Melinda Conners at Tern Island, Hawaii--We finished off our last fresh fruits and vegetables a month ago.  We've since been relying on canned and frozen vegetables to supplement our cooking efforts.  Sometimes we have to be creative:  edamole (made from green edamame beans) instead of guacamole; frozen cauliflower instead of brussel sprouts, canned water chestnuts instead of onions.  Frozen broccoli has become our ubiquitous vegetable side dish.  What's for dinner?  Enchiladas with a side of broccoli, sesame chicken with a side of broccoli, falafel sandwiches

Melinda Conners, on Tern Island, Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge -- Masked and red-footed boobies on Tern Island have just started laying their eggs. They start breeding slightly later than black-footed and Laysan albatross.

Melinda Conners, on Tern Island, Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge - The albatross chicks are growing like weeds!  The adults are leaving the chicks unattended for days on end while they endlessly forage throughout the North Pacific Ocean to provide their rapidly growing chick with high-calorie chick-meals. 

Melinda Conners, on Tern Island, Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge -- This unique bird is the product of a union between a Laysan albatross and a black-footed albatross. Both of these species breed on Tern Island.