A Laysan albatross chick with droopwing. Photo by Myra Finkelstein.
In the video, a mottled Laysan albatross chick waddles slowly in a circle, clacking its beak angrily in the camera’s direction. Its scruffy brown wings hang limply at each side, occasionally fluttering and dragging in the soil as the young bird struggles to defend itself from the perceived threat. Around its grey webbed feet, tiny white flecks dot the ground.
“Paint chips,” says UC-Santa Cruz assistant researcher Myra Finkelstein, the woman behind the camera, who’s now watching the video on her home PC. “Lead-based paint chips cover the ground in a lot of places. It’s real easy for the young birds to ingest them.”
Soon the chick will be dead. The debilitating neurological disease “droopwing” has already left its wings paralyzed. If the disease itself doesn’t kill the chick, infected wounds from its dragging wings or starvation once its parents migrate almost certainly will.
For Finkelstein, the bird’s plight is distressingly common on the Midway Islands. In a 2003 research paper, she showed that paint chips from an abandoned U.S. Navy base there are directly responsible for an outbreak of droopwing. Her latest study, published in the science journal Animal Conservation, shows the disease is causing a substantive drop in the Laysan population worldwide. Her research prompted a Feb. 1 announcement by the environmental group Center for Biological Diversity that it intends to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its failure to protect the threatened seabird. Article continues below video.
“Myra’s research showed that up to 10,000 chicks are dying on Midway every year,” says Shaye Wolf, staff biologist with the CBD, adding that the group also plans to sue the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources. “That’s not acceptable. We’re filing suit to start an immediate cleanup of the contamination on Midway so that thousands more birds don’t die from lead poisoning. USFWS has stood by while there is an immediate solution to the problem: clean up the paint.”
Located about 1,250 miles northwest of Honolulu and best known as the site of the decisive 1942 victory by the U.S. Navy over the Japanese, the islands that make up the Midway Atoll have a total area of only 2.5 square miles. Neverthleless, they serve as breeding grounds for roughly 500,000 pairs of Laysan albatrosses—71 percent of the worldwide population. The birds are known for their gregarious personalities, brilliant white and charcoal feathers and dark “eye-shadow” markings. They were nearly hunted to extinction in the early 1900s and are now listed as “vulnerable to extinction” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In all, 19 protected bird species totaling 2 million animals make their nests on Midway.
The main land mass, Sand Island, was an important refueling stop for ships coming to and from Japan but was largely abandoned after WWII and officially closed in 1993. With the closure of the base, the U.S. Navy turned over control of Midway to the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, part of FWS—effectively passing the buck on cleaning up the toxic mess left behind.
“We only receive so much funding to clean up the buildings. And it’s very expensive work,” says John Klavitter, co-author of Finkelstein’s latest paper and a deputy refuge manager currently stationed at Midway. “The good news is that in 2004 [after Finkelstein’s initial research] we started to receive funding to remove paint from the buildings. We haven’t cleaned up the contaminated soil yet, though.”
Time is of the essence. “Right now the eggs are just starting to hatch,” he says. “As the chicks grow they will start to pick up the lead paint and we’ll start seeing the first signs of droopwing in April. They’ll be dead by June or July.”
Currently, 24 of the 95 offending buildings on Sand Island have been stripped and cleaned. Ten more are slated for cleanup this year. The cleanup plan, however, does not extend beyond 2010. Finkelstein says she hopes the CDB lawsuit will help change that.
“These birds need help now,” she says. “It’s a fixable problem, just not an easy one.”
Comments (11)
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WELFORD M SIMS Thu, Feb 04, 2010 - 11:52 am
USN Veteran served on Midway 1957-58. Under Midway Phoenix Corp in the late 90s early 2000s the lead paint cleanup was underway. They were also controlling weeds and termites. Fish and Wildlife made too many changes in rules for them to follow so MPC left in 2002. Since then the island had gone downhill. No one cares any more except for fins, feathers and flippers. FWS has done nothing to enhance the island nor to have a viable visitor program. We VETERANS can no longer afford the atrocious rates to fly to Midway for a week. I did afford it under MPC and enjoyed it no end. Now, the island is mostly off limits and good serviceable buildings are marked ABANDONED which gives them the right to let them rot, then it is cheaper to tear them down than fix them. This agency of the government needs to be sued so go for it! Make them do what is right not only for the birds but to have an affordable visitation program as promised so many times!
Laurie Sat, Mar 06, 2010 - 9:06 am
wow, this is really concerning. Makes me think our nation is really going downhill. And then with the Mexican gangs taking over National parkland and growing pot, soon we will be back in the dark ages. God help us!
WELFORD M SIMS Thu, Feb 04, 2010 - 12:01 pm
Navy Veteran, Midway Island 1957-58. Visited in 2000 when Midway Phoenix Corp was running visitation and caring for the island. Fish and Wildlife changed the rules on them so many times and made it uncomfortable on them so they left in 2002. Since then FWS has promised a viable visitation program but none has come about. MPC was getting the lead paint problem under control. They kept the weeds under control, they kept the termites under control. What has FWS done? Name one thing constructive they have done! Matter of fact, FWS is using the restaurant MPC built at their own expense! At the same time they are letting the galley rot so they can have an excuse to tear it down! So go ahead…sue FWS and hopefully get them off the island and get someone there who can and will take care of the place!
Thanks for a great article!
Dale W. Sowles CT2 USN 1957-1958 Thu, Feb 04, 2010 - 2:19 pm
Midway Island was very important to the United States during WWII. We won over the Japanese and was the turning point of the Pacific War. While I was stationed out there, the birds were our life. I have 400 colored slides of the different kinds of birds. Fish and Wild Life Service has done very little to maintain the islands. While I was there the University of California was out there protecting the birds and their habitat. Somebody needs to step in there and save the Gooney’s. Sue the pants off those greedy FWS people that are getting all the Government money and doing nothing with it. Yes, I too would like to visit the Islands again. The water is more beautiful than Hawaii. Dale W. Sowles
William Carrington Thu, Feb 04, 2010 - 3:25 pm
I too lived on Midway is. as a Navy brat 1955-56 I have seen doopwing then, FWS has been on the island for some 8 years and are spending 3 to 4 millon dollars a month, yes a month to replace things, not fixing a thing, and its all new equipment for a hand full of personnel?
As for the lead paint chips, I just don’t get it, FWS was to take care of all the buildings at take over of the island in 1996, which Midway Phoenix corp did while on the island and as Sims said controled the rats, termites ect very will. My hat off to Mark.
As for the droopwing, the adults feed the chicks? they may play with the chips if they can get the chips? looks like FWS covered the buildings and the ground around them so where is the chips coming from, are the chicks digging them up??? and if the chicks are eatting on there own after three months of age, the lead posion takes place fast very fast?? they leave the island by early July?? so thats about 4 months, for this to take place?? I just don’t see it, they would have to be eatting a lot of chips.
thanks for the article
Bill
Wayne L. White Fri, Feb 05, 2010 - 9:58 am
I was stationed on USNS #3080 - The Midway Islands - from June 1956-July 1957 and saw the station begin its transition from caretaker status, with approximately 200 personnel and dependents, on its way to the hundreds brought over in the Barrier Flight Program and as a way station during Vietnam.
Historically, and statistically, we lived with the birds and both of us did very well. When I served on the island, it was in caretaker status. To my eyes, the denizens, avian, human, and marine, co-existed quite well. The birds were a humorous addition to life on an isolated station. Access to the lagoon for snorkeling and fishing was unlimited. There was the requirement to bring the the 2.5 horsepower outboard boats back to the dock before noon chow, and again a half hour before sunset. We saw the turtles, the sharks, the sea snakes, the eels, and the dolphins as interesting and made our isolated life there more bearable.
I still remember a Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson remarking that any pollution problems that arose were the Navy’s responsibility and “... they would have have to come and clean it up.”
Most do not realize the Island was under the aegis of Fish and Wildlife essentially since Roosevelt sent in the Marines to chase the egg and bird collectors off the island early in the last century. There were signs all over the island noting that the island was a preserve with several of the F&WS;’ distinctive shield-shaped signs placed about the island while I was there.
It was only when the BRAC took effect and the USN officially closed the station that the decline began.
There was never a problem with lead-based paint flaking off the buildings when I was there for a simple reason. We maintained the integrity of the buildings by repairing and painting them when necessary.
I returned in May-June, 2000, as a student of the University of Hawai’i-Hilo’s eco-based education program on the island. I was appalled to see how the historic buildings had been permitted to deteriorate since I left forty-three years earlier. It was infuriating to see the restrictions F&WS; placed on our movement on the island.
Midway-Phoenix did extend themselves to keep the island cleaned up, mowing the grass, removing the worrisome verbisema (introduced sometime after I left) and operating the former station as an eco-tourism facility with a really splendid infrastructure including the two quaint restaurants, The Clipper House, and Captain Brooke’s Tavern.
Since they left, I really wonder at the amateurish emphasis by F&WS; on isolating the island from outside influence, the restrictions on movement about the island, and the rather authoritarian introduction of foreign species, counter to the original, published intent to remove such influence from the preserve.
The groves of ironwood trees are gone, as are the light standards, claimed to be a hazard for the birds. This is something neither I, nor anyone else I associated with, ever saw.
The fact that these introduced Laysan ducks have suffered from avian botulism, introduced into the mini-wetlands based on the sewage-treatment leach-field is sufficient to make an outside observer wonder why these actions were conceived, then executed.
If the F&WS; is so concerned about the island, why do they persist in maintaining a presence, while introducing an alien species?
It practically took an act of congress to re-establish the maintenance and staffing the airfield as an emergency location supporting trans-pacific airliners, boats and shipping.
Its time to make F&WS; put up or shut up. They should not be able to have it both ways. While F&WS; is attempting to maintain their exclusive haven, they are justifying extremely limited access only to very well-heeled individuals, as being essential to the survival of the islands “natural” residents.
In less than two decades, they seem to have caused more damage than the commercial interests and the Navy did in nearly a century of occupation.
Howard Gillins Sat, Feb 06, 2010 - 1:44 pm
Second Attempt to post.
Midway Vet USN ABH-2 Fire Dept 70-71
I concurr with the other folks too.
Midway Phoenix utilized the existing Bldgs & infrastructure & maintained Midway as good or better than the Navy. They provided a great destination spot able to accomidate 100 folks weekly. Unfortunately FWS seeing that MPC would make a success at Midway started tossing up road blocks. FWS “Right Sizing” program abandoned most of the Bldgs & Infrastructure & they were limiting to just a very few staff & support folks. They have spent millions building new temp structures & reinvented utilities. No real visitor program as promised since 2003 has materialzed but you can volunteer to pay a bunch of money & get to Midway to pull weeds or count birds.
FWS has discouraged Air Operations & visits. The SAR & Sea Rescue program is in word only caused the largest Fuel spill in Hawaiian Chain history & lost a life in a boating accident which they barred MPC from operating. The Historic Bldgs are decaying & left in a very unsafe manner. It is near criminal that MPC operated Midway at nearly 3 million & FWS & their contractors are spending 5 times that. It is a private FWS perk as it stands today.
Secondary note the Goonies are effected too largely from Plastic polution carried to the young ones by Mom.
Robert Johnston Mon, Feb 08, 2010 - 10:21 am
Civilian of Midway from 1960 to 1968.
It is sad that there is some death of the birds. However there is a significant number of birds on the island and the cause of this type of problem is made far worse by the extremely poorly maintained buildings and facilities.
Without the larger form of public access that was previously offered the island tends to deteriorate. There is so much wildlife using the man-made portions of the islands. The benefits of the man-made enhancements and erosion stabilization efforts that the Navy put in place has greatly benefited various forms of avian wildlife.
Although the Navy did these things as part of defense efforts, those changes have really benefitted avian wildlife. It is a shame to see the island fall apart as it has. It is a sad to see these finger pointing articles that are basically appeals to acquire Federal money.
If only a more open eco-tourism could be funded then some of the public costs could be assisted.
There is too much of a hard line approach being taken to direct the public into only one way of thinking about Midway. Avian wildlife greatly increased on Midway under the Navy’s care. If Midway was under the care of a more eco-tourism organization that had a more broader way of managing the islands then costs could be greatly deferred from the tax payer.
Jerry Baber Wed, Feb 10, 2010 - 1:37 am
I have not heard that they really know what is causing
droopwing. Seems a simple blood test would show
if lead is to blame. I was stationed on Midway from
1972 to 1974 and I remember chicks with the disorder.
It is sad to see them suffer. Seems that someone would
have figured out how to stop it by now. I agree that
FWS is not a good steward. They had a good deal with
Midway Phoenix Corp and blew it. MPC cared about the
island and if they could come back, Midway would improve again.
Richard Cupka Sr. Sun, Feb 14, 2010 - 7:49 pm
Served on Midway’s Sand and Eastern Islands from March ‘55 to March ‘56. Never during my many hours of walking the beaches of Eastern did I witness Goony Bird droopwing…. But, of course, FWS hadn’t done it’s damage as of that time. Of the duty stations I served, Midway was the most beautiful of all. I regret the damage done to not only the wildlife of those islands, but the significan damage to the ‘historical value’ of those now decimated islands where some of our most valiant warriors served us so well—and assured us the freedoms we enjoy to this day ..... I, again, regret that Midway, as it used to be, was not preserved for our children and grandchildren, and the generations of American kids to follow them….
Ike Solem Tue, Feb 16, 2010 - 8:50 am
Good work on this story. Compare it to this one, which is highly spun towards the “natural causes” theme:
Brown pelicans washing up dead and dying on California beaches
By Paul Rogers
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Posted: 02/15/2010 12:00:00 AM PST
“They also appear to have some kind of substance — possibly a naturally occurring material from a red tide or other ocean conditions — that is causing their feathers to lose insulation properties, exposing the birds’ skin to cold water and hypothermia.”
“It’s a mystery. It’s tragic. It’s very sad to see these poor birds suffer,” said Dana Michaels, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Fish and Game. “I hope we can get to the bottom of it. There’s something really endearing about pelicans.”
In reality, this situation could be sorted out using modern analytical chemical techniques to identify the residues - but it’s likely a spill of some kind, perhaps gasoline or some other solvent.
Most people don’t know that environmental toxicology has been vastly scaled back within the California academic system, with researchers who specialized in things like organochlorines & pesticide residues in marine mammals and birds routinely being denied tenure and forced out of academic positions - while, curiously, those whose research focuses soley on “natural toxins” seem to do quite well… since they don’t create any liability problems for the corporate parters of the university, who tend to include some of the biggest coastal and river polluters in the United States.
This academic blackout on industrial pollution is mirrored in the corporate media’s spin on stories like these - and as a result, obvious questions go unanswered - such as, what were the results of the toxicology tests on the dead pelicans? Was any analytical chemical work done at all?
Previously, a fish and game warden could drop a dead bird off in a university lab and they’d run up some toxicology work in a few days - but with those scientist prevented from getting a job in California universities, that’s no longer possible. Now, it’s just a “big mystery.”
In any case, thanks for covering this. Our local corporate press - the Sentinel, the Mercury News and the Chronicle - tend to get very cold feet over reporting on pollution.