Welcome to Tern Island: Lots of cheeseweed & photos

(A great sign & motto for our bathroom this week -- some major water work was done, and at times, it wasn't a very comfortable process)

It has been a nice, sort of easier week. We have been getting ready for the Kahana to come back by filling pallet tubs with trash, recyclables, old fire extinguishers, and marine debris. All of this, plus the contractors and Josh and Melinda, will be leaving tomorrow by 1800 hours. When we weren't putting bug fogger in the pallet tubs, or tying the lids down tight, we were weeding. We weeded a lot.

Grasshoppers and weeds -- we are on a standing order to rip them out and/or squash them to oblivion before they get on ships and planes and spread their kind to other islands, such as Midway. Did you know that grasshoppers are not native to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands? Neither did I, until we got strict orders "to kill them all." (Literally the words Pete AND Dave used.) Grasshoppers, as they are not an endemic species to the islands, can cause serious damage to the native plants, further affecting this very fragile ecosystem we (myself included) are trying to protect. Weeds are just as bad as the grasshoppers to these refuge managers. In fact, the first couple of weeks I was here, I was given a daily test -- Pete would point out a leafy green grasslike plant "Good or bad?" "Good?" I would say. "No, wrong. That's a good one right over there; this one is bad." And Pete would then demonstrate the proper technique of weeding the bad one. Just like the tropicbirds, weeds all pretty much look the same. Though I am getting rather good at identifying and pulling out cheeseweed. As I was weeding the other day, I happened upon one of the many evil grasshoppers. The grasshoppers here are huge, and very hard to kill. This one was no exception. I stepped on it, crunched it with my heel, and then finally got a rock to end its stubborn existence. I had another one in my room recently, probably trying to take it over just as its relatives want to take over the island. I had to jump up and down on it just to make a dent in one of its wings. Two less grasshoppers to infest the rest of the chain. Yes, I'm proud of my efforts to eradicate cheeseweed and grasshoppers, and I think I'm doing a pretty good job at it so far.

I have been snorkling a couple of solid times (meaning, around the north side of the island and not just splashing around learning). It is incredible what you can see underwater. Last week, we came across some sharks! I was deathly afraid when I found out I'd probably be bumping into sharks if I went snorkling, but they are not so bad up close (yeah, yeah, you were right Pete). These sharks are white tip reef sharks, and they're the "good guys" -- if you see these, that means there are no tiger sharks around (which is an awesome thing if you're snorkling). We also saw a spotted eagle ray swimming along. Today, we went by the turtle cleaning station. This is an underwater rock where sea turtles gather around so that small fish can clean them off. There were 3 swimming along on the way to the station, and at least 5 sea turtles hovering around the rock-- small ones jetting around, big ones taking it easy. I watched as one larger turtle floated down to the little group of hungry fish, waiting to clean all the algae and parasites off of him. Your perspective changes underwater. An expanse of blue all around, the sound of your breathing the only thing you hear (besides the occasional low flying bird), fish and sea creatures swimming lazily by without a care in the world... I love snorkling.

I don't really have pictures of us weeding and killing grasshoppers yet, and my underwater camera uses film, so those pics will have to wait. Below are some pics that I have taken this week, for the viewer's pleasure.