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- 2 - 
bird populations and numbers occur from area to area; however, with 
the single exception of the concentration of fulmars mentioned 
previously, distribution of birds was fairly even within grid. 
Eastern Trid Species Accounts 
black-footed Albatross 66+3 nocturnal 
( Diomedea nigripes ) 
This Hawaiian Island breeder was present in all three sections of 
the grid, although the density was Significantly lower in the northern 
third than in the southern two-thirds. Two banded birds (Nos. 777-26257 
and 767-U2U23) were collected on January 21, and two more with bands 
were seen the following day* Gonad size and conditions on those 
collected indicated that both birds were sub-adults, which would be 
expected as breeders are presently nesting. 
The Black-foot almost always follows ships for undetermined lengths 
of time. An effort was >ade to l*:arn how long they follow; evidence 
suggests that the period is variable. Some birds apparently follow 
only a few minutes, while others may follow all day and possibly through 
the night. During nocturnal watches it was established that Slack-foots 
were following the ship, but no individuals could be identified. 
Laysan Albatross 12 
(Diomedea immutabiiis ) 
Like the Black-foot, this species breeds in the Hawaiian Islands. 
Those oirds present in the eastern Pacific are probably also sub-adults, 
although none were collected to verify this. The Laysan was not prone 
to following ships. However, some individuals followed for several 
hours, meandering considerable distances from the ship and then 
returning. 
Density within the grid was highest in the northern two-thirds; 
while individuals were rarely seen in tne southern portion. 
r, \ilmar 139 
( Pulmaris glacialis ) 
This was the most abundant procellariform in the grid. Dark- 
phase birds out numbered other phases (light and intermediate) by 
5:1, suggesting that these birds are from the more southern of the 
north Pacific populations, i.e. the Aleutians as opposed to the 
Bering Sea populations. 
Highest density occurred in the northern portions of the grid 
and dropped to only one sighting iri the southern portion. Figures 
in Table 2 are somewnat misleading as most of those recorded for both 
the northern and central portions were in an apparently favored 
feeding area on the eastern end of the legs conn cted by points D and 
F, (see map 2). Throughout the remainder of the grid, sightings were 
relatively sparse. Occasionally a fulmar was nored to iollow the ship 
for five or ten minutes. One dark-phase bird was collected. 
