7-11-07

Photo of the Day: One Little Bonin Petrel. This little guy likely recently fledged and was on its way to the ocean. The bonin petrels were nearly eradicated on Midway as a result of the introduction of rats. The rats were eradicated and as such the bonin population has rebounded to more than 100,000. They are nocturnal burrowing birds and are totally unwary of humans. Unfortunately, they come out at nights and are confused by human lights. As such they, often run into buildings and thuds are frequently heard at night. But in general, since they let you hold them, they are delightful birds. They are mostly done nesting on Midway and are less frequently seen or heard these days.