Friends Of Midway Atoll (FOMA)
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Friends Of Midway Atoll (FOMA)
@friendsofmidway.bsky.social
We are the 501(c)3 supporting Midway Atoll (Kuaihelani) National Wildlife Refuge/Battle of Midway National Memorial, of the Northwest Hawaiian Archipelago (Papahanaumakuakea).
Please visit www.friendsofmidway.org
——-
https://linktr.ee/friendsofmidwaynwr
The next generation is discovering the wonder of #Birds & the natural world.
At an Earth Day presentation, Dr. Jon Plissner encountered a young bird lover named Chiemelie, which inspired this story w/an albatross connection. Photo/art credits in comments

friendsofmidway.org/inspiring-th...
September 18, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Adopt an albatross: Oceanic Society partners w/FOMA to help conservation efforts on Midway Atoll. An albatross adoption is fun& meaningful as it helps support projects protecting Midway’s wildlife. #Birds

Learn more: www.oceanicsociety.org/adopt/adopt-...
Photo courtesy of Jeff Kuwabara.
September 18, 2026 at 2:55 PM
September 11, 2026 at 10:35 AM
FOMA store’s new items include youth hoodies/shirts, cross-body bags, can coolers & more!
Favorites remain; more new to come!

>Your purchase helps support Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll). All profits go toward conservation efforts on the island you love.
#Birds

Shop now:
friendsofmidway.org/shop-2/
FOMA Online Store
Show your love and support for Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge! Check out our online store via Printful, with all kinds of products, including tote bags, beanies, and coffee mugs, and more. O…
friendsofmidway.org
September 10, 2026 at 8:42 PM
6-Month Volunteers saved >80 Koloa pōhaka (Laysan Ducks) from botulism, removed invasive Verbesina, banded albatross chicks & cared for White Tern chicks.

See more in comments. #Birds

Your support helps sustain the volunteer program’s conservation work.

friendsofmidway.org/donate-and-s...
September 9, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Thanks to volunteer Colleen for capturing pics of a Uʻaukani (Wedge-tailed Shearwater) chick.

Uʻaukani lay eggs in June; chicks hatch mid-August. This is a time of growing shearwater chicks across Kuaihelani!
Every chick represents another generation of seabirds calling Kuaihelani home.
#Birds
September 6, 2026 at 4:43 PM
GUESS the number!
The 2026 summer crew (Greta, Colleen, Sam & Crew Lead Molly) helped w/albatross chick banding, collecting info for long-term research & monitoring.
How many albatross chicks do YOU think a team of 4 banded?

Drop your guess in the comments!

We’ll reveal the answer soon.
#Birds
September 5, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Mahalo, 2026 Summer Volunteer Crew! Greta Wasler, Sam Baxter-Bray, and Colleen McDonough spent 6 mo in conservation work w/Molly Heling, Volunteer Crew Lead. Manu-o-Kū (White Tern) chicks required close observation and attention as they developed toward fledging. See more in comments. #Birds
September 4, 2026 at 8:56 PM
A big thank you to former 6-month volunteer, Emily Onderbeke, for sharing these peaceful views of Kuaiehalni (Midway Atoll). The photos may have been taken back in 2020, but we assert that the incredible scenery hasn't changed at all!

#Birds
August 30, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Chondria tumulosa? Researchers are using marine robotics, hyperspectral imaging and aerial drones to better understand and combat this invasive algae threatening coral.

Discover what scientists are testing—and what could come next:

friendsofmidway.org/technology-c...
friendsofmidway.org
August 26, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Reposted by Friends Of Midway Atoll (FOMA)
Nikki Preston, a 6-month volunteer on Kuaihelani in '24-'25, took time to share some of the wildlife she encountered: Hybrid Laysan and Black-footed albatrosses!

Not seen often, so when we get a glimpse, it's truly a special sighting!
#Birds
August 23, 2026 at 3:23 PM
FOMA seeks new Board members: people with creative energy, expertise, connections, & a passion for supporting Midway Atoll. #Birds

We’re recruiting volunteers, too!
Use the same application to share your skills and talents.

📅 Apply by Sept. 7, 2026
🔗 friendsofmidway.org/2026-board-r...
Call for Board Member Applications
Are you interested in supporting Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge/Battle of Midway National Memorial? We encourage you to apply for a position on the board of directors of the Friends of Midwa…
friendsofmidway.org
August 20, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Sunday Morning video filmed in the dark—special moment from June ‘26 by Dan Rapp. A rare close-up of a Nunulu (Bonin Petrel) chick preparing to fledge. Since Nunulu nest in burrows, they’re difficult to film. #Birds

youtu.be/Vt7c16_MfXY
Close Up of a Fledging Nunulu (Bonin Petrel)
YouTube video by Friends of Midway Atoll NWR
youtu.be
August 16, 2026 at 3:26 PM
𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛 — 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟴
🥇 Sam Loest — 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴
🥈 Brianne Khil — 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥
💙 People’s Choice — Kai Alexander — 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘍𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦
🌟 Honorable Mention — Shay & Owen Rempfer

#Birds
𝗠𝗔𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗢 to all our young artists.
See comments for link to submissions in both categories.
August 12, 2026 at 10:42 AM
𝗔𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗧 — 𝟭𝟴+
🥇 Nadia Borg — 𝘈𝘭𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘌𝘺𝘦𝘴
🥈 Aves Gill — 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘒𝘶𝘢𝘪𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘪
💙 People’s Choice — Deepti Jain — 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘈𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘭

#Birds
Explore all 61 submissions, including descriptions from the artists:

2026 Art Contest Winners & All Submissions:
friendsofmidway.org/2026-art-con...
August 12, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Reposted by Friends Of Midway Atoll (FOMA)
On this day in 1790, Congress authorized the first 10 revenue cutters—the beginning of today's U.S. Coast Guard. Discover how Alexander Hamilton's vision helped build America's oldest continuous sea service. https://ow.ly/UHtE50Zvem8

#USCGBirthday #USCG
To Raise Revenue and Unify the Country
The Revenue Cutter Service, the original incarnation of the U.S. Coast Guard, was conceived and created by Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton—but not without political pushback.
ow.ly
August 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Manu-o-Kū (White Tern) don’t build nests, they lay a single egg on a small branch, tree hollow, rocky ledge, or even human-made structures around Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll). A safe home might not need walls.

Thanks, Dan Rapp. Have you ever seen a bird nest in such an unprotected place?
#Birds
August 2, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Flood insurance? Not in the conventional sense, but flood mapping Sand Island at Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) by drone will help protect nesting sites against rising sea levels.

ecomagazine.com/news/coastal...
Aerial Drones and Robotics Survey Papahānaumokuākea's Remote Islands - environment coastal & offshore
A three-week expedition to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument deployed aerial drones and autonomous robotics to map remote islands, assess shoreline changes, and monitor invasive algae on shal...
ecomagazine.com
July 31, 2026 at 11:58 AM
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is hiring a Volunteer Crew Leader for Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge), six-month leadership role.
See comments. #Birds
Applicants must qualify at the GS-7 level; closing August 6!

Read more & apply here:
🔗 friendsofmidway.org/now-hiring-v...
July 29, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Vote for People's Choice winners of FOMA’s 2026 Art Contest. Submissions narrowed from 61; choose favorite in Over 18 and Under 18 categories. #Birds
One vote per person per category.
Voting ends Aug. 5 at 11:59 p.m. HST:
friendsofmidway.org/Peoples-Choi...
friendsofmidway.org/Peoples-Choi...
2026 FOMA Art Contest: People's Choice Voting Over 18 Category
Mahalo to all of our artists for their beautiful artwork! These represent the top 10 chosen by the members in the Art Committee & judges, which was no easy task. We ask that you vote for one artwork s...
friendsofmidway.org
July 29, 2026 at 8:12 PM
#TBT It's been over 10 years since the Battle of Midway memorial was installed on Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll). See more in comments. #Birds

Read the marker's full inscription and learn more:
www.abmc.gov/history/disc...

Photos by Bret Wolf and Dan Rapp
July 24, 2026 at 1:59 AM
Endangered Species Act Protections Changed July 14, 2026, regulatory definition of “harm” rescinded. #Birds
See more in comments.
You can help:
lnkd.in/ghpH7mYy

Would you consider a contribution:
lnkd.in/gQ-J9gTA

Photos on Midway Atoll courtesy of USGS and Jon Plissner
July 21, 2026 at 1:24 AM