We saw our first chick today…and it was so fortunate, as half our crew flew out on tonight’s plane, so they were particularly delighted to see a chick before they left the island.

The Blackfooted albatross (BFAL) arrive just a few days before the Laysan albatross (LAAL), so it’s typically a BFAL chick that’s the first to be seen.

The chick was spotted by one of our volunteers who was biking to check out another egg that had been seen pipping earlier today. Apparently as she caught sight of the tiny gray fluffball she excitedly came to a screeching halt, as evidenced by the long skid mark!🤣

Both parents were together, gently preening one another and the tiny chick. who was likely less than a day old.

After dinner we gathered at Charlie barracks for the evening send-off, and some quite emotional farewells after such a great count; then a few of us followed them out to the airport apron (as close as we were allowed) around 9pm, and watched til the plane disappeared in the night sky.

Safe travels to them, and a hui hou!