Laysan Albatross

Tag: Laysan Albatross

Wisdom’s Newest Chick: One of Three Million Reasons to Restore Midway Atoll

The New York Times features the world’s oldest known wild bird, Wisdom the Laysan Albatross who has hatched a new chick in Midway Atoll. Still, the presence of invasive mice remains a persistent threat. Nearly sixty-five years ago, Wisdom a Laysan albatross, was first identified and banded by researchers on Midway Atoll in the North […]

Written by on March 11, 2021

Rare Endangered Albatross Takes Flight from Midway Atoll

Jonathan Plissner recently witnessed a rare event—the fledging of a Short-tailed Albatross on Midway Atoll. In celebration of the first World Albatross Day, he shares his thoughts on this event and hopes for the future. Short-tailed Albatross are one of the rarest and most endangered seabirds in the Pacific. Most of the global population breeds […]

Written by on June 19, 2020

Celebrating World Albatross Day

The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels launches World Albatross Day on June 19th, 2020. Island Conservation’s mission is to prevent extinctions by removing invasive species from islands. We work with local communities, government management agencies and conservation organizations on islands with the greatest potential for preventing the extinction of globally threatened species. We develop comprehensive […]

Written by on January 17, 2020

Wisdom Returns to Midway Atoll Once Again

Wisdom, the world’s oldest known wild bird has returned to Midway Atoll to nest once again. On December 10th, 1956, Chandler Robbins, bird biologist on Midway Atoll, banded a young female Laysan Albatross. In 2002, that same biologist returned to Midway and found the same bird nesting behind the old Navy Bravo Barracks that he […]

Written by on December 10, 2019

Return of the Albatross to Midway Atoll

The start of fall means Black-footed and Laysan Albatross are beginning to return to Midway for yet another breeding season. After a long hot summer, seemingly endless days of the sun beating down upon Midway’s islands, fall feels right around the corner. For just a brief period, Midway is largely void of nearly all seabirds. […]

Written by on October 10, 2019

Buds, Bugs, Birds: Science of Conservation

Research on Midway Atoll seeks to uncover the hidden impacts that invasive mice have beyond seabirds to the ecosystem-wide impacts on bugs and plants. Midway is the world’s largest albatross colony and provides globally significant breeding grounds and migration stopover points for more than 3 million birds from nearly 30 different species. Midway is a […]

Written by on October 9, 2019

Walking Among Seabirds and Historic Buildings on Midway Atoll

Island Conservation project manager, José Luis Herrera, shares his experience on Midway Atoll as he maps out the infrastructure and watches in amazement of all the seabirds that rely on the atoll. During certain times of the year, airplanes traveling from Honolulu to Midway have to land at night to avoid any interference with native […]

Written by on September 30, 2019

Predatory Mice Threaten Midway’s Wildlife

Control efforts on Midway Atoll have helped protect native wildlife from invasive predatory mice, but removing the mice is the only way save the world’s largest Laysan Albatross colony. This was something we had never expected to occur. Mice preying on adult albatrosses simply hasn’t been recorded here.” – US Fish and Wildlife Service From […]

Written by on September 17, 2019

Birds on Midway Atoll Each Have a “Personality”

The birds of Midway Atoll are defined by their quirky characteristics. Each species has its own unique and fascinating traits. One incredible thing about Midway, when compared to other islands I’ve visited, is the sheer number of birds present. Since there are birds everywhere, it is impossible not to interact with them and begin to […]

Written by on September 17, 2019