The refuge also provides for ongoing scientific and participatory research by the Service and other organizations such as the Oceanic Society. Laysan Albatross with chick. With the help of the Midway Phoenix Corporation , Midway Atoll NWR opened its doors for the first time to visitors in August 1996. The Service is working with the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture and Sandwich Isle Termite and Pest Control to test ant eradication techniques on Eastern Island. This project is scheduled to begin in October 1999.
Some ants also eat seeds of native plants.
The end result of the test will be to determine the logistics and costs of eradicating various ant species from Refuge islands. An additional goal is to figure out how to do this without exposing birds or marine life to the pesticides, and also to avoid killing any native insect species. Applications of this knowledge would be immediate. Eastern Island is currently being evaluated as a translocation site for the endangered Laysan Duck . Eradicating or at least controlling aggressive ant species before introducing the ducks would greatly improve their chances of survival.