
married officers’ quarters in May and June. These showed a similar. 
fluctuation in abundance throughout the day to those found in November. 
Seasonal Fluctuations 
It was our general observation that the total number of 
birds on shore varied considerably over a period of time. In order to 
evaluate this variation in abundance, counts were made frequently 
throughout the day on many days in May and June, in areas near the 
bachelor officers’ quarters and married officers’ quarters. Because 
a noon count is the most convenient to make and falls near the usual 
daily peak of abundance, it was chosen as the one to illustrate day to 
day fluctuations in abundance. Observations shown in Figure 10 in- 
dicate that abundance of Laysan albatrosses on shore on both Sand and 
kastern Islands show marked periodic variation throughout the season. 
The gradual seasonal decline as the nesting season approaches its 
close is reflected also, Exactly what influences the marked periodic 
fluctuation in abundance we do not yet know. However, on hot, humid 
days it seemed to be a general rwle that fewer birds were ashore. 
Albatross Mortality 
Sand iIsland.--~Because of the operation of aircraft. and large 
amount of construction work on Sand Island, albatross mortality there 
is much higher than on Eastern Island. It is the duty of the sanitary 
crew to pick up and burn the bodies of birds killed on Sand Island 
(except on the runways where this duty is performed by the Station 
Fire Department). Because of the large numbers of birds killed, only 
those found on roads or in the vicinity of living quarters are collected. 
At our request seamen detailed to this work kept records of gooney birds 
picked up. Their records which include both black-footed and Laysan 
albatrosses as "gooneys" are shown in Table 3. 
Table 3. Albatross Fatalities 
Month General Pick-u Runway Pick-u otal 
November 1956 1011 : 63 1074 
December 1956 349 no record 349 
January 1957 523 75 | 598 
February 1957 ALO 75 515 
March 1957 Lg 60 507 
April 1957 523 80 603 
May 1957 4272 Ady 521 
Total 3770 397 167 

Because of the intense program of construction now in progress 
on Sand Island, trucks are constantly in operation. Although most 
drivers will stop for, or avoid, a bird that is crossing the road, it 
is inevitable that many are killed. Birds are killed when areas for 
taxiways and water catchment are cleared, or when clearing land for 
the construction of buildings. Under these conditions the mortality 
18 
