Adorable Sooty Tern Chick at Eastern Island (00004854)

Description: The Sooty Tern, scientifically known as Sterna fuscata oahuensis, is a fascinating bird species native to Eastern Island. Approximately 50,000 pairs of these elegant birds nest on Eastern Island. The female lays a single egg either in the sand or on the hard surface of the runway, a remnant from World War II. These birds breed in large colonies and stay on the open sea continuously for up to three years after fledging. Their only resting spots are driftwood or sleeping sea turtles on the ocean's surface. Sooty Terns are excellent hunters and captivate with their behavior and adaptability.

Location: Hawaiian Islands, Midway, USA

Date of Capture: 20.07.2001