1. Endangered Laysan Ducks Thrive at Midway.
- Author
-
Foote, Ken and Reynolds, Michelle
- Subjects
LAYSAN duck ,ENDANGERED species ,WILDLIFE conservation ,NATURE conservation ,NATURAL disasters - Abstract
The article presents information on endangered Laysan ducks and their restoration at Midway Island. The U.S. Geological Survey's Biological Resources Discipline and the Fish and Wildlife Service set up an "insurance policy" to conserve the world's most vulnerable bird species. Hurricanes, tsunamis and disease outbreaks are common threat to the population of ducks. Bird poachers, miners and rabbits contributed in reduction of ducks and three birds were considered as endangered including Laysan rail, Laysan honeycreeper and Laysan millerbird. In 2004, a draft revised recovery plan to meet the aim of downlisting the endangered species by establishing four populations on island. Dr. michelle Reynolds, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, lead a team of biologist and refuge managers to investigate the habitants of ducks. birds were released with their mates in groups and were monitored closely. The article offers how ducks developed themselves in island and produced eggs. In January 1, 2005, 40 translocated birds were found alive and doing well.
- Published
- 2006