Meet our friends the Laysan albatross

The Laysan albatross, known as Mōlī in Hawaiian, are magnificent seabirds that range across the North Pacific. Though they mainly nest in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands on Midway Atoll and Laysan Island, we're fortunate to have a small colony on the bluff fronting our Noni orchards. 

Genuine Lovebirds
These magnificent seabirds are monogamous and pairs mate for life. Engaging in elaborate dances, they perform around twenty-four distinct moves that are intricately combined into a unique sequence for each couple.

Long lifespans
The oldest known banded bird in the wild is a female Laysan albatross named Wisdom. She nests on Midway Atoll, is at least 74 years old and has laid an egg this season once again. 

Experts in the air
Laysan albatross spend about 90% of their lives airborne and fly at speeds up to 50 miles per hour. They can stay airborne for days, navigating with half their brain while the other half sleeps.

Adorable Chicks
They hatch the cutest chicks! With your help we select a superstar each season and follow their journey from hatch to fledge. 

November 2025

The wait is finally over!

The second week of November, our first arrivals touched down on the bluff for the 2026 nesting season. On day one we spotted 2, then 5, then 8 and now 31. 

From mid-November through early December, our nesting pairs return after months of solitude at sea. We're expecting close to 80 and that's just from the known nesting pairs in our colony. We're also hopeful that a few of our widows will have found new love, and that some of our flirtatious Spring juveniles will have finally chosen their mates and return to nest for the very first time.

Two of our Papa birds waiting on their mates

The males typically arrive first and patiently await their mates. This season three of our longtime Papa birds were first back, including the proud dad of our beloved superstars Geronima and Phyllis Diller. And for those who remember Curious Al—the infamous Papa who once undershot his landing and touched down outside the Noni office—we're happy to report that he made his grand return yesterday!

Let the magic of the season unfold

After spending months apart at sea, pairs reunite on the bluff with pure excitement. They spend their first hours renewing their bond, snuggling and gently preening one another. After mating, they part ways once more, each heading back out to sea to feed for about a week.

Albatross snuggles, one of our first reunited pairs of the season

A Thanksgiving blessing

On Thanksgiving day we were blessed to discover our first 5 five nests of the season! Many more pairs have reunited and we are eager to see how many pairs nest this season. 

December 2025

Last year our colony set a record with 33 nests — and this season we’ve already surpassed it with 36, with a few more pairs still expected. Can we make it to 40?!

Nesting habits

Albatross are ground nesters with strong nest-site fidelity, often returning year after year to nest just feet from their previous site. The female arrives first from her feeding trip and shapes the nest with her beak and feet, creating a shallow depression and gathering pine needles to reinforce it.

Mama bird building her nest

When ready, she lays their single egg, about the size of a soda can, and settles in to incubate while awaiting her mate’s return from his feeding at sea.

Mama bird and her newly laid egg

Incubation duties

Within about a week of her laying their egg, the male returns, eager to see it and take over incubation duties. We always hope he comes back with a full belly, as his first shift typically lasts about a month. This exchange allows the female to return to sea to feed and replenish before coming back to relieve him.

Papa bird has returned eager to see his egg

Albatross incubation lasts approximately 60 days, with parents taking turns on long shifts on the nest. One parent is always present, keeping the egg warm and protected while their mate feeds. The parent on the nest will be fasting, relying on the food stored in their belly and sipping raindrops from passing showers. If all goes well, the first chicks are expected to hatch in late January.

January 2026

The holidays set us a little behind on updates, so let’s get caught up on Egg Adoption Day, our nest count, and the hatch outlook—our first chicks should start hatching in about three weeks!

Egg Adoption Day

Each December, a team of skilled biologists carefully candles every egg for fertility in the colony. 

Why are some eggs infertile?

In Laysan albatrosses, eggs are often infertile due to unsuccessful mating—common among first-time nesters or female-female pairs, which arise from a skewed gender ratio. In our colony, we have a handful of female-female pairs that almost certainly lay infertile eggs.

Where do these "extra" fertile eggs come from?

On Kauai’s west side, albatross nest near an active aircraft runway at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, posing a significant air traffic collision risk. USDA Wildlife Services biologists collect, incubate and on adoption day relocate fertile eggs from the military base to foster nests in protected colonies on the north shore of Kauaʻi.

Biologists candling an egg inside dark cloak

We're grateful to our federal, state, and private partners for making this egg adoption program possible. This season, 31 of 37 nests in our colony had fertile eggs. Thanks to egg adoption, six pairs who would not have hatched a chick now have the chance to welcome one of their own.

Thanks for reading! 💛 Leave us a comment and say hi—tell us what you're most excited to see this season, what you'd love to learn more about, or what photos you'd like us to share. We'd love to hear from you!

Comments or Questions below :)