Red-tailed Tropicbird

Red-tailed Tropicbirds are one of the sea birds that we monitor regularly. We have plots that are checked 2 times per week where we look for new nests and read the bands of any birds that we find on nests. When we find a nest we read the bird's band and put a spot of fingernail polish on its head. When we see the unmarked bird for the first time we read its band and after that we can use binoculars and look for the polish mark and know which bird we are seeing. Many of these adults are returning year after year to the same nest site. We also keep track of when the eggs are laid, when they hatch, and if the nest fails or the chick fledges. Using this information, hatching success, total reproductive success, and adult survival can be computed. The attached pictures are a collection of shots from in and out of our plots. These adults have a wingspread of about 3 feet. Notice the oleander in the background of the second picture. Unfortunately too many plants grow well here.