06-18-2008, 05:43 PM
For what it's worth, I can can vouch for the richness of this area. About 8 years ago, I was fortunate to stay on Midway Atoll for 4 days in November when the Laysan and Black-footed Albatross return for their winter breeding season. The density of birdlife is incredible! Midway has the largest albatross colony in the world! (The Black-browed Albatross in the Falkland Islands have the second largest colony, I think.) There's something about the deep water coral that attracts the monk seals, and the green sea turtles abound there. This is an unbelievably special place.
Laysan Ducks were recently introduced to Midway from Laysan Island and their breeding success has been a great story. These ducks, which subfossil evidence shows were on the major islands, are now only found on two islands of the NWHI archipelago.
Here are some great videos taken recently at Midway by one of the plant survey team members:
http://www.hear.org/temp/starr/birds/midway/videos/
The first video is wonderfully reminiscent of what it's like there when the albatross are in town. We stayed in the converted barracks in the background.
Laysan Ducks were recently introduced to Midway from Laysan Island and their breeding success has been a great story. These ducks, which subfossil evidence shows were on the major islands, are now only found on two islands of the NWHI archipelago.
Here are some great videos taken recently at Midway by one of the plant survey team members:
http://www.hear.org/temp/starr/birds/midway/videos/
The first video is wonderfully reminiscent of what it's like there when the albatross are in town. We stayed in the converted barracks in the background.