Papahanaumokuakea and Tsunami 2011
Following a massive earthquake in Japan, a tsunami washed over the three low-lying islands of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge on March 10-11, 2011 affecting the lives of Hawaiian seabirds. Surveys reveal that more than 110,000 Laysan and Black-footed Albatross chicks (about 22 percent of this year’s albatross production) were lost as a result of the tsunami and two severe winter storms preceding it.
Midway Atoll is comprised of three islands – Sand, Eastern, and Spit Islands – 1117, 366, and 15 acres, respectively. Following the earthquake, the three islands were washed by four successive waves, the tallest of which was approximately 4.9 feet. The tsunami overwashed the fringing reef and Spit Island completely, and covered approximately 60% of Eastern Island and 20% of Sand Island.
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge provides significant habitat for over 3 million seabirds of 21 species. Fortunately, only 4 species were nesting at the time of the tsunami – Bonin petrels, a species that nests in burrows, the endangered Short-tailed Albatross (1 pair), Laysan Albatross (482,909 pairs), and Black-footed Albatross (28,581 pairs).
Wildlife losses at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge also include at least 2000 adult birds. Wisdom, a 60-year-old albatross that recently hatched her 35th chick survived the tsunami partly due to the elevation of her nest. Due to the Bonin petrels’ behavior of nesting underground it is hard for biologists to confirm the number of casualties. The Refuge is also important habitat for the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal, the threatened Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle, and a translocated population of the endangered Laysan Duck. Three Green Sea Turtles were found washed onto the interior of Eastern Island and were returned alive to the sea. Biologists are confident that, absent any other stressors, the Hawaiian wildlife population can rebound from this event. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Marine Debris on Midway
Midway Atoll is a small island located at the northwestern end of the Hawaiian Archipelago and is now part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. One would think that a 2.5 square mile island In the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, one thousand miles from the nearest big city, would be pristine. But, many Laysan albatross chicks die each year because their bellies are full of bottle caps, toothbrushes, lighters, and other plastic.
Many people think that the biggest source of pollution in the oceans is from oil spills, but most marine pollution is litter that starts out on land. Trash is washed into streams that lead to the ocean, and wind and currents carry it further out to sea. Sadly, every little piece of plastic manufactured in the past 50 years that made it into the ocean is still out there somewhere.
Albatross fly hundreds of miles in search of food for their chicks, looking for squid, fish, and fish eggs floating on the surface of the water. Unfortunately, plastic also floats, and Laysan albatross eat it, mistaking if for food, then they fly back to the nest and feed bottle caps, lighters, toys, fishing lures, and other pieces of plastic to their young. One study found that 97.5% of chicks had plastic in their stomachs, and 40% die of starvation or dehydration with bellies full of plastic.
Photographic artist and cultural activist Chris Jordan along with three colleagues filmed on Midway to increase the public’s awareness of marine debris and its effects on natural resources in the Pacific Ocean. By making changes now, we can reduce the amount of plastic that gets into our oceans in the years to come.
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best places on the main Hawaiian islands to view wildlife. The refuge was established for the protection of threatened and endangered species, and is home to the largest populations of nesting seabirds in Hawai‘i. Visitors also have a chance to observe Hawaiian monk seals (‘ilio holo i ka uaua), humpback whales (koholā), spinner dolphins (nai‘a), green turtles (honu), and native Hawaiian coastal plants.
Thousands of migratory seabirds use Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge each year for nesting, foraging, or resting. Laysan albatross (moli), red-footed boobies (‘a), brown boobies (‘a), red-tailed tropicbirds (koa‘e ‘ula), white-tailed tropicbirds (koa ‘e‘kea), great frigatebirds (‘iwa), newell’s shearwater (‘a’o), and wedge-tailed shearwaters (ua‘u‘ kani) all visit the refuge. In addition, the endangered Hawaiian goose (nene), and migratory shorebirds like the Pacific golden plover (kōlea) can be seen. Native Hawaiian coastal plants including naupaka kahakai, ‘ilima, hala, ‘āheahea, ‘akoko, and the rare ālula have been restored on the refuge.
The refuge operates a store filled with books, guides, exhibits, and educational resources, as well as maintains informative displays around the grounds, and conducts interpretive and environmental education activities. It is also home to the historic Kilauea Point Lighthouse which sits on the remanent of the Kilauea volcanic vent that last erupted about 15,000 years ago. Today, only a small U-shaped portion remains, including a spectacular ocean bluff. The National Wildlife Refuge system was established in 1903 to start conserving and recovering habitats and their wildlife populations. This is the largest acreage of public lands and waters set aside for fish, wildlife, and plants in the world – with more than 150 million acres, at least 1 refuge in every state, and nine in Hawaii.
State Of The Birds 2010
The 2010 State of the Birds report examines one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time – climate change. Climate change threatens hundreds of species of birds already under stress from habitat loss, invasive species, and other environmental threats. The report shows how climate changes will have an increasingly disruptive effect on bird species in all habitats, with oceanic and Hawaiian birds in greatest peril. Climate change is altering the natural world as we know it, and this report calls attention to the collective efforts needed to protect nature’s resources for the benefit of people and wildlife.
Oceanic birds (including albatross, tropicbirds, frigate birds) are among the most vulnerable species because they don’t raise many young each year, they rely on rapidly changing marine ecosystems, and they nest on islands that may be flooded as sea levels rise.
Hawaiian birds such as Puaiohi face multiple threats and are increasingly challenged by mosquito-borne diseases and invasive species as climate change alters their native habitats. On the main Hawaiian Islands, avian malaria and pox spread by introduced mosquitoes pose a significant threat to native Hawaiian birds, which have little natural resistance to these diseases.
Typically around 5,000 feet above sea level temperatures are below 55°F, and the malaria parasite will not completely develop in birds. An increase in temperature of only 4°F would raise the 55°F threshold by nearly 1,000 feet, and raise the risk of disease. Warming on Kaua’i would result in an 85% decrease in protected habitat, contributing to further declines among imperiled species such as ‘Akeke‘e and ‘Akikiki.
Birds are excellent indicators of the health of our environment, and right now they are giving us an increased sense of urgency about climate change. We can reduce the impact of climate change by taking immediate action to reduce carbon emissions and find creative conservation solutions to help birds adapt to the changes already in process. If we can help the birds weather a changing climate… we can help ourselves.
Hawaiian Birds and Laysan Albatross Starvation
Most marine pollution is litter that starts out on land. Trash is washed by rain into city storm drains and out into streams and rivers that lead to the ocean. From there, wind and currents carry our trash far out to sea. The amount of plastic floating in our oceans has grown dramatically over the last fifty years. Every little piece of plastic manufactured in the past 50 years that made it into the ocean is still out there somewhere. In the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, thousands of miles from the nearest populated city, litter is having a heavy cost.
In a perfect world (untainted by man) the Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) diet would consist mainly of fish, fish eggs, and squid. Parents obtain food out at sea by surface feeding and then return to feed their chick by regurgitation. However, in our world and the “age of plastics” their food is often attached to floating debris and the chick will likely be fed bottle caps, toothbrushes, lighters, pens, and toys. The awful truth is that the large amount of plastic crowding the chick’s stomach leaves little room for food and liquid. Of 500,000 albatross chicks born each year on Midway Atoll, about 200,000 (or 40%) die of starvation or dehydration with their bellies full of plastic.
Hawaiian Birds and Laysan Albatross Conservation
Laysan Albatross have made a major recovery from the first half of the 20th Century, when populations were decimated by feather hunters and military activity. Populations were greatly reduced by Japanese feather and egg hunters in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Untold numbers were killed as a result of military activities in the Pacific during World War II. Between 1954 and 1964, albatross were killed on Midway to reduce the risk of collisions with aircraft. And prior to banning drift net fisheries in 1993, tens of thousands were killed annually being caught in fishing nets and on hooks.
Over fifty percent of the total breeding population is nesting on the Midway Atoll, now part of the new Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument. Studies have shown that Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) chicks are eating lead-based paint chips peeling off of 95 buildings left on this island, and that as many as 10,000 chicks may be killed annually by exposure to lead-based paint. Many Laysan chicks that nest within five meters of building structures exhibit a condition referred to as ‘droopwing’ which commonly manifests itself in their inability to raise their wings. Chicks with droopwing will never be able to fly, and will die of starvation or dehydration. Other chicks within close proximity to buildings also suffer detrimental effects from lead exposure, such as immunological, neurological, and renal impairments, significantly decreasing their chances of survival.
In 1991, a 50 Nautical Mile Protected Species Zone was established around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (primarily to protect monk seals), and no longline fishing is allowed in this zone. In 2006 the Papahânaumokuâkea Marine National Monument was established encompassing all of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
The Laysan Albatross has been globally listed as vulnerable to extinction by the World Conservation Union. This species that lays only one egg each year and doesn’t begin to breed until it is 8 or 9 years old is slow to recover from increased mortality. But, the Laysan Albatross has recently expanded their breeding range, colonizing new breeding grounds on the main Hawaiian Islands, the Bonin Islands, and off the coast of Baja.
