The ‘Foolish’ Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus)

The specific name stolidus is Latin and also means "stupid" or "foolish". Like with many seabirds, their scientific name originates from sailors who ate the birds and their eggs. Lack of exposure to humans lead to the birds having no fear or instinct to defend their nests, which the sailors took for stupidity.

The Brown Noddy, known for its distinctive courtship behavior involving nodding and bowing, visits Cousine Island annually. Breeding season spans from May to September, during which adults select nesting sites in coconut palms or on the ground. While primarily colonial, they typically nest in elevated locations such as cliffs, short trees, or shrubs, with occasional ground nesting. Each breeding pair lays a single egg per season.

Outside breeding months, Brown Noddies are predominantly pelagic, rarely approaching land. They feed near the water's surface, preying on small fish and opportunistically capturing prey driven upward by larger predators. Cousine Island hosts nearly 3,000 breeding pairs, with chicks initially dark-colored, though a small percentage hatch white before maturing to brown.

Foraging involves agile swoops over water to catch small squid, mollusks, aquatic insects, and fish like sardines and anchovies. They also supplement their diet with fruit, particularly from screw pine trees. Cousine Island provides a vital sanctuary for these fascinating seabirds, offering birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts a rare glimpse into their breeding behaviors and ecological roles within the Seychelles' rich biodiversity.