The North Pacific Albatross - The Goony Birds

All visitors to Midway fall in love with the Albatross. They were favorites with the cable company employees who protected them from the plume hunters, with the wealthy, pampered passengers flying the China Clipper ships, with the navy who found them a great nuisance, and now with the tourists who come to the island.

There are three species of North Pacific Albatross. Two species breed on Midway Atoll. The most numerous is the Laysan Albatross. It breeds all over the island preferring open grassy or weedy areas. The Black-footed Albatross breeds on the perimeters of the island. The refuge is trying to encourage the endangered Short-tailed Albatross to breed on Midway.

Often called Gooney Birds because of their lack of fear of humans. These birds survived the plume hunters, World War II and the Navy during the post war years. Now with their breeding grounds secure as a National Wildlife Refuge we have only to persuade the long-line fishing industry to reform their techniques which kill many of the birds as they scour the sea trying to find food for themselves and their offspring.

Click on each picture to read more about each species.