and by the fact that most of them inhabit the open beaches which they 
can reach without flying over the runways. 
There is a positive correlation between the height of 
obstructions and the amount of albatross soaring activity. Compare 
particularly the density of soaring birds over stations 5e and 5w 
at the east end of runway 6-24, where the terrain is level and clear, 
with the density at stations 3 and 4 at the west end of the same 
runway, where there are high ironwoods and revetments bordering 
the south side. 
This situation is strongly reflected in the frequency of 
aircraft strikes, which are five times as numerous along the west 
end of runway 6-24 as along the eastern end (see Albatross Problem 
in Aircraft Operations <-- Location of Strikes in Relation to Terrain 
and Wind Direction). 
All three sides of the central triangle area, zone 8, were 
formerly major soaring areas (see Kenyon et al. 1958) when the area 
was covered with dunes, revetments, brush, and trees. This area was 
cleared and leveled in the late summer of 1957. During the 1957-58 
season, albatross soaring was greatly reduced (see figs. 4 and 5, 
station 6). 
Table 10.-- Summary of counts of albatrosses soaring over 
the runways at index stations prior to the killing program (13 
November 1957 to 31 January 1958). Total for both species combined, 
and (in parentheses) totals for Laysans and black-foots, respectively. 
Average number Number Average number 
Station of birds per hour of of birds per hour Number of 
_more favorable winds counts less favorable winds counts 
1 1,153 (1,047+106) 10 544 (520+24) 13 
2 345 ( 329+16 ) 11 275 = (261+14) 18 
3 1,451 (1,160+291) 18 693 (619474) 11 
4 1,322 (1,236+86 ) 18 232 (226+ 6) 11 
5e 37 - (3443) 29 No distinction 
ow _ 716 (68+8) 29 ap e 
6 424 (395429) 29 '" " 
