< 
DRAFT 
12-1-65 
Black-footed Albatross ( Diomedea nigripes) 
Current Status : Breeds annually. 
Prior Records : This species was observed by Munro (1941) off Rihoa on 
May 26 , 1891. Fisher (1906) reported seeing n a number" of this species 
in early June 19CJ3L 
Other records include Munter (1915), Wetmore (unpublished notes, 1925), 
Richardson (1957 )> Kenyon and Rice ( 1962 ), Kramer ( 1961 ), Kramer and 
Beardsley ( 1962 ). 
Population: The number of this species using Kihoa seems to have remained 
remarkably stable, with one exception, throughout the span of recorded 
observations. Munter (1915) deports "perhaps 500 birds present" from which 
we may infer that a count was not made, and he does not state whether the 
rf +iiT H* oese*.o&r? # r rue same- 
■ observe d nestlings^ were included in this estimate. 
Wetmore (op.cit.) observed 60 pairs with nearly fledged nestlings in 
June 1925 . Kenyon and Rice (op. cit.) estimated 50 nests from an aerial 
survey conducted December 28 , 1957. Kramer (op. cit.) estimated 50 birds, 
some of which were incubating eggs, in December 1961 . These records agree 
closely. 
Richardson (op. cit.) states that this species breeds in small numbers 
but population figures are not available from his trips in December 1955 and 
March 1954 . Kramer and Beardsley (19 62 ) reported five young seen, "still 
downy on the head but capable of flight." This allows the possibility that 
other nestlings had fledged and left the island before their party landed. 
The FOBSF has records from two trips to Kfihoa during the breeding season. 
In March 1964, 50 nestlings were counted and 55 were counted in March of 1965 . 
