What are human impacts on seabirds? And how do the impacts influence the seabirds?
Unfortunately, humans have had a very negative impact on most seabirds, especially albatross. Feather hunters once killed much of the albatross here in the early twentieth century to make hats for ladies. The main current threats to this species are from long-lining and gillnet fisheries and also from marine debris, which is ingested or causes entanglement. Lead paint from old buildings on Midway is also a cause of “droopwing”, which eventually kills the chicks when they eat the flaking paint chips. Air strikes with Navy aircraft and collisions with communication towers killed several thousand albatross on Midway in the 1960s. These towers have been removed and aircraft flights to Midway are now allowed only after dark during the breeding season. Tall trees on Midway continue to be a strike hazard, as albatross have little maneuverability with their long, thin wings. Introduced weeds and trees are a current threat because they take over important open ground space for breeding birds. W
