Bungo Nishizawa (Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan) and colleagues write in the journal Marine Biology on the at-sea distributions of Black-footed Phoebastria nigripes and Laysan P. immutabilis Albatrosses deduced from ship-based surveys in the North Pacific Transition Zone during the non-breeding season.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“The North Pacific Transition Zone (NPTZ) is one of the most productive offshore regions.  To identify important habitats for pelagic top predators within this region, we investigated the at-sea distributions of black-footed (Phoebastria nigripes) and Laysan albatrosses (P. immutabilis) by vessel-based surveys during their non-breeding season (July and October in 2010 and September and October in 2011).  We developed statistical models using satellite-based oceanographic data at spatial scales of 4, 20 and 80 km to explain their densities.  For both species, sea surface temperatures (SST) and distance to the Emperor Seamounts emerged as important factors in the better-fitting models at all spatial scales.  In addition, black-footed albatrosses were widely distributed in the NPTZ (SST17.7–27.4 °C), whereas Laysan albatrosses favoured northern and colder waters (13.6–25.4 °C).  Our results also indicated that the Emperor Seamounts, where trawling and longline fishing occur, were an important habitat for both species in the NPTZ.  Therefore, careful attention should be paid to interactions between fisheries and albatross species in this region”

Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses, photograph by the Kure Atoll Conservancy

Reference:

Nishizawa, B., Ochi, D., Minami, H., Yokawa, K., Saitoh, S.-I. & Watanuki, Y. 2015.  Habitats of two albatross species during the non-breeding season in the North Pacific Transition Zone.  Marine Biology 162: 743-752.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 22 March 2015

Jean-Baptiste Thiebot (Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé, Villiers-en-bois, France) and colleagues have written in the journal Polar Biology on the curious case of recapturing an albatross at its Amsterdam Island breeding site with a message added to its leg by a longliner at sea.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Commercial fisheries currently pose a serious threat at sea to the conservation of a number of pelagic seabirds.  However, these interactions are complex, and reports on population-specific bycatch in the high seas are scarce.  Here we report the case of an Indian yellow-nosed albatross Thalassarche carteri re-sighted on Amsterdam Island after an apparent capture by an Indonesian long-liner, as indicated by a message attached to the bird.  This record demonstrates that Amsterdam birds may interact with long-liners indeed, at least during winter, and that such interactions are not systematically lethal.  We suggest that bycatch sub-lethal effects should be investigated at colonies with high risks of individual capture at sea.”

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, photograph by Peter Ryan

Reference:

Thiebot, J.-B., Demy, J., Marteau, C. & Weimerskirch, H. 2015.  The rime of the modern mariner: evidence for capture of yellow-nosed albatross from Amsterdam Island in Indian Ocean longline fisheries.  Polar Biology DOI 10.1007/s00300-015-1680-5.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 21 March 2015

Welcome news from the Chatham Island Taiko Trust is that this season’s cohort of translocated Vulnerable Chatham Albatross Thalassarche eremita chicks have survived Cyclone Pam.

In the first year of the project 50 chicks from the Pyramid breeding colony all fledged successfully after being artificially fed at the translocation site at Point Gap, on the south-west coast of Main Chatham (click here).

In the current breeding season 40 chicks were transferred to Point Gap (click here).

The 2015 cohort gets settled into their artificial nests and are hand-fed squid

Photographs courtesy of the Chatham Island Taiko Trust

The cyclone has given the Chatham Islands “a hammering” with damage reported across the island but the albatross chicks are “holding out alright” and made it made it through the night of the storm of 15/16 March.  The storm brought winds up to 140 km/h to the islands prompting the declaration of a civil defence emergency.  Downed trees cut power, although no major damage was reported.

Follow news of the chicks on the Trust's Facebook Page.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 20 February 2015

An adult Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis blind in its left eye has been seen in the north-east of Kauai, one of the USA’s Hawaiian Islands, for the last two breeding seasons.  The bird has been observed courting on a private property but had not as yet commenced breeding (click here).

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One eye good enough? The courting bird on the right is half blind, photographs by Hob Osterlund

It has now returned to the island for the third year in a row.  The bird was seen to be engaging in brief courtship activities and calling to birds flying by.  It will be interesting to see if it is successful in attracting a partner this time.  It is thought that the blindness, and a minor cossed bill, could have been caused by avian pox contracted from mosquitoes when the albatross was a young chick – which would mean it had survived for several years with only one good eye before becoming a prospecting adult.

With thanks to Hob Osterlund for information and the photographs.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 19 March 2015