SPOTLIGHT ON:
Midway Atoll and Hawaiian Islands NWRs

 

Midway Atoll NWR/FWS    Click on map for larger view/FWS

 
Laysan Albatross and chick
FWS
The Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge consists of three low-lying islands that were discovered in 1859. The 28 million year old islands were originally volcanoes that were eroded naturally by wind, waves, and rain. Reef building corals then began to grow on the submerged volcano peak. President Roosevelt acknowledged Midway to be important for both wildlife conservation and military use as an outpost. The U.S. Navy performed military operations on Midway for several years, causing considerable damage to the island, but the Navy, with the help of U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, worked to remove old buildings and both above- and underground fuel tanks, and to clean up environmental contaminants. In addition, invasive species such as rats, poinsettias, and ironwood trees were removed and replaced by native species thanks to Fish and Wildlife Service members and volunteers.

From November to July, the largest colony of Laysan albatrosses in the world and the second largest colony of black-footed albatrosses can be found on Midway Atoll. These two types of birds are part of the 15 species on Midway, which includes more than two million sea birds. Midway Atoll has a strong focus on conserving the large bird population, and maintaining and enhancing the breeding habitat by removing invasive species is big priority. Lights were modified to prevent night-flying birds from getting disoriented and the overhead wiring is currently being eliminated.
Endangered monk seals
Cindy Rehkemper/USFWS

Midway is also home to about 60 endangered monk seals. This species is considered to be a group of "living fossils," as they have hardly changed in 15 million years. In addition, threatened green sea turtles inhabit Midway's lagoon and two million sea birds, including 15 nesting species, also live on Midway, making this atoll home to more than just coral.

The Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge
A threatened Green Sea Turtle
James Watt/NOAA

In 1909, President Roosevelt gave executive order 1019 to establish the Hawaiian Island Bird Reservation to protect birds from being poached for their feathers. Later, it became the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. It is part of the Pacific Remote Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This refuge is a chain of atolls, reefs, and islands that are home to over 7,000 species of marine organisms including corals, crustaceans, fish, mollusks and algae. Threatened green sea turtles and endangered Hawaiian monk seals inhabit the refuge. In addition to marine life, 30 species of sea birds, wintering shorebirds, endangered endemic songbirds and waterfowl live in the refuge. Their numbers total an estimated 14 million!

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