Birthday Bash

So I am very fortunate not only to be here, but I was able to be on Midway for my birthday!

It was a very special day. It started off with of course a big birthday breakfast at the buffet. Then when I got to work Cindy was so sweet and had made me an albatross barf lei. All the stuff in the lei she found inside albatross carcasses. Apparently she sells them and she was telling stories of even ambassadors and high class people wearing them. I was very happy and was able to wear it most of the morning.

Another special treat was I was able to handle and feed a laysan duck. Handling these cute little ducks is always fun and, lucky for the ducks, we haven't had too many sick to handle so it was cool that there was one on my b-day.

Putting the feeding tube in

Massaging the throat to prevent spit up while you take the tube out

All better :)

I was really worried that I would have to pull weeds on my birthday, but to my great surprise and happiness we ended up doing a dolphin survey the whole afternoon! Cynthia (the manager of Kure Atoll) and other Kure people have been down here visiting Midway on their way home to Honolulu. Cynthia has been doing dolphin surveys for a research project for years and years and wanted to do one here on Midway before she left. We were going to do it on Monday, but you have to have PERFECT weather with no wind, and so we just so happened to have PERFECT weather on my special day!

I wouldn't be anywhere else in the world on Oct 15th

There were a little under 200 dolphins surrounding us

I have never ever seen such beautiful water, it was mind blowing how clear and calm it was

22 and lovin it!

You have to have a permit to swim with them, but towards the end I was able to stick my camera under the water. It was hard to aim underwater not being able to see what your shooting while speeding by on a boat while leaning over the edge, but luckily I got a few really cool shots

Right before we left to go on the survey I ran into Kittypong. A couple of weeks ago I ran into him while looking for glass balls. This was before I found my beautiful babies, so he started helping me look for them. He is so sweet and told me that if you found one he would give it to me, I of course told him that that was too nice and not to do it, so I was very surprised when he pulled this beautiful ball out of his pocket and gave this to me...

After spending the day running around with dolphins, we headed over to the clipper for delicious birthday buffet. During dinner the cooks came out with a surprise cake and everyone sang happy birthday to me. It was a really nice surprise.


I was very sad to see the day end because I don't think I will ever experience a birthday like this one again. I got some amazing and unique presents and memories that I will cherish for a long time!