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Cuddling Care

A blue-billed white tern, or manu o Kū, tends to a coddled two-day old downy hatchling peeking out from under its wing. The manu o Kū is an arboreal nesting seabird that thrives in urban Honolulu. Monomorphic parents alternate fishing and nesting duties. Adults fish up to 120 miles offshore and return with fresh provisions rather than devouring then regurgitating a meal for their chick. This avian behavior was known to Polynesian voyagers and other seafarers. A landmass that may be out of view over the horizon could be located by following these birds conveying their catch back to their nestling.

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Uploaded on October 18, 2025
Taken on October 16, 2025