Frigate Song

Flippin' Frigates

Frigate birds are sort of like the predatory birds of the NWHI. Many, especially juveniles and adult females, exhibit kleptoparasitism - they steal other birds' catch. They harass all the other seabirds when they return to the island, as they are usually coming back with a full belly to feed their chick. Frigate birds also tend to molest other birds for fun times, possibly. The males develop a bright red, blood-engulfed throat sac during mating season to attract his mate, and make awesome vocalizations. Females pick males - usually the ones with the best nest and biggest/brightest throat patches get lucky. Then, both parents tend to the egg and chick, feeding the chick for over a year!



A male courting a flying female:





A juvenile:








On especially windy days, frigate birds ride the thermals:

Happy Halloween!

Highland Art Center Photography Exhibition

I entered these 3 photographs into Weaverville's Highland Art Center annual juried photography show, October 30-November 21...and I won!! The elephant seal bull fight from the Farallones was picked as Best in Show (I got a prize, too!) and the white tern flying photograph was picked as an Honorable Mention. The photo of the weaner monk seal sleeping was accepted into the exhibition, as well!

Black foots and Bonins

Black-footed Albatross are another endangered species found in the NWHI. Laysan has quite a few breeding pairs! Like Laysan Albatross, these birds have an elaborate mating dance and usually establish pair bonds for life (or at least for a long time). Both parents take care of the egg and chick, coming back every week or so to feed the fluffball. It is really common to see several chicks run up to a returning adult and beg for food - and those chicks often get clobbered. Also, the adults "discipline" chicks that are roosting nearby their own. Ouch!

Chickie getting fed:


Chick with a good view of the rainbow:


King of Laysan?


Discipline:


Bonin Petrels return to Laysan in August to get ready for the next breeding cycle. They establish lifetime pair bonds and return to the same burrow every year. They dig everywhere! It is really hard to find places to walk without crushing a burrow - so we always have to dig it out cuz a bird is very likely in there. Females lay in January and both parents incubate for about 2 months until the chick hatches. Bonins time their reproductive cycle as to not overlap with shearwaters who also dig, and are much bigger and outcompete the petrels. Wedge-tail shearwaters return in the spring and often evict or kill Bonin chicks.

Bonin Chick:


Bonin butt:


Bonin molting into grown-up plumage:

Laysan Albatross

Laysan Albatross tend to return to the islands in Oct-Nov to find their mates and start their dances. Once they find their mate, they lay one egg and incubate it (taking turns) for about 2 months. Once the chicks hatch the parents continue taking turns with the chick (alternating flying as far away as Alaska to feed) until it is old enough to thermoregulate. Then, chicks are left alone while parents leave and return every week or so to feed them. Fledging occurs in late June thur July for most chicks.


Chickies practicing:



Sky call, part of the mating dance:


Family:




Older chick:


Adult:

Aloha!

So, I made it back to the "real world" in one piece, and mostly sane. I spent March thru August on Laysan Island, in the NW Hawaiian chain...so about 930 miles NW of Honolulu. This year I was camp leader for the Hawaiian Monk Seal population assessment study. We have just over 200 seals, including the 28 pups from this year.

Laysan is about 1 x 1.5mi and 7mi around. There is awesome diversity of habitat on island, including a volcanic rock ledge, a shipwreck, vegetated interior, hypersaline lake, and lots and lots of beach.

Aerial view of Laysan, north end of the island on the bottom:


I spent 10 days on Midway before leaving for Laysan. The Kahana (the ship many people know from the show Lost) brought be down to the island. Here is the Captain's, Mario, pirate flag:



Camp was moved to higher elevation...err farther away from the waves for winter:





My Tent:


New Lua...stinky
View from the Lua:

Life at Midway

More Midway! Yes, I work in Papahanaumokuakea!! I know how to pronounce it now, yeehaw!


My rig - yea I've got a trunk big enough to stick my bike in.


Albatross mates:


Green Turtle:



Male Frigate Bird:


Albino Laysan Albatross chick:

It's black, it's white...

At Midway Atoll, it don't matter if you're black or white. Or a hybrid. Video of black-footed albatross, Laysan Albatross, and a hybrid performing their mating dances.

Battles of Midway

By battles, I mean lots of love... I am stationed at Midway Atoll for about 10 days surveying the monk seal population on the islands here. Sand Island is the main island where the people live (workers who keep the island running, FWS and volunteers, researchers, contractors, etc.). Eastern is about 1/3 the size of Sand, and Spit is very tiny. All 3 have monk seals! This is my luxurious detour before heading back to Laysan Island for the next 5 months. Here, I get the best home-cooked Thai food, lots of cookies, juice, bed, bathroom, showers, freshwater I could want! I also get to ride a bike and drive a golf cart!! Oh, and there is a bowling alley, movie theater, and bar on island. Yes, I went bowling, already.

The albatross are still in pairs, caring for their young chicks, and are still displaying/dancing to their mates (who they might be paired with for 20+ years).



Gooney Love: a hybrid Laysan and Black-footed Albatross


White Tern:


Invasive yet pretty canary - a large population came about after a few residents, a long time ago, set free their pets before moving back to the mainland:


Box Jellyfish washed up: