(2) Extensive ground counts were obtained by enumerating 
Laysan and black-footed albatross nests directly. (Figures 1, 2, and 
3). Each setting Laysan albatross was marked with a spot of red dye 
on its white breast. For this purpose a bottle having a hole in its 
cap and a cotton wick was attached to a 3-foot stick, so that as the 
breast feathers were touched a spot about an inch in diameter was left, 
An 8-ounce bottle held enough to mark 1000 to 1500 birds. Where nest- 
ing populations are concentrated in limited areas marking of individual 
birds was necessary to avoid confusion and recounting. Deserted eggs 
also were counted. Each nesting pair was recorded on a Veeder-Root 
hand tally. Black-footed albatross nests were marked by making a 
scratch mark in the sand at the edge of the nests. Dye was not dis- 
cernable on their dark feathers. 
(3) Aerial photographs of all of the islands were taken by a 
Navy photographer with a handheld F-56 Fairchild aerial camera, making 
7 x 7 inch negatives, from the side hatch of one of the sea-air rescue 
planes based at Midway Naval Station. All photographs were oblique. 
An attempt was made to obtain over-lapping exposures. The plane flew 
at 200 to 500 feet during photographic runs and at 120 to 130 Iknots 
ground speed. 
Each series of photographs was sorted and overlapping areas 
marked with ink lines. Using a magnifying glass each albatross was 
marked with the point of a pin as it was counted. On areas where 
counts were not possible because of lack of clarity and overlap, 
estimates were made by comparing the observed general density of birds 
on an area basis with areas where quite reliable counts were possible. 
Results 
Based on the best information available the numbers of 
albatrosses on each surveyed island have been estimated and appear in 
Table 1. It is probable that these estimates tend to be low since it 
is almost certain many non-breeding birds, mostly subadults, remain at 
sea and thus were not counted in our observations. Also a few other 
breeding colonies of relatively small size are known to exist. Based 
on the studies of 1956-1957 we believe it is safe to say that the total 
individuals of the two species of albatrosses under study living today 
in the North Pacific Ocean is about 800,000 and not more than 1,000,000. 
Table l. Summary of North Pacific Albatross Populations 
Black-footed Laysan Total 
Albatross Albatross both species 
Area 
Kure (Green Island) 160 700 | 860 
Sand Island (Midway Atoll) 10,300 131,000 141,300 
Eastern " i" " 5,700 105,000 110,700 
Pearl and Hermes Reef 17,000 42,000 59,000 
Lisianski Island 6,500 68,000 74-4500 
Laysan Island 75,000 300,000 375 000 
French Frigate Shoal 2 000 1,900 3,000 
Totals of estimates 116 ,663 647,000 . 763,660 
