--- title: "Blue Plate Special. Help is always on hand if you are fortunate enough to be a Laysan Albatross in trouble on Kauai" --- # Blue Plate Special. Help is always on hand if you are fortunate enough to be a Laysan Albatross in trouble on Kauai On the Hawaiian island of Kauai there are two remarkable “albatross facts”. Firstly, much of the island’s [globally Near Threatened](http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/laysan-albatross-phoebastria-immutabilis) Laysan Albatross or Mōlī*Phoebastria immutabilis* population breeds right among the island’s human population, making their nests and rearing their young in private gardens, back-door yards and golf courses ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1323-acap-breeding-sites-no-11-princeville-kauai-where-laysan-albatrosses-breed-in-gardens-and-on-golf-courses?highlight=WyJwcmluY2V2aWxsZSIsInByaW5jZXZpbGxlJ3MiLCJubyIsIidubyJd)). Nowhere else in the world can an albatross be called a garden bird. Secondly, and surely a consequence of living so close to albatrosses, is that there is a genuine affection among Kauai residents for “their” birds. Signs go up warning vehicles to drive slowly past displaying birds, lawns are mowed around occupied nests, regular appeals go out to [keep dogs under control,](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1595-curb-that-cur-yet-more-laysan-albatrosses-are-killed-by-dogs-running-wild-on-kaua-i?highlight=WyJwcmluY2V2aWxsZSIsInByaW5jZXZpbGxlJ3MiXQ==) feral cats are trapped and fences are paid for to keep pigs and dogs away from nests on rural properties.  A [webcam](http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/41/Laysan_Albatross/) that is aimed at an occupied nest each year can be followed live. Above these activities, some concerned citizens, such as [Cathy Granholm](https://albatrossdiary.com/) of [Princeville](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1323-acap-breeding-sites-no-11-princeville-kauai-where-laysan-albatrosses-breed-in-gardens-and-on-golf-courses?highlight=WyJwcmluY2V2aWxsZSIsInByaW5jZXZpbGxlJ3MiLCJubyIsIidubyJd), are going further, recording colour bands and following the fortunes of individual birds, photographing them and posting their observations to websites, blogs and the social media, producing [artworks](https://www.albatographer.com/) and [plush albatross toys](http://www.albatrossofkauai.com/) ("plushies") and even writing books [for adults](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/2523-book-review-holy-moli-a-personal-journey-with-albatrosses?highlight=WyJvc3Rlcmx1bmQiLCJvc3Rlcmx1bmQncyIsInJldmlldyIsInJldmlldydzIl0=) and [for children](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/2018-book-review-albatross-of-kaua-i-the-story-of-kaloakulua?highlight=WyJkaWVya2VyIiwiZGllcmtlcidzIl0=) about the Mōlīs. One of the most active groups is the [Kauai Albatross Network](http://www.albatrosskauai.org/wp/), founded by author, photographer and third-year [Safina Center Fellow](http://safinacenter.org/programs/safina-center-fellows/), [Hob Osterlund](http://safinacenter.org/programs/safina-center-fellows/hob-osterlund/), and supported by members [Louise Barnfield](https://www.facebook.com/louise.barnfield), [Susan Dierker](http://www.albatrossofkauai.com/) and [Kim Steutermann Rogers](https://kimsrogers.com/). Hob has supplied *ACAP Latest News* with the following information and photographs on an intervention to help a Laysan Albatross pair hatch an egg for the first time in years of trying unsuccessfully. Fergie and Malia are members of a [female-female Laysan pair](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1576-no-such-thing-as-a-completely-bad-relationship-same-sex-pairing-in-laysan-albatrosses-can-be-adaptive?highlight=WyJmZW1hbGUtZmVtYWxlIiwicGFpciIsInBhaXIncyIsImZlbWFsZS1mZW1hbGUgcGFpciJd) that have been together on Kauai since at least 2010. Every year since then both their eggs get buried in the nest bowl and neither is properly incubated as a consequence. Fergie has a serious limp of unknown derivation, so it appears her attempts to kick out excess nesting materials may inadvertently cause her to dig a hole into which the eggs fall. Following a consultation with biologists a circular ceramic tray lined with a foam pad was slid under her nest. The female-female pair was then given an egg deemed to be fertile by candling obtained from the US Navy’s [Pacific Missile Range Facility](https://www.acap.aq/en/search14?q=Pacific+Missile+Range+Facility+) on Kauai by Robby Kohley and Eric Vanderwerf of [Pacific Rim Conservation](https://www.pacificrimconservation.org/) – and the infertile eggs removed. The two females took turns to incubate their adopted egg, which has now hatched. The chick has been named Amos.  *ACAP Latest News* hopes to report of Amos successfully fledging in a few months’ time. ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/Laysan-Albatross-plate-insertion-Fergie-Hob-Osterlund.jpg) Fergie on her nest after insertion of the blue plate under the nest - visible here ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/Laysan-Albatross-plate-insertion-Fergie-Eric-Hob-Osterlund.jpg)  Fergie is given a fertile egg by Pacific Rim Conservation ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/Laysan-Albatross-plate-insertion-Amos-shrunk-Hob-Osterlund.jpg) Amos, hatched from the adopted egg, looks up from its "Blue Plate Special" nest Photographs by Hob Osterlund  Hob writes of her fellow network members: "Susan Dierker created the plushies and wrote a children's book, [*Albatross of Kauai: The Story of Kaloakulua*](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/2018-book-review-albatross-of-kaua-i-the-story-of-kaloakulua?highlight=WyJkaWVya2VyIiwiZGllcmtlcidzIl0=).  Kim Steutermann Rogers sells photographs on [https://www.albatographer.com/](https://www.albatographer.com/) to raise funds for Mōlī conservation.  [Louise Barnfield](https://www.facebook.com/louise.barnfield) posts messages and photos on Facebook of the birds nesting in her yard". [Click here](https://www.acap.aq/en/14-news/latest-news/2958-follow-up-reveals-artificial-nests-are-improving-breeding-success-of-shy-albatrosses?highlight=WyJhcnRpZmljaWFsIiwyMDE4XQ==) to read about artifical nests for albatrosses in Australia. With thanks to Hob Osterlund, [Kauai Albatross Network](http://www.albatrosskauai.org/wp/). *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 07 March 2018*