YJIrta, V. 
1962 
11 Feb, 
All' 
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spotlight from the bridge. We do not know for sure but think that these 
I 
may have been squid or cuttle fish# 
1 
11 February 19-3 
Today has been the best day we have yet hid at sea. The number of 
albatross have increased considerably and it is now impossible to make an 
accurate count around the ship, but I am sure it is over one hundred. These 
birds are truly amazing. They are so perfectly adapted for rliding that they 
skim around and around over the waves, rarely taking one or two flaps to 
chtnge direction more rapidly or catch a new air current. They frequently 
skim very close to the surface of the water, and from time to time actually 
dip the tips of the primaries into the water. I have watched this over and 
over, and it becomes apparent that they use this fractional contact with 
the water as a pivot about which they can turn. This must certainly be a 
very exciting move, for if the wings were dipped too deeply the bird would 
surely be spilled into the water, and I have not seen this occur. The birds 
also appear to be able to accurately gauge the movement of the swells so that 
they can move down a trough and then up and over the crest before it breaks, 
all the time staying within a foot or so of the water, ihey sometime^ ride 
air currents right by the bridge, coming within just a few feet of us. In 
* • ! iA 
fact on the 8th one hit an antenna and was knocked down on the bridge. It 
did not appear to be badly hurt and was banded (USFWS 30002) and released 
a few minutes after it fell. As they glide by one can get a good opportunity 
to observe them, and I hope I have obtained some good pictures o± them, ihe 
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