The Midway Atoll is a territory of the U.S. that is roughly equidistant from both North America and Asia. The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument includes 10 islands and atolls and is a World Heritage-listed U.S. National Monument.
Sylvia Earle is an American oceanographer whose work concerns marine biology mainly. (Oceanographers, as the name suggests, study oceans. The science of oceanography, however, covers a wide range of topics, which includes, but is not limited to, marine life and ecosystems, plate tectonics and geology of the sea floor, ocean circulation, and physical and chemical properties of the ocean.)
Her 2012 photos show her talking to a Laysan albatross amidst marine debris that has drifted into the Midway Atoll and observing another Laysan albatross named Wisdom.
Why are they important?
Earle, who was born on August 30, 1935, was the first woman to become chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Her first oceanographic expedition was in 1964 and there’s been no turning back ever since.
Wisdom, the albatross, is not just the oldest confirmed wild bird in the world, but is also the oldest banded bird in the world. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, she is “a world renowned symbol of hope for all species that depend upon the health of the ocean to survive”. While it is impossible to know precisely, we can say for certain that she has laid nearly 40 eggs during the course of her lifetime, which around 70 years now.
Picture Credit : Google