2015 Winter Gooney Gazette II

Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Wieteke Holthuijzen/USFWS A Warm Welcome from Wayne Sentman Special points of interest: Dear Friends, This past winter, a record number As the newly elected President of FOMA it is of Laysan and Black-footed with great excitement that I present the Winter Albatross nesting at Midway Atoll 2015 edition of the Gooney Gazette II. We are NWR were recorded during the thrilled to share this summary of current news annual albatross census— nearly 1.4 from Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge / million albatross in total! Battle of Midway National Memorial. Midway has a brand new The stories shared here relate the tremendous shadehouse for native plant efforts put forth by USFWS volunteers and propagation—funded in part by employees to both preserve the illustrious FOMA! history of Midway and concurrently achieve FOMA is about to launch a brand conservation gains for the unique fauna, who new website… stay tuned for are now the most numerous “residents” of details! Midway. All accomplished during a prolonged era of stagnant budgets and downsizing, it is a true testament to the dedication and ingenuity Inside this issue: of the current mangers and volunteers who A Warm Welcome from FOMA take their place in a long line of “stewards” who President, Wayne Sentman 1 have and continue to work diligently to Record-Breaking Number of preserve and protect this tiny coral atoll. Breeding Albatross on Midway 2 As you know, spending time on Midway Atoll is Lucky Ducks: Guzzlers Go in the Ground 3 a transformative experience, inspiring a lifelong connection to these beautiful aquamarine islands The Art of Midway—Focus on USFWS Artist Caren Loebel-Fried 4 of the Pacific. In 1999, the Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge was established, Marine Debris, From You and Me 4 and with your support over the last 16 years, From the Field: Volunteer Life and we have been bound together by one mission: Times on Midway 6 “To support Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge / Going Green on Midway Battle of Midway National Memorial in its efforts to 6 preserve, protect, and restore the biological diversity FOMA Funds Shadehouse for and historic resources of Midway Atoll, while Native Plant Propagation 7 providing opportunity for wildlife-dependent Restoring Midway’s Memorials recreation, education, cultural experiences, and with the American Battle 8 Monument Commission scientific research.” WWII Veteran Col. Miniclier 9 Wayne Sentman Shares Stories from Midway Midway 1999–2002, FOMA President FOMA FY2015 Overview 10 Wayne Sentman/USFWS Winter 2015 Page 1 Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Record-Breaking Number of Breeding Albatross on Midway By Ann Bell, USFWS Visitor Services Manager, Pacific As noted by Refuge Manager Islands Refuges and Monuments Office Dan Clark, “Our management In the beginning of January, Midway Atoll actions here ensure adequate NWR proudly released the results from the nesting sites that are free of recent annual nesting albatross census, again non-native predators and other confirming the refuge as the largest nesting invasive species so the overall albatross colony in the world. Nineteen success of both species’ is more volunteers systematically covered the entire secured into the future.” surface of the atoll’s three small islands To conduct the census, the counting active nest sites from each of two three islands at Midway Atoll species (Laysan and Black-footed Albatross) are divided into manageable Dan Clark/USFWS from December 11, 2014 through January 2, sectors. The volunteers walk population in the Northwestern Hawaiian 2015. Their final count resulted in over 1.39 together in a systematic manner to ensure all Islands, where most of them historically nest, million individual birds, assuming two adults nesting birds are counted. An albatross sitting was estimated to be fewer than 20,000 birds per nest, for both albatross species combined. on an egg in a nest is counted once and owing to illegal egg poachers and feather This year (hatch year 2015) far surpassed any represents a breeding pair. Albatrosses hunters,” noted Deputy Refuge Manager Bret previous documented year for nesting Laysan present but not on an egg may be immature, Wolfe. “We’ll be closely analyzing and albatross on Midway Atoll with 666,044 pairs unpaired, or just resting individuals. These comparing our data with those collected at recorded. The current year count for Laysan birds are not included in this census. other nesting sites within Papahānaumokuākea Albatross represents a 52% increase over the The numbers of nesting albatrosses on Marine National Monument like Kure Atoll average number for the period from hatch Midway Atoll fluctuate from year to year. In State Wildlife Sanctuary, to determine if this years 2010 to 2014. Black-footed Albatross any given year approximately 25% of the year’s numbers are an anomaly or part of a nesting pairs came in at 28,610 for the atoll, breeding population may take a year off larger trend.” also a new record, up just over 18% from the nesting to replenish energy reserves and An undertaking of this magnitude relies on the 2010-2014 average. The previous high year for complete feather molting. Sexually mature dedication of many volunteers who donate Laysan albatross was 2006 with 487,527 while albatrosses are presumed to make nesting their time during the holiday season and share for black-footed the previous high was 28,581 decisions each year based on a number of in the cost of the associated logistics. The in 2011. complicated and interwoven factors such as Refuge’s non-profit support organization, The reference “hatch year 2015” defines the ocean conditions, their body condition and Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife albatross breeding season from the time eggs need to molt, and environmental conditions Refuge, also contributes funding to help the were laid in November 2014, hatched in that may affect food availability for the rest of Refuge host this annual count. January 2015, and expected to leave Midway the season. Atoll by July 2015. “In the 1920s, the entire Laysan albatross Dan Clark/USFWS Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Laysan Ducks next to a newly installed guzzler at Midway Atoll NWR. Photo credit: Megan Dalton/USFWS. Lucky Ducks: Guzzlers Go in the Ground “Access to fresh water is By Megan Dalton, USFWS Volunteer at ducklings have not yet developed maintain, and clean than the Midway Atoll NWR this capability and are vulnerable former artificial wetlands. to dehydration. Midway’s Laysan Ducks (Anas Additionally, the areas around the especially important for laysanensis) have a few new places The guzzlers were placed in the new guzzler locations will be to dabble in. Three out of six locations of three former targeted for Laysan Duck habitat water guzzler structures wetlands (Parade, creation and enhancement, ducklings, particularly in purchased by FOMA were Communications, and Sunrise) including the development of installed on Sand Island in mid- that were filled in in an effort to loafing and foraging habitat. drought years.” October; these are in addition to manage the large avian botulism Outplantings of native the four guzzlers already in place outbreak in 2013. Avian botulism Bunchgrass/Kāwelu (Eragrostis on Sand and Eastern Islands, also is a paralytic disease caused by variabilis), Button Sedge/Mauʻu USFWS Volunteer Megan Dalton fills one of the purchased by FOMA. The ingestion of a toxin produced by ʻakiʻaki (Fimbristylis cymosa), and newly installed guzzlers with water. Photo structures consist of a large tub the bacteria, Clostridium ‘Alena (Boerhavia repens) have credit: Bret Wolfe/USFWS. capable of holding 500 gallons, botulinum. This bacteria is already occurred. which is placed in the ground, and widespread in soil and requires The remaining three guzzlers are a roof and gutter above to catch warm temperatures, a protein scheduled to be installed next rainwater. They are commonly source, and an anaerobic (no summer after the Bonin Petrels used on the mainland as watering oxygen) environment in order to (Pterodroma hypoleuca) and holes for big game animals and become active and produce albatrosses have fledged. will serve as additional fresh toxin. Outbreaks of this disease Several big thank you’s go out to water sources for Midway’s have occurred in the wetlands all who made this possible: endangered Laysan Ducks. every year since 2008 and have FOMA, for the purchase of the killed and sickened hundreds of Access to fresh water is especially guzzlers; DBSI staff, for the quick ducks. Intensive management important for ducklings, and excellent installations; Dr. efforts and time are required to particularly in drought years. Michelle Reynolds of USGS, for prevent outbreaks from Although adult ducks are able to guidance and encouragement; and intensifying further and it is drink brackish water due to the USFWS staff and volunteers, for thought that the guzzlers may presence of fully functioning salt project support, placement prove to be easier to manage, glands below the eye, young criteria ideas, and site prep work. Winter 2015 Page 3 Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge The Art of Midway By Caren Loebel-Fried—artist, author, and illustrator albatross in order to see the structure of the I had the honor of creating a piece of art that wings, bones, and muscles. celebrates and supports Midway Atoll National So many amazing creatures live or breed on Wildlife Refuge, the Battle of Midway the Atoll, and the human stories of heroism, Memorial, and the deep Hawaiian roots tragedy, and survival during the Battle of throughout Papahānaumokuākea, the Midway are too numerous to tell in one piece Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. My biggest of art. I worked closely with Dan Clark and challenge was to evoke the unique essence of Bret Wolfe, the Refuge Manager and Deputy Midway Atoll, and include as much of its variety Manager, and Ann Bell, Visitor Services as possible.

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