Are There Birds that Nest Inside an Active Volcano?

Tropicbirds that nest on the slopes and cliffs around Kīlauea are striking, white seabirds with long, graceful tail streamers and bright beaks that stand out against the volcanic landscape; these birds, primarily the White-tailed Tropicbird and occasional Red-tailed individuals, exploit the island’s rugged coastal cliffs and lava-formed ledges for nesting, using rock crevices and sparse vegetation to shelter fragile single-egg nests from predators and wind. They forage offshore, plunging for small fish and squid, and their presence near Kīlauea highlights the ecological link between active volcanic terrain and productive marine waters, where upwellings and nutrient-rich currents support abundant prey. Despite the dynamic environment—periodic lava flows, ash, and gas emissions—tropicbirds show resilience, but their nesting success can be affected by habitat changes, introduced predators, and human disturbance, making careful protection of coastal nesting sites important for their continued use of the Kīlauea area.