Table 11.--Summary of counts of albatrosses soaring over the 
runways at index stations after the killing program (3 March 1958 to 
2 May 1958). Total for both species combined, and (in parentheses) 
totals for Laysans and black=-foots, respectively. 
Average number Number Average number Number 
Station of birds per hour of of birds per hour of 
more favorable winds counts less favorable winds counts 
1 2,231 (2,157+74) 8 1,267 (1,241+26) 20 
2 170 (¢ 164+6 ) 8 157. ¢)s«:15245 ) ~~ «20 
3 1,231 (1,1294+102) 13 753, ( + =660+93) 15 
4 1,023 (1, 004+19) | 13 696 ( 680+16) 15 
5e 11 (942) . 28 No distinction 
5w 35 (32+3) 28 7 " 
6 150 (138+12) 28 " " 
a 
Albatross soaring in relation to wind direction.--It is 
again obvious to the casual observer, and confirmed by runway counts, 
that albatross soaring is most concentrated on the windward side of 
high obstructions. If an observer stands at the south end of runway 
15-33 and looks to the west on a day with northerly winds, he will see 
a great concentration of birds soaring along the south side of runway 
6-24; on a day with southerly winds, he will notice that the major 
soaring activity has switched to the area along the south beach, and 
that very few birds are soaring along the runway. 
The runway counts (Figs. 4 and 5, tables 10 and 11) have 
been segregated according to wind direction. "More favorable winds" 
include counts made when the wind was blowing from such a quarter as 
to cross the runway and blow against the dunes, trees, and revetments, 
at the particular counting station. "Less favorable winds" are those 
blowing over the obstructions onto the runways. In every case a 
significantly higher density of soaring birds was recorded under the 
"more favorable" wind directions. (Stations 5e, 5w and 6 are in level 
areas, and thus cannot be so segregated.) 
This effect:‘of wind direction is also reflected in the 
frequency of airéraft’strikes, which are twice as numerous under "more 
favorable" wind directions as they are during periods when the wind 
direction is "less favorable" (see Albatross Problem in Aircraft 
Operations -- Location of Strikes in Relation to Terrain and Wind 
Direction). 
38 
