Scientists are celebrating the hatching of a rare short-tailed albatross chick at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge on Eastern Island in the Papahanau­mokuakea Marine National Monument.

The chick, hatched on Thursday, signals fresh hope for the ongoing survival of the short-tailed albatross, one of the most endangered seabirds in the world.

According to refuge biologist Pete Leary, a remote camera technician saw the arrival of the chick’s 11-year-old mother at the refuge. The chick’s 27-year-old father had arrived a week earlier. The two birds, who have successfully raised two previous chicks, took turns brooding the egg, exchanging places every two weeks while the other traveled 1,000 miles north for food.

The nesting site was continuously monitored via a remote camera controlled by refuge staff on a nearby island, enabling the refuge for the first time to collect and post online video of the parents caring for the chick.

The scientists’ excitement at the birth is tempered by the knowledge that man-made hazards threaten the chick’s chances of developing to fledgling stage. Among the most serious dangers is ingesting floating plastic debris that has mixed with its food sources.

Still, refuge manager Dan Clark said the fact that the chick’s parents have successfully raised two previous offspring indicates that the parents are "attentive and experienced."

The parent birds met six years ago at the current nest site. Their three chicks are the only short-tailed albatross known to have hatched any place other than two small islands near Japan.

According to the refuge, short-tailed albatross were once common in the North Pacific but were hunted to near-extinction for their feathers. There are currently more than 2,200 of the birds left on three Pacific Islands.