U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Threatened and Endangered Species Short-Tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus)

With a wingspan of over 2 meters (7 Hiroshi Hasegawa / Toho University feet), the short-tailed albatross is the largest seabird in the North Pacific. Its long, narrow wings are adapted to soaring low over the ocean. It is best distinguishable from other albatrosses by its large, bubblegum- pink bill. Young birds also have the large pink bill, but their feathers are dark chocolate brown. Birds become progressively whiter with age. Full adult plumage (at 8 years of age and older) includes an entirely white back, white or light gold head and back of neck, and black and white wings.

Status The short-tailed albatross is listed as endangered throughout its range (Federal Register; July 31, 2000).

Range and Population Size Historically, millions of short-tailed albatrosses bred in the western North Short-tailed albatross courtship display on Torishima Island. Pacific on several islands south of the main islands of Japan. Today, most breeding activity occurs at two island a single egg each year (or every other short-tailed albatrosses were colonies: the largest, on Torishima, year) in October or November. Eggs harvested from a single breeding is home to about 85% of the world’s hatch in late December through early colony on Torishima. Even as late population; and the remainder nest January. Chicks remain flightless and as the 1930s, substantial albatross on Minami Kojima, in the Senkaku dependent on their parents for about 5 harvest continued. By 1949, there Island Group, northwest of Taiwan. A months. were no short-tailed albatrosses single nest on Midway Island, Hawaii breeding at any of the historically produced a chick in 2011. Short-tailed After breeding, short-tailed known breeding sites, including albatrosses forage widely across albatrosses move to feeding areas Torishima, and the species was the temperate and subarctic North in the North Pacific. When feeding, thought to be extinct. In the early Pacific, and can be seen in the Gulf of albatrosses alight on the ocean 1950s, however, a few breeding pairs Alaska, along the Aleutian Islands, surface and seize prey with their bills. began to show up on Torishima. and in the Bering Sea. The world Prey items include squid, fish, and These were presumably birds that population is currently estimated to shrimp. Short-tailed albatross are also had been wandering the North be about 3,000 birds and is increasing attracted to bait from longline vessels Pacific during the final years of at a rate of between 5 and 8% per used in commercial fisheries. slaughter. Loss of nesting habitat year. to volcanic eruptions and severe Reasons for Current Status storms continue to be natural Habitat and Habits Short-tailed albatrosses have survived threats to short-tailed albatrosses Like many seabirds, short-tailed multiple threats to their existence. today. albatrosses are slow to reproduce At the beginning of the 20th century, and are long-lived, with some known the short-tailed albatross was nearly Human-induced threats include to be over 40 years old. They begin extinct, primarily as a result of hooking and drowning on breeding at about 5-6 years of age and hunting at the breeding colonies in commercial longline gear, ingestion mate for life. They nest on volcanic Japan. Albatrosses were killed for of plastic debris, contamination from ash or grassy terraces on rugged, their feathers and various other body oil spills, and possibly collision with isolated, windswept islands. Pairs lay parts. Between the late 1800s and vessel rigging and entanglement in early 1900s, an estimated five million derelict fishing gear. Above, a brood of Steller’s eiders in Barrow, Alaska. Below, male Steller’s eider flying. Ted Swem / USFWS Yamashina Institute for Ornithology Yamashina First cohort of chicks (2008) moved from Torishima just set down on the Mukojima colony site check out their new home.

Management and Protection The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service nesting habitat of the main colony Mukojima. Our goal is for 70 chicks to (Service) works closely with the on Torishima by planting grass at fledge from Mukojima by 2012. commercial fishing industry to the colony site to stabilize soils and minimize take of short-tailed provide cover. Efforts to establish So far, 100% of the hand-reared chicks albatross. The Service, in collaboration a second nesting colony in an area successfully fledged from Mukojima, with the National Marine Fisheries less prone to erosion and outwash and we anxiously await their eventual Service (NMFS), University of on Torishima continue with great return to Mukojima to breed. We have Washington Sea Grant program, success. Minami-Kojima, where had hopeful signs that the fledglings and Pacific States Marine Fisheries approximately 15% of the birds breed, recognized Mukojima as their future Commission, supplies free tori line is currently in an area of disputed nesting site when 3 year old subadults (streamer line) kits to any Alaskan ownership between Japan, China, and returned to Mukojima and were commercial longline vessel owner/ Taiwan. The dispute over ownership observed practicing their mating operator who requests them. To prevents scientists from monitoring or dance—a ritual that is a prelude to reduce the incidental take of seabirds aiding in the recovery of the birds that breeding. The establishment of a third, by the fishing industry, including the nest there. “safe” breeding colony is required for short-tailed albatross, the NMFS recovering this endangered bird. requires the Alaska longline fisheries In 2008, the Service, in collaboration to employ bird avoidance techniques with the Japanese Ministry of the such as using streamer lines with Environment, Yamashina Institute performance standards specified in for Ornithology, and Oregon State For more information contact: regulations (50CFR679). Fishermen University, embarked on an historic Ellen Lance are strongly encouraged to develop attempt to translocate short-tailed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service new, innovative techniques to avoid albatross chicks to Mukojima for 605 W. 4th Avenue, Suite G-61 catching birds. the purpose of starting a new Anchorage, Alaska 99501 breeding colony. Mukojima is a newly (907) 271-1467 The government of Japan provides designated UNESCO World Heritage [email protected] legal protection to the short-tailed Site that is non-volcanic and is not in albatross as a Special National politically disputed territory. Since Monument and a Special Bird of 2008, 55 six-week-old short-tailed Protection. The main nesting island, albatross chicks were moved from Torishima, is protected as a National their natal nest on Torishima and Monument. Japan has improved the hand-reared on the “safe” island of

May 2012 http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/endangered/index.htm