Black-footed Albatross Project

Yesterday the albatross count was finished without me. The count was close to completion and I had an opportunity to work on a different project until I leave for home. There have been 2 scientists from U.S. Geological Survey here for 3 weeks and they worked with the bird counters until recently. They are collecting data on nest locations for Black-footed Albatross within the Tsunami inundation zone. They didn't finish all the work they had hoped to accomplish and I am going to carry on their data collection while I'm here. It entails using a very accurate and expensive GPS unit to mark all Black-footed Albatross nests within the inundation zone. The unit has mapping capabilities and I can look at the inundation zone as I do my work. I worked with Karen and Crystal yesterday and last night they left for home. Today I was on my own in our first heavy rain since I got here. For one reason or another about 1/2 of my data this morning was useless but this afternoon I did much better. I managed to plot about 350 nests successfully and think tomorrow will be better. I'm tired every night and learning new stuff every day so the fun continues.

Sunrise on Sand Island

White Terns in Flight

Albatross Numbers

There are many interesting and rare birds on Midway Atoll but the albatrosses are the real poster child for the refuge. Here are some very rough figures on the populations we are counting and how they rank in the world. Midway is the largest albatross colony on the planet. About 75-80% of all The Laysan Albatross on Earth nest here. The percentage for Black-footed albatross is a little lower at 40-50% of the world's population nesting here. We are counting all the breeders of both species on Midway so it is an unprecedented look at a large population of birds of any kind anywhere on earth. It is a rare treat to be involved with a project of this magnitude! Laysan Albatross with egg in the top picture and Black-footed Albatross with chicks in the lower picture

Albatross Count

We are working every day and continue to make progress on the count. It is good to see what a group of people working closely together can accomplish. Large numbers like 400,000 have more meaning for me now. I don't know how many more days of work we have on the count but the included maps give you some idea how much we have accomplished. The yellow on the maps are completed sectors.

Albatross Count

We continue to count every day after a day and a half off for Christmas. I think everyone is a little tired as our days are getting a little shorter but I'm still pooped by days end. We were back to Eastern Island today and I didn't hear what the percentages were for the sectors we finished. Yesterday we again saw a Peregrine Falcon being mobbed by 30 or 40 White Terns. It is neat! Several Hawaiian Monk Seals were on the beach in areas we were counting so we give them a wide berth. We counted near the Short-tailed Albatross nest today and saw the male sitting on the egg. There are only about 2,000 of these birds on the planet after uncontrolled feather hunting at the end of the 19th century. They used to be the most numerous albatross in the North Pacific. They have been slow to return but are on the increase. My best friends in the counting group will be leaving on Thursday to go back to the real world and I will be sorry to see them go. I think we are more than 3/4 done with the count.

Bird and Bike