Laysan Island in the northwest (leeward) Hawaiian Islands is known for its albatross colonies, but other birds also make the island their home such as the endangered Laysan Finch and Laysan Duck. One, the Nihoa Millerbird
(Acrocephalus familiaris kingi), has been absent for over a century, but thanks to the collaborative efforts of the
US Fish & Wildlife Service and the American Bird Conservancy, Millerbirds were returned to Laysan in September. Twenty-four of the insectivorous songbirds were released in the Papahanaumokuakea National Monument
{"Papahanaumokuakea"} as part of the overall project to restore Laysan's ecosystem that has been disrupted by guano mining, introduced species and floating garbage. Biologist also hope to insure the survival of the subspecies by establishing a separate population from its home on tiny Nihoa Island were it is severely endangered, thus solving two issues with one bird. The little brown birds (LBBs) seem to be adjusting well to their new, old home. Biologists are following them with the aid of radio tracking and will remain on the island for a year to monitor their movements and first nesting attempts. Individual birds are identified by the sequence of colored leg bands on both legs
[photo].
