Midway Birds and Wildlife Photography & Eco Tours

Hawaiian Monk Seals Approximately 40 endangered Hawaiian monk seals inhabit Midway Atoll and can be spotted during most of the year. Pups may be born at any time of the year, but generally arrive from February through June. Adult and immature monk seals are frequently seen basking on the beaches of all three island in the atoll, but pupping occurs only on Spit and Eastern Island. (Remember to stay at least 100 feet away from any monk seal).
Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins About 200 Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins frequent the shallow lagoon waters during the day and forage in waters outside the atoll at night.
Pacific Green Sea Turtles Midway Atoll's lagoon area is an important feeding area for green sea turtles. The are frequently spotted within the harbor area of Sand Island. Although no nesting has occurred recently, the reduction of disturbances on Eastern Island may create new nesting opportunities for this threatened species.

Seabird & Shorebird Calendar

January

Albatrosses: 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.	Laysan Albatross with a Chick
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.
Red footed boobies: You may see a few of these birds on Sand Island, but nesting occurs only on Eastern Island. Adults are present in January and may be building nests or laying eggs by the end of the month.
Black noddy: The nesting cycle for black noddies occurs over a long time period, so you may see them sitting on nests or with chicks during the January.

February

Albatrosses: By the end of the month, all of the black-footed and Laysan albatross chicks have hatched.	Albatross mingle near the Clipper House
Bonin petrel: Nesting continues during February, and many nonbreeding birds are visible at night.
Red-tailed tropicbird: Some nesting and egg lying begins by late February, though more courtship displays are still ongoing.
Great frigatebird: Courtship and nest building may occur in February but is limited to Eastern Island. Occasionally, frigatebirds may be seen flying over Sand Island.
Red footed boobies: Nest building and egg laying continues on Eastern Island.
Black noddy: Some nesting and chick-rearing continue during February.
Terns: Some white terns begin laying eggs in February. Gray-backed and sooty terns begin returning to Eastern and Spit Islands near the end of February.

March

Albatrosses: The chicks of both black-footed and Laysan albatross begin to wander from their nests.	White Terns
Bonin petrel: Chicks begin hatching in March and nonbreeding activity over colonies increases.
Red-tailed tropicbird: Nesting and egg lying continues. Aerial courtship displays are much more frequent as the nesting season goes into full swing.
Great frigatebird: Courtship and nest building continue, and egg laying begins on Eastern Island. Occasionally, frigatebirds may be seen flying over Sand Island.
Red footed boobies: 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.
Terns: The number of adult white terns on Midway may increase slightly during March. Egg laying continues and a few chicks may be present. More gray-backed and sooty terns return to Eastern and Spit Islands in March.
Shearwaters: The Christmas shearwaters, which nest only on Eastern Island, begin returning to the atoll in March. A few wedge-tailed shearwaters may arrive later in the month.

April

Albatrosses: The chicks of both black-footed and Laysan albatross continue growing and may wander from their nests.	Alabtross Chick in the Nest
Bonin petrel: Hatching is complete during April.
Red-tailed tropicbird: Some chicks begin hatching, but eggs continue to be laid as well.
Great frigatebird: Egg laying continues on Eastern Island.
Red footed boobies: Egg laying continues on Eastern Island, and more chicks begin to hatch.
Noddies: Nesting and chick-rearing continue in the black noddy colonies. Brown noddies begin to return to the atoll.
Terns: White tern chicks are more numerous in 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, while adult wedge-tailed shearwaters are spending their nights courting and begin to burrow.
Shorebirds: Populations of shorebirds begin to decrease on Midway as these birds begin their migration to their summer breeding grounds. Some of these birds have spent their entire winter on Midway.

May

Albatrosses: The chicks of both black-footed and Laysan albatross continue growing and are much better at walking. They begin to show some adult feathers.	Laysan and Black-footed Albatross enjoy the view
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, while many chicks are also hatching.
Great frigatebird: More eggs are laid on Eastern Island, while some chicks hatch. More frigatebirds may be seen over Sand Island.
Red footed boobies: Egg laying ends on Eastern Island, and chicks continue to hatch and grow.
Noddies: Nesting and chick-rearing continue in the black noddy colonies. Brown noddies begin their egg laying.
Terns: Early season white tern chicks continue to grow, though egg-laying and hatching also continue as the peak of their breeding season arrives. Gray-backed tern chicks begin hatching, but egg laying may continue. More adult sooty terns return and egg laying peaks. As many as 75,000 pairs blanket the ground on parts of Eastern Island.
Shearwaters: The Christmas shearwaters continue nesting, and adult wedge-tailed shearwaters keep busy building their burrows.

June

Albatrosses: Adult black-footed albatross begin leaving the atoll, and even a few chicks may fledge. Laysan albatross chicks are almost full grown, and many adults may leave the atoll.	Even Common Canaries live on Midway..left behind by Pacific Cable Company employees in 1910
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: Most chicks are seen on Eastern Island.
Red footed boobies: 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. Chicks continue to grow, and egg-laying and hatching are mostly completed. More gray-backed terns chicks have hatched. Most sooty tern chicks hatch in June.
Shearwaters: The Christmas shearwater chicks begin to hatch, and adult wedge-tailed shearwaters begin laying eggs.

July

Albatrosses: Remaining adult black-footed albatross and newly fledged chicks depart from Midway. More juvenile Laysan albatrosses are fledging, and only a few adults remain on the atoll.	Laysan Albatross hovers over 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 boobies: Most of the chicks have hatched and continue to grow.
Noddies: Most black noddy chicks are half grown and some have fledged. Most brown noddies 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 shearwater chicks are growing, but wedge-tailed shearwaters continue incubating eggs.

August

Albatrosses: Any remaining juvenile Laysan albatross generally have left the island by late August.	Great Frigatebird also known as Iwa, or the thief, in Hawaii
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: Peak number of chicks are seen on Eastern Island.
Red footed boobies: Chicks continue to grow.
Noddies: 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, and more gray-backed terns are fledging. Most sooty tern chicks are learning to fly.
Shearwaters: The Christmas shearwater 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 plovers and ruddy turnstones - begin returning to Midway from their northern breeding gounds during August. Smaller numbers of bristle-thighed curlews and wandering tattlers also may be spotted.

September

Bonin petrel: Many adults are present courting and excavating burrows.	Brown Boobies are also seen on Midway
Red-tailed tropicbird: Fledging continues and a few older chicks remain.
Great frigatebird: Chicks are still growing.
Red footed boobies: Most of the chicks learn to fly.
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, and most sooty terns depart by the end of the month. Most white tern chicks are fledging.
Shearwaters: Christmas and wedge-tailed shearwater chicks continue to grow. A few Christmas shearwaters are fledging, and more wedge-tailed shearwaters hatch.
Shorebirds: Shorebirds flocks continue to arrive on Midway during September. Pacific golden plover, ruddy turnstone, and bristle-thighed curlew populations peak for the fall season in September.

October

Albatrosses: The first black-footed and Laysan albatrosses return in the later half of the month.	Red-tailed Tropicbird
Bonin petrel: Many adults are present on the atoll.
Red-tailed tropicbird: The seasons remaining young generally fledge by the end of the month.
Great frigatebird: Juveniles begin to fledge in October.
Red footed boobies: All but the last chicks of the season fledge.
Noddies: With their long nesting season, black noddies may start nesting and laying eggs in October.
Shearwaters: More Christmas shearwater chicks are fledging in October. Wedge-tailed shearwater chicks continue to grow.
Shorebirds: Many shorebirds remain on Midway over the winter, but others depart for warmer climates.

November

Albatrosses: Black-footed albatrosses are busy building nests and laying eggs. Most of the Laysan albatrosses return, though the early arrivals may begin laying eggs by late November.	Nesting Black-footed Albatross
Bonin petrel: Many adults are present on the atoll.
Great frigatebird: The last of the juveniles fledge in November.
Noddies: Some black noddies continue nesting and laying eggs.
Shearwaters: The last Christmas shearwater chicks fledge and depart, followed by all of the wedge-tailed shearwaters near the end of the month.

December

Albatrosses: Black-footed albatrosses are incubating eggs, and most of the Laysan albatross eggs are laid during the month.	A Rare Short-tailed Albatross (The Golden Gooney)
Bonin petrel: Many adults are present on the atoll.
Noddies: Black noddies continue nesting and laying eggs, and small numbers of brown noddies are seen.
Terns: The number of white terns begins to increase.

If you have questions about Midway or would like to make reservations, please call us toll free at 1-888-BIG-ULUA or email us at destpacific@sportfishhawaii.com and we will be happy to help.

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