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2 
The principal migrant species (Sooty Shearwater, New Zealand Shearwater, 
and one or more small unidentified Pterodroma ) showed a nearly uniform flight 
direction to the northwest. 
Numbers of birds seen decreased away from the main Hawaiian Islands, then 
increased sharply in the most easterly area (ll degrees North - 1^9 degrees 
West) visited. Moderate numbers were present along the course between 8 degrees 
North and 10 degrees North with a peak concentration on May 11. Few birds 
were seen on the route between Palmyra and Johnston Islands, although this 
course followed a subterranean ridge ranging in depths between 400 and 600 
fathoms, in contrast to depths of 2000 fathoms over most of the area. The 
numbers of birds appeared to be primarily a function of distance from land 
this month, with a gap midway between Johnston and the Line Islands indicating 
that birds from these two areas mix very little at sea. 
Johnston Island birds were observed mainly on May 21, north and west of 
the island (Table 9)« Numbers declined the following day, then increased 
again as the Leeward Islands were approached. This again suggests that the 
birds from the two areas remain segregated at sea, though perhaps not to as 
% 
great an extent as in the previous case due to the lesser distance. 
Since the large numbers of birds present in the vicinity of the high 
Hawaiian Islands greatly weighted the figures of total birds, birds/mile and 
birds/sighting, these figures were also calculated excluding the first and 
last days, to give a more representative picture in the tables of the pelagic 
bird distribution observed during the May At-Sea Survey. 
SEECIES ACCOUNTS 
Laysan Albatross.' One observed southeast of the island of Hawaii May and 
2 seen south of Kauai on May 24. 
Black-footed Albatross. The first two birds were encountered about 200 miles 
SW of French Frigate Shoals May 22. Fifteen were seen; 
2 were collected. 
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