Perched high on the crater rim of Rano Kau, competitors would have to descend the rocky cliffs to the sea and swim out to the tiny islet of Motu Nui. There they would have to steal an egg from a sooty tern's nest and then return it back to the village by the volcano. The first one to make it back with an unbroken egg would be proclaimed the birdman for the year and would be worshipped by the natives.