In 1961, only a single pair of white terns — formerly called fairy terns — nested in Honolulu.
Throughout the decades, these seabirds continued to choose urban Honolulu as a place to raise chicks. Today, at 2,300 and counting, white terns nest throughout the city’s introduced trees, ranging throughout Waikiki, the civic center, Manoa and beyond.
Naturalist and author Susan Scott will give a PowerPoint presentation Monday (March 25) at the Lyman Museum in downtown Hilo featuring her latest book, “White Tern, Manu-O-Ku, and Urban Seabird,” in which she explains “how citizen scientists, researchers, government employees, educators, wildlife groups, writers, photographers, tree trimmers, birders, office workers, condo dwellers and others came together to help Hawaii’s white terns.”
Scott will share the heartwarming story of people gathering together to protect this cherished seabird twice, from 3-4:30 p.m. and again from 7-8:30 p.m. Copies of her book also will be available in the museum shop and she will be happy to inscribe them.
This presentation is part of the Lyman Museum’s Patricia E. Saigo Public Program Series. Admission is free to museum members; $3 for nonmembers.
The nationally accredited and Smithsonian-affiliated Lyman Museum showcases the natural and cultural history of Hawaii, and is located at 276 Haili St. in Hilo.
For more information, call 935-5021 or visit www.lymanmuseum.org.