Support Oceanic Society's global ocean conservation programs by adopting an albatross today.
In spite of their remote location in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, Midway and Kure Atolls are awash in plastic debris, and the atoll's primary residents—albatross—are the most impacted. Adult albatrosses feeding in the remote North Pacific ingest plastic trash that has accumulated there (in “gyres”) and then return to their nesting grounds where they unknowingly pass it on to their own developing chicks.
While the actual impacts of plastic debris to albatross populations are still uncertain, we do know that habitat restoration on albatross nesting colonies will help improve their reproductive success and potentially offset the loss of chicks due to plastic. We also know that continued albatross research is needed to better understand the impacts of plastic ingestion on albatross adults and chicks.
Oceanic Society is currently working with three organizations that are restoring albatross habitat and studying albatross populations. Your symbolic adoption of a Laysan or Black-footed Albatross chick from Midway Atoll or Kure Atoll will help to fund these important projects.
Adopt an Albatross Chick from One Colony: $45
For a tax-deductible adoption fee of $45 you can choose to adopt an albatross chick from either Midway Atoll or Kure Atoll. You will receive:
- A personalized albatross adoption e-certificate for a specific hatch year, sent by email.
- The ability to select a name for your symbolically adopted chick.
- 2 to 3 updates from the field during November through July (corresponding with the hatching, rearing, and fledging season).
- If requested, a sample of plastic debris collected from albatross breeding sites on Midway or Kure Atolls (sent in May) so that you can help educate others about plastic pollution.
- Free domestic shipping via USPS of plastic debris if requested (international orders may be charged shipping costs).
Adopt an Albatross Chick from Both Colonies: $75
For a tax-deductible adoption fee of $75 you can adopt an albatross chick from both Midway Atoll and Kure Atoll. You will receive:
- Two personalized albatross adoption e-certificates for a specific hatch year, sent by email.
- The ability to select names for your symbolically adopted chicks.
- 2 to 3 updates from the field during November through July (corresponding with the hatching, rearing, and fledging season).
- If requested, a sample of plastic debris collected from albatross breeding sites on Midway or Kure Atolls (sent in May) so that you can help educate others about plastic pollution.
- Free domestic shipping via USPS of your plastic debris, if requested (international orders may be charged shipping costs).
Animals Available for Adoption
Species Name: Laysan Albatross
Scientific Name: Phoebastria immutabilis
98% of the world's Laysan Albatross breed in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, with Midway Atoll home to the largest albatross breeding colony in the world. In Hatch Year 2023 there were 522,376 nesting pairs on Midway. Plastic pollution continues to be found in nearly 100% of the chicks each year. Efforts are being made to assess the potential population impacts ingesting plastic may have to the long-term success of this species.
Species Name: Black-footed Albatross
Scientific Name: Phoebastria nigripes
A total of 98.5% the global Black-footed Albatross population breeds in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, with the largest breeding colony at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. In Hatch Year 2023 there were 24,365 active nests. Black-footed Albatross nest near the coastlines of Midway Atoll, so climate change poses an ongoing threat due to sea level rise and more frequent flooding at their nesting sites.