#pihemanu

(LAAL is the bird-nerd Bird Banding Laboratory / North American Bird Banding Program / Institute for Bird Populations 4-letter code for the Laysan Albatross)

Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) couple, engaging in allopreening (mutual grooming of each other) & bill touching, as part of their courtship/nesting rituals, which strengthen their pair bond prior to their breeding attempt, after many long months apart at sea. Midway Atoll, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Sometimes gentle & tender, yet other times more of a lover's spat, their interaction reads like an old married couple.

From another moment, here they are making a cute little heart with their heads & bills:

No Amount of This Could Ever Be Enough, Vol. I

A Hawaiian Monk Seal casually floats by; Eastern Island, Kuaihelani / Pihemanu / Midway Atoll NWR, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiian Monk Seal / ʻIlio-holo-i-ka-uaua (Neomonachus schauinslandi); taking a snooze on a beach of Midway Atoll, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Oh, to be a Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis), blissfully having a happy Buddha meditative snooze on your nest, amongst millions of your feathery brethren like noisy flowers in a field, on one of the most remarkable islands on Earth.

(This is probably one of my favourite photos I've ever taken...especially since I caught another alby to the left mid-over-the-wing doggie scratch!)

The first seabird I ever worked with, held/handled, took care of, & released was a Laysan Albatross chick in Hawai'i, many moons ago.

Fifteen years later, my love for seabirds as strong as ever, I had the amazing opportunity to be among millions of these incredible pelagic birds in the largest albatross colony in the world, on the culturally, ecologically, & historically significant Midway Atoll...plus, to also see Wisdom, the oldest known wild bird, with my own eyes.

Kaʻupu / Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes)

Nesting on Midway Atoll NWR, NW Hawaiian Islands. (©Selena Flores)

Photos really could never do the true, striking beauty of these birds justice!

Near-fledged Black-footed and Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes & immutabilis, respectively)

Big relief that friends/colleagues/etc. are safe on the Pacific Islands (despite a harrowing few hours)...they'll check for damage in the morning; holding thumbs it's all relatively minor & wildlife casualties are few (especially since most albatross chicks will have fledged by now, & adults would have also already departed).

Having lived in Hawai'i when there's been an earthquake (originating much closer & felt on the islands) & resulting tsunami....even at lower grades, it's all still a pretty worrisome experience.