First Visitors to Midway in 6 years Return

Oceanic Society Report from Midway:  March/April 2008.  By Wayne Sentman

It was wonderful to land on Midway with the first group of ecotourists in 6 years and hear the albatross “mooing” away. In the morning we all awoke to bill clacking and sub-adults dancing.

On our arrival at Midway we met a BBC news crew who were filming segments on other less inspiring “abundances.” Namely the amount of plastic objects found on Midway. Primarily this plastic is brought to Midway in the stomachs of the albatross, ultimately ending up regurgitated to their chicks. The biologists at Midway have calculated the each year the albatross deposit an additional 5 tons of plastics on Midway’s islands.

Other highlights for our first three groups included working with USFWS greenhouse staff to propagate native grass species. We then out-planted these grasses to reduce the success of non-native, invasive plant species. Ultimately helping to provide more useful habitat for the nesting seabirds at Midway. Our aquatic explorations showed how the cessation of fishing at Midway has benefited the larger fish species. On all of our snorkels we saw many huge Ulua, not a single one with a stray hook or line attached. Spinner dolphins, manta rays, green sea turtles, and even a few baby Hawaiian monk seals all made themselves visible for our groups. All three groups viewed one of the most prized sightings at Midway the “Golden Gooney” or Short-tailed albatross.

The excitement never seemed to end. Visitors marveled at how close they were allowed to be to the wildlife and how free they were left to explore the island. Midway has no equal is this regard, it is simply unlike any other wilderness destination you have ever visited.