The Albatross Almanac

Journey with me to sun-kissed, wind-spanked Tern Island of the French Frigate Shoals, where humans play second fiddle to the abundant wildlife. My time on Tern will last from late January to early April. I will be tagging Laysan and Black-footed albatross with GPS, satellite and archival tags to track their movements over the north Pacific as part of my post-graduate research project. I hope this blog provides a little window into the lives of seabirds and the people who study them.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

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!