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:

Honolulu

I'm back in Honolulu, getting ready for field camp! I head back out to the NW Hawaiian Islands next week...first flying to Midway and staying for a little bit to do some seal surveys, and then back to my home island, Laysan, until the end of August! Yes - 5 months on the islands...without fresh food or water! Insane...yes. I am excited about seeing the pups, and being able to know who belongs to who, and to finish up deworming!!

Saw VIII:


Ala Moana Beach:





Obligatory Hawaiian Rainbow:

A Little Bit of Aloha

Monterey and Ano Nuevo

Here is a movie montage of the aquarium and Ano Nuevo beach, where the Elephant Seals are hauled out for the breeding season.