Volunteer biological science tech Toni Caldwell is inspired by the constant change and surprises she encounters in her work on the remote island of Laysan: 

Why We Do What We Do

by Toni Caldwell

Constant does the wind blow - 

uplifting aerial acrobats with wings.

Nose-diving would-be Kamikazes

drop, serpentine and evade.

Constant does the wind blow.

Constant do the waves break - 

churning, tumbling, crashing, splashing,

bearing gifts from distant shores.

World’s largest blue aquarium both calm and violent,

constant do the waves break.

Constant do the plants grow - 

Arched longingly down the beachfront

like in Genesis, covering up their naked bits.

Ipomoea tendrils spring in disarray;

constant do the plants grow.

Constant do you strain to hear -

chirping, growling, sneezing, barking, slapping, wailing,

drum rolls and courtship melodies.

A lone violin, fragile and precious.

Constant do you listen.

Constant is the need to know - 

How, why, where, what, when?

As if this land did not exist before humanity.

Life now struggles to survive our existence.

Constant is our need to understand.

Constant is the will to live - 

Life interrupted, yet trudging along.

Food - water - shelter - space

for a place so special yet so easily overlooked.

Constant is the work we do,

for an ever-constant Laysan.

Toni Caldwell, USFWS Biological Science Tech Volunteer on Laysan Island, was feeling inspired and put together a musical ode to shorebirds while she conducted a survey. Cue the music!

 (Sung to the music “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett)

     Walkin’ ‘round the lake,

     Watchin’ the sun bake,

     Everyone’s looking for banded curlews.

     But they’re some real beauties,

     A-laskan cuties,

     How they got here I have just a clue.

     Shorebird survey again on Laysan Island,

     Searchin’ shorelines, veg zones and the lake,

     Some people claim that they’ve seen Ruff’s in the rain-

     And I think,

     That they’ve made no mistake.

     Seen Ruddy Turnstones,

     Plovers and Tattlers,

     Everything normal that’d you’d ‘xpect to see.

     Lookin’ for another,

     Elusive in cover,

     Or out in the open flyin’ wildly and free.

     Shorebird survey again on Laysan Island,

     Searchin’ shorelines, veg zones and the lake,

     What if this fall we see a Glaucous-winged Gull?

     Oh I think,

     That that would be great.

     Came for a reason,

     Stayed here all season,

     Almost time now to cruise on back home.

     With binocs on my shoulder,

     Camera in its holster,

     Ready to capture the wild and unknown.

     Shorebird survey again on Laysan Island,

     Searchin’ shorelines, veg zones and the lake,

     Four weeks to go I really love it here yano-

     But I’ll go,

     Homeward bound I will make.

     Yes and -

     In 28 days we’ll sail away through the haze-

     But I’ll dream,

     Of this island Laysan.

(Source: fws.gov)

Another week of trench digging and my biceps are looking massive. Well at least they feel as though they’re massive. I’m not quite sure I’ll know what to do with myself if there are no more holes to be dug.  Sorry for the delay in my report, but it’s been a slow news week. Well, at least for the island. Not so much for the mainland I suppose.

 The Mayan calendar will run its course by the end of 2012, the Colorado wildfires are still burning west of Colorado Springs, and Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are getting divorced. What is the world coming to? We got our first glimpse of world news the other day since our alienation from the outside world back in March and all I can think of is how happy I am to be here and not on the mainland. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve been working our rears off building two shade house water catchments, working to eradicate the non-native and invasive plant Pluchea indica and monitor fledging albatross reproductive plots for survivability. The Tomkat fiasco has taught me one hard lesson: each and every day here is a gift, and if the end is indeed near, I want to cherish each and every day spent on this island like it’s my last.

-From the writings of Toni Caldwell, Biological Science Tech Volunteer, Laysan Island Summer Crew, 2012