I have been looking for White Fairy Terns or Manu-o-Kū in the parks and trees of Downtown Honolulu.
From January to July, the trees on the grounds of civic buildings, parks, and courtyards in Honolulu become nesting sites for manu-o-Kū, literally the bird of Kū. Kū is one of the four major gods in ancient Hawaiʻi and is god of war, governance, and leadership.
The easiest place to see White Fairy Terns (Gygis alba) during nesting season is on the grounds of ʻIolani Palace, the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, Hawaiʻi State Library, Honolulu Hale, Kawaiahao Church and the other civic buildings, churches, and parks in the heart of historic Honolulu. But they also are known to breed in Kapiolani Park, Waikīkī, the University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa, Nuʻuanu, and elsewhere on the south side of Oʻahu.
The terns are pelagic seabirds who fly far out over the ocean often for days at a time.
During the breeding season, pairs can often be seen flying in tandem circling Honolulu and venturing up the valleys.
Manu-o-Kū can be seen on the grounds of adjacent historic buildings in the civic center of Honolulu that are landscaped with large trees.
White Fairy Terns (Gygis alba) are indigenous to Hawaiʻi and the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In Hawaiʻi, the vast majority of the birds live in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. They were first noticed on Oʻahu in 1924 and their numbers and range have expanded ever since.
Remarkably, the only place the terns breed in the main Hawaiian Islands is on Oʻahu — and not in the remote parts of the island but in urban center of Honolulu! Because of the birds’ affinity to the city, Honolulu has adopted manu-o-Kū as its official bird.
The State of Hawaiʻi lists White Fairy Terns (Gygis alba) as threatened. In 2005, the population was estimated at 15,000 breeding pairs in Hawaiʻi, with largest populations occurring on Midway (7,500 pairs), Nihoa (5,000 pairs), Laysan (1,000 pairs). On O‘ahu the population was estimated at 250 breeding pairs.
The birds are named “white fairy terns” for their graceful appearance and flying ability. The birds don’t seem to mind urban activity and thrive in human modified environments.
Manu-o-Kū have a black ring of feathers around their bulging eyes which makes their already huge eyes look ginormous. They also have a really sharp black beak that turns blue at the base.
The birds are amazing to watch hovering in mid-air high in the tree tops.
The terns have a life span of 16-18 years and begin looking for a mate after the 3rd season. The birds form lasting pair bonds and mate for life.
Food offerings are part of the courtship and demonstrate the bird’s parental ability and hunting prowess. Surfers at Ala Moana sometimes see these terns hovering 10 feet over the water and skimming the surface to catch prey.
When I zoomed in to see what it was — a long slender needlefish — the female stepped forward with its clawed webbed feet to accept the offering. Webbed feet enable the seabirds to dive and swim in the ocean while claws at the end of each toe enable the bird to grasp the tree without fail.
Manu-o-Kū have expressive eyes and engage in a number of charming courtship gestures that are entertaining to watch.
Breeding season is generally in January through June with pairs laying a single egg at a time.
The birds do not build a nest. Instead they lay a speckled egg in a knot on a tree, a crook in a branch, or other feature that secures the egg. Both parents incubate the egg for about 36 days in shifts lasting from 48 to 72 hours long.
When baby chicks hatch they are mostly brown in color and covered with a fuzzy down.
Chicks require lots of food so the parents take turns watching and hunting for the chick.
When the chick becomes a week old, providing food becomes full time work and the chick is often left unattended.
But its parents always return with a tasty a meal — in this case a long needlefish. Unlike other birds who regurgitate partially digested food, the terns feed their chicks fresh whole prey.
The slender needlefish was longer than the chick itself and was it was amusing to watch the chick struggle to swallow its meal.
After several minutes of head jerking and wing flapping the chick finally succeeded. See the video at the end to watch the cute little chick swallow the needlefish whole.
Chicks grow rapidly over the next few months and begin to turn white.
Adult feathers begin to sprout and the chick flaps its wings to strengthen its wing muscles. Even after the chicks fledge parents continue to feed their chick for up to 2 more months until it can hunt and fend for itself.
White fairy terns are beautiful birds that are fun to watch. The next time you’re in Honolulu, take an urban hike to the heart of the civic center and look up. A fascinating drama plays out in the trees amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. What an amazing seabird!
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SOURCES
Kū, God of Prosperity, God of War, HawaiianLife.Com
Manu-o-Kū or White Fairy Tern (Gygis alba), Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaii
White Fairy Tern (Gygis alba) Hawaiian name: Manu-o-Ku
Surfers see White Fairy Terns Catch Prey at Ala Moana, Personal Communication with David Chatsuthiphan, UnRealHawaii.com
Population structure in the Pacific White Tern: Source identification of the newly established colony on Oahu Island, Norine Yeung, Marine Biology
Threatened tern an appropriate choice as city bird – By Heidi Bornhorst, Star Advertiser
White Tern, Gygis alba, Fairy Tern, Manu-o-ku, Bishop Museum
Great write up and video Nate. We’re always amazed how this seabird is able to thrive in urban Oahu.
Wow! Mahalo for the avian story! I’ll be looking for the White fairy Terns now!
I loved this article and pics! I think I fell in love with yet another bird and can’t wait to get back to Hawaii. thank you
There’s a mating pair that shows up regularly on the KCC campus.
Ahh yes… there are lots of big trees on the grounds of KCC which the terns like.
Great research and presentation, Nate.
While hovering above, these birds look quite elegant, and the babies so cute – and I did’t even know they were our city bird. Well, I always learn something from you, keep on your good work!
Hi Nate!
Great photography as usual along with really interesting information. I have always admired how they hover but had no idea of the interrelated background of this bird with Hawaii and its history. Thank you.
Bob Wai
Fabulous, Nate! I love watching these beautiful birds fly – so graceful, and seemingly playful. A pair returns annually to the same tree on Bishop St (on the edge of Tamarind Park). I saw a chick last year, and another this year. Mahalo plenty, Nate.
Hi Nate
Thanks for the great photos and info. My wife and I purchased a couple of Manu-o-Ku prints from you awhile back and still love them. Read our story below:
A neighbor of ours was recently ready to trim a giant mango tree when we discovered it had a baby Fairy Tern chick in it, just a fuzzball. The trimmers were there and ready to work; we asked the owner to delay and she agreed. The trimmers were not happy and said they would just pick up the chick and move it closer to the trunk. I implored them not to do that, they said they had done this many times and it worked. The owner agreed to a one or two week delay, for which we were very grateful.
Then we checked with Audubon who said it was unlawful to disturb in anyway any Fairy Terns in their egg incubation or care of the baby, which could be for quite awhile, certainly more that a couple of weeks. The law protecting Manu-o-Ku is administered by the DLNR. We informed the owner with great appreciation for her decision to delay, but I don’t think she was happy with the info that she would have to delay it quite awhile until the chick had fledged. But it’s nice when the beauty and needs of nature trumps human business.
Good job! Thanks for saving the poor little chick from eviction! Hope you are enjoying your prints!
Beautiful birds! Such a pleasure to watch them in flight.
Now I know more about the life of Fairy Terns…thanks to this presentation.
Does anyone know how to properly care for a found orphaned baby White Tern?
I found a one week old alone, on the ground in Kapiolani park, no parents in sight and away from any tree’s.
I’ve been carrying for her ever since with warm clean bedding, freshwater guppies and fresh sashimi.
I’m already two weeks in and I hear it’s two months till they can fend for themselves !
The chick however, is gaining weight and starting to molt to white feathers.
Any helpful tips ?
Mahalo for caring for the chick!
The Hawaii Wildlife Center rehabilitates native birds such as white fairy terns. Take a look at this this link.
http://www.hawaiiwildlifecenter.org/rescue-injured-bird.html
What a wonderful, heartwarming story about a bird I had never heard of. A friend had an spiritual encounter with one manu-o-ku a few days ago. It dive bombed (seemingly) her and circled several time and then came up close and hovered in front of her face for about 3 minutes. It returned 2 more times. She took a picture and looked it up hence my discovery also. Your narrative was so interesting and I will now look for it in Manoa. I will also add the manu-o-ku to the kolea which I learned about recently. Birds of a feather, flock together! Mahalo nui loa for sharing.
Nice article Nate! Eric Vanderwerf’s study estimaed 500 breeding pairs in 2003, They are probably even higher now. Here is his article: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1676/03-028
Great pictures and video, Nate, and well researched commentary. Is there a way to distinguish between the male and female?
I’ve been observing these elegant birds for a number of years on my work campus. We have two to three pairs nesting in a small kukui nut tree and two pairs in a monkeypod tree.
The monkeypod pair has a nesting site that is about 20 feet away at eye level when viewed from the fifth level of the parking garage. I’ve been able to take some feeding and wing flapping pictures of the young bird as well as some videos.
My equipment is a Canon D7 with 70-200 mm zoom lens with an addition of a 1.6 tele extender (borrowed from a friend). What do you use Nate?
Jai
I watch these beautiful birds everyday outside my lanai near Ala Moana Park/Magic Island. They are so graceful. Thanks for sharing.