Photo Uploaded: May 13 2007 01:12:39 GMT Taken: 2006:12:17 11:57:40 Manufacturer: Sony Camera: DSC P72 Aperture: F10 Shutter: 10/5000 sec ISO: 100 Flash: No
Flying High - A Midway White Tern
I was looking though my Midway photos again and came across another friendly white tern (Hawaiian Name: Manu O Ku). On Midway the little birds often fly nearby to check you out. When the white terns approach, they make a sound that is much like the plucking of a rubber-band. They often hover just out beyond arm's length and then deftly swoop in for a closer look. Some say they may even come in and land on your head or an outstretched arm if you're patient enough. Although this never actually happened to me, I think their willingness to approach humans makes such contact possible.
http://www.hear.org/starr/hibirds/images/thumbnails/html/gygis_alba.htm http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/cwcs/files/3.29.05%20Fact%20Sheets/White_fairy_tern.pdf
Thanks PP, there were many pictures I attempted to take of this bird that just didn't turn out. Thankfully this one did :). Thank goodness for digital photography.
What a wonderful experience! I was up at Ulupalakua ranch (on Maui) a few days ago, and a pueo swooped in for a closer look at me. I thought of your postings here, and I wished I had my camera in hand at that moment, but he was fast and was beyond my reach in just a few moments. His face was wide and flat, with both eyes looking pretty intense right at me.
Yes Fhelsing, The bird and I just happened to be lit for that translucent effect. I credit Mother Nature. The white terns do happen to be almost magic birds. It is probably why some people refer to them as "fairy terns" although technically that name usually refers to a different bird altogether.
It is true, some people call this bird a fairy tern. However, in order to avoid confusion with another bird also called the Fairy Tern (Sterna nereis) http://birdsinbackyards.net/finder/display.cfm?id=255 , many in the birding community have tried to have people be more specific about calling this bird (Gygis alba) the White Tern instead.
Of course, Sterna neresis is rather range specific to Australia and New Zealand so if someone mentions to you that they saw a Fairy Tern in Hawaii you can be pretty sure they were referring to Gygis alba.
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