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Black
Noddy or Noio Noddies get their name from nodding. They have a dark brownish black body with a white cap and can be found on three of the offshore islands in Kailua Bay. They grow to about 15' in length and have a wingspan up to 28". This medium sized seabird has black legs and a long wedge-shaped tail. |
The
Black Noddy is one of the rare tree-nesting seabirds!
| Black Noddys are inshore surface feeders but they also eat small fis up to 3" long that are driven to the surface by larger predatory fish such as tuna. The Noddy skims the surface to eat the smaller fishl!
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Noddies
in courtship nod their heads and exchange fish!
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Breeding begins with head nodding and the transfer of fish. The nest is usually built with twigs and leaves in ironwood trees or they might re-use an old nest. However, on the Kailua offshore islands they nest on the rocky ledges or in sea caves. |
| Only a single speckled egg is laid and duties are shared for incubation which lasts for about 36 days.The Black Noddy chicks are brooded for many days after they hatch but after three weeks the adults time with them is primarily for feeding. The chicks start to grow plumage for flying at this time but feeding by the adults continues for several weeks.
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