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All the United States Hawaii Honolulu County Tern Island

Tern Island

This airstrip atoll is uninhabited by humans, but absolutely full of birds.

Honolulu County, Hawaii

Added By
Cara Giaimo
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Street View of Tern Island   Map Data © 2018 Google 
Street View of Tern Island   Map Data © 2018 Google 
Aerial view of Tern Island.   Mint Images-Frans Lanting/Getty Images
Aerial view of Tern Island   Bill Wood
U.S. Coast Guard at Tern in 1953.   U.S. Navy
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About

Tern Island, a 26-acre atoll in Hawai'i, used to be almost entirely taken up by a naval airstrip that was built in 1942 and abandoned four years afterward, following a tidal wave. Later, the Coast Guard used it as a navigation station. 

Before, after, and (presumably) during these military tenures, the island was frequented by many other creatures: green turtles, monk seals, and birds, birds, birds.

Airstrip construction entailed a massive reshaping of the island, leaving it eerily flat and rectangular, but the birds don’t seem to care about that. As you can see on Google Street View, they’re lined up in scores-deep regiments, as if putting on a show of force.

Where most view-able places would have buildings, bus stops, or fire hydrants, on Tern Island there are only birds—on the sand, in the bushes, in the air, and floating just offshore.

Related Tags

Islands Abandoned Birds Technology Animals

Community Contributors

Added By

Cara Giaimo

Edited By

Meg

  • Meg

Published

March 14, 2018

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  • https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/google-street-view-tern-island-hawaii
Tern Island
Honolulu County, Hawaii
United States
23.86967, -166.284477

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Hawaii

Hawaii

United States

Places 78
Stories 32

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Hawaii

Hawaii

United States

Places 78
Stories 32

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