Once a major naval base, and a prized piece of land in WWII, Midway Atoll now serves as a haven for sea birds, monk seals, green sea turtles, and an abundant marine ecosystem. Under the watchful eye of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the wildlife has taken back the atoll and flourished in the safety of its lagoon and on its islands. Still, we cannot forget the dedication and sacrifice of our armed forces during and after the war. Throughout the island we see memorials and monuments testifying to their bravery in the defense of our nation and fight for our freedoms.
After three days at Midway, it's time to say goodbye. We had a very nice visit and got a lot of work done. During our August trip we saw two untagged weaned pups. We were able to tag one of them, but the other eluded us. Fortunately, on this visit we found the weaner on Eastern Island and got it tagged.
On our boat rides across the lagoon we meet up with the resident spinner dolphins. As they come in close to ride our bow wake and check us out, we can hear them whistling and chirping through the water. Someone once asked,"Why do they jump and spin in the air?". I think the answer is simply, because they can.
We also said goodbye to Jason, Jessie, Tracy, and Marie who caught a chartered flight back to Honolulu. After a few weeks in the field, they seem ready to return to life back in the city. A ride in the Midway "limo" to the airport reminded them of the conveniences of life in the modern world.
So as we depart Midway to continue with our journey, we want to say thank you for the hospitality and, till our next visit, Aloha.
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