But were they to escape, they would not find sufficient krill and ice to maintain a wild population in the islands. Breeding Visitor Species Fig. 2. Dispersal of the 13 breeding visitor species when not breeding. Visiting species that come to Hawaii to breed are basically pelagic, that is, living on the open ocean. They come to land to breed, but depart again as soon as parental duties end.
None appears at any other land during nonbreeding season.
First-year birds of most species remain at sea for 3 years or more before returning to breed. Breeding visitors are the albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels, terns, and some tropicbirds. Other seabird species, including boobies, frigatebirds, and noddies, are classed as residents since they remain based at their breeding areas throughout the year, going to sea usually for only a few days at a time. Origins of the 155 visitor species that do not breed in Hawaii. A great many birds that breed elsewhere depart their nesting grounds after chick rearing is finished, some wandering freely and others following traditional migration routes.