Many of us got real excited this afternoon. We saw a freighter plowing through the water……the first other ship we have seen in the open seas in weeks.

Seabirds: TheGreat Ocean Voyagers….Isabelle Groc

Isabelle went on a Race Rocks (in B.C.)excursion on birding Oct 5, saw Pomarine Jaeger & Common Mure but were looking for the short-tailed shearwater (not a very striking bird). It is Australia’s most abundant seabird. It nests there but it travels 15,000 to 17,000 kms per year. It can travel 11,000 in 13 days across the Pacific. It has a wing span of 1 metre.  It is also called a mutton bird in Australia because it is said to taste like mutton.

359 seabirds live and feed at sea or close by.

Fairy tern, angel tern is the size of a robin but wing span of 1 metre.  Polynesian sailors followed white terns cuz they could count on them to return to shore.

Albatross’…do not ever kill an albatross or it will be the harbinger of a bad voyage. They have a 2 metre wing span and have difficulty taking off from land.

Midway atoll is now marine reserve.  Huge percent of worlds albatross breed here .  Short tailed albatross almost endangered but they trying to encourage more to come. They mate for life, having a very different courtship routine. It is done to identify the mate of choice. Each of the pair go to sea for sometimes 6 months, then on returning to colony they need to be able to reconnect.  They have 1 chick per year…..travel 1500miles to forage.  80% hatch but only 30% survive.  “Wisdom”…oldest is at least 73 years old .  She has been seen dancing in 2024 looking for her third mate.

Importance of atolls for seabirds…. 37 species of seabirds in world …25% of tropical seabirds of the world… 14 on atolls.

Red-footed boobies….fly hundred of kms …..

Sooty terns have a loud call that sounds like “wide awake”.  Fly non-stop….thousands of kms, sleeping while flying.  They only come to land to nest.

Brown Noddy.

Frigatebirds…2 metre wingspan, long curved beak.  Cannot dive….must glide just above water or ….…..steal from other birds.  The chicks are raised in nest for 4-5 months. Between 1950- 2010 they have declined by 70%…..Caused by invasive species, bycatch in fisheries and climate change. Extreme heat …..change ocean currents causing washing machine effect and intensifying storms. Rising sea levels ….nest on the ground. After hurricane Helene some were found 1600 kms away in Indiana. They feed on plastic and so end up dying.

To help improve the chances of increasing the numbers, they are removing verbesina plants cuz they are invasive and the birds can’t find their nests. Also doing beach cleanup. Thet are also working on a program to relocate albatross from low lying atolls higher locations to have them survive.

White terns in Honolulu have been increasing since 1961, partly because there are lots of trees in Honolulu and the rat population is kept in check.

Talk about next port of call…Akutaki -8-4pm tender and only 66% humidity with 26C.

1782 pop is less than number of this ship.  86% English speaking, rest is Cook Islands Māori. 

It is a fringing reef with extremely deep outside  so cannot even anchor. The channel is only wide enough for 1 tender at a time.

 Right…private vehicles to taxi you.  Also limited supply for boat ride.

ATM available.

Lagoon is the biggest draw.  So swimming in the lagoon. Urea beach for swim not snorkelling.  Tamanu,  O’tou beach for snorkelling.

Nonny juice, bush beer is very strong, 

Purchases in port is not much of a market but in town is much better.

Taaka means please.

Town is less than 1 mile, beaches

Kutekute Shuttle to 1 Foot Island  from Ootu Beach…70 USD

1.67 NZD = 1 USD