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Friends Of Midway Atoll (FOMA)
@friendsofmidway.bsky.social
1.2K followers 34 following 350 posts
We are the 501(c)3 supporting Midway Atoll (Kuaihelani) National Wildlife Refuge/Battle of Midway National Memorial, of the Northwest Hawaiian Archipelago (Papahanaumakuakea).
Please visit www.friendsofmidway.org
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https://linktr.ee/friendsofmidwaynwr
Posts Replies Media Videos
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
On Kuaihelani, a devoted pair of Makalena (Short-tailed Albatross, Phoebastria albatrus) George and Geraldine share quiet moments of nuzzling and gentle preening — small gestures that strengthen a lifelong bond.

Snuggle a little closer. 💛 #Birds
February 14, 2026 at 7:12 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Legacy of Dr. Jon Plissner, a rock of conservation science on Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll). He’s working offsite until his official retirement in April 2026. #Birds

Bio in comments. Read more here friendsofmidway.org/a-life-among...

☺️Join us in saying MAHALO to Jon
February 14, 2026 at 6:40 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
USFWS biologist & volunteer Dan Rapp (who filmed this) calls this “chick butt season.” See more in comments.

Donors support Dan’s work + protect Midway’s wildlife:
friendsofmidway.org/fb-donate-me...

📹our YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@friendsofmi...
#Birds
February 10, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Reposted by Friends Of Midway Atoll (FOMA)
usni.org
The Navy needs to produce an unclassified, factual description of a potential war with China.
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2026/february/navy-must-make-its-case-american-people
February 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Regardless of who you rooted for in the Super Bowl, have fun with made-up trivia!

www.facebook.com/reel/1656866...
60K views · 2.9K reactions | Made-up sports trivia: Seabirds inspired the first touchdown celebration 🏈 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Made-up sports trivia: Seabirds inspired the first touchdown celebration 🏈
www.facebook.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:59 AM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
“With the sky filled with courting Koa‘e Ula (Red-tailed Tropicbirds), this pair have taken a break from the melee amongst the roots of an Ironwood tree. More in comments.
#Birds

Photo Sophie Elliott, USFWS volunteer on Midway Atoll.
friendsofmidway.org/explore/wild...
February 9, 2026 at 12:04 AM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Meet Sophie, one of four hardworking USFWS volunteers currently on Kuaihelani! Pictured with her is a Laysan-Black-footed hybrid, taken just prior to banding it. #Birds

"My name is Sophie Elliott and I hail from the UK….” See more in comments.
February 6, 2026 at 2:10 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Kuaihelani parenting and preening.

New life continues to emerge on Midway Atoll. #Birds
Thanks USFWS biologist and volunteer Dan Rapp.

🎥live cam shows several occupied nests front and center:
friendsofmidway.org/live-cam

👉newsletter:
friendsofmidway.org/subscribe-ne...
February 6, 2026 at 10:36 AM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
These powerful beaks are essential tools for survival—yet here, they’re used with remarkable precision and gentleness, applying only the pressure needed to tend to a fragile chick.

Thanks USFWS volunteer Dan Rapp. See more in comments. #Birds
February 3, 2026 at 2:49 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Sophie Elliott, a current USFWS volunteer on Midway, got close up views of the 6-7 ft wingspan of a Mōlī (Laysan Albatross) - maybe a little too close!

Finding a clear runway can be challenging with another ~1.2mln Albatross around. This one’s descent nearly collided with Sophie. #Birds
February 1, 2026 at 6:18 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
How do you count 600,000+ albatross nests? #Birds
See comments and blog, behind the scenes of the count.

📊 This year’s results with 12 volunteers:
• 28,246 Kaʻupu (Black-footed albatross) nests
• 589,623 Mōlī (Laysan albatross) nests
• 617,869 nests total

friendsofmidway.org/counting-bir...
Counting Birds is No Small Feat: the 2025/26 Annual Albatross Census
Note: all photos and video provided by USFWS biologist & volunteer Dan Rapp unless otherwise noted Thanks to the generosity of our many donors and members last year, the 2025-26 annual albatros…
friendsofmidway.org
January 29, 2026 at 1:09 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
First chick on live cam7:33am Midway time!
Appears in screenshot behind post “2.” Check back; you may glimpse a brand new Mōlī (Laysan albatross) chick. #Birds

Subscribe friendsofmidway.org/subscribe-ne...

Support: friendsofmidway.org/fb-donate-me...

Live camera: friendsofmidway.org/live-cam
January 27, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Reposted by Friends Of Midway Atoll (FOMA)
birdsoftheworld.bsky.social
MAJOR NEWS! We just launched an awesome new tool! The illustrated Birds of the World Phylogeny Explorer lets users trace any bird’s lineage, compare species relationships, and explore major evolutionary milestones with a click of a button. SHARE and EXPLORE! birdsoftheworld.org/bow/news/phy...
IMAGE SHOWS GRAPHIC OF CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY PHYLOGENY EXPLORER TOOL.
January 27, 2026 at 1:26 AM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Popular Science Magazine discovers the Live Cam and you should too!

www.popsci.com/environment/...
Snowed in? Watch albatrosses nest on a sunny Pacific island instead
As many as 75,000 mating pairs are waiting for eggs.
www.popsci.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:35 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Incoming Laysan Albatross parent (left) negotiates a nest switch over newly hatched chick. Here, in a demonstration of care and coordination, the returning mate gently but firmly takes over, encouraging its partner (right) to make its vital trip back out to sea to forage.

🎥 Dan Rapp / USFWS
#Birds
January 25, 2026 at 6:32 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Census Complete! 🪶
While it will take another week to announce the official albatross count, we’re sharing photos.
Back LtoR:
Clyde, Joelle, Kate, Breck, Bob.
Front LtoR:
Ann, Vickie, Martha, Tanya, Yuka, Shannon.
Not pictured: Dan (left early due to an injury)
Photo: USFWS volunteer Dan Rapp
January 24, 2026 at 6:43 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Our favorite Short-tailed albatross pair on Midway, George and Geraldine! #Birds
George, banded in Japan, has visited Midway since 2006.
Geraldine, also banded in Japan, first appeared in 2012.
They first paired up and began breeding at Midway in 2018/2019, fledging their first chick in 2019.
January 22, 2026 at 8:01 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
New onKuaihelani!
One of the first Kaʻupu (Black-footed albatross) chicks this season hatched on Midway. Footage: USFWS volunteer Dan Rapp.

The Kaʻupu chicks arrive first, Mōlī (Laysan albatross) chicks are likely just weeks away. Watch live cam as breeding season unfolds!

youtu.be/1FsOV1YKHe4?...
The Newest Addition to Kuaihelani in 2026
YouTube video by Friends of Midway Atoll NWR
youtu.be
January 19, 2026 at 11:02 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Albatross chicks begin hatching in a few weeks! Note the “egg talk.” Research in other #Birds suggests vocalization thru the egg shell may help embryos learn species-specific calls & identify parents.
Thanks USFWS biologist/volunteer Dan Rapp a Black-footed albatross pair:
youtu.be/abpU3raeAMo
Black-footed Albatross Pair Talk to their Egg
YouTube video by Friends of Midway Atoll NWR
youtu.be
January 18, 2026 at 9:26 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Valentine’s Day: find a meaningful gift that celebrates love and conservation. 💙
Laysan albatross cards, coffee mugs and even slippers—perfect for sharing while showing your love for Midway Atoll.
We recommend ordering no later than February 5

friendsofmidway.org/shop-2/
#valentinesday #Birds
January 17, 2026 at 3:42 AM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
More than one million albatross return each year—and thanks to our community, we’re finding new ways to monitor them more effectively with Temporal Image Differencing.
👉 full blog with details provided by Anna Vallery, including exciting photos & video:
friendsofmidway.org/flying-high-...
#Birds
January 16, 2026 at 4:55 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Why the Mōlī (Laysan albatross) on our live cam face the same direction: They’re looking straight into the wind.Facing the wind may also help with liftoff given their 6–7 ft wingspans and webbed feet.Seabirds use the breeze to build enough speed for takeoff.

friendsofmidway.org/experience-k...
Experience Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) LIVE!
A dream over 20 years in the making, the sounds and sights are now coming to you live 24/7 from Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge! This live cam is brought to you by the Friends of Midway Atoll…
friendsofmidway.org
January 11, 2026 at 3:50 PM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Can’t scratch that itch? #Birds

Mōlī (Laysan albatross) have figured out allopreening—grooming one another, which helps control parasites and reinforces pair bonds—especially between mates. A common occurrence you can see on Midway's live cam:
friendsofmidway.org/live-cam

🎥 credit: Dan Rapp
Experience Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) LIVE!
A dream over 20 years in the making, the sounds and sights are now coming to you live 24/7 from Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge! This live cam is brought to you by the Friends of Midway Atoll…
friendsofmidway.org
January 9, 2026 at 1:54 AM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
Save The Date:10/24!

Hawai’i Island Festival of #Birds, Hilo
January 9, 2026 at 12:46 AM
friendsofmidway.bsky.social
USFWS says Wisdom did not lay an egg this year. She continues to visit Midway Atoll, even last week. Laysan albatrosses pause breeding every 2–3 years, a normal part of life, not a sign that Wisdom’s parenting days are over. And grandson N333 is incubating an egg now! #Birds

Photo Dan Rapp Nov 2025
January 7, 2026 at 1:08 AM