--- title: "Featuring ACAP-listed species and their photographers: the Short-tailed Albatross by Naoki Tomita" --- # Featuring ACAP-listed species and their photographers: the Short-tailed Albatross by Naoki Tomita  ![10 Naoki Tomita S](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/S/Short_tailed/10_Naoki_Tomita_S.jpg)*Age-related variation in the plumage of Short-tailed Albatrosses* **NOTE:** * *This post continues an occasional series that features photographs of the 31 ACAP-listed species, along with information from and about their photographers.  Here, [Naoki Tomita](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/3608-torishima-volcanic-home-of-the-short-tailed-albatross-marks-world-albatross-day-with-a-banner?highlight=WyJuYW9raSJd) illustrates the [Vulnerable](http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/short-tailed-albatross-phoebastria-albatrus) Short-tailed Albatrosses *Phoebastria albatrus* that he studies on [Torishima](https://www.acap.aq/news/latest-news/1679-acap-breeding-site-no-65-torishima-where-short-tailed-albatrosses-have-survived-both-feather-collectors-and-an-active-volcano?highlight=WyJ0b3Jpc2hpbWEiLCJ0b3Jpc2hpbWEncyIsIm5vIiwiJ25vIl0=), the species’ main breeding locality.  Naoki is a Researcher in the Division of Avian Conservation at the [Yamashina Institute for Ornithology](http://www.yamashina.or.jp/hp/english/index.html) in Japan. *![Naoki Tomitsa on Torishims by Masayoshi Kamioki](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/S/Short_tailed/Naoki_Tomitsa_on_Torishims_by_Masayoshi_Kamioki.jpg) Naoki Tomitsa on Torishima; photograph by Masayoshi Kamioki* ![1 Naoki Tomita S](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/S/Short_tailed/1_Naoki_Tomita_S.jpg)*Torishima, home of the Short-tailed Albatross* *![4 Naoki Tomita S](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/S/Short_tailed/4_Naoki_Tomita_S.jpg) Landing and unloading on Torishima; photograph by Masayoshi Kamioki* *![5 Naoki Tomita S](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/S/Short_tailed/5_Naoki_Tomita_S.jpg) On the island we stay in a weather station that was used until 1965 and is being repaired* *![2 Naoki Tomita S](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/S/Short_tailed/2_Naoki_Tomita_S.jpg) The crater of Mount Iwo-yama, an active volcano on Torishima.  There were pyroclastic flow eruptions in 1902 and 1939, and a recent small eruption in 2002* **![15 by Miwa Konno S](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/S/Short_tailed/15_by_Miwa_Konno_S.jpg)* The Short-tailed Albatross was recently described as a species complex comprising two genetically and morphologically distinct populations (Torishima and Senkaku types), with assortative but incomplete mating between birds of both types on Torishima. (from left to right: a female and a male of the Torishima type, two females of the Senkaku type).  The Torishima type is larger in overall size than the Senkaku type.  Read more*[*here*](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/3884-are-short-tailed-albatrosses-two-cryptic-species-new-evidence?highlight=WyJlZGEiXQ==)*; photograph by Miwa Konno* **![6 Naoki Tomita S](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/S/Short_tailed/6_Naoki_Tomita_S.jpg)* The Tsubamezaki Colony in the distance where Short-tailed Albatrosses were rediscovered breeding in 1951.  It is necessary to descend the cliff using a rope* **![7 Naoki Tomita S](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/S/Short_tailed/7_Naoki_Tomita_S.jpg)* The Tsubamezaki Colony.  Because of the steep slope, eggs and chicks can roll out of the nest; in addition, heavy rains cause scoria to flow down from the cliff* *![13 Naoki Tomita S](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/S/Short_tailed/13_Naoki_Tomita_S.jpg) Young Short-tailed Albatrosses gather at sea near Torishima* *![11 Naoki Tomita S](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/S/Short_tailed/11_Naoki_Tomita_S.jpg) Two Short-tailed Albatrosses engage in a courtship display* *![ ](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/S/Short_tailed/16_Naoki_Tomita_S.jpg) Researchers (Naoki Tomita second left) with their*[*World Albatross Day 2020 banner*](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/3608-torishima-volcanic-home-of-the-short-tailed-albatross-marks-world-albatross-day-with-a-banner?highlight=WyJ0b21pdGEiLCJ0b21pdGEncyIsImJhbm5lciIsIidiYW5uZXIiLCJiYW5uZXInIiwiYmFubmVyJ3MiLCInYmFubmVyJyIsImJhbm5lcicuIl0=)*.  The Hatsunezaki Colony shown here was artificially established in 1995 by attracting birds using decoys and audio devices; photograph by Miwa Konno* Photographs by Naoki Tomita unless stated. **Selected Publications:** Eda, M., Yamasaki, T., Izumi, H., Tomita, N., Konno, S., Konno, M., Murakami, H. & Sato, F. 2020.  Cryptic species in a Vulnerable seabird: short-tailed albatross consists of two species.  [*Endangered Species Research .* 43: 375-386.](https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v43/p375-386/) Nishizawa, B., Thiebot, J.-B., Sato, F., Tomita, N., Yoda, K., Yamashita, R., Takada, H. & Watanuki, Y. 2021.  Mapping marine debris encountered by albatrosses tracked over oceanic waters.  [*Scientific Reports *doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90417-x.](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-90417-x) Senzaki, M., Terui, A., Tomita, N., Sato, F., Fukuda, Y., Kataoka, Y. & Watanuki, Y. 2019.  Long-term declines in common breeding seabirds in Japan.  [*Bird Conservation International:*30: 434-446.](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bird-conservation-international/article/longterm-declines-in-common-breeding-seabirds-in-japan/D444B5C65545F38949D63ED965F54477) Thiebot, J.-B., Nishizawa, B., Sato, F., Tomita, N. & Watanuki, Y. 2018.  Albatross chicks reveal interactions of adults with artisanal longline fisheries within a short range.  [*Journal of Ornithology*159: 935-944](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10336-018-1579-3).  (video of metal detector in use in supplementary material). Tsukamoto, S., Nishizawa, B., Sato, F. & Tomita, N. & Watanuki, Y.  2019.  Determination of on-water and feeding activities of Black-footed Albatrosses using acceleration and images.  [*Japanese Journal of Ornithology* 68: 29-41](https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jjo/68/1/68_29/_article/-char/en). *Naoki Tomita, Division of Avian Conservation, Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, Abiko, Chiba, Japan, 21 January 2022, updated 22 January 2022*