Four of a Kind

beats a Full House everytime



Honu, Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, Chelonia mydas

I collected these guys this morning and sent them to their difficult watery task right after the picture was taken. The water was clear at about 0745 and each of these guys, after being flipped into the water, quickly came up to sneak a breath and down they went to paddle away. I certainly hope these guys will make it, when in reality odds are good none of them will. While snorkling, I do see larger green turtles gliding under the glass once in awhile. They had to start out at this stage.

Nearly all the green sea turtles that one would see around the main Hawaiian Islands are born in the remote French Frigate Shoals atoll(where Tern I. is), 500-800 miles away.

Anyhow, touched on the federally threatened Hawaiian population of the Green See Turtle awhile back under So You're Saying There's a Chance.

Still waiting for the several hundreds of Black-footed Albatross(Diomedea nigripes) and Laysan Albatross(D.immutabilis), that is several hundred of each species. I will help continue a mark-recapture program that's been on-going at Tern for awhile. Looking forward to it.

We are also on the lookout for Bonin Petrels(Pterodroma hypoleuca)and Tristram's(Sooty)Storm-Petrel's(Oceanodroma tristrami). These species also make there winter breeding grounds on the NW Chain.

Plenty of Mean Incubation Counts to go through. Just finished up one for the Red-Tailed Tropicbird (Phaeithon rubricauda). There are only 12 young left on the island. These guys have a tough time, it seems at this late stage, before flight. There have been several that have died, naturally it would seem. Great bird, though touch-and-go as a not yet flighted juvenile.

Red-Tailed Tropicbird (P.rubricauda), juvi, catch the breeze brah & go already


As always, aloha, and good evening....

as we blow out the flame.