Date of Capture: 17.07.2001