Midway Atoll a refuge for one of the world's oldest birds
The reserve in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is where Wisdom, a 66-year-old Laysan Albatross, has recently returned for the nesting season and has already laid an egg.
Midway Atoll is located on the far northern end of the Hawaiian archipelago and within the recently expanded Papahanaumouakea Marine National Monument. It is compromised of an outer reef that is almost five miles in diameter consists of 580,392 acres of submerged reefs, ocean and three flat coral islands (Sand Island, Eastern Island and Spit Island) totalling 1,549 acres. Midway Atoll was also the scene of the 'turning point of the Pacific' – the Battle of Midway, which was the Allies’ first major naval victory against the Japanese during World War II.
Almost three million birds nest on Pihemanu – the Hawaiian place name for Midway, meaning 'loud noise of birds' – including the world’s largest population of albatrosses, Bonin Petrels and endangered Laysan Teal. Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals, a resident pod of 250 Spinner Dolphins, Green Turtles and more than 250 species of fish also make their homes at Midway Atoll.
Recently habitat restoration operations have shifted into high gear, and for several months, Dr Robert Taylor, a restoration ecologist from Oregon, has been working as the Restoration Data Management Specialist to restore functionality to Midway’s GIS (Geographic Information System) program. Using GPS co-ordinates, Dr Taylor can map out the refuge so that the team can get a better sense of where invasive species are on the island to prepare and carry out strategic plans to restore the island to its native condition.
Midway Atoll has had some issues in the past with invasive plant species, but has been successful in eradicating those species. Crownbeard – a member of the daisy family –¬ is no longer the dominant invasive plant on Midway due to the restoration work that has been conducted by individuals such as Dr Taylor and other conservation professionals. Conditions on the ground are changing rapidly and native plant restoration is, for many areas, one of the best tools for ongoing invasive plant control, rather than continuing to apply herbicide. Planting a diversity of native plants not only helps to fight invasive species, but also provides critical shade for thousands of vulnerable seabird chicks, protection from harsh winds, and gives the island strength and resiliency from an unnatural rise in sea levels.
Although many of us may never visit Midway Atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, all of us can appreciate the beauty of its existence and understand that there are experts working hard to restore and protect it.
Mbuga ya Midway, ambayo ni makazi ya ndege wa zamani zaidi duniani, ni mahali ambapo ndege anayeitwa Wisdom, ambaye ni mnyama mwenye umri wa miaka 66 kutoka kisiwa cha Leyte, amerudi kwa ajili ya kipindi cha kuzaliana na tayari amezaa yai. Midway Atoll iko katika mwisho wa kaskazini kabisa wa visiwa vya Hawaii na ndani ya Papahanaumouakea Marine National Monument iliyopanuliwa hivi karibuni. Mwamba wa nje wa bahari una kipenyo cha kilomita tano na una ekari 580,392 za matumbawe yaliyo chini ya maji, bahari na visiwa vitatu vya matumbawe (Sand Island, Eastern Island na Spit Island) kwa jumla ya ekari 1,549 za bahari. Midway Atoll pia ilikuwa eneo la'mahali pa kugeuka kwa Pasifiki' - Vita vya Midway, ambayo ilikuwa ushindi mkubwa wa kwanza wa majini wa Washirika dhidi ya Wajapani wakati wa Vita vya Pili vya Ulimwengu. Karibu ndege milioni tatu huweka viota kwenye Pihemanu - jina la mahali la Hawaii kwa Midway, linalomaanisha'sauti kubwa ya ndege' - ikiwa ni pamoja na idadi kubwa zaidi ya albatros ulimwenguni, Bonin Petrels na Laysan Teal inayokabili hatari ya kutoweka. Hawaiian Monk Seals, Spinner Dolphins, Green Turtles na aina zaidi ya 250 za samaki pia wanaishi katika Midway Atoll. Kwa miezi kadhaa, Dk Robert Taylor, mtaalamu wa mazingira kutoka Oregon, amekuwa akifanya kazi kama Mtaalamu wa Usimamizi wa Takwimu za Kurudisha ili kurudisha utendaji kwa programu ya GIS (Mfumo wa Habari ya Kijiografia) ya Midway. Kwa kutumia GPS, Taylor anaweza kupanga mapango ya makazi ili timu iweze kupata hisia bora ya ambapo spishi za uvamizi ziko kwenye kisiwa ili kuandaa na kutekeleza mipango ya kimkakati ya kurudisha kisiwa hicho kwa hali yake ya asili. Midway Atoll imekuwa na baadhi ya masuala katika siku za nyuma na spishi za mimea ya uvamizi, lakini imekuwa na mafanikio katika kuondoa spishi hizo. Crownbeard, mshiriki wa familia ya daisy, sio mimea ya kuvamia ya Midway kwa sababu ya kazi ya ukarabati iliyofanywa na watu kama vile Dk Taylor na wataalamu wengine wa uhifadhi. Hali ya ardhi inabadilika haraka na urekebishaji wa mimea ya asili ni, kwa maeneo mengi, moja ya zana bora kwa ajili ya kudhibiti mimea ya uvamizi unaoendelea, badala ya kuendelea kutumia dawa za kuua magugu. Kupanda mimea mbalimbali ya asili sio tu husaidia kupambana na spishi za uvamizi, lakini pia hutoa kivuli muhimu kwa maelfu ya vifaranga vya ndege wa baharini, ulinzi kutoka kwa upepo mkali, na inatoa nguvu ya kisiwa na upinzani kutoka kwa ongezeko lisilo la asili la viwango vya bahari. Ingawa wengi wetu huenda tusitembelee Midway Atoll katikati ya Bahari ya Pasifiki, sote tunaweza kuthamini uzuri wa kuwepo kwake na kuelewa kwamba kuna wataalamu wanaofanya kazi kwa bidii kuirudisha na kuilinda.