Midway Island Will Become Wildlife Refuge

WASHINGTON —  The Navy and the Fish and Wildlife Service are dedicating the island of Midway as a national wildlife refuge.

Situated about 1,250 miles northwest of Honolulu, the island is best known as the site of the Battle of Midway during World War II.

Now, millions of migratory birds come to the atoll to nest.

Under Navy jurisdiction since 1903, the island now will be under the Fish and Wildlife Service and will be open to the public for the first time in 50 years, the Pentagon said Thursday.