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On Midway Atoll, a tiny island about 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) northwest of Honolulu, a rare short-tailed albatross chick has had it tough during its brief life.
The first of its kind born outside Japan, the bird hatched in January in the middle of a raging storm. Then in February, another gale tossed the chick nearly 100 feet (30 meters) from its nest. In March, the young bird survived a tsunami, sparked by the devastating earthquake in Japan, which killed about 100,000 albatross chicks on the Pacific island.
"This chick is a survivor," said John Klavitter, deputy manager of the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
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And now biologists are betting the chick's track record may help them track the rare and endangered species. Refuge staffers have affixed permanent bands to the five-month-old chick's legs, allowing scientists to follow along as the bird matures and takes flight.
"We are very excited that the chick, raised by first-time parents, has made it to where we believe it will fledge, perhaps by mid-June," Klavitter said.
The young albatross on banding day.
(Image credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/David Dow.)
Albatross fledglings spend their first two to seven years at sea before returning to land to find a mate.
The short-tailed albatross once numbered in the millions, but were hunted to near-extinction for their feathers and other parts. By 1939, only 10 birds were known to remain.
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In 2007, it was estimated there were around 2,360 short-tailed albatross worldwide.
Over the last decade, biologists from the Midway refuge and Japan have collaborated to stabilize and increase the population.
In 2000 and 2001, 42 short-tailed albatross decoys (some supplied by Japanese researchers) were placed on the refuge in the vicinity of a 12-year old male that first arrived on the island in 1999.
Biologists hoped the decoys and a solar-powered, automated short-tailed albatross call would attract more live birds and a mate for the male.
Seven years later, a five-year old female arrived. The male finally had a mate.
"This amazing chick is the result," Klavitter said.
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