Figure 3a. — Expansion of the range of the Black- 

 footed Albatross in the study area. Birds were 

 recorded at the northern end of the area all 

 winter. 



Figure 3b. — Contraction of the range of the 

 Black-footed Albatross in the study area. 

 Birds were recorded at the northern end of the 

 area all spring. 



of the range began in March and continued 

 through April and May (fig. 3b). In June only a 

 few stragglers were left in the area. 



The area covered by the species each month 

 varied directly with the total numbers seen that 

 month. 



Birds were repeatedly seen farthest south on 

 the third (long. 151° W.) leg of the cruise. These 

 sightings may be explained only in part by the 

 attraction of the ship, since birds were seldom 

 attracted south of Oahu on the first (long. 157° 

 W.) leg. 



On only about one-half of the days in which 

 Black-footed Albatrosses were seen was the 

 maximum number seen at the end of the day. 

 Generally the maximum number was seen at 

 hydrographic stations, where the ship remained 

 stationary for an hour. Birds that had dropped 

 behind the ship evidently caught up with It at 

 this time. 



Because this species is attracted to ships, 

 numbers are probably more accurate for the 

 area and monthly fluctuations in numbers prob- 

 ably are due less to chance than for those spe- 

 cies that ignore or avoid the ship. 



Total numbers given at the beginning of the 

 species account are the totals of the highest 

 numbers seen at any one time in a day. These 

 figures are obviously lower than the actual 

 numbers seen, since birds were certainly drop- 

 ping behind and being replaced by others, but 

 the possibility of counting any bird more than 

 once in a day was avoided. Exceptions were 

 made if distinction was possible on the basis of 

 plumage differences or anatomical aberrations. 



Miller (1942) recorded a marked Black-footed 

 .^Mbatross that followed his ship 60 miles (111.2 

 km.), the longest distance a Northern Hemis- 

 phere albatross has been known to follow a ship. 



A bird that was banded at 1800 hours on 



