BBC News, 16 March 2011
Thousands of albatrosses and other endangered species at a wildlife sanctuary north-west of Hawaii were killed by the tsunami which devastated Japan, US officials say.
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| Some birds survived the tsunami running from Japan to Hawaii |
Thousands of petrels and fish were also killed as the waves swept over parts of Midway atoll.
One lucky survivor was Wisdom, an albatross about 60 years of age, who is the oldest-known bird in the US.
The sanctuary is home to more than two million birds.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service reported that 1,000 adult and adolescent Laysan albatross died when the tsunami generated by last week's powerful earthquake off the coast of Japan struck Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
Tens of thousands of chicks were also killed.
The tsunami hit just before midnight local time on 10 March and continued for the next few hours, the sanctuary's website said.
The waves washed over 60% of Eastern Island, an islet of nearly 150 hectares (370 acres) inside the refuge.
Residents at the atoll had four hours' warning and were able to take precautions.
From bullets to birds
Two live green turtles were rescued.
One chick in a short-tailed albatross nest was found unharmed about 35m (38 yards) away after its nest was washed over.
Other birds were less lucky - thousands of Bonin petrels were buried alive.
Thousands of dead fish were found in the interior of Eastern Island and the impact on laysan ducks and monk seals is unknown, the wildlife service said.
Midway is one of the most remote coral atolls on earth, developed as a wildlife sanctuary after the US Naval Air facility on Midway Island closed in 1993.
It had already been an "overlay" refuge for migrating birds since 1988 before becoming a focused conservation facility.
Its lagoon attracts Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles and spinner dolphins.
Midway was a key military base for the US during WWII, as well as during the Korean, Cold and Vietnam wars.
