Laysan duck parent and chick
Cleaning a seep
Koloa pōhaka (Laysan Ducks) rely on freshwater seeps and guzzlers. Every FOMA membership supports the continued return of volunteers who perform essential conservation tasks — keeping fresh water available and protecting wildlife at Kuaihelani.
💙 Join
friendsofmidway.org/fb-donate-me...
#Birds
Wisdom’s Grandchick
Son N333 (2011) has a chick of his own (Feb 2026).
This offspring is already banded—a small tool that helps important work: tracking & protecting seabirds over time.
Soft feathers. Strong legacy. #Birds
Learn more about Wisdom's legacy:
friendsofmidway.org/wisdoms-line...
Behold two endemic Hawaiian species, both found at Haleakalā National Park: the ʻamakihi and the ʻiliahi (Haleakalā sandalwood).
And what a pretty day that was, James!
#HawaiiBirds #HawaiiParks #Amakihi #Iliahi
Earth Day Special
T-shirt now-April 30.
Kuaihelani artwork by Caren Loebel-Fried: Laysan Albatross diving for squid.
Carry love for conservation beyond Earth Day. Your purchase supports FOMA’s mission.
Unisex T-shirt OR
Women’s T-shirt
Multiple colors
Gone April 30!
fomastore.printful.me
#Birds
“Sooty terns…are often keen to find out what you are doing in their territory…Sooty tern juveniles look completely different to their parents! When they first fledge they are brown with white speckles, only gaining their iconic black and white plumage around 4 years later.”
Sooty tern in flight
Sooty terns on the sand
‘Ewa‘ewa (Sooty Tern).
USFWS volunteer Sophie Elliott: “During the breeding season, around 75,000 pairs nest on the ground on Eastern Island…[when] finished breeding, they head back out to sea & won't be seen again until the following breeding season.”
More in comments.
#Birds
The work of volunteers, off- and on-island, is essential to protecting the wildlife and habitat of Kuaihelani.
Throughout April, we’ll be sharing stories from volunteers on- and off-island and the inspiration behind their service.
FOMA volunteers include more than those on the ground at Midway — they’re board members, off-island supporters, & other who advance our mission. Their work also protects wildlife & habitat. See more in comments.
#Birds
Become a member & help support this work:
friendsofmidway.org/fb-donate-me...
Drones on Kuaihelani!
Register now for
April 26 Sunday
11 AM HI | 2 PM PT | 5 PM ET
Join FOMA & biologist Anna Vallery.
See drones track Midway’s seabirds. Behind-the-scenes stories, drone footage, live Q&A
Free - read more & register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
#Birds
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Terns on Midway.
“…Sooty tern juveniles look [different from] parents! When they first fledge they are brown w/white speckles, gaining…black & white plumage around 4 years.
This juvenile is hoping for a last meal from its parent before departing Eastern Island & [fending] for itself!" -Sophie Elliott #Birds
When you see an adult scold or lunge at a nearby chick,it’s an important lesson. As chicks grow more mobile, they may try to beg from any returning adult. Boundaries teach them not to take food meant for another, protecting energy each parent has worked hard to provide.
friendsofmidway.org/live-cam
Adult Mōlī and chick
What looks like aggressive behavior between adult albatross & chicks isn’t. Chick-rearing is a parent-specific effort—not a shared community task.
=>See more in comments.
Even the harder moments we see on Kuaihelani teach chicks survival.
Credit to USFWS volunteer Sophie Elliott.
#Birds
Check out our live camera, where you'll see the chicks have been growing rapidly and adjusting to a more independent lifestyle:
friendsofmidway.org/live-cam
#Birds
🌞Kuaihelani Mōlī (Laysan albatross)
Sophie Elliott, volunteer:
"…parents will oftentimes just sit next to the chick in the nest cup…This pair live on Eastern
Island…both parents need to return to the sea to forage & bring back enough food for their rapidly growing offspring." #Birds
=> comments
A Nunulu (Bonin Petrel) chick. From <5,000 birds in the 1980s to 300,000+ today—thanks to artificial burrows & conservation action.
One egg/year.
#Birds
Help continue the work of volunteers like Dan Rapp:
friendsofmidway.org/bluesky-memb...
drive.google.com/file/d/1-Ruv...
Posted 9:45 a.m. Midway time Friday by USFWS staff on the ground
“Aloha all…Midway is not currently experiencing any severe weather from the current Kona Low. All staff and wildlife are well. Our hearts are with our friends, FWS family, & all others in the main Hawaiian Islands that have continued to be affected by these storms. Stay safe everyone." #Birds
👉 A more in-depth look at plastics + albatross, researched by a former FOMA board member:
friendsofmidway.org/living-with-...
Reduce Refuse Recycle
Plastic ingestion. Bird died and left this.
#GlobalRecyclingDay Reduce. Refuse. Recycle.
For them. #Birds
On Midway Atoll, plastic is deadly; debris mistaken for food fills stomachs, but offers no nutrition, often resulting in death. This debris was found inside a single Moli (Laysan albatross) chick. For research link see comments.
Make Frigatebirds displaying
Male ‘Iwa (Great Frigatebirds) full courtship display on Kuaihelani
Males gather, inflating bright red throat pouches & calling to attract females, who visit multiple groups before choosing a seasonal mate. (No long-term pair bonds)
Dan Rapp, USFWS volunteer
Join
friendsofmidway.org/donation-mem...
Thanks for the advice. Doing so going forward (March 15).
Hawaiian saying: Kīkaha ka ‘iwa, he lā makani.
When the frigatebird soars, it is a windy day.
The ‘Iwa bird is known for its mastery of the wind, floating and soaring in the heights with an innate trust in their wings and internal compass.
Frigatebird
USFWS volunteer, Sophie Elliott:
#Birds “…like the 'Iwa (Great Frigatebird) roost and nest much lower to the ground, giving us incredible views! This one is a young bird, the orange head is a dead giveaway. “
Learn more on our website:
friendsofmidway.org
See more + link in comments.
A Tristram’s Storm-Petrel chick of 18 days in an artificial burrow on Midway. These tiny seabirds hatch around late December; fledge by early May. This year, a record 20 pairs used these burrows! USFWS biologists Sarah & Dan constructed these.
Join the support friendsofmidway.org/donation-mem...
Native plant restoration provides habitat for #Birds on Kuaihelani. Loulu, naio, mili and nehe are propagated and outplanted year-round by USFWS staff and volunteers. Mahalo to volunteer Sophie Elliott for photos.
Little ones all over Kuaihelani are in practice mode. Eventually they'll be getting higher than nest height. For now, they'll stretch and train those muscles needed for an eventual 6-foot wingspan!
Mahalo nui loa to USFWS volunteer Dan Rapp for this photo taken a few days ago. #Birds
