This experience has been such a departure from the academic settings and scientific processes I’ve been used to for the past several years while conducting my postgraduate research degree, a change which has been undeniably refreshing. Over the course of my career, I’ve focused on designing, implementing, and evaluating conservation mitigation interventions, to ensure these measures are and remain effective. This project falls right in line with those aspects of my prior work I have thoroughly valued, and is presenting an enjoyable challenge. Another dimension of interest I hold with the conservation and natural resource management fields is communication and collaboration. Luckily, I’m also getting plenty of that, as pulling off a large, complex project of this kind requires a team of experts and partnering organisations all working together.
On to a bit about the birds! Though other species make Midway Atoll more of a permanent home or their breeding grounds, the shorebird stars of my project, as seen above, simply use the island as a stop on their incredible, cross-hemispherical migration journeys every year. Bristle-thighed Curlew, Pacific Golden Plover, and Ruddy Turnstone (with a smattering of Sanderlings and teams of Tattlers here and there) nest in the high Arctic, then marathon across the Pacific Ocean to Midway, before continuing their way across the globe to the Southern Hemisphere. Their migratory path connects Alaska to the Pacific Islands, southeast Asia, even as far south as Australia and New Zealand!
(1) General migration path of shorebirds coming through Midway (map graphic: Earth Touch News Network, Western Sandpiper illustration: Sherry York, other custom edits: Selena Flores); (2) the two islands (Sand and Eastern) and surrounding coral reefs of Midway Atoll (aerial image: Fly Away Simulation/NASA, custom edits: Selena Flores).
Devising a plan to protect the migratory shorebirds during the Midway mouse eradication operation requires me to “think like a bird.” Where do the birds spend their time? What would scare them? How often would we have to change and move these methods around so the birds don’t get used to them? And with what we do know about the threats they will face being exposed to the rodent bait, it’s important to figure out where will they be most at risk, and where we should focus different deterrence efforts. This is quite hard to do from afar, as I’ve never been to the island, and also without being in an office with colleagues who have been there close at hand.
Shorebirds generally search for areas that seem safe, and tend to not want to be around stimuli that are unfamiliar or unpredictable. Techniques using loud noise, lots of movement, mimicking the presence of predators, and sparkly reflective items, are all options to consider for our “bird-hazing toolkit.” Who would have thought, as a conservation biologist, my job would involve shopping online for fake predator decoys to scare birds…! Between historical data, reviewing past scientific studies, anecdotal information from colleagues familiar with the island and the habits of the birds there, as well as calling on my own past experiences with shorebirds and their behaviour, I’m puzzling all the bits and pieces to create a cohesive plan that will be robust and effective in keeping the birds away from the mouse bait areas…this is all starting to come together!
(1) There are some pretty hilarious bird scaring products out there… (Bird-X coyote decoy image: https://www.pestfix.co.uk/); (2) Sometimes, when the camera trap is supposed to get a shot of shorebirds flocking…you get photobombed by an albatross chick instead! (Camera trap photo: Jon Plissner, Island Conservation/USFWS).
On the general side of things, involvement with the over-arching Directorate Fellowship and Hispanic Access Foundation MANO programmes continues to be an uplifting experience! There is quite a lot to familiarise yourself with as a fellow and the structure of the agency, the project is rigorous and busy, but there’s also many forms of support systems across the fellowship programme. Even our cohort of fellows itself, despite not ever having met in person, have found ways to virtually connect with and support each other in this unusual situation. There is a sense of satisfaction working with and being in a group of like-minded colleagues, as well as pursuing your passion, especially when you realise and are very grateful that…you want to do what you need or have to do!
Header image: The usual shorebirds of Midway Atoll…Bristle-thighed Curlew, Pacific Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, and Wandering Tattler (all photos: Wikimedia Commons pages of each species).
Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP
Location: Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge