Eastern Island

It really is biologically interesting to visit Eastern Island. On the trip over I potentially see huge manta rays, Hawaiian monk seals, and spinner dolphins. Furthermore, Eastern supports a greater variety of nesting birds than sand island. The cacophony of sooty and grey backed terns is evident even before I set foot on the island. Imagine hundreds and thousands of sparrow size birds with long sharp beaks flying around and screaming calls at you. The island really is amazing. It almost makes me forget the fact that it is such an important historic and cultural monument too. The island has changed tremendously in the last 65 years. During the Battle of Midway, Eastern Island was the home of the runway and most of the human infrastructure. Now, the runway is overgrown with grass and only one small shed remains. Only a monument marker honors those who fought to protect the atoll. Yet, the great biological legacy of Midway hums on. The same birds species that nested 65 years ago, still remain. In fact it is even possible that an albatross witness of the Battle of Midway is still alive and returning to the very same area to nest each year. In any case, it is a treat to head over to Eastern and on this last occasion I was glad to be moving planting supplies (fences, plants, stakes). In the process, these are a few of the pictures I took.

Welcoming reception by sooty terns

The view looking back at Sand Island
Sooty tern chick.


Myself holding a small sooty tern chick.



One of the the three constructed wetlands on Eastern. These wetlands were built in 2004 as habitat for the imported Laysan teal. Which reminds me: if I see a Laysan duck on Midway does it count in the birding world? I'm not on Laysan island, so it may not. Than again, I've seen some of the specific individuals who were brought over. Does that count or is Midway the equivalent of a large aviary? I reckon that is a very esoteric question. Moving on...
About 20 recently fledged ducks were in one such constructed wetland and pond. You can tell they are young hatchiers, because they only have a very small white colored ring of feathers around their eyes. Adults will have very large white rings and in some cases their whole head is a mottled white.

One albatross chick that most likely died as a result of swallowing too much plastic.
I have always heard about the behavior of frigate birds, but was not sure I would ever witness it. Usually their diet consists of gainfully caught fish snatched from near the ocean's surface. At other times they commonly steal fish from other tropic birds or terns in flight. Lastly, they are know to catch and eat the chicks of other seabirds. On this occasion I witnessed a frigate steal a very large sooty tern chick and carry it off. Totally incredible... and rather upsetting since I was only minutes before been holding a similar chick in my hands.

The view heading down the pier to the waiting boat.
Last, but not least. A small endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal that swam over to our boat to check us out. The light was was not perfect since it was still in the shade of the pier. Ah well. They really are cute creatures.