February 19 65 BCF 
3 
Species Accounts 
Black-footed Albatross 
( 
At least 92 were seen in February. Although numbers seen at any one 
time were lower (28 to 22) than last month the species enjoyed a much 
more widespread distribution, appearing as far south as 10° N, although 
only on one leg of the cruise. It is debatable whether this southward 
movement had anything to do with a coincident cold air wave moving south 
through the area. 
On 27 February two birds sitting on the water astern of the ship were 
seen to go through courtship display behavior. On 15 February a bird 
i 
with its left wing broken and rehealed at the carpal joint followed the 
ship for over one-half hour. The distal portion of the wing was canted 
up at a ^5° angle to the rest of the wing. The bird seemed to have little 
or no difficulty in flying. 
Laysan Albatross 
Four were seen, all north or northeast of Oahu. The birds followed 
the ship for periods of time up to several hours, although often at quite 
a distance from the ship. 
Fulmar 
On the late afternoon of 25 February at 25° 50 T IS, 1^89 W a dark- 
i 
phase Fulmar circled the ship while it was stationary during a current 
measurement station. It sat in the water as close as 50 yards from the 
stern of the ship. It remained in the vicinity of the ship for over 
one-half hour. This is the first live project recbrd of this species 
for the area, as well as for the Central Pacific Ocean* 
