A tourist who pulled two fighting longtails from the water may have saved the birds’ lives, according to experts.Visitor Joy Hunter told The Royal Gazette she noticed a pair of White-tailed Tropicbirds fighting in the water near Horseshoe Bay.She wrote in a letter to the newspaper: “One had its beak in the other; they were totally waterlogged and struggling so I waded in thinking they would fly off but they didn’t.“I picked them up, freed them and let them fly off but worried they would be injured and not survive. Both did take off, although a bit slow and low.”She saw one of the birds return and perch on a rock in front of its nest shortly after, presumably drying itself off.Andrew Dobson of the Bermuda Audubon Society said Ms Hunter did the right thing, as the birds were likely battling for the nest.“This sort of behaviour by longtails is not uncommon and it involves two males fighting over the nesting holes,” Mr Dobson said. “Unfortunately it does sometimes result in a fatal injury for one of the birds.“Joy Hunter did exactly the right thing in separating the two birds but this is not always possible if they are fighting on the side of the cliff or in the water.”He said longtails are having a harder time finding nesting sites now, as the Island’s coastlines are more developed.“Longtail nesting habitat is restricted to small holes on coastal cliffs,” he said. “This habitat has been reduced by urban development and the creation of artificial sea walls.“Dogs and feral cats are a constant problem, while invasive feral pigeons often take over their cliff nest holes.“An additional problem is rising sea level and the increasing frequency and severity of major storms. This has resulted in cliff erosion and loss of traditional nesting holes.”The Audubon Society has provided several hundred artificial dome nests on cliffs around Bermuda in order to help support the longtail population.The nests are available for purchase for $125.www.audubon.bm.