During sea days on our cruise, I would periodically check the sea for sea birds. On this occasion I observed a Brown Noddy trying to hang on to the Radome of the cruise ship. Eventually the wind blew the Noddy off the Radome and away it flew into the ocean.
Radomes are the big white
balls on top of cruise ships. A Radome is made up of two parts, a Radar and a
Dome, hence the name Ra-dome. The dome covers the radar equipment protecting it
from the weather and hiding it from guests.
The Brown Noddy is a dark-bodied tern of tropical offshore waters, rarely seen from mainland. They breed in colonies on rocky and sandy offshore islets. Sometimes found with offshore feeding flocks of boobies and other terns. They feed by picking from the surface, not plunge-diving like most terns.
Adults are solidly dark brown with a white cap. The white is limited to the forehead on immature. Cornell All About Birds
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