US Fish and Wildlife Service

Tag: US Fish and Wildlife Service

Draft Environmental Assessment Released for Midway Seabird Protection Project

Conservationists are hopeful for an invasive-free future for Midway Atoll as the public comment period for the draft environmental assessment opens. Mice are attacking nesting albatross on Midway Atoll – the largest albatross colony in the world and the most important and successful breeding ground for Black-footed Albatross and Laysan Albatross. In just a few […]

Written by on March 22, 2018

Disappearing Mosquitoes Leave Clues About Basic Ecology

In 2011, Island Conservation, USFWS, and TNC removed invasive rats from Palmyra Atoll to protect native species. Now researchers have found that disease-carrying mosquitoes have disappeared. By: Rob Margetta Palmyra Atoll is a tiny speck in the Pacific Ocean, roughly 1,000 miles south of Hawai’i and less than 3 square miles in area. Its only […]

Written by on March 1, 2018

Preventing Extinctions: The Reason for Hope

Invasive species are a primary driver of extinction on islands, but proven methods are available to address this problem. Island Conservation is an international non-profit whose mission is to prevent extinctions by removing invasive species from islands. To date, we have successfully restored 63 islands worldwide, benefiting 1173 populations of 468 species and subspecies. How […]

Written by on February 27, 2018

How Removing Rats Helped to Save Midway’s Seabirds

A project to remove invasive rats from Midway Atoll in 1995 left the island to flourish, but invasive mice continue to threaten native seabirds. By: Aaron Ochoa Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial is a place of immense ongoing conservation and restoration work. Millions of seabirds depend on the atoll as […]

Written by on February 14, 2018

Hawaiian Crows are Prospering in the Wild, more Releases Planned

Efforts to restore wild ‘Alalā (Hawaiian Crow) populations in Hawai’i seem to be working—eleven individuals released in Fall 2017 are thriving. Last fall conservationists held their breath as they released eleven Hawaiian Crows (‘Alalā) into Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve as part of the ‘Alalā Project. Today you can still hear their synchronized caws; these […]

Written by on January 31, 2018

Looking to the Future at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge

Holly Richards, Public Affairs Officer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, shares the story of how removal of invasive species from Palmyra Atoll has led to a thriving ecosystem. By: Holly Richards With its lush rainforest and deep turquoise waters surrounded by some of the most intact coral reef ecosystems in the world, Palmyra […]

Written by on December 15, 2017

It’s Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Albatross Return to Midway Atoll

Albatross return to Midway Atoll to begin the breeding season. Conservationists are hopeful these threatened seabirds can be saved from predatory invasive species. Albatross are philopatric seabirds, which means they return to their natal breeding colony every year to nest and raise new chicks. Midway Atoll is home to the largest Albatross breeding colony in the […]

Written by on November 9, 2017

The Invasive Rats of Lehua Appear to Have Taken the Bait

Invasive rats appear to be gone from Lehua Island after officials conducted a restoration project to protect threatened seabirds. By: Jan TenBruggencate The `iwa or Great Frigatebird swept low over a cluster of trucks, stacks of equipment and a Jet Ranger helicopter on the northern end of Niihau. As I followed its black-winged form with […]

Written by on October 19, 2017

Scarlet Honeycreeper Recieves Endangered Species Listing

Hawai’i’s ‘I’iwi, also known as the Scarlet Honeycreeper, has received official listing under the Endangered Species Act. Hawai’i’s Scarlet Honeycreeper, also known as the ‘I’iwi was once one of the most common species found throughout native ʻŌhiʻa forests, but converging threats have led to dramatic declines in its population. After years of research, the ‘I’iwi has officially […]

Written by on September 21, 2017