Midway Atoll White Tern Gygis alba Perching

Sand Island, Midway Atoll, Northwest Hawaiian Islands, Pacific Ocean. White Terns Gygis alba (often referred to as Fairy Tern). Check out those tiny webbed feet :)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Sand
• Island
• Midway
• Atoll
• Pacific
• Ocean
• White
• Tern
• Gygis
• alba
• fairy
• tern
• birds
• sea
• hawaii
• Papahanaumokuakea
• Marine
• National
• Monument

[DebraHatle]

I live on Oahu, Hawaii and these are my favorite birds to watch fly. It's like they're dancing. I get to see them everyday. Thanks for sharing this video.!

[Lagolop]

DebraHatle

Midway is a very special place. As you know it is at the far north west end of the Hawaiian archipelago but is actually a territory (not part of the state). I think Midway is more fun to visit than the Galapagos Islands.

BTW, we love going to Oahu (north shore is really nice) although my favorite of the main islands is Hawaii :)

[kathie195]

@DebraHatle Lucky you for living in Oahu.. one of my favorite places to visit! I love these birds, I read somewhere they will actually land on your shoulder! do you know if that's true???

[Lagolop]

@kathie195

My wife had a Bonin Petrel land on her and refuse to get off. She walked around with this bird perched on her shoulder for around 30 minutes. The Terns will fly over to you and literally hover in front of your face looking you right in the eyes. Like a pesky mosquito.

[Lagolop]

@kathie195

Check this out.

watch?v=JXCRavhgGGs&NR=1

[Lagolop]

I love the binocular eyes. They really are something, and the tiny webbed feet :))

[DebraHatle]

@kathie195 Hi Kathie. Yes, I am very lucky! I've never heard of them landing on someone's shoulder but if they see something they find curious they will flutter over it and check it out. I saw it once with a little dog. So beautiful! Thanks for writing. Aloha.

[KIMZMAD]

oh, that white bird is breathtakingly beautiful! Reminds me of my hotot bunny, what a wonderful thing to see there, thanks for sharing,documenting!