4/30/2023 0 Comments Midway atoll![]() There is rarely a conflict since wildlife concerns come first. Data never comes before safety to wildlife. The motto of the National Wildlife Refuge System, "Wildlife First" extends to the spirit and execution of this census. Methods are essentially the same as they have been since the census began but as the habitat and the other species at Midway have changed through the years techniques have been adapted to collect better quality data and above all else to avoid harming any wildlife. This long-term data set has become increasingly valuable since two other Northwestern Hawaiian Islands census sites (Laysan Island and French Frigate Shoals) have not been easily accessible in recent years to count albatrosses. Since 1991, the annual census of Black-footed albatrosses or Ka'upu ( Phoebastria nigripes) and Laysan albatrosses or Moli ( Phoebastria immutabilis) on Midway Atoll has provided very accurate information regarding the numbers of nesting albatross pairs on the three islands at Midway Atoll. The Refuge contains physical monuments and numerous historical properties.īackground: The work conducted by the nesting albatross census team, or “Bird Counters” on Midway Atoll provides vital information found few places on earth to researchers, managers, conservation groups and the global community interested in preserving and protecting oceanic seabirds and their nesting habitats. The Refuge is also designated as the Battle of Midway National Memorial honoring the sacrifice of those who fought in the Battle of Midway on June 4-6, 1942. Midway Atoll is the site of the world’s largest albatross nesting colony as well as numerous other globally important species such as the federally endangered Hawaiian monk seal and Laysan duck. The Refuge is located within the Papāhanaumokuākea Marine National Monument, approximately 1350 miles northwest of Honolulu. The census occurs once each year roughly between mid-December and the first week in January (~20 days total). Finkelstein went on to work with ABC as a postdoctoral researcher funded by the Switzer Foundation to raise awareness of the impact of lead poisoning on Laysan Albatross and search for funding to clean up lead paint.About the annual nest census: The Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge & Battle of Midway National Memorial (Refuge) accepts volunteer applications for 12-14 individuals to conduct the annual nesting albatross census every year. Luckily, Keitt's wife, Myra Finkelstein, had the tools needed to sample blood from these chicks and prove definitively that lead paint was the culprit. “It was devastating to see these majestic birds with their wings dragging along the ground, knowing they would never survive,” says Keitt, who visited Midway in 2000 as a field assistant for his wife's dissertation research on contaminant impacts in seabirds. Lead is highly toxic and chicks that ate paint developed "droop-wing," a paralysis that made flight impossible and doomed tens of thousands of young birds to premature deaths. Young birds were once exposed to lead by eating paint chips peeling from the aging building. Laysan Albatross nesting around the Cable Station Mess Hall Building on Sand Island, Midway. The others are Short-tailed Albatross, a species listed as Endangered in the United States, and the Black-footed Albatross. The atoll's three islands are home to the world's largest nesting population of Laysan Albatross, one of three albatross species that nest on Midway. Set in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Midway Atoll provides essential habitat for millions of seabirds and hosts a huge diversity of species, including tropicbirds, terns, and petrels. ![]() The cleanup has been a high priority for conservationists because of the site's ecological significance. “Albatrosses are long-lived birds. This cleanup will improve their reproductive success on Midway, helping the population to recover.” “This is a huge conservation win, and the USFWS and others involved should be proud of this work,” says ABC's Oceans & Islands Program Director Brad Keitt. The atoll, home to the world's largest population of Laysan Albatross, has been declared lead-free after a decade-long effort to remove the toxic substance from buildings, sand, and soil. Albatross chicks hatching on the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge now have one less hazard to face on their journey to adulthood. ![]()
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