WHITE TERNS • MANU-O-KU
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Manu-o-Ku
White terns (Manu-0-Ku in Hawaiian) are Honolulu’s bird.
White terns seem to enjoy “nesting” in kukui-nut trees, and the HNS makai playground has four kukui-nut trees!
White terns do not make nests, but find a puka (indentation) on a branch. That branch becomes the “natal branch.”
As the natal branches are just above our heads, everyone at HNS gets to watch the parents choose (and sometimes fight over) branches, warm the egg (35 days), feed fresh sashimi to baby, and care for their chick as no other parent can!
As white terns can hover, not unlike hummingbirds, they are as angels.