Boobies of the CNMI

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Boobies of the CNMI COMMONWEALTH of me NORTHERN MARlANAS ISLANDS • Farallon de Pajaros (UrI'cas) MaUl Red-foato:l AsUllclon 500bies .. Agrlhao • Alama!lan GugUlln 4 Sarigan _ Aoatahan 'd:':l:~1;;'711a ~saiPan , Tinian IDENTIFICATION schools of tuna because tuna force small fish -Aguiguan The Brown booby (5ula /eucogaster) is the most to the surface of the sea. Boobies often follow Masked 5006~ 5ula dacrylatra common booby in the CNMI. It has a wingspan tuna as they share the same prey. Rota of about four and a half feet. Adult Brown REPRODUCTION Major nesting colonies boobies have white breasts. Females have a The Brown booby and Masked booby lay thier *AtI * Brown ft Red-Footed yellowish bill and males have a grayish green eggs in a shallow nest depression in the bill. The Red-footed booby (5u/a su/a) is the ground. The Red-footed booby builds its nest smallest of all the boobies with a wingspan of on top of shrubs and lays a single egg. Booby about three feet. In the CNMI, adult Red­ parents share incubation duties by incubating footed boobies are mostly white with brown the eggs with their feet. The booby chicks beg 5006~ wings. They have pale blue bills and red legs Brown for regurgitated meals from their parents. 5ula /eucogaster and feet. The Masked booby (5u/a dacrylatra) is the largest of all the boobies with a wingspan THREATS and CONSERVATION over five feet It is white with a brown or black Commercial and recreational fisheries are threats to boobies. Many boobies are caught edge on the wing feathers and a yellow bill. ARTIST while trying to steal bait off long lines of DOUGLAS and PRATI HABITAT FEEDING hooks. Others are trapped inside of trawl nets, Boobies are found the world over, primarily in gillnets and by offshore trollers. Over-fishing the tropics. Boobies are pelagic seabirds that impacts seabird populations, as they must fly come to the shores of the CNMI to nest and further from shore to search for food. roost. Boobies feed on fish and squid by Predators and habitat alteration are other diving into the water. They like to feed near threats to boobies. Rats, cats, dogs and pigs feed on the adults, chicks and eggs of boobies. On Rota, the Red-footed booby is illegally poached. Gunfire and rock-thrO\,ving disturb its nesting area. Habitats may be altered due to • : _ 'A development, pollution, and military operations. "J. •• The commercial fishing industry is developing .'--When boobies face you methods to help reduce seabirds as bycatch square-on they look crosseyed. (non-target species). Preventing the Brown The Spanish word "bobo"means treesnake (Boiga irregularis) from establishing in clown and the British seaman's the CNMI will promote seabird conservation. slang term "booby" means stupid, Brown Boof::y, Mating Pair Boobies are protected by federal law under the FACTOIDI -i-~ Migratory Bird Treaty Act. ThIs proJ«t WQ5 fundftJ by a gfao/ U~f rhe WJldfife Cansel"llll/an and Restaratian Program from the U.S. Fish and WJldllf~ sPrVtc~. admlnb/~f~ by thp CNIttI DIvision of FIsh and ~~ WJldllf~. ~PDn~ntof Lands and No/ural R~SDUfC"', For fUfthPf InfarrrtQtlon canlDCt eNNtI Division of FIsh and WJldllf•• Lower Base. P.O. 80. 10007, 5alpon. Nt.P P6950; 670-6604·6000. -------------------------------------------' .
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