
Albatross strikes by aircraft during the period from November 
20, 1956 to May 31, 1957 (Figure 13) may be summarized as follows: 
Number Percent, 
Total landings plus total takeoffs 1638 - 100.0 
Calculated number of bird strikes 99 siagli s\ ail 
Strikes causing damage fi 0.4 
Planes lost none | 
Human lives lost none 
Sources of Albatrosses Over the Runways 
The Problem 
The size and location of the segment of the total albatross 
population involved in collisions with aircraft will determine the 
type of control employed. Therefore, it was necessary to determine to 
what extent various segments of the nesting and non-nesting populations 
of albatrosses appeared in the air over the runways. 
Method 
Population estimates of nesting and unemployed albatrosses 
were made on both Sand and EBastern Islands. The estimates on Sand 
Island were broken down by areas (Figure 14) as follows: A strip. 100 
feet wide along both sides of the operational runways (symbol B); 
strips adjacent to the "B" strips and extending out to 750 feet from 
the centerline of the runways (symbol V); the residential area (symbol 
Y)3; and an intermediate area (symbol G). 
About 4 or 5 percent of the breeding population in each of 
the subdivisions of Sand Island was dyed during the period December 6- 
26 with a bright DuPont aniline dye on the breast. One-eighth of one 
percent of the breeding population of Eastern Island was dyed in the 
same manner. The following dyes were used: Rhodamine B Extra Red; 
Malachite Green; Brilliant Milling Blue; Milling Yellow; and Violet 
(made by mixing red and green). The dye was dissolved in ethanol 
(specially denatured Ethyl Alcohol Formula 3A, furnished by the Navy). 
It was first applied to the birds! breasts with a paint brush, while 
the birds were being held. Later it was found that the incubating 
birds could be sprayed directly on the breast with 3-gallon decontam- 
ination sprayers. This method was much faster. The red dye hed 
excellent lasting qualities when a strong solution was applied in 
quentity. The green dye faded in one to three months. The yellow 
and blue dyes faded very rapidly. 
The exact areas in which dyeing was done and the number of 
birds in each sample are shown in Figure 14, together with the color 
designation symbols: B = blue, V = violet, G = green, Y = yellow, and 
R= red. The inset map in the top left corner shows the relationship 
between Sand Island and Eastern Island. | 
26 
