Seabirds are adapted to life at sea, catching fish for food. Many have waterproof feathers and webbed feet and feed by diving for their prey. Some sea birds (like Sooty tern and Frigate birds) are long-distance fliers, spending most of their life at sea, many miles from land, while others (like Fairy Terns) feed closer to shore. However, all seabirds have to return to land to nest and raise their young. The best places for them to breed are small islands with no introduced predators like cats or rats.
Seychelles small islands are nesting grounds for about 12 species of seabirds. Many seabirds breed during the southeast season, from April or May onwards. Species like the Lesser Noddy and Sooty Tern form large breeding colonies, with many thousands of birds all breeding at the same time in the same location. Others, like the Fairy Tern and the White-tailed Tropicbird, breed alone in pairs at different stages of nesting and chick-rearing all year round.
Nature Seychelles coordinates the Seychelles Seabird Group to facilitate the sustainable management of seabird resources in the Seychelles.
