7 
Species Accounts 
Black-footed Albatross 
The first individuals were observed November 20 at about 20°N - l68°W, 
approximately 250 miles southwest of French Frigate Shoals# A few were seen 
each day thereafter, with no more than two present at once. Most individuals 
followed only briefly but three remained for periods up to 6 hours. 
Wedge-tailed Shearwater 
This species was not recorded in the grid. All the sightings were 
east of 168°. Of the total of 1112 were recorded on 21 and 22 November 
and 31 were seen between Oahu and the grid. Nearly all the sightings between 
Oahu arxi the grid were of single birds or pairs while those on the return 
route included many small groups and a few mixed flocks. A large number of 
individuals were moving south or southeast. This, coupled with the absence 
of the species west of 168°, may indicate that at least some of the birds 
now finishing their breeding season winter somewhere between central Pacific 
breeding grounds and South America. 
Slender-billed Shearwater 
The separation of this species from similar Sooty Shearwater in the 
field continues to be a great problem. Both species may resemble each other 
under various combinations of light and sea. Nearly all the birds seen well 
this trip possessed the smoky underwings of the Slender-bill. Those few 
which had the bright white underwing linings characteristic of the Sooty 
Shearwater may have belonged to the small percentage of Slender-bills which 
also show this characteristic. It appears that only a small portion of the 
