The Pieces of Land That Follow Us: Bronwyn, Birds, and the Sea
Written by Brittany Munson and Bronwyn Kay
E/V Nautilus is riding rolling waves hundreds of miles west of Hawaii. Even so, it is accompanied by various types of birds; red-footed and brown boobies, shearwaters, Laysan albatross, and more. Bronwyn Kay, an Ocean Science Intern on Nautilus, sees them and is reminded of the work she does at home in Hawaii as a wildlife technician currently interning with the State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).
While at sea, Kay sees the multitude of similarities between her work on Nautilus and at home.
“On the ship, I am responsible for data logging, both in the control van on our Science Portal and data input using Excel. I also assist in sample cataloging and preparation for storage. It is somewhat similar to what I do at home, but with a few differences,” said Kay. “I love boats, surfing, and being out in the ocean. I have always wondered what it would be like so far out at sea there is no land in sight. The experience is very unique and I am grateful for the seabirds present representing the pieces of land that follow us.”
Kay, who was born and raised on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, is sailing with Nautilus as part of the August 2023 cruise, Deep Sea Biodiversity & Ancient Seamount Exploration near Johnston Atoll, which aims to better characterize deep-sea biology and geology of the Johnston Atoll region of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM). While onboard, Kay is cataloging the various biological and geological findings as they are being viewed and collected by ROVs in real time.
“The experience of being out on the open ocean for 30 days – without any land in sight – is an interesting parallel to the initial voyage of the first Polynesian’s from the Marquesas Islands,” described Bronwyn. “They navigated across the sea using wayfinding techniques following the stars, the current, and reading the behavior of the birds. Today, we rely on extensive technology on board that allows us to get where we need to go and do the research we have proposed.”
As part of her internship with the Ocean Exploration Trust, Kay also works as a data logger and is responsible for cataloging and recording everything that occurs during a watch shift on an ROV dive. She says that keeping track of seafloor observations and samples collected allows her to maintain a deeper understanding of the research aboard the ship.
“I find data logging on Nautilus interesting because I am cataloging all of the exciting organisms and geological features we see. Sometimes there is a lot of biodiversity and because of the length of our dives one might forget what we encountered. That is why I appreciate my role and see its value because we can reference our records and answer these questions,” said Bronwyn.
Her experiences while at-sea are also helping to inform her work back at home as an intern with Hawaii’s DLNR.
“In my role, I am under the supervision of various seabird biologists. I work with the nene (Hawaiian goose and state bird), Laysan albatross, and wedge-tailed shearwater. I assist the biologists with banding, surveying, nest searches and monitoring for these birds, as well as the capture of injured birds for rehabilitation and response to avian mortalities,” explained Bronwyn. “I find this work very important and exciting because the banding we do allows us to monitor these birds and better inform management decisions.”
In addition to the work described above, Bronwyn completed a separate fellowship this year related to marine conservation advocacy with EarthEcho International, an environmental nonprofit organization with ties to oceanography. For her campaign for the fellowship, she designed and oversaw the completion of a mural. The mural was completed by middle school students at the school that Bronwyn attended herself, and features the biodiversity of the atolls and seafloor of the PRIMNM region.
“I am very excited about my selection for this expedition because the exploration we are doing with the ROV collects very relevant information to contribute to the importance of the PRIMNM area,” said Bronwyn.
“Similar to how banding and data gathering is relevant to the conservation of the bird species back on Kauai, the ROV data collection of seamounts, their biodiversity, and the seafloor in the PRIMNM area contributes to the Sanctuary Proposal Development.”
After her internship, Kay plans to obtain her captain’s license and continue exploring the sea as a captain or researcher. When not exploring the world’s ocean’s, Bronwyn spends time with her family, friends, and dogs. She enjoys surfing and hiking. When she's at the beach, she collects shells and glass and creates jewelry and art from her finds.
Deep Sea Biodiversity & Ancient Seamount Exploration near Johnston Atoll
In August 2023, we will return to the Central Pacific for 27 days of exploration within the Johnston Atoll Unit of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM), starting and ending in Honolulu.
