64 
SPECIES ACCOUNTS 
Except where noted, discussions apply to the survey 
area, and time periods covered during the combined 
SIC 17 and 18. "Birds," "bird," and general pronouns 
refer to the species under discussion unless other¬ 
wise noted. 
Black-footed Albatross No. Obs. = 10 plus 
Dionedea nigripes 
Birds were present in regular numbers following the ship on each 
arrival and departure from Oahu (4). Most of these observations were not' 
logged. Ten to 15 birds might be expected to be found following a vessel 
while in sight of Oahu (within up to 60 miles). At about 300 to 400 
miles southwest of Oahu, birds generally disappear. 
•. 
Laysan Albatross No. Obs. = 1 (offshore) 
Diomedea immutabilis ' 
One bird was recorded within sight of Oahu on 10 March. 
Pale»footed Shearwater No, Obs, = I 
Puffinus carneipes 
- , r - 1 — Hi ■ ■ — —■^,11 
One bird was observed heading north in the 5 ° N. region on 24 April. 
The tendency for this species to appear during the dawn or evening hours 
has been noted previously. Whether or not this holds up statistically, 
I think this species is consistently overlooked, due to its dark, hard- 
to-observe color and a probable daytime ship-shyness that other members of 
the genus show. 
Wedge-tailed Shearwater No. Obs. = 2766 
Puffinus pacificus 
Contributing one-fifth of the total birds, wedgetails were recorded 
in all 15 pelagic and interisland sections (honor shared also by Sooty 
Tern, Red-footed Booby, and Leach Storm Petrel). The highest density 
region was the 5 ° N. area, where birds were recorded at a rate of slightly 
less than one per mile. All the birds in this area were dark phase. The 
most probable land origin of the birds in the 5 ° belt is Christmas Island, 
but I suspect birds are also present which originate from outside the 
study area to the south. The relatively few birds from Phoenix Island 
probably contribute only a small part to this pelagic concentration. 
Two other areas, in the south, had very high concentrations. Large 
loosely spread flocks and many scattered individuals were seen concen¬ 
trated midway between Starbuck and Samoa in early April These may rep¬ 
resent breeding birds from the Tuamotu's or other islands to the southeast 
or possibly Christmas Island birds. It was not determined whether or not. 
these birds were correlated with an oceanographic feature. 
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