Midway

In 1903, rabbits devastated Laysan Island’s habitat, leaving just 7 adult ducks; in 2026, Midway counted a record 1,239 Laysan ducks

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A record 1,239 adult Laysan ducks were counted at Midway Atoll in 2026, about 400 more than any previous annual total. The increase marks a major recovery at the refuge, but the endangered species remains vulnerable to habitat loss, rising seas, flooding and environmental disasters. (Wikimedia Commons)

A Hawaiian bird species has made a notable recovery in numbers at a location far from its native island. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicestaff and volunteers counted 1,239 adult Laysan ducks at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in 2026, setting a record for the refuge. The total was about 400 birds higher … Read more