MASKED BOOBY DRAWING!

PRIUS

Meet Prius, the hybrid albatross! This unique bird is the product of a union between a Laysan albatross and a black-footed albatross, both of which breed sympatrically on Tern Island. The behavior of the two species is quite different, which makes Prius a very interesting individual. We presume that he is a male, because of his large size and weight, though we will find out for certain after some genetic analysis. In appearances, he is almost a perfect blend of coloration of the two species. He tends to socialize mostly with black-footed albatross, only his dance repretoire contains moves from both species, so he hasn't been successful in finding a mate (we're hoping for another hybrid to appear to keep him company) . His vocalizations also sound like a mixture between the two species. Laysan and black-footed albatross forage quite differently in the non-breeding season, with the black-footeds foraging mostly off the coast of California and British Columbia and the Laysan foraging throughout the North Pacific ocean. Well, being a product of these two species, the big question is: Where will Prius Go?? The answer might tell us a lot of genetics and the evolution of foraging behavior. He is now equipped with an archival tag that records a location once a day, and he will wear the tag until next winter. We wish Prius the best of luck in his foraging adventures around the Pacific and look forward to seeing his travels. Bon voyage, Prius!

Turtle Wrangling Video!

This little green sea turtle was trapped between the island's north sea wall and the sea, so we thought we'd round 'im up. It was a cowboy morning...

Red-tailed Tropicbird Courtship Display

Red-tailed tropic birds have an incredibly acrobatic and intricate aerial courtship display, where the birds literally fly backwards loops around each other while flagrantly showing off their long streaming red tail feathers.

"Heyy laadies..."

This male is looking for an available seat at the singles bar.

Greater Frigatebird

This male greater frigatebird blows up his red gular pouch as a courtship display to attract browsing females. The bigger, the redder, the better, so this male is sure to find plenty of potential mates (unlike the poor, withered sap in the background).

Beachside Villas for Crabs

Spider crabs and ghost crabs dig these holes in the sand to keep them cool during the day, from which they leave during the night to prowl the shores looking for mystery and mayhem.

'Tis the Season...

The birds (red-footed boobies to be precise) without the bees...

Footprints

Black-footed albatross dance video

Most albatross species have a highly ritualized, highly synchronized courtship dance that creates and maintains pair bonds over the years.

A displaying male red-footed booby distracts some neighboring greater frigatebirds. Both red-footed boobies and frigatebirds nest in trees, and they decorate the small island trees like rancorous christmas ornaments.

And the proud parent looks on...

White terns lay their eggs in extremely precarious locations, like in the fork of a skinny branch or on the edge of a windowsill. The parents distract potential predators (me) by fluttering around and above their head while jabbering away. I can't stop photographing them; they are just beautiful birds.

Watch out! He may be cute, but he's got a mean left hook!

The white tern chicks are growing up, too. Even the great Walt Disney himself couldn't dream up anything this cute.

The albatross chicks are growing like weeds! Many parents leave the chicks unattended to go forage at sea, and while left alone the chicks migrate from their nests to nicew clumps of shady, cool grass.... so watch where you step!

Three Muskateers!

The water around the northwesterners is unbelievable clear and vivid. When the sun is shining, you can't imagine anything being more brilliantly colored than this torquise blue water; it's even reflected in the clouds above the water.

Me, Sabrina and Colleen soaking up the sun, the water and the birds on East Island

Vroom! An action shot of Sabrina (from New Zealand) and I on our way to East Island.

This black-footed pair of dancers were giving quite a show on the tranquil shores of tiny East Island. Juvenile albatross court for years prior to breeding (birds don't start breeding until seven years of age) and the courting rutual includes a very coordinated, intricate dance that indicates the health and suitability of a potential mate.

GALUMP!

Albatross don't pitter-patter, they galump. (tip: turn volume up).

It was just after sunrise and this red-footed booby was full of yawns.

These little seabirds called white terns, or more appropriately, fairy terns are so curious, that often you'll get the feeling you're being watched, and you'll glance up only to find one, two or three of these guys fluttering a few feet above your head. They are magic.

What Tern Island and the French Frigate shoals looks like from some hundreds of feet in the air. Seabirds are attracted to these sand spits by the droves, and the islands are also havens for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and the green sea turtle.

Well, here I am flying into the French Frigate Shoals. Note that the pilots are wearing helmets and life vests. Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore...

Home sweet home! This is where I'll do all my snoring and dreaming for the next two months. Not bad for an ocean view, eh..?

Chicks! As soon as I arrived, chicks started popping out of the eggs like downy popcorn, and parents were quick to start providing meals. Parents feed their chicks meals of food converted to a liquid, oily substance with almost as much energy per ounce as deisel fuel. Thus, the chicks are growing noticeably by the day, by the hour, really. This black-footed albatross feeds mostly on fish and fish eggs while Laysan albatross, the other breeding albatross species on Tern, feed primarily on squid.

Cat in the Bag

Handling albatrosses is quite a handful, or more like two handfuls and two legfuls. This black-footed albatross is still mostly inside the pillowcase that we use to weigh him. If you look closely at the yellow band on its leg, you might be able to see an archival tag. These tags measure location once a day and wet/dry states, from which can determine foraging events.