Midway Atoll and The Birds That Survived The War - Military history WWII, Battle of Midway

New England Seabirds | Wandering Birder | Midway | Calendar

January
January is a rainy and somewhat chilly month at Midway Atoll. Historically, the atoll receives almost 5 inches of rain during the month, with about 20 rainy days during the month. The average high temperatures is about 74 degrees; the average low, 63 degrees.

Albatross: Midway's famous "gooney birds" more than make up for any dreary weather in January! The first Black-footed Albatross chicks usually hatch during mid-month, followed one to two weeks later by Laysan Albatross chicks. Parent birds spend most of their time on the nest, but occasionally like to show off their offspring to visitors.
Bonin Petrel: Secure in their underground burrows, Bonin Petrels begin laying their eggs during January. Many nonbreeding birds are active over the colonies at night.
Red-tailed Tropicbird: January is the beginning of courtship for early season nesters. Their circular aerial flights are as impressive to visitors as they must be to potential mates.

February
February historically is another rainy month, with about 4 inches of rain spread out over 25 days. The average high temperature is about 75 degrees, but the low drops down into the 50s.

Albatross: By the end of the month, all of the Black-footed Albatross and Laysan Albratross chicks have hatched.
Bonin Petrels: Nesting continues during Febryary and mony nonbreeders are visible at night.
Red-tailed Tropicbird: Some nesting and egg laying begins by late February, though more courtship displays are still ongoing.

March
Although daytime temperatures remain close to the mid- 70s, night temperatures average back in the 60s again during March. Rainfall averages about 3 inches during the month, with an average of 12 rainy days.

Albatrosses: The chicks of both Laysan and black-footed albatross begin to wander from their nests during March.
Bonin Petrels: Chicks begin hatching in March, and nonbreeding activity over colonies increases.
Red-tailed Tropicbird: Nesting and egg laying continues during March. Aerial courtship displays are much more frequent as the nesting season goes into full swing.
Great Frgatebird: Courtship and nest building continue, and egg laying begins on Eastern Island in March. Occasionally, frigatebirds may be seen flying over Sand Island.
Red-footed Booby: Nest building and egg laying continues on Eastern Island, but the first chicks hatch in March.
Black Noddy: Some nesting and chick-rearing continue during March.

April
Spring begins to arrive at Midway Atoll with temperatures nudging up into the upper 70s during the day and staying around the mid-60s at night. Rainfall drops to about 2 incles, with only about 7 rainy days during the month.

Albatrosses: The chicks of both Laysan and Black-footed Albatross continue growing and many wander from their nest sites.
Bonin Petrel: Hatching is completed.
Red-tailed Tropicbird: Some chicks beging hatching, but eggs continue to be laid as well.
Noddies: Nesting and chick-rearing continue in the Black Noddy colornies during April. Brown Noddies begin to return to the atoll.
Terns: White Tern chicks are more numerous by April, though egg-laying also continues. Gray-backed Terns begin laying eggs by mid-April, and Sooty Terns begin laying eggs by the end of the month. Both nest only on Eastern and Spit Islands.
Shearwaters: The Christmas Shearwaters begin nesting in April, while adult Wedge-tailed Shearwaters are spending their nights couring and begin to burrow.

May
May's weather is much like April's, though high temperatures may edge up into the low 80s. Nighttime temperatures remain near the mid-60s. Rainfall averages about 2.5 inches during the month, with rain falling on about 7 days.

Albatrosses: The chicks of both Laysan and Black-footed Albatross continue growing and are much better at walking. They begin showing some adult feathers.
Bonin Petrel: Some chicks fledge near the end of May. The presence of adults over the colonies begins to decline.
Red-tailed Tropicbird: Some eggs are just being laid, which many chicks are also hatching.
Great Frigatebird: More eggs laid on Eastern Island, which some chicks hatch. More frigatebirds may be seen over Sand Island.
Red-footed Booby: Egg laying ends on Eastern Island, and chicks continue to hatch and grow.
Noddies: Black Noddy nesting and chick-rearing continue during May, while Brown Noddies begin their egg-laying.
Terns: Early season white tern chick continue to grow, though egg-laying and hatching also continue as the peak of their breeding seasons arrives. Gry-backed tern chicks begin hatching in May, but egg laying may continue during the month. More Sooty Terns return to Eastern Island and egg laying peaks this month. As many as 75,000 pairs blanket the ground on parts of Eastern Island.
Shearwaters: The Christmas Shearwaters continue nesting in May, and adult Wedge-tailed Shearwaters keep busy building their burrows.

June
Average monthly rainfall continues at about the 2.5 inch level, with 8 rainy days during the month. Average high temperatures climb to the mid-80s, and low temperatures are now in the 70s.

Albatrosses: Adult Black-footed Albatross begin leaving the atoll in June, and even a few chicks may fledge. Laysan Albatross chicks are almost full-grown, and many adults may leave the atoll.
Bonin Petrel: All Bonin Petrel chicks fledge this month.
Red-tailed Tropicbird: Some eggs are still being laid and incubated, but most chicks have hatched and are growing.
Great Frigatebird: More chicks are seen on Eastern Island
Red-footed Booby: Chicks continue to hatch and grow.
Noddies: Most Black Noddy chicks are half grown. Most Brown Noddies are still incubating their eggs, while some have hatched chicks.
Terns: Peak numbers of White Terns are present on the atoll during June. Chicks continue to grow, and egg-laying and hatching are mostly completed. More Gray-backed Tern chicks have hatched. Most Sooty Tern chicks hatch in June.
Shearwaters: The Christmas Shearwaters chicks begin to hatch, and adult Wedge-tailed Shearwaters begin laying eggs.

July
July initiates the humid months of the year, but fresh winds keep the island quite comfortable. High temperatures average in the uppder 80s, and lows average in the mid-70s. Rainfall increases to about 3.5 inches during the months, and falls on an average of 10 days.

Albatrosses: Remaining adult Black-footed Albatrosses and newly fledged chicks depart from Midway in July. More juvenile Laysan Albatross are fledging and only a few adults remain on the atoll.
Bonin Petrel: All Bonin Petrels have left Midway by early July.
Red-tailed Tropicbird: Most chicks have hatched, and fledging may begin.
Great Frigatebird: Peak number of chicks are seen on Eastern Island.
Red-footed Booby: Most chicks have hatched and continue to grow.
Noddies: Most Black Noddy chicks are half grown and some have fledged. Most Brown Noddies chicks hatch in July while some are just laying eggs.
Terns: White Tern chicks vary from hatchlings to older chicks ready to fledge, and more Gray-backed Terns are hatching and some fledging. Sooty Tern chicks are growing.
Shearwaters: The Christmas Shearwaters chicks are growing in July, but Wedge-tailed Shearwaters continue incubating eggs.

August
Humidity and temperatures peak in August, with the average high close to 90 degrees and the low in the upper 70s. Rainfall increases to about 4 inches over the month, falling on about 14 days.

Albatrosses: Any remaining juvenile Laysan Albatross generally have left the island by late August.
Bonin Petrel: These birds are not absent from the atoll for long, as they begin returning and renovating their nesting burrows in August.
Red-tailed Tropicbird: More of the early chicks are fledging, but a few eggs may be laid in renesting attempts.
Great Frigatebird: Chicks continue to grow.
Red-footed Booby: Chicks continue to grow.
Noddies: Most Black Noddy chicks continue to grow, and many are fledging. Brown Noddy chicks may fledge by the end of August, but many chicks have just hatched and some adults are still incubating eggs.
Terns: Many White Tern chicks have fledged by the end of August, and more Gray-backed Terns are fledging. Most Sooty Tern chicks also are learning to fly.
Shearwaters: The Christmas Shearwaters chicks are still growing. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters chicks begin to hatch.
Shorebirds: While large numbers of seabirds may be leaving the atoll, shorebirds - especially the Pacific Golden Plover and Ruddy Turnstones begin returning to Midway from their northern breeding grounds during August. Smaller number of Bristl-thighed Curlews and Wandering Tattlers also may be spotted.

September
Temperatures fall only a few degrees in September, with average highs in the upper 80s and lows in the mid 70s. Rainfall decreases to about 3 inches spread over an average of 9 days.

Albatrosses: No Albatross present,.
Bonin Petrel: Many adult petrels are present on the atoll, courting, and excavating burrows.
Red-tailed Tropicbird: Fledging continues throughout September, and a few older chicks remain.
Great Frigatebird: Chicks continue to grow.
Red-footed Booby: Most chicks learn to fly during this month.
Noddies: Most Black Noddy chicks have fledged. Most Brown Noddy chicks have fledged, while some adults are caring for young chicks.
Terns: Fewer Gray-backed terns are seen on the atoll, and most Sooty Terns depart by the end of September. Most White Tern chicks are fledged.
Shearwaters: The Christmas Shearwaters and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters chicks continue to grow. A few Christmas Shearwaters are fledging, and more Wedge-tailed Shearwater chicks hatch.
Shorebirds: Shorebirds continue to arrive on Midway. Pacific Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, and Bristle-thighed Curlew populations peak for the fall season in September.

October
Temperatures decline only a few degrees, with average highs in the mid 80s and lows in the low 70s. Rainfall increases slightly to about 3.5 inches over 12 days.

Albatrosses: The first Black-footed and Laysan Albatross return in the latter half of October.
Bonin Petrel: Many adults present on the atoll.
Red-tailed Tropicbird: The seasons's remaining young generally fledge by the end of October.
Great Frigatebird: Juveniles begin to fledge in October.
Red-footed Booby: All but the last chicks of the season fledge by October.
Noddies: With their long nesting season, Black Noddies may start nesting and laying eggs in October.
Shearwaters: More Christmas Shearwaters chicks are fledging in October. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters chicks continue to grow.
Shorebirds: Many shorebirds remain on Midway over the winter, but others depart for warmer climates.

November
The winter season approaches on Midway Atoll, with increased rainfall (4 inches spread over 15 days) and lower temperatures. The average high is in the upper 70s and the average low drops back to the mid 60s.

Albatrosses: Black-footed Albatrosses are busy building nests and laying eggs in November. Most of the Laysan Albatrosses return during November, though the early arrivals may begin laying eggs by late November.
Bonin Petrel: Many adult Bonin Petrels are present on the atoll.
Great Frigatebird: The last of the season's juveniles fledge in November.
Noddies: Some Black Noddies continue nesting and laying eggs in November.
Shearwaters: The last Christmas Shearwaters chicks fledge and depart in November, followed by all of the Wedge-tailed Shearwaters near the end of the month.

December
Winter is back. The average high temperature during December is in the mid 70s, the low in the mid 60s. Rainfall remains steady at about 4 inches, spread over 19 days.

Albatrosses: Black-footed Albatrosses are incubating eggs in December, and most of the Laysan Albatrosses eggs are laid during the month.
Bonin Petrel: Many adult birds on the island.
Noddies: Black Noddy continue nesting and laying eggs in December, and small numbers of Brown Noddies are seen.
Terns: The numbers of White Terns begin to increase.