Friends Of Midway Atoll (FOMA)
@friendsofmidway.bsky.social
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
Please visit www.friendsofmidway.org
——-
https://linktr.ee/friendsofmidwaynwr
Mele Kalikimaka! 🎄Some old postcards never sent from Midway to Honolulu on the flight out before Christmas, dated ~1960, discovered on eBay.
Look familiar? Do you recall the artist?
From FOMA, thanks for your love, dedication, and generous support of Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) this year. #Birds
Look familiar? Do you recall the artist?
From FOMA, thanks for your love, dedication, and generous support of Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) this year. #Birds
December 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Mele Kalikimaka! 🎄Some old postcards never sent from Midway to Honolulu on the flight out before Christmas, dated ~1960, discovered on eBay.
Look familiar? Do you recall the artist?
From FOMA, thanks for your love, dedication, and generous support of Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) this year. #Birds
Look familiar? Do you recall the artist?
From FOMA, thanks for your love, dedication, and generous support of Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) this year. #Birds
Midway Atoll’s newest six-month volunteer crew
Gianna Arcuri, Ayla Liss, Katie Hearther, & Sophie Elliott (Volunteer Lead Molly Henling) spend long days in the field checking nests & banding birds (Photos USFWS biologist and volunteer Dan Rapp).
Donors make this possible; see comments. #Birds
Gianna Arcuri, Ayla Liss, Katie Hearther, & Sophie Elliott (Volunteer Lead Molly Henling) spend long days in the field checking nests & banding birds (Photos USFWS biologist and volunteer Dan Rapp).
Donors make this possible; see comments. #Birds
December 23, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Midway Atoll’s newest six-month volunteer crew
Gianna Arcuri, Ayla Liss, Katie Hearther, & Sophie Elliott (Volunteer Lead Molly Henling) spend long days in the field checking nests & banding birds (Photos USFWS biologist and volunteer Dan Rapp).
Donors make this possible; see comments. #Birds
Gianna Arcuri, Ayla Liss, Katie Hearther, & Sophie Elliott (Volunteer Lead Molly Henling) spend long days in the field checking nests & banding birds (Photos USFWS biologist and volunteer Dan Rapp).
Donors make this possible; see comments. #Birds
Aloha kakahiaka from Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) 7:36 am. Our new live camera this morning captured the laying of an egg. See comments. #Birds
Cam only possible because of donors. Donations matched 1:1 up to $10,000 through Dec. 31—we’re halfway to our goal.
friendsofmidway.org/double-your-...
Cam only possible because of donors. Donations matched 1:1 up to $10,000 through Dec. 31—we’re halfway to our goal.
friendsofmidway.org/double-your-...
December 19, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Aloha kakahiaka from Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) 7:36 am. Our new live camera this morning captured the laying of an egg. See comments. #Birds
Cam only possible because of donors. Donations matched 1:1 up to $10,000 through Dec. 31—we’re halfway to our goal.
friendsofmidway.org/double-your-...
Cam only possible because of donors. Donations matched 1:1 up to $10,000 through Dec. 31—we’re halfway to our goal.
friendsofmidway.org/double-your-...
Wisdom’s legacy continues: Her 2011 chick N333 observed incubating own egg on Dec 6. #Birds
USFWS/FOMA ace Dan Rapp shows N333 nesting—possible through decades of banding & monitoring;
full history in comments.
Help sustain conservation & research.
friendsofmidway.org/double-your-...
USFWS/FOMA ace Dan Rapp shows N333 nesting—possible through decades of banding & monitoring;
full history in comments.
Help sustain conservation & research.
friendsofmidway.org/double-your-...
December 15, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Wisdom’s legacy continues: Her 2011 chick N333 observed incubating own egg on Dec 6. #Birds
USFWS/FOMA ace Dan Rapp shows N333 nesting—possible through decades of banding & monitoring;
full history in comments.
Help sustain conservation & research.
friendsofmidway.org/double-your-...
USFWS/FOMA ace Dan Rapp shows N333 nesting—possible through decades of banding & monitoring;
full history in comments.
Help sustain conservation & research.
friendsofmidway.org/double-your-...
Makalena family reunion on Midway Atoll! #Birds
George and Geraldine—Makalena (Short-tailed albatross)— are back at their Sand Island nesting site. Near them is their returning 2019 fledgling. Photos courtesy of USFWS Supervisory Wildlife Biologist Jon Plissner.
Learn more in comments.
George and Geraldine—Makalena (Short-tailed albatross)— are back at their Sand Island nesting site. Near them is their returning 2019 fledgling. Photos courtesy of USFWS Supervisory Wildlife Biologist Jon Plissner.
Learn more in comments.
December 14, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Makalena family reunion on Midway Atoll! #Birds
George and Geraldine—Makalena (Short-tailed albatross)— are back at their Sand Island nesting site. Near them is their returning 2019 fledgling. Photos courtesy of USFWS Supervisory Wildlife Biologist Jon Plissner.
Learn more in comments.
George and Geraldine—Makalena (Short-tailed albatross)— are back at their Sand Island nesting site. Near them is their returning 2019 fledgling. Photos courtesy of USFWS Supervisory Wildlife Biologist Jon Plissner.
Learn more in comments.
🌿 Now Recruiting: 2026 Volunteers crew members for the biological program on Midway Atoll from March 10 to mid-September 2026 (start date is nonnegotiable).
Learn more in comments.
Tag someone who’d be perfect for this extraordinary opportunity!
______
#MidwayAtoll #Kuaihelani #Birds
Learn more in comments.
Tag someone who’d be perfect for this extraordinary opportunity!
______
#MidwayAtoll #Kuaihelani #Birds
December 11, 2025 at 7:48 PM
🌿 Now Recruiting: 2026 Volunteers crew members for the biological program on Midway Atoll from March 10 to mid-September 2026 (start date is nonnegotiable).
Learn more in comments.
Tag someone who’d be perfect for this extraordinary opportunity!
______
#MidwayAtoll #Kuaihelani #Birds
Learn more in comments.
Tag someone who’d be perfect for this extraordinary opportunity!
______
#MidwayAtoll #Kuaihelani #Birds
Colonel John Miniclier U.S. Marine Corps passed away May 2025 at age 103. He will be buried with military honors at Arlington Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
Remembered today as he was stationed on Midway when it was shelled on December 7, 1941 and he also fought in the Battle of Midway June 4-6, 1942.
Remembered today as he was stationed on Midway when it was shelled on December 7, 1941 and he also fought in the Battle of Midway June 4-6, 1942.
December 7, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Colonel John Miniclier U.S. Marine Corps passed away May 2025 at age 103. He will be buried with military honors at Arlington Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
Remembered today as he was stationed on Midway when it was shelled on December 7, 1941 and he also fought in the Battle of Midway June 4-6, 1942.
Remembered today as he was stationed on Midway when it was shelled on December 7, 1941 and he also fought in the Battle of Midway June 4-6, 1942.
Synchronized nest building on Kuaihelani.
Photos courtesy FWS Ecological Services
Biologist Sheldon Plentovich. She’s on Midway currently, working on the Laysan finch relocation project.
#Birds
Photos courtesy FWS Ecological Services
Biologist Sheldon Plentovich. She’s on Midway currently, working on the Laysan finch relocation project.
#Birds
December 2, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Synchronized nest building on Kuaihelani.
Photos courtesy FWS Ecological Services
Biologist Sheldon Plentovich. She’s on Midway currently, working on the Laysan finch relocation project.
#Birds
Photos courtesy FWS Ecological Services
Biologist Sheldon Plentovich. She’s on Midway currently, working on the Laysan finch relocation project.
#Birds
New FOMA merch! Designs feature artwork from the 2025 FOMA Art Contest, highlighting what Midway Atoll means to artists across the community (FOMA logos excluded).
All proceeds directly support conservation work on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
fomastore.printful.me
#Birds
All proceeds directly support conservation work on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
fomastore.printful.me
#Birds
December 2, 2025 at 1:41 AM
New FOMA merch! Designs feature artwork from the 2025 FOMA Art Contest, highlighting what Midway Atoll means to artists across the community (FOMA logos excluded).
All proceeds directly support conservation work on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
fomastore.printful.me
#Birds
All proceeds directly support conservation work on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
fomastore.printful.me
#Birds
Wisdom’s mate joins
her!
🎼 #Reunited
USFWS staff spotted band EX25 on 11/25. No, he has not been named; we await that news.
So far we have a few photos and we'll share more as we receive them.
Here's to a successful egg laying and hatching season for these two!
Photos by Chris Forster.
#Birds
her!
🎼 #Reunited
USFWS staff spotted band EX25 on 11/25. No, he has not been named; we await that news.
So far we have a few photos and we'll share more as we receive them.
Here's to a successful egg laying and hatching season for these two!
Photos by Chris Forster.
#Birds
November 30, 2025 at 9:34 PM
🛩️ Drones + Science = A Leap Forward for Albatross Conservation on Midway
This season we continue to use a new friend in our annual albatross census on Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll): drones assisting our dedicated bird counters. See comments & link below. #Birds
🔗 friendsofmidway.org/drones-bird-count
This season we continue to use a new friend in our annual albatross census on Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll): drones assisting our dedicated bird counters. See comments & link below. #Birds
🔗 friendsofmidway.org/drones-bird-count
November 27, 2025 at 11:01 PM
🛩️ Drones + Science = A Leap Forward for Albatross Conservation on Midway
This season we continue to use a new friend in our annual albatross census on Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll): drones assisting our dedicated bird counters. See comments & link below. #Birds
🔗 friendsofmidway.org/drones-bird-count
This season we continue to use a new friend in our annual albatross census on Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll): drones assisting our dedicated bird counters. See comments & link below. #Birds
🔗 friendsofmidway.org/drones-bird-count
💛𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 — 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐎𝐔.💛
On November 7, we launched a 3-to-1 Match. And met it!
See how in comments.
From all of us at Friends of Midway Atoll: 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐨
#Birds
On November 7, we launched a 3-to-1 Match. And met it!
See how in comments.
From all of us at Friends of Midway Atoll: 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐨
#Birds
November 27, 2025 at 10:48 PM
💛𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 — 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐎𝐔.💛
On November 7, we launched a 3-to-1 Match. And met it!
See how in comments.
From all of us at Friends of Midway Atoll: 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐨
#Birds
On November 7, we launched a 3-to-1 Match. And met it!
See how in comments.
From all of us at Friends of Midway Atoll: 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐨
#Birds
ʻUaʻu Kani chick!
Thanks USFWS volunteer and biologist Dan Rapp for a close up view of a younger ʻUaʻu Kani (Wedge-tailed Shearwater). See more in comments about how this chick got here!
#Birds
Thanks USFWS volunteer and biologist Dan Rapp for a close up view of a younger ʻUaʻu Kani (Wedge-tailed Shearwater). See more in comments about how this chick got here!
#Birds
November 23, 2025 at 9:05 PM
ʻUaʻu Kani chick!
Thanks USFWS volunteer and biologist Dan Rapp for a close up view of a younger ʻUaʻu Kani (Wedge-tailed Shearwater). See more in comments about how this chick got here!
#Birds
Thanks USFWS volunteer and biologist Dan Rapp for a close up view of a younger ʻUaʻu Kani (Wedge-tailed Shearwater). See more in comments about how this chick got here!
#Birds
Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll). Our cam once showed nearly empty landscape; now thousands of Mōlī (Laysan albatross) returnfor breeding season with black-footed albatross (ka’upu) in the mix.
Over 1 million more albatross will soon arrive at the world’s largest albatross colony.
🎥 Watch it LIVE!
Over 1 million more albatross will soon arrive at the world’s largest albatross colony.
🎥 Watch it LIVE!
November 19, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll). Our cam once showed nearly empty landscape; now thousands of Mōlī (Laysan albatross) returnfor breeding season with black-footed albatross (ka’upu) in the mix.
Over 1 million more albatross will soon arrive at the world’s largest albatross colony.
🎥 Watch it LIVE!
Over 1 million more albatross will soon arrive at the world’s largest albatross colony.
🎥 Watch it LIVE!
The Laysan duck—historically found only on Kauō, Kuaihelani, and Hōlanikū—is also thriving at Midway thanks to translocations in 2004–2005 and 2014. 🦆. See more in comments.
November 16, 2025 at 6:46 PM
The Laysan duck—historically found only on Kauō, Kuaihelani, and Hōlanikū—is also thriving at Midway thanks to translocations in 2004–2005 and 2014. 🦆. See more in comments.
🚨𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭: 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫!
We announce a 3-to-1 Match to fund our annual albatross census and drone research project for the rest of this year. A generous $50,000 grant from the Marisla Foundation initiates. See how you can help in comments. #Birds
We announce a 3-to-1 Match to fund our annual albatross census and drone research project for the rest of this year. A generous $50,000 grant from the Marisla Foundation initiates. See how you can help in comments. #Birds
November 8, 2025 at 7:21 PM
🚨𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭: 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫!
We announce a 3-to-1 Match to fund our annual albatross census and drone research project for the rest of this year. A generous $50,000 grant from the Marisla Foundation initiates. See how you can help in comments. #Birds
We announce a 3-to-1 Match to fund our annual albatross census and drone research project for the rest of this year. A generous $50,000 grant from the Marisla Foundation initiates. See how you can help in comments. #Birds
Thanks to #HobOsterlund: “From the Good News Dept: First returning Moli spotted on Kauai….Photo is of actual bird, courtesy of #PacificRimConservation. Let the season begin!” #Birds
November 6, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Thanks to #HobOsterlund: “From the Good News Dept: First returning Moli spotted on Kauai….Photo is of actual bird, courtesy of #PacificRimConservation. Let the season begin!” #Birds
This 'A (masked booby) chick fledged last month from Eastern Island on Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll). These fearless seabirds dive deep to retrieve food and can fall prey to long line fishing hooks.
#Birds
#PapahānaumokuākeaNationalMarineSanctuary.
#Birds
#PapahānaumokuākeaNationalMarineSanctuary.
October 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM
This 'A (masked booby) chick fledged last month from Eastern Island on Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll). These fearless seabirds dive deep to retrieve food and can fall prey to long line fishing hooks.
#Birds
#PapahānaumokuākeaNationalMarineSanctuary.
#Birds
#PapahānaumokuākeaNationalMarineSanctuary.
Halloween Nunulu (Bonin petrels) moonlit skies on Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll): nowhere else on the planet has this many Nunulu flying in to nest. This is hormonal twilight in motion.
See more in comments.
#Birds
#PapahānaumokuākeaNationalMarineSanctuary
See more in comments.
#Birds
#PapahānaumokuākeaNationalMarineSanctuary
October 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Halloween Nunulu (Bonin petrels) moonlit skies on Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll): nowhere else on the planet has this many Nunulu flying in to nest. This is hormonal twilight in motion.
See more in comments.
#Birds
#PapahānaumokuākeaNationalMarineSanctuary
See more in comments.
#Birds
#PapahānaumokuākeaNationalMarineSanctuary
Sunday in the land of 'A (booby birds) with Dan Rapp
Grateful for Dan’s time and joyful in the brown, masked & red-footed boobies on Midway Atoll.
These magnificent deep divers use their sharp bills to take fish at sea. We will feature them this week as we wait for the return of the albatross.
Grateful for Dan’s time and joyful in the brown, masked & red-footed boobies on Midway Atoll.
These magnificent deep divers use their sharp bills to take fish at sea. We will feature them this week as we wait for the return of the albatross.
October 12, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Sunday in the land of 'A (booby birds) with Dan Rapp
Grateful for Dan’s time and joyful in the brown, masked & red-footed boobies on Midway Atoll.
These magnificent deep divers use their sharp bills to take fish at sea. We will feature them this week as we wait for the return of the albatross.
Grateful for Dan’s time and joyful in the brown, masked & red-footed boobies on Midway Atoll.
These magnificent deep divers use their sharp bills to take fish at sea. We will feature them this week as we wait for the return of the albatross.
Last stop #pmdpHawaii ends the season at Midway.
“A whirlwind stop only for a few hours…to retrieve the 42,000 lbs of marine debris that our team had cleaned up….final total for this mission comes to 72,150 lbs….”
📸 by @sullivanhaskins
#PapahānaumunokuākeaMarineDebrisProject
#Birds
“A whirlwind stop only for a few hours…to retrieve the 42,000 lbs of marine debris that our team had cleaned up….final total for this mission comes to 72,150 lbs….”
📸 by @sullivanhaskins
#PapahānaumunokuākeaMarineDebrisProject
#Birds
October 6, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Last stop #pmdpHawaii ends the season at Midway.
“A whirlwind stop only for a few hours…to retrieve the 42,000 lbs of marine debris that our team had cleaned up….final total for this mission comes to 72,150 lbs….”
📸 by @sullivanhaskins
#PapahānaumunokuākeaMarineDebrisProject
#Birds
“A whirlwind stop only for a few hours…to retrieve the 42,000 lbs of marine debris that our team had cleaned up….final total for this mission comes to 72,150 lbs….”
📸 by @sullivanhaskins
#PapahānaumunokuākeaMarineDebrisProject
#Birds
#pmdphawaii update!
“Eclipsing 70,000 lbs of marine debris removed…this number included an 800 lb steel buoy that washed up just days before our arrival!
A big mahalo to Nick, Dwight, Jordan, and Kayla!
📸 by @sullivanhaskins
“Eclipsing 70,000 lbs of marine debris removed…this number included an 800 lb steel buoy that washed up just days before our arrival!
A big mahalo to Nick, Dwight, Jordan, and Kayla!
📸 by @sullivanhaskins
October 5, 2025 at 3:28 PM
#pmdphawaii update!
“Eclipsing 70,000 lbs of marine debris removed…this number included an 800 lb steel buoy that washed up just days before our arrival!
A big mahalo to Nick, Dwight, Jordan, and Kayla!
📸 by @sullivanhaskins
“Eclipsing 70,000 lbs of marine debris removed…this number included an 800 lb steel buoy that washed up just days before our arrival!
A big mahalo to Nick, Dwight, Jordan, and Kayla!
📸 by @sullivanhaskins
Verbesina is a highly invasive non-native plant that negatively affects the seabird colony. Midway’s program to eradicate invasive Verbesina encelioides from the atoll has been edging ever closer to success. See more in comments. #Birds
September 30, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Verbesina is a highly invasive non-native plant that negatively affects the seabird colony. Midway’s program to eradicate invasive Verbesina encelioides from the atoll has been edging ever closer to success. See more in comments. #Birds