What do you see when you look at this photo?
Black-footed Albatrosses.
Marine Debris, definite threat to much ocean life.
Look closer.
The birds rest within native beach morning glories
here on Pihemanu (aka Midway).
Behind them are other natives, naupaka lining the backshore for one.
And, those yellow flowers????
The yellow flowers belong to one of the greatest threats to Albatrosses.
Verbesina.
This introduced plant covers wide swaths of the small islands
where Albatrosses nest, or try to nest.
Some of you have wondered why upland plants and animals
are part of the museum...........it's about all the needs of the ocean
and ocean life.
Verbesina was likely brought to Midway, accidentally
on the tracks of construction equipment during WWII.
It grows rapidly and forms dense "forests" up to ten feet tall.
It only needs a day of rain to keep it climbing higher for an entire month.
It has adapted well to the sandy soil on these islands and it covers once
ideal albatross nesting habitat. The birds are simply unable to penetrate the
thickets and where they do nest in Verbesina areas, nesting success is
reduced, partly because adults returning with food have a more
difficult time finding their young.
Greg Schubert lives and works tirelessly
to rid Pihemanu of Verbesina. He and occasional volunteers
pull up Verbesina, outplanting natives that are outcompeting the alien invader.
Stay tuned for progress he is making and for the many attempts to
restore native plants in the main Hawaiian Islands where
more endangered plants occur per unit area
than any other place on earth.
You can help by joining Friends of Midway
You can also help by planting and encouraging protection of
NATIVE PLANTS
in your own watershed no matter where you live.
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