Notes on Distribution of North Pacific Albatrosses

Abstract

THERE is comparatively little detailed information available on the seasonal distribution of North Pacific albatrosses. Miller (1936, 1940, and 1942) contributed observations from cruises in waters offshore from Southern California, ¾ocorn (1947) reported notes on Black-looted Albatross from four oceanic stations in the North Pacific, and Arnold (1948) contributed notes from Aleutian waters. The following refers to a far more extensive area than do those cited above and represents day-today observations through 45,000 nautical miles cruised between January 24, 1945, and December 2, 1945. Approximately half of this mileage was cruised between the Pacific Coast of the United States and the Hawaiian Island Chain; the remaining mileage was spread over the Central and Western Pacific, reaching a southwestern limit at the New Hebrides and extending northwest to Okinawa. Of the total, approximately 5,000 miles were logged below the equator and hence were far south of the normal range of all three North Pacific albatrosses. While under way, an average of four hours was spent on bridge watch during each daylight period; an alert lookout was maintained in all sectors during these periods. Several trips were also made to the stern each day and observations recorded on birds attracted to the ship's wake. Marine binoculars (7 by 50) were used in all observations. At the end of the war, the ship's logbooks were reviewed; positions, soundings, seawater temperatures, and local weather data thus became available for comparison with the daily bird notes. A total of 352 Black-looted Albatrosses, Diomedea nigripes, were seen during 1945; of these only ten individuals were seen west of Oahu, T.H. On the same runs ten Laysan Albatrosses, Diomedea immuta-bilis, were observed, four of which were west of Oahu. No Short-tailed Albatrosses, Diomede• •lb•trus, were encountered during the entire year. Thus the greater part of these notes deals with Black-looted Albatrosses observed between the Pacific Coast of the United States and the Hawaiian Chain. This portion of the data is presented in graphic form. The remaining notes are insufficient for graphic presentation. Acknowledgments.-Grateful acknowledgment is extended to Dr.