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4 
BIRDS 
SPECIES ACCOUNTS 
Black-footed Albat ’’ 
( Diomedea ni^ripes 
One Black-foo as obse . on the first day out of San Diego. 
Pale-footed Shears 
( Puffinus carneipr 
One Pale-foot observ ■ lU^S, 
Wedge-tailed Shearwa^ 
( Puffinus pacificus ) 
Wedge-tails were very abundant in the equatorial counter current 
along lO^N. The main population ( 2 I 4 O) wa3 observed west of Clipperton 
Island. The color-phase ratio was 8355 light to 17^ dark. 
In view of the lack of Wedge-tails nrotmd the Revilla-Gigedo 
Islands, it seems logical to conclude that the birds found at 10 N 
constitute the main wintering population from these islands. It is 
not entirely impossible for Hawaiian Wedge-tails to be present in 
small numbers since Wedge-tails appear constant across this counter 
current area to the west* * j ^ 
Two males were collected* One was molting and had small gona s* 
The second male was in fresh plumage and the gonads had 'oegun to increase 
in size* 
Slender-billed Shearwater 
( Puffinus tenuirostris ) 
Two separate sightings of this species at 13^ and l6^S. Both 
birds passed close enough for positive identification, and both were 
heading northwest. This species and the Bale-foot are presumably 
non-breeders, or birds that have departed from their nesting home 
early due to nest failure. Another possibility is that these Slender- 
bills may be from the small Easter Island population which may have 
completed nesting. 
t 
Christmas Shearwater 
( Puffinus nativitatus 
The single sighting of this species along the equator at 
105°W. was quite \ihexpected. Until more is known about its pelagic 
range, the Christmas Shearwatei^ust be considered a straggler this far 
east. 
