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Islands are less than 5% of the earths landmass, yet are home to 40% of the endangered species. Many island bird species in particular are threatened by introduced predators that they lack defenses against, and because many nest close to sea level, are also threatened by sea level changes. This project focuses on species that are most vulnerable to sea level rise- those with a high proportion of their global population in few locations, and a high proportion of their population (>95% or more) nesting less than 2 meters above sea level.
Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses have healthy population sizes and nest in locations mostly safe from predators, but more than 95% of their populations are found less than 2m above sea level making them extremely vulnerable to sea level rise. In the tsunami of 2011, more than 50% of the nests of both species were lost, and the inundation from that event is likely less than projected sea level rises. While they are not in imminent danger now, they will be in the near future. Similarly, Bonin Petrels and Tristram's Storm Petrels contain more than 95% of their population below 2m above sea level. Our work seeks to create safe colonies for birds vulnerable to predation by introduced species and to create populations safe from sea level rise. You can download this information below: 
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Laysan Albatross |
Black-footed Albatross |
Translocated from: U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, where they attempt to nest on an active runway and pose a collision hazard for aircraft. # birds translocated: 50 chicks from 2015-2017; 46 of those chicks fledged and 16 have returned as adults. More than 3,000 wild adults have visited the site to date and there are nine nesting pairs. Current nesting colonies: 99% in the Hawaiian Islands; <1% in Japan and Mexico Worldwide population: ~2 million birds; 75% on Midway Atoll alone and 99% in Hawaii. |
Translocated from: Midway Atoll and Tern Island National Wildlife Refuges # birds translocated to Oahu: 102 chicks from 2017-2021; 96 of those fledged and 13 have returned as adults. Dozens of wild adults have visited the site to date. # birds translocated to Isla Guadalupe M.X. from 2021-2022: 57 eggs and 12 chicks; 27 thus far have fledged. Current nesting colonies: 97% in the Hawaiian Islands; 3% in Japan Worldwide population: ~200,000 birds |
Bonin Petrels |
Tristram's Storm Petrels |
Translocated from: Midway Atoll and Tern Island National Wildlife Refuges
# birds to be translocated: 249 chicks translocated from 2018-2021; 244 of those fledged and at least 47 have returned as adults. We have more than 17 breeding pairs as of 2023. Current nesting colonies: Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Japan. Worldwide population: ~1 million birds; 98% thought to nest in Hawaii. |
Translocated from: Tern Island National Wildlife Refuge.
# birds to be translocated: 108 chicks translocated from 2018-2020 in 2018; 79 of those fledged and 18 have returned as adults. We have more than six breeding pairs as of 2023. Current nesting colonies: Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Japan. Worldwide population: ~30,000 birds; 75% thought to nest in Hawaii. |