Quite the party last night. Dinner was at 5pm and some people made it to 8-9. Of course, it was the New Year nearly everywhere else in the world already. We had a great BBQ over at the All Hands Club, previously the enlisted men's facility. Open bar and large jugs labeled "Ice Cold Drinking Water." We played Bingo with three cards each. Hilarious. The Thais won every game and sent their cash winnings back home to disaster victims. We listened to a couple pieces by the Chugach Band and watched some dancing. Darlene (aka Santa) did a very impressive albatross dance using her cardboard horn for a beak. Off to our room for calmer music and reading.
BINGO!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2012
Since breakfast wasn't starting until 9AM, we went out to the beach. We had a project in mind but were treated with many flight take-offs all around us. the beautiful thing about this beach right in front of the restaurant and pub is that there are many more albatross footprints than human. We have our own path down and this is all theirs.
Our plan had been to photograph our collection of gooney toys. These are small plastic items that have a recognizable form. They are found near nests because the adult birds are programmed to eat floating objects in the ocean that host flying fish eggs. In a pre-plastic era this was mostly bits of volcanic pumice stone, washed round in the sea. They would then feed this to the chick and the chick is meant to throw up the pumice in a bolus. These days, the bolus contains high amounts of plastic with an inordinate number of plastic lighters. As disgusting as that is, some of the plastic doesn't come back up, like toothbrushes that get stuck in either the parent or chick's throat! Or, there are sharp pieces that damage the chick internally, and the worst scenario is that the chicks have so much plastic in their system, they starve to death because their nutrition is low.
The runway
The take off
Our plan had been to photograph our collection of gooney toys. These are small plastic items that have a recognizable form. They are found near nests because the adult birds are programmed to eat floating objects in the ocean that host flying fish eggs. In a pre-plastic era this was mostly bits of volcanic pumice stone, washed round in the sea. They would then feed this to the chick and the chick is meant to throw up the pumice in a bolus. These days, the bolus contains high amounts of plastic with an inordinate number of plastic lighters. As disgusting as that is, some of the plastic doesn't come back up, like toothbrushes that get stuck in either the parent or chick's throat! Or, there are sharp pieces that damage the chick internally, and the worst scenario is that the chicks have so much plastic in their system, they starve to death because their nutrition is low.
While there are advanced collections, ours is very small - one week's worth not counting lighters.
For anyone who doesn't know, at one time Laysan Albatross were referred to by the military guys as gooney birds. So now we pick up gooney toys and lighters when we can while counting (I have one pocket dedicated to small plastic trash that I realize has likely been regurgitated by a darling, fuzzy moli chick).
We were asked to put our name on our door out of debris and we got it done before the folks left last week. The cardboard base was a paint carton used to test our guns on.
There are more extravagant pieces of plastic art made from bolus material. Our new team-mate, Susan Scott made these and donated them to FWS.
The sky moo depicted FWS visitor center
On the side is a basket of lighters collected in a short period of time
While the morning was calm and beautiful, we planned a snorkel boat trip to the reef for noon. By noon however, the weather report was high wind and rain expected so it was cancelled. This was to really be a restful day after all. The rain did come and we didn't mind just reading - for once during daylight. when the rain stopped, I went out to see if I could catch an albatross landing. With the winds, they land very gracefully. I did not have the luck with landings that I did earlier today with take offs. There was huge excitement among the courting, non-nesters. Often when they dance they go up on tippy-toes, ever so cute.
Tippy toes with the sky moo
I had a request for more video so I hope these open for everyone. This one shows some double date dancing with sky moos, tippy-toeing, wing displaying (or arm pit move), and great clacking of bills. As I mentioned, the wind seemed to excite everybody; the increase in bird noise is what sent me out the door. Pedaling back to Charlie Barracks against the wind was a whole new challenge.
Dancing in the breeze
What a fabulous way to bring in the New Year; I'm already trying to figure out how to come back.
I've really enjoyed your blog. I know these feelings you struggle to express in words. I too have struggled the same way. I'm glad the weather hasn't been too bad and I know you are having a great time. Marilou
ReplyDeleteThanks for response, Marilou. It was because of your trips to Midway, twice, that we were encouraged to go. I know the huge contribution you made on behalf of the Laysan at the Kilauea refuge in the past. Mahalo nui loa for all your efforts and for getting us here.
ReplyDeleteWHAT A WONDERFUL,ENLIGHTENING JOURNEY THIS HAS BEEN. THANK YOU FOR DOING SUCH A NICE JOB IN SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES THERE. THE VIDEOS ARE SUPER...WELL DONE YOU GUYS...JODY
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