Thanks to you, the members and donors, funding was quickly allocated by the FOMA Board of Directors to fill in a major funding and position gap to continue boots on the ground efforts at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge/Battle of Midway National Memorial through the next six months! The former Volunteer Coordinator position held by the fabulous Laura Brazier, was a four year term position that recently expired. With no available government funding or allowable positions to be added to continue the Volunteer Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff turned to the Friends of Midway Atoll (FOMA) to mastermind how they could help triage keeping a volunteer program alive that had already been slimmed down to a crew of only three.
“With funds immediately secured from FOMA we were able to move quickly to support two crew lead positions who split responsibilities to administer, train and supervise the volunteers,” noted board member Bill Levin.
A former volunteer, Molly Henling and a current biology volunteer, Dan Rapp now fill the big empty shoes left by Laura Brazier's departure last week. Molly has administrative responsibilities for the crew and otherwise they both divide coordination of field activities for the summer crew of 3 six-month volunteers. Molly and Dan will receive FOMA stipends. Fortunately, Laura was able to train Molly and Dan as well as assist with training the new cadre of volunteers who arrived on March 25, 2025.
The crew outplants native Nihoa fan palm (pitchardio remota) and Pōpolo or glossy nightshade plant (Solanum americanum). These and other native species now take the place of what once was dominated by a mono culture of non-native ironwood trees.
Today this crew maintains on-going critical seabird data sets, grow and out-plant native plants; band seabirds, assist a designated verbesina crew as they search and attack any visible evidence of these highly invasive sprouts; search for any evidence of Botulism in the endangered Laysan duck population as well as learn to immediately detect mice predation on albatross chicks.
The list of to-do's never seems to end. The good news is this crew has already been described as quote, “fantastic and awesome” so don't underestimate what they are able to accomplish in 6-months time. We will keep you updated here!
Article by Ann Bell