The Short-Tailed Albatross, <I>Diomedea Albatrus</I>, Its Status

ENDANGERED SPECIES

The Shortailed Albatross, Diomedea a/btrus, its status, distribution and natural history

With referenceto the breedingbiology of othernorthern hemisphere albatrosses

Hiroshi Hasegawa and Anthony R. DeGange

HESHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS (Dio- early 20th centuries, the species was Adults in the definitive plumage are medea albatrus) is presentlyan En- almost reduced to extinction. mostly white with a yeiiowish-buffwash dangered Species that was formerly The Short-tailed Albatross is the on the head and back of neck. The tip of abundant in the North Pacific. Owing to largestof the three speciesof Diomedea the tail and distal portions of the wings the activities of feather hunters operat- that breed in the North Pacific (Table l) are dark brown. The bill is stout and ing on the albatross's nesting grounds and when mature is the only albatrossin predominantlypink with a bluish tip and for a 50-year period in the late 19th and the North Pacific with a white back. the feet are pale blue. Juveniles are chocolatebrown with large pinkishbills and flesh-colored legs.

Table 1. Approximate measurementsof North Pacific Albatrosses (from Palmer 1962).

Species Length Wingspan (cm) (cm) Diomedea albatrus 94 213 Diomedea nigripes 69-74 193-213 Diomedea immutabilis 79-81 203

As the birds grow older they become progressively more white, beginning with the face, legs and rump. The changein plumageis gradual, taking ten or more years. Tickell (1975) states that the population of Short-tailed Alba- trossescontains many individuals in in- termediate plumageand both he and the senior author concur that some birds commence breeding before the definitive plumageis attained. Short-tailed Albatrosses most closely resemble the Wandering and Royal albatrosses (D. exulans and D. epomophora) of the southern oceans; the only other albatrosses with white backs. However, confusion with these species is unlikely since they occur in different hemispheres. Mature Short- tailed Albatrosses are most likely confused with mature Laysan Albatrosses (D. immutabilis) although the latter are considerably smaller and have dark Fig. 1. A fully adult Short-tailedAlbatross. All photos/HiroshiHasegawa. backs. Immature Short-tailed Alba-

806 AmericanBirds, September 1982 trosses could be confused with Black- I.C.B.P. Congress in Tokyo in 1960, MARINE RANGE footed Albatrosses(D. nigripes) but the and the Japanese Government corre- latter are smaller and have dark bills and spondinglydesignated the speciesa na- ORMERLYShort-tailed Albatrosses feet In all plumages,the large size and tional monument in 1962. The United ranged south to the coast of China, smutpinkish bill (Fig. 2) readilydistin- States Fish and Wildlife Service listed in the Japan and Okhotsk seas, north gmshShort-tailed Albatrosses from their the Short-tailed Albatross on the En- into the Bering Sea from the Koman- two relatives in the North Pacific. dangeredSpecies list in June 1970(Fed- dorskie Islands to the Diomede Islands eral RegisterNo. 8495). in Bering Strait and Norton Sound and PRESENT STATUS throughout the North Pacific from BREEDING DISTRIBUTION Alaska to Baja California (Fig. 4, HESIZE OF THE population ofShort- A.O.U. Check-list 1957). They were es- tailed Albatross prior to exploita- HORT-TAILEDALBATROSSES were pecially common in regions of high tion is not known, but it was certainly restricted as breeding birds to is- biologicalproductivity such as alongthe large Hattori (1889,in Austin 1949)es- lands in the North Pacific west of the Pacific coast of North America, in the timated over 100,000 birds on Torishima Izu-Bonin Island chain. The most com- Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea. In Islandduring the busiesttime of feather prehensivelist of former breeding sites contrast to Laysan and Black-footed al- gathering.During a 17-yearperiod over (Hasegawa 1979) shows the species batrosses, which infrequently venture 5 million Short-tailed Albatrosses were breeding on at least nine sites in the onto the shallow waters of the continen- supposedlytaken from their nesting western North Pacific (Fig. 3). Conceiv- tal shelf (Gould et al., in press). Short- islands. Currently the population of ably a number of other islands also tailed Albatrosses were abundant in Short-tailed Albatrosses is slowly in- would have been suitablenesting sites. shallow waters of coastal North Ameri- creasingand numbersat least250 indi- Early naturalists in Alaska, among ca, especially Alaska. Turner (1886) viduals (Hasegawa 1982). them Kotzebue and Dall thought that found Short-tailed Albatrossesin great Short-tailed Albatrosses nested in the abundance near Cape Newenham in Aleutian Islands. These naturalists Bristol Bay, Alaska and even observed were unaware of the winter nestingsea- them at the mouth of the Kuskokwlm son of the albatross on islands to the River. Both Turner and Nelson (1887)

D io m e d e a southwest and mistook the abundance found them near St. Lawrence Island of albatrosses near the Aleutian Islands and as far north as Bering Strait. Bean during summer as evidence of local (cf. Nelson 1887)found them in the Gulf nesting. of Alaska and consideredthe vicinity of Short-tailed Albatrosses now nest the Barren Islands in Lower Cook Inlet only on Torishima (Bird Island) in the to be one of their favorite haunts. Elliot Seven Islands of Izu, which lie 580 km (1898) notes that they were formerly albatrus south of Tokyo (Fig. 3). Following a abundant near the Pribilof Islands period of intense fowling and two vol- where they fed on the wastes from the canic eruptions it was feared that the whaling fleets that plied the waters of albatross was extinct. However, a few the Bering Sea. Furthermore, Short- nestswere found in 1950 by a member of tailed Albatrosses once ventured close the meteorologicalstation on Torishima enoughto land to be regularlycaptured and the species has continued to thrive by North American natives for food there. from California north to St. Lawrence Short-tailed Albatrosses have also Island (Howard and Dodson 1933, been observed during the breeding sea- Friedman 1934, Murie 1959). Bean son recently in two other areas: states that natives from Kodiak Island Minami-kojima in the Senkaku Islands sometimesspeared them from their kay- aks. Subsistence use of Short-tailed Al- Ftg 2. A comparisonof bills ofNorth Pacific (southern Ryukyu Islands, Fig. 3) and albatrosses. Adapted from Handbook of the leeward Hawaiian Islands. Short- batrosseswas particularlyevident in the North American Birds, Palmer, R.S., Ed. tailed Albatrosses were observed on Aleutian Islands where they were the Yale 1962. Minami-kojima, a historical breeding greatestoverall contributor to the avlan site, as early as 1971 (Ikehara and portion of the Aleut diet (Yesner 1976, Shimojana 1971). Ikehara and Okada Yesner and Aigner 1976). Yesner sug- (pets. comm., in Hasegawa 1982) ob- geststhat Short-tailed Albatrossescon- served 35 birds there in 1980. Breeding centratedin inter-islandpasses, thereby Torishima,the last knownnesting is suspectedbut unconfirmed at this becomingavailable to Aleut hunters. placeof the Short-tailedAlbatross, was time. Both adult and immature alba- Other than observations in Hawaii designated a no-hunting area by the trosses have appeared in recent years and on Minami-kojima, there have been JapaneseGovernment in 1933,and later on Midway Island, French Frigate few recent sightingsof Short-tailed Al- a national monument in 1958. The alba, Shoals, and Tern Island in the Hawaiian batrossaway from their breedingisland tross itself became protected by the chain (C.S. Harrison, pers. comm.). on Torishima (Table 2). Most of the Japanese Government'in 1947. The One persistent individual has returned sightingsin the eastern Pacific have oc- endangered status of the albatross to Midway yearly since 1971. Breeding curred closeto land in regionsof heavy was internationally recognized at the is not known at these islands. ship traffic often frequented by experl-

Volume 36 Number 5 807 enced birders. Much of this species' still wanders over much of its original ticipationof the new governmentedict historic marine range is rarely under marine range, but in greatly reduced in 1933. By 1933, only 30-50 birds were observation. Even in Alaska where the numbers. seen. The volcano on Torishlma specieswas once very abundant, it is erupted again in 1939, burying much of rarely seen although recent activity in HISTORY OF EXPLOITATION the albatross'snesting grounds. the western Aleutian Islands and Bering A Japanesenaval garrisonof 300 men Seahas resulted in a number of sightings HEHISTORY OFNEAR TOTAL exter- was stationedon 'Torishimaduring (Table 2). A measure of the species' mination of Short-tailed Alba- World War II. Only one albatrosswas current rarity is available through the trosses from Torishima is well known seenduring this time. The garrisonwas United States Fish and Wildlife Ser- (Austin 1949, Tickell 1975, Harrison withdrawn in 1945 and Torishima re- vice'smarine bird programin Alaska. 1979, Hasegawa 1979). Settlement of mained uninhabited until 1947 when a Since 1975 only one sightinghas been Torishima dates back to 1887 and lowl- civilian meteorological station was es- made during the summer months on ing beganthen or several years earlier. tablished. Austin (1949) circumnavi- shipboardand aerial surveysthat have The demand for albatross feathers in- gated Torishima in 1949 but did not see covered 15,000 km:. creased, since they made excellent any albatrosses.However in 1950a few featherquilts. Carcasses were rendered nests were rediscovered on the south SEASONAL MOVEMENTS into oil and fertilizer. By 1900 the hu- sideof the island and the populationhas man settlement on Torishima had in- been increasingever since. HESEASONAL MOVEMENTS of the creased to 300, largely supported by Short-tailed Albatross are poorly harvestingalbatrosses. In 1902the vol- NATURAL HISTORY known. Birds begin arriving at To- cano on Torishimaerupted, killing 125 nshima in early October, increasingin people, but despite this the island re- ORISHIMAIS PRESENTLYan unin- numberuntil breedingbegins in late Oc- mainedinhabited and the slaughtercon- habited, active volcanic island 403 tober. Failed breeders and non- tinued until 1922 when the inhabitants m high and 2.6 km in diameter. It is breedersdepart Torishima in winter and withdrew. Torishima was resettied by characterizedby four low peaks, 353 m spring, and successful breeders and man again in 1927 and lowling began or higherand two lava flowsthat breach fledglingsdepart from late May to June. anew. By 1929 fewer than 2000 alba- the caldera, which lines the peripheryof Short-tailedAlbatrosses probably scat- trosses remained. most of the island (Fig. 5/). Short-tailed ter widely but may concentrate in nu- Fowling on Torishima was initially Albatrossesnow nest only at Tsubame- trient-rich waters. The relatively few banned by the Japanesegovernment in zaki (Swallow Point) on the south side sightingsof Short-tailedAlbatros s in the 1933but neverthelessit persisted.A last of the island. past 20 years suggestthat the species great slaughter occurred in 1932 in an- The breeding season of the Short-

Ftg. 3. Breeding and former breedingsites of the Short-tailedAlbatross.

808 AmericanBirds, September 1982 Table2. Summaryof recentpelagic or vagrantsightings of Short-tailedAlbatrosses (updated from Sanger1972).

Location Date Remarks Source NORTHEASTERN PACIFIC Gulf of Alaska 6/9/1940 No distinguishingmarks noted Gabrielson 1944 70 m• off San Francisco. 2 / 17/ 1946 Adult, valid record Traylor 1950 Gulf of Alaska ca. 59øN, 141øW 11/25/1947 lmm. valid record Kenyon 1950 Off SE Alaska 57ø30'N, 130ø14'W 5/14/1956 lmm., distinguishingmarks limited Sanger 1964 40 m• off Vancouver I. 6/11 / 1960 lmm. photographed Lane 1962 32 m• off Oregon 12/11/ 1961 lmm. photographed Wyatt 1963 38 m• off S. Washington 5/3 / 1970 Sub-adult, photographed;questionable Wahl 1970 record Ocean Station Papa, 50øN, 145øW 6/24-26/71 lmm., photographed Gruchy et al., 1972 100 km w. of San Diego 8/1977 Characters noted McCaskie (1978) Monterey Bay, Calif. 4 / 20/ 1978 Sub-adult,photographed Helm (1980) 25 km off Westport, Oreg. 9/30/1979 Doubtful record Hunn and Mattocks (1979) Near Sanak I., Alas., 54ø02'N. 162ø11'W 4/29/1980 Adult Kessel and Gibson, unpubl.

NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC Near W. Aleutians 6/7/1944 Distinguishingmarks not noted. Arnold 1948 Open ocean, 40ø04'N, 147ø55'W 5/17/1951 Adult, valid record photographed MacDonald 1952 Open ocean, 49øN, 176øE 4/22/1954 Adult, probablyvalid Poole 1966 12 ml SW of Kushiro, Japan 4 / 18/ 1957 Questionablerecord Kuroda 1963 Open ocean, 33øN, 140øE 12/4/1959 Two adults Tramontano 1970 Open ocean, 30øN, 140øE 2/17/1961 Immature Tramontano 1970 Open ocean, 33øN, 145øE 3 / 30 / 1962 Adult and immature Tramontano 1970 34øN, 164øE 4/5/1962 Sub-adult, valid record J.P. Mihlbauer (in litt.) SW Attu 1. 8/16/1962 Characters not noted Boggsand Boggs 1964 NE Attu 1. 8/16/1962 PossiblyLaysan Boggs and Boggs 1964 Off Honshu, 37ø41'N, 141ø30'E 12/15/1963 Juvenile, valid record Kuroda, 1963 Open ocean, 35øN, 145øE 2/4/1966 One adult Tramontano 1970 Amchitka Pass 5/23 / 1968 Adult, characters noted Sowl (pets. comm.) 3qOl0,N,145øE 4/19/1976 Adult and sub-adult Taniguchi 1976 W Aleutians, 52øN, 177ø47'E 8 / 27 / 1976 Adult Gibson and Byrd 1977 Off Kagalaska I., c. Aleutian Is. 6/26/1978 Sub-adult, not a positive 1.D. Kessel and Gibson, unpubl. Enoshima, Japan, 38ø25'N, 141ø35'E 8/2/1978 Dead adult, collected Kurechi (pets. comm.) Benng Sea, 57ø30'N, 177øW 7/21/1979 Immature, photographed DeGange, unpubl. 33ø55'N, 139ø15'E 2/23/1980 Immature, photographed Hasegawa, unpubl. 28ø4.0'N,143ø17'E 3/17/1981 Adult Tanaka (pers. comm.) 30ø30'N, 142ø21'E 3/18/1981 Immature Tanaka (pers. comm.) 38ø30'N, 141ø45'E 4/18/1981 Adult Kurechi (pers. comm.) S Amchitka Pass, 50ø46'N, 179ø31'E 6/7/1981 Immature, photographed Everett (pets. comm.) 31ø26'N, 143ø24'E 1/23 / 1982 Immature, photographed Tanaka (pets. comm.) 32ø30'N, 134øE 2/21/1982 Immature Brasil (pets. comm.) 50ø57'N, 174ø24'E 7 / 18/ 1982 Immature, photographed Rowlett (pers. comm.) Bering Sea, 52ø17'N, 177ø23'E 7/31 / 1982 Sub-adult Rowlett (pers. comm.)

CENTRAL PACIFIC Open ocean, 32ø33'N., 138ø05'W 4/10/1962 Young bird Kuroda 1963 Eastern l., Midway, Haw. 3/18/1966 Adult, banded C.S. Robbins (pers.

Midway, Haw. Winter Adult Sekora 1977 1972-1975 Tern l., French Frigate Shoals, Haw. 11/75-2/76 Immature Sekora 1977 Laysan Island, Haw. 3/28/76 Immature (possibly same as on Tern 1.) Sekora 1977 Midway, Haw. Fall/winter Adult (same as in 1972-1975) Harrison (pers. comm 1977/78, 1978/79 1979/80, 1980/81 Midway Winter 1981 Juvenile Harrison (pers. comm Tern I., French Frigate Shoals Winter 1981 Adult Harrison (pets. comm

Volume36, Number5 809 the albatrossesmore susceptibleto strong winds and blowing ash which maybe responsiblein part for thelower reproductive success of Short-tailed Albatrosses in the mid-to late 1970s (Hasegawa 1980). Tickell (1975) describes the nests of Short-tailedAlbatrosses as scoopsin the volcanicash lined with and built up with grass. Hattori (in Austin 1949) visited Torishima when albatrosses were still abundant and found concave nests of earth about two feet in diameter usuallyconstructed in an open,grassy area. Like other albatrosses,nest build- ingin Short-tailedAlbatrosses probably occurs throughout incubation. The nestling periods of Short-tailed Albatrosses are long, usually five Fig. 4. Marine range of the Short-tailed Albatross. months or more and the fledglingsdepart Torishimab.y mid-June (Hasegawa 1980). Short-tailedAlbatrosses lay a single egg which Godman (in Bent 1922) detailed Albatross begins in early October ily in the easternsubcolony at Tsubame- scribes as dull white and marked at one with the arrival of adults on Torishima. zaki where the grass was tall and abun- end with a profusionof red spotsand Previously paired adults return to dant,but as the grassdisappeared there blotches, many of which are confluent nearly-identical sites each year. Alba- has been a gradual shift to the west and form a distinct cap. Egg mea- trosses are monogamous;they usually subcolonywhere more grassis found. surementsof 43 eggsaveraged 116. lmm pair with the samemate year after year. As a result of albatrossactivity there, x 74.2mm (Bent 1922). Pair bonds normally remain intact until somevegetation has been trampledand Egg laying by Short-tailed Alba- broken by the death or disappearanceof eliminated (Hasegawa 1978). Loss of trosses occurs from late October one of the partners."Divorces" are very vegetation with the resultant destabili- through early November (Hasegawa rare. Courtship consists of a highly zation of loose volcanic soils have made 1980).Incubation of the eggis sharedby ritualized seriesof displaysand vocali- LAVA FLOW zations. A detailed study of the breeding behavior of Short-tailed Albatrosses. TORISHIMA LAVA FLOW has not been undertaken but it is probably similar to other albatrosses. In Laysan Albatrosses copulation begins within hours of the arrival of the first experienced females and reunion with joo' their mates on the territory (Fisher 1971). The nest site becomes the focal point for the breeding pair during the /' ....-.'...... nesting season.

Historically, Short-tailedAlbatrosses 300 ...... seemedto prefer level, open areasadja- cent to tall clumps of the grass Mis- ASA HI-Y,•MA canthus sinensisfor nesting. They now %9• i nest only on the open, sparsely vege- tated slopesof Tsubame-zaki.Although since the last eruption, grasses have never been abundant at Tsubame-zaki, there is some evidence that as the alba- 374•; tross became more numerous the grass becamestunted and beganto disappear, probably as the result of trampling. A composite(Chrysanthemum pacificurn) 0 400 m has replacedthe grassin part but never- theless the soils have become more un- TSUBAME-ZAKI stable. During the 1960sand early 1970s NESTING SITES Short-tailed Albatrossesnested primar- Fig. 5. Map from Hasegawa, 1982.

810 AmericanBirds, September 1982 bothparents. The incubationspans vary Table 3. ReproductiveSuccess of Short-tailedAlbatrosses on Torishima. considerablyand are dictated by how % % Chicksfledged/ long the off-duty member of the pair Year No. Eggs No. Hatched Hatched No. Fledged Fledged Egg laid remmns at sea. In Laysan Albatrosses 1955/56 • 12 4 33 3 75 .25 the first span by the female is usually 1956/571 12 8 67 8 100 .67 lessthan three or four days. The second 1957/58' 13 5 38 5 100 .38 spanby the male is much longer, av- 1958/591 12 9 75 9 100 .75 eraging22 daysbut may be aslong as 32 1959/601 10 7 70 0 0 .00 1960/612 19 10 53 7 70 .37 days The third spanby the female is 1961/622 24 11 46 10 91 .42 only slightly shorter than the second. 1962/632 23 11 48 10 91 .43 The following spans are significantly 1963/642 26 12 46 11 92 .42 shorteruntil hatching, which most often 1964/652 28 12 43 11 92 .39 occurs during the fifth span (Rice and 1972/733 ------24 -- -- 1973/744 40 -- -- 11 -- .28 Kenyon 1962).Laysan Albatrosses lose 1975/764 ------No data -- -- from 2.5 to 22% of their weight during 1976/774 40+ -- -- 15 -- .38 incubation.Comparable information is 1977/785 40+ -- -- 12-20 -- .30-.50 not available for Short-tailed Alba- 1978/795 ------22 -- -- 1979/806 50 -- -- 20 -- .40 trosses. 1980/816 54 -- -- 2-32 -- .53 1981/827 63 -- -- 21 -- .33 HEINCUBATION PERIOD for Short- I from YamashinaInst. for Ornithology(in Tickell 1974). tailed Albatross eggsis about 64-65 :from staffof TorishimaMeteorological Station (in Hasegawa1980). 3Tickell(1975). 4Hasegawa(1978). 5Hasegawa(1980). 6Hasegawa(1982). days which is similar to Black-looted ?Hasegawa (unpubl.) Albatrosses(63-67 days, Rice and Ken- yon 1962), Laysan Albatrosses(62-67 eight- or nine-year-oldsalthough there vival of adult breeding Wandering Al- days, Rice and Kenyon 1962; 55-72 are individual records of a five-, a six-, batrossesis about 96%. Assumingthat days, Fisher 1971), Black-browedAl- and a seven-year-old breeding (Hase- mortality remains constant throughout batrosses, D. melanophris, (68 days, gawa, unpubl.). [Age at first breeding the life of an adult bird, then a hypothet- Tickell and Pinder 1975) and Gray- for Laysan Albatrosses is five-to-ten ical 3.8% of the population will reach 40 headed Albatrosses, D. chrysostoma, yearswith mostindividuals breeding at years of age. Annual survival rates of (72 days, Tickell and Pinder 1975). eightor nineyears of age(Fisher 1969)]. 93% or higher have also been deter- Hatching occurs from late December Rice and Kenyon (1962) suspectthat mined for Laysan Albatrosses (Fisher through early January. Initially, alba- Blackfooted Albatrosses first return to 1975), Black-browed Albatrosses and tross chicks are brooded and then breedas seven-year~olds.Tickell (1968) Gray-headed Albatrosses (D. chrysos- "guarded"by their parents.It is known found that WanderingAlbatrosses first toma) (Tickell and Pindr 1975). Annual that somespecies do not recognizetheir return to breed when between nine and adult survival rates over 90% are com- own eggsor chicks. Rice and Kenyon eleven years of age. mon in other Procellariiformes as well (1962), experimentingwith Laysan Al- (Ashmole 1973). Estimates of survival batrosses, found that breeding adults N MANYALBATROSS colonies, there and length of life are not known for will ignoretheir eggor chick if they are will be some individuals which do not Short-tailed Albatrosses but several displacedas little as two meters from return to breed in successive seasons. birdsbanded as nestlingsin 1964are still the original nest site. They are fed a In fact speciessuch as the Wandering nesting on Torishima, making them 18 mixture of stomach oil and partially di- andRoyal albatrossesare consideredby years old (Hasegawa, unpubl.). gestedfood which is regurgitatedby the some to be biennial breeders. The bien- adults. The nestling diet varies but nial cycleis attributedto the longperiod ATCHINGSUCCESS of Short-tailed squid,flying fish and largecrustacea are of time and great expenditureof energy Albatross eggs has varied from the most important foods (Hasegawa, neededto raise a chick. Thus the period 33% to 75% during the 10 years for unpubl.) of time between the end of one success- which data exist. In only three of these Albatrosses are surfacefeeders. They ful breeding season and the start of years has hatching success exceeded are thought to often feed nocturnally another is not sufficiently long for a 60% (Table 3). Prior breeding experi- because of their fondness for squid, breedingadult to recover. Fisher (1976) ence may influencehatching success In which come to the surface primarily at maintains that Laysan Albatrosses are Laysan Albatrosses, hatching success night.Bent (1922) states that the species physiologically capable of breeding in experiencedbirds rangedfrom 68% to feedsheavily on squid. Hattori (in Aus- every year. That somebirds do not do 77% and for inexperiencedbirds, 46% to tin 1949)lists crustacea, squid, and mis- this Fisher relates to the availability of 66% (Fisher 1971). cellaneous fish as food. Short-tailed Al- food, the number of times a bird pairs Fledging successof Short-tailed Al- batrosseswere known to follow whaling and the length of successivepairings, batrosses for the same ten years with vessels and feed on offal and scraps the time required to form a pair bond, the exception of 1959-1960 was uni- from whale carcasses. They still follow the mate's previous experience in formly high (Table 3) but overall repro- ships and occasionallyfeed on galley breeding and its successat raising a ductive success varied considerably scrapsand fish offal (DeGangeunpubl. chick. The frequency at which Short- (Table 3). The 1980-1981season was the obs , R.A. Rowlett, pers. comm.). tailed Albatrosses breed is currently un- best in terms of number of fledglings Most Short-tailed Albatrossesprob- known. produced (32) and the second highest in ablyfirst return to Torishimato breedas Tickell (1968) found that annual sur- terms of reproductive success(0.59).

Volume36, Number 5 811 Fig. 6. Tsubami-zaki,Torishima. Fig. 7. The nestinggrounds of the Short-tailed Albatross .

Little information is available on CAUSES FOR CONCERN cussedas a possiblesite for oil explora- causes of mortality in Short-tailed Al- tion. No suchactivity is planned for the batrosses. Rats (Rattus rattus) are ORISHIMAISAN active volcanic is- vicinity of Torishima but tar balls have abundanton Torishima but probably do land that has erupted twice in the been found on the beaches. little damage to the albatrosses(Hase- presentcentury. An eruptionduring the gawa 1982).Fisher (1971)also discounts breedingseason could kill manybirds as SURVIVAL rats (Rattus norvegicus)as a major fac- well as destroy the breeding area. For- tor in loss of Laysan Albatross eggsbut tunately a smallbut separatepopulation EABIRDSHAVE LONG LIFE spans, says they will kill small chicks that are has establisheditself on Minami-kojima highadult survivalfrom year to year left unattended. Feral cats were present which could act as a reservoir of birds and deferred maturity. Albatrossesrep- on Torishima for many years but they for later recolonization. resent the extremes of each of these are believed to have disappeared.Hat- Black-footed Albatrosses also nest on traits. Albatrosses return to the colony tori (in Austin 1949) cited starvation Torishimaand are increasingin number for severalyears before reachingsexual after losing a parent, death from para- more rapidly than Short-tailed Alba- maturity. During these visits alba- siticinsects (probably ticks) and attacks trosses(Hasegawa 1978). Several hun- trossesgain some experiencein breed- of crows as the principal causesof chick dred of this speciesnow visit the island. ing activities and they establisha pair mortality, accountingfor one-thirdof all Black-footed Albatrosses have always bond which often lasts for life. The age the chicks on the island. He added that nestedon the lower slopesof Tsubame- at which Short-tailed Albatrosses first young and even adults often die when zaki in the more rank vegetation but return to Torishima is not precisely trappedin bushyplaces. Lossesof eggs with their increase in numbers they are known. The few data available on or chicks from desertion, storms, inter- expanding their nesting area up the Short-tailed Albatrosses indicate that ference from other albatrosses, acci- slope, even into the nestingarea of the some four-year olds arrive on the col- dental egg puncturing,disease, and the Short-taileds. It is too early to assessthe ony at the beginning of the breeding rolling of eggsfrom nestsare potential impact that enroaching Black-footed season in October and that a small por- sources of mortality. Harrison (1979) Albatrosses will have on the Short- tion of two and three-year olds arrive suggests that sharks may get some taileds but it is cause for concern and ater in March (Hasegawa 1978; un- hatching-year birds after they have should be watched closely. oubl.). A small percentage of Laysan fledged. The Senkaku Islands are being dis- Albatrosses first return to the colony as

Fig. 9. A program to improvethe nestinghabitat of the albatrossby Fig. 8. Adult incubatingegg, Torishima. transplanting grasses •vas carried out in June 1981.

812 AmericanBirds, September1982 Lenstnk,G. Sangerand G. Watsonre- wewed earher vetstons of the manu- script. To these individualsand ß MAXIMUM NO. ADULTS SIGHTED organizationswe aregrateful. oNO. EGGS

"NO. YOUNG FLEDGED LITERATURE CITED

AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UN- ION. 1957. Check-list of North Amen- 1501 can Birds. Port City Press, Baltimore, Maryland. ARNOLD, L.W. 1948. Observations on populations of North Pacific pelagic birds.Auk 65:533-558. IOO ASHMOLE, N.P. 1971. Seabird ecology and the marine environment. In D S Farher and J.R. King (eds.). Avian Biology. Vol. I. Academic Press, New York. 5o AUSTIN, O.L. JR. 1949. The status of Steller's Albatross. Pacific Science 3:283-295. BENT, A.C. 1922. Life histories of North American petrels, pelicansand their al- lies. U.S. Nat'l Museum Bull. 121 Government Printing Office. 1930 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 BOGGS, R.N. and E.M. BOGGS. 1964 Sight record of Short-tailed Albatross YEAR Murrelet 45:48. ELLIOT, H.W. 1898. The seal islands of Alaska. In Seal and salmon fisheries Ftg 10. Populationgrowth of Short-tailedAlbatross on Torishima. and general resourcesof Alaska. Wash- two-year-olds(Fisher and Fisher 1969). crease in albatross numbers, strict pro- ington, D.C. Government Printing Increasinglymore three- and four-year- tection along with the presentlimited Office. FISHER, H.I. 1969. Eggs and egg laying olds return to the colony for the first managementplan may be the best way in the Laysan Albatross. Condor time Black-footed Albatrosses also re- to insure the species' survival. Hope- 71:102-112. turn to the colonies first as two-year- fully, more intensivepropagation tech- 1971. The Laysan Albatross: its in- old• but in small numbers (Rice and niqueswill not be neededin the future. c•bation,hatching and associated be- Kenyon 1962). WanderingAlbatrosses We are optimisticthat this impressive haviors. The Living Bird 10:19-78. 1975. Mortality and survival in the first return as four-year-olds (Tickell bird will once again be seen with regu- I•aysanAlbatross, Diomedea tm- 1968). larity along the coastlinesof its vast mutabilis. Pacific Science 29:279-300 marine range. --. 1976. Some dynamics of a breeding colony of Laysan Albatrosses. Wilson ONGOING RESEARCH Bull. 88:121-142. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- and M.L. FISHER. 1969. The visits of Laysan Albatrosses to the breeding •IESENIOR AUTHOR visits Torishima colonies. Micronesia 5:173-221. two or three times yearly to assess ANYINDIVIDUALS andorganiza- tions have supportedthe senior FRIEDMAN, H. 1934. Bird bones from reproductivesuccess, band individuals author's research on Short-tailed Alba- Eskimo ruins on St. Lawrence Island, and more recently to transplantgrass trosses.Special thanks are due the Wild Bering Sea. J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 24 83- 96. into the nesting area to stabilize the Bird Societyof Japan,the JapaneseEn- volcanic soils. Visits are made in GIBSON, D.D. and G.V. BYRD. 1977 vironmentAgency, the Japanese Minis- Alaska Region. Am. Birds. 31:211. November to count incubating adults try of Education,Science and Culture GRUCHY, C.G., A.A.R. DYKES, and and eggsand in March to countlarge and the Tokyo MetropolitanFisheries R.H. BOWEN. 1972. The Short-taded chicks and further band birds. Not until ExperimentStation and its research Albatross recorded at Ocean Station June,when all birdshave left the island, Papa, North Pacific Ocean, with notes vesselMIYAKO. DeGange'sparticipa- on other birds. Canad. Field Nat Is the grass-plantingproject imple- tion in this project was supported 86:285-287. mented. The senior author has also financiallyby the United StatesFish HARRISON, C. 1979. Short-tailed Alba- visited Minami-kojima and along with and Wildlife Service's Office of En- tross-vigil over Torishima Island Oceans 5:24-26. otherJapanese scientists,' will continue dangeredSpecies, Anchorage, Alaska. to monitor this distant sub-population. HASEGAWA, H. 1978. Recent observa- The continuedinterest of W.L.N. Tick- tions of the Short-tailed Albatross Protection almost came too late for ell in thisproject is appreciated.Unpub- Diomedea albatrus on Torishima. Mtsc the Short-tailed Albatross, yet another lished sightingsof Short-tailedAlba- Repts. Yamashina Inst. Ornithol. 10 58- victim of over-exploitationand igno- trosses from North American waters 69. rance of wildlife conservation princi- --. 1979. The Short-tailed Albatross, its and Hawaii were provided by W. distribution and status. Kaiyo to ples. Fortunately,the populationof Everett, D. Gibson,B. Kessel,R. Row- Seibutsu (Aquabiology) 1:18-22, 30-35 Short-tailed Albatrosses continues to lett and C. Harrison, and from (In Japanese). slowly increaseand now numbersat Japanessewaters by Messr. Brasil, --. 1980. Observations on the status of least 250 individuals. Given this in- Kurechi and Tanaka. M. Amaral, C. the Short-tailed Albatross on Torishima

Volume36, Number5 813 Fig. !!. Parent bird with chick, Torishima. Fig. 12. At the lower slope of Tsubami-zaki another species of albatross. Black-footed {Diomedea nigripesL is nesting.

in 1977/78 and 1978/79. J. Yamashina Alaskan ornithologyß In Report upon TRAMONTANO, J.P. 1970. Winter obser- Inst. Ornithol. 12:59-67. the natural history collections made in vations of the Short-tailed Albatross in ß 1982. The breeding status of the Alaska between the years 1877 and the western Pacific Ocean. Condor Short-tailed Albatross Diomedea alba- 1881. Washington, Gov't. Printing 72:122. trus, on Torishima, 1979/80-1980/81. J. Officeß TRAYLOR, M.R. 1950. A record of the Yamashina Inst. Ornith. 14:16-24. PALMER, R.S. 1962. Handbook of North Short-tailed Albatross. Condor 52:90. HELM, R.C. 1980. A Short-tailed Alba- American Birds. Vol. 1. Loons through TURNER, L.M. 1886. Contributions to the tross off California. West. Birds I 1:47- Flamingos. Yale Univ. Press, Ltd. natural history of Alaska. Wash. D.C. 48. London. 567 pp. Gov't. Printing Office. HOWARD, H. and L. DODSON. 1933. POOLE, F. 1966. Birds of the North WAHL, T.J. 1970. A Short-tailed Albatross Bird remains from an Indian shell- Pacific. Sea Swallow 18:71-74. record for WashingtonState. Calif. Birds mound near Point Mugu, California. RICE, D.W. and K.W. KE/qYON. 1962. 1:l13-115. Condor 35:235. Breeding cycles and behavior of Lay- WYATT, B. 1963. A Short-tailed Albatross HUNN, E.S. and P.W. MATTOCKS JR. san and Black-footed Albatrosses. Auk sighted off the Oregon coast. Condor 1979. The autumn migration. Northern 79:517-567. 65:163. Pacific Coast region. Am. Birds 33:206- SANGER, G.A. 1964. A possible sight YESNER, D.R. 1976. Aleutian Island alba- 209. record of a Short-tailed Albatross. Mur- trosses:a populationhistory. Auk 93:263- IKEHARA, S. and M. SHIMOJANA. relet 45:47. 280. 1971. The terrestrial animals of Sen- ß 1972. The recent pelagic status of the --and J.SßAigner. 1976. Comparativebio- kaku Islands. In report of scientificre- Short-tailed Albatross. Biol. Conserva- mass estimatesand prehistoriccultural search on the Senkaku Islands. S. Ike~ tion 4:189-193. ecologyof the southwestUmnak region, hara (ed.). pp. 85-114. University of the SEKORA, P.C. 1977 Report of Short-tailed Aleutian Islands. Arctic Anthropology Ryukyus. Okinawa. Albatross, Diomedea albatrus, from Ha- XII:91-112. KENYON, K.W. 1950. Distribution of al- waiian Islands. Misc. Repts. Yamashina batrossesin the North Pacific and adja- Inst. Ornithol. 9:128. cent waters. Condor 52:97-103. TANIGUCHI, A. 1976. Sighting of the KURODA, N. 1963. A winter sea-bird Short-tailed Albatross off the Sanriku census between Tokyo and Kushiro, coast. Geiken Tsushin 300:66-68. (in HokkaMo. Misc. Repts. Yamashina Japanese). Inst. Ornithol. 3:227-238. -- and R. PINDER. 1975. Breedingbiol- LANE, R.K. 1962. A Short-tailed Alba- ogy of the Black-browed Albatross tross off British Columbia. Canad. Diomedea melanophris and Grey- Field Nat. 76:178-179. headed Albatross D. chrysostoma at MacDONALD, J.D. 1952. A recent sight Bird Island, South Georgia. Ibis --Dept. of Biology, record of Steller's Albatross. Ibis 117:433-451. Toho University, 94:536-537. TICKELL, W.L.N. 1968.The biologyof the McCASKIE, G. 1978. The autumnmigra- great albatrosses, Diomedea exulans, Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba 274 tion. Southern Pacific Coast region. andDiomedea epomophora. In Antarctic Japan ,(Hasegawa) and Am. Birds 32:256. Bird Studies, O.L. Austin (ed.). Antarc- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MURIE. O.J. 1959. Fauna of the Aleutian tic Res. Series, Vol. 12. Am. Geophys. 1011 E. Tudor Rd., Islandsand Alaska Peninsula.Washing- Union. Publ. No. 1686. ton, D.C. GovernmentPrinting Office. --1975. Observations on the status of the Anchorage, AK 99503 (DeGange). NELSON, E.W. 1887. Part I. Birds of Steller's Albatross(Diomedea albatrus). Requestfor reprints shouldbe sent Alaska with a partial bibliography of I.C.B.P. Bull. Xli:125-131. to the second author.

814 AmericanBirds, September 1982