This is Bird Note.

Strident calls of seabirds fill the salty air at Palmyra Atoll, a thousand miles south of Hawaii in the South Pacific.

The atoll is a ring-shaped island encircling a lagoon.

The island rests atop an extinct undersea volcano. Its surface tensely covered with trees and other plants.

Living coral reefs lie nearby just below the ocean's surface.

Black knotty's and red-footed boobies fly above the trees that they nest and roost in, a rainforest tree

called Grand Devil's Claws. There's a mutual relationship between the trees, the nesting sea birds,

and the outlying coral. The bird's guano falls from the trees, enriching the soil.

Rain washes nutrients from the guano into the ocean, enhancing the health of the coral ecosystem,

which in turn supports the seabirds.

Palmyra Atoll lost many native trees due to U.S. military activity during World War II.

Invasive rats wreaked havoc on the island's wildlife, but it's now a nature conservancy preserve

set within a national wildlife refuge.

Conservationists eradicated the rats,

and they're restoring the rainforest

to strengthen the fruitful marriage of seabirds,

rainforest, and reef.

For Bird Note, I'm Mary McCann.

Birdnote gives you the sounds of birds every day,

and you get the sights as well when you follow us on Instagram.

At Bird Note Radio.