through causes other than war. No effort should be spared to save these vanishing species.
White tern (Gygis alba rothschildi Hartert), from a photograph by Donald R. Dickey, Tanager Expedition, 1923.
Photo by courtesy of the Bishop Museum.
1. Black-footed Albatross
2. Laysan Albatross
3. I.aysan Albatross, Chick partly fledged
1. Pacific Golden Plover
2. Black-crowned Night Heron
3. Ruddy Turnstone
4. Sanderling
5. Australian Gallinule
ORDER PROCELLARIIFORMES
| DIOMEDEIDAE | Albatross Family |
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS
| Diomedea nigripes Audubon | Plate 1, Fig. 1 |
Other names: Black Albatross; Brown Gooney; Gooney.
This bird, well-known on Midway and familiar to travelers from its habit of following vessels between the Northwest Mainland and Honolulu (it is the only sea bird in waters surrounding Hawaii to do so), is dark sooty brown above, lighter below; forehead generally dirty white, on some extending to the top of the head; the upper and lower tail-coverts of some are more or less white; the bill is dark brown; legs and feet black. Its length is about 33 inches with a wing spread of a little over 7 feet. There is little difference between the sexes or the immature and the old. Albinism has been noted and some observers think they have seen hybrids between this species and the Laysan albatross.
These birds come to breed on low sand islands of the Hawaiian Chain after ranging the North Pacific as far as. the Bering Sea. Individuals leg-banded on the Midway Islands, have been retaken off the coasts of Alaska, Oregon and Japan. They begin to arrive at the breeding grounds in the middle of October. They form colonies, generally on the strip of open sand above high water mark. They mate and build conical nests of sand amid a terrible din of various hoarse cries. One egg is laid on the mound of sand, Hadden states that it is the same as that of the Laysan albatross. They have a dance which is considered by observers to be faster and more graceful than that of the Laysan albatross which is famous and more widely known. The old birds leave before the middle of June and the young ones follow by the first of August, We took two male adults on July 18 which might.indicate that some old birds return to guide the young to their ocean range.
We of the Rothschild expedition had an exceptional opportunity to study this bird at sea, as individuals accompanied us most of the way to Midway and back to north of the 38th degree of Latitude about 400 miles from Honolulu. Our 45 ton schooner was low in the water and the birds came fearlessly up to the stern to tear lumps from the salt salmon or turtle flesh that the Captain kept hanging at the water's edge to attract sharks. We noted their remarkable power of flight in favorable wind, their preference for the water in calms, the querulous squeaking of the young birds when feeding, young birds trying to dive and old birds succeeding in going down several feet when the meat sank. Ashore we found only oil, cuttle fish bills and small stones in the stomachs of young birds. A fish about a foot long taken from the throat of an old bird, when offered to a large chick was eagerly swallowed.
LAYSAN ALBATROSS
| Diomedea immutabilis Rothschild | Plate 1, Figs. 2 & 3 |
Other names: White Albatross; White Gooney; Gooney.
This beautiful bird is almost pure white with a black patch in front of the eye; upper surface of wings blackish brown; tail black; bill gray; legs and feet fleshy pink Total length 32 inches. The sexes and young birds are similar in color. When nearly full fledged the young carry a tuff of down around the neck, giving them a peculiar appearance. The chick is covered with dark gray down. Two albinos on Lisiansky Island were striking birds. They were white with delicate pearl gray wings and tail. One was reported on Laysan as all pure white. It ranges the North Pacific to about 40 degrees of latitude. A young one banded on Midway was recaptured 300 miles off the coast of Japan. It breeds on most small islands of the Hawaiian Chain and sometimes on larger Niihau of the main group.
Large numbers were killed by plume hunters on Laysan and other islands in 1909. On Laysan numbers were killed by striking buildings and probably by being entrapped in a concrete cistern left by guano workers. When returning to a flat island where previously they had experienced no surface obstacles they come straight in ignoring any new obstructions. This trait makes buildings and trees fatal to them, and makes them in turn a distinct danger in the vicinity of airfields. Yet in 1911 after Laysan had been greatly devastated by plume hunters Professor Homer Dill estimated there were 180,000 on the island at that time. Mr. Fred Hadden estimated in 1940 that there were 20,000 on Sand Island of Midway. When we were there in 1891 there was not one bird of this species or the brown gooney on that island, while both species swarmed on other islands; all had been eaten by shipwrecked mariners. Many will be killed by the building of island landing fields in this war but if Laysan is properly protected the species will increase again.
Gliding and swinging on the wing it is a beautiful bird. Sitting on the water it rides high. On land standing straight on its feet with head erect, it has a regal carriage. The white of head,neck and breast shows prominently. The black mark in front of the eye, brown wings and black tail give contrasts. But when it 'walks it waddles with a swaying motion. To rise on the wing it walks against the wind with waving wings, then runs till it gets the wind under its wings, flaps a little on rising then sails off with wings outstretched and motionless.
Laysan albatross (Diomedia immutabilis). Typical nesting place on "Portulacca Flats" by the lagoon on Laysan Island. Raised rim of island in background.
Photo by courtesy of the Bishop Museum.
Laysan albatross. One black-footed albatross in middle. Lone Prichardia palm, probably the last tree of the ancient forest.
Photo by courtesy of the Bishop Museum.
Its food is principally squids and probably fish. It seldom follows ships. A young one came to our schooner with some of the brown species but did not stay long.
In the mating season the massed birds make a variety of noises. When engaged in their famous dance they clap their bills with lightning rapidity, whistle and groan loudly. The males fight and keep up an incessant screaming when so engaged. The dance is an entertaining spectacle.
They arrive to breed at islands of the Hawaiian Chain in November, about two weeks after the black-footed species. They mate and build their nests close together, gathering anything available that is within reach as they stand on the nest site. With the mud of the guano fields they build a substantial nest standing about a foot high with a hollow top. One egg is laid averaging 3½x3 inches and weighing about 8½
