Short-Tailed Albatross chick hatches at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge

A short-tailed albatross hatched on Eastern Island, one of three small flat coral islands that comprise Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge about 1,200 miles northwest of Honolulu. This marks the first confirmed hatching of a short-tailed albatross outside of Japan in recorded history. Two FWS biologists took pictures at a distance to avoid any disturbance to the adult. The area is closed to other Midway staff, volunteers and visitors. Image taken from USFWS Pacific Region Flickr page.