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title: "Annual census shows Laysan Albatross numbers are up on Kure Atoll"
---

# Annual census shows Laysan Albatross numbers are up on Kure Atoll

The results are in for the annual census of Laysan *Phoebastria immutabilis* and Black-footed *P. nigripes* Albatrosses on [Kure Atoll](http://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/1801-acap-breeding-site-no-73-kure-world-s-most-northerly-coral-atoll-supports-black-footed-and-laysan-albatrosses?highlight=WyJrdXJlIiwia3VyZSdzIiwiYXRvbGwiLCJhdG9sbCdzIiwibm8iLCInbm8iLCJrdXJlIGF0b2xsIl0=) in the North-Western Hawaiian islands.

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/laysan_albatross_colony.jpg)

 A mixed colony of Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses

 “We had an increase of about 11 000 Laysan Albatrosses and a few more Black-footed Albatrosses from last year. This year, we counted a total of 35 360 mōlī [Laysans] and 3381 *kaʻupu* [Black-foots].”

 It is assumed the count was of incubating birds since nest contents were checked: “As I went to confirm whether or not an albatross was sitting on an egg, I found one sitting on a light bulb, another on a golf ball, and a few sitting on two eggs.”

 The census took a team of five working for the non-profit foundation [Kure Atoll Conservancy](http://kureatollconservancy.org/) six days to complete.

 Read more [here](https://www.facebook.com/138668706143905/photos/a.147833038560805.27418.138668706143905/1391775084166588/?type=3) for the 2016 count and [here](http://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1231-counting-27-800-albatross-nests-on-kure-atoll?highlight=WyJrdXJlIiwia3VyZSdzIiwiYXRvbGwiLCJhdG9sbCdzIiwibm8iLCInbm8iLCJrdXJlIGF0b2xsIl0=) for the 2013 count.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 03 January 2017*