Tern Island Without the Albatross

The Albatross chicks are leaving in greater numbers every day. Almost any time you look out toward the reef from the island you can spot swimming albatross. On both of the last 2 boat trips I've been on we have spotted swimming albatross chicks several miles from land that are almost certainly from Tern Island. The ones that are left are restless and are walking long distances or practicing their flying skills on the runway. There are noticeably fewer chicks to be seen on the island. Soon the runts will be the only ones left and most of them will die. After having 3,000 albatross chicks and twice that number of adults on and off the island feeding the chicks it will be very empty without them. By the time I leave in August we won't see any albatross chicks or adults. ---The image on the grass was taken 7-4-08 and the one on the runway was taken 7-9-08. ---