Exploring Albatross Movements

Black-footed Albatross resting at sea in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, approximtely 45 km northwest of San Francisco. The antenna visible in this photo indicates the position of the transmitter,which was attached to the back feathers with tape. © Sophie Webb 2007

What's New

Follow the 2012 Black-footed Albatross tracking on Kure Atoll Conservancy's Facebook

Project Description - The Albatross Collaborative

Oikonos is collaborating with Hawai'i Pacific University, U.S. Geological Survey, Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, State of Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Papahanaumokukea Marine National Monument, to improve our understanding of albatross ecology toward effective conservation and stewardship of highly migratory species.

The project addresses three priorities:

1. Enhance the understanding of Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) foraging and movement patterns, and overlap with longline fisheries and concentrations of marine debris across the North Pacific

2. Participate in working groups to design and implement conservation strategies for Black-footed Albatross

3. Encourage stewardship of ocean ecosystems through the participation of students in albatross tracking and pollution studies

Image: Soaring Black-footed Albatross carrying a satellite tag © Mike Danzenbaker 2004
Map: Red dots mark locations of one tagged albatross traveling from Cordell Bank off San Francisco, California, to the western Pacific Ocean from July 26 to August 19, 2004.

Rationale

Because Black-footed Albatross range across management zones and jurisdictions, they are susceptible to broadly-distributed threats in national waters and the high-seas. Thus, international collaboration is critical.

The U.S. National Plan of Action for Reducing the Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries (NPOA-S), developed to address seabird bycatch under the auspices of the United Nations, states that NMFS and USFWS work together to reduce seabird mortalities. While effective bycatch mitigation methods have been implemented in some U.S. longline fisheries (Alaska, Hawaii, California), these efforts only cover part of the year-round marine range of albatross.

Information on the distributions and movements of other protected species has been used to delineate high-risk times and areas where mitigation measures are necessary (Polovina et al. 2000, Melvin et al. 2006). Satellite tracking provides an ideal large-scale perspective to assess how far-ranging albatross overlap with threats and management jurisdictions.

More Albatross Resources

Winged Ambassadors - Free Materials for Classroom Activities

Just a trip to the store..on wide wide wings - Wildlife Conservation

Live Maps of Albatross Journeys - Race for a Clean Ocean

Interactive Art - Take a Pelagic Trip off California

Middle School math and science program uses Albatross Tracking Data
Online Maps and Resources - Animals in Curriculum-based Ecosystem Studies

Natural History and Conservation

David Hyrenbach, Hawai'i Pacific University
Michelle Hester, Carol Keiper, and Pam Michael, Oikonos
Josh Adams, U.S.G.S., Western Ecological Division

NOAA National Marine Sanctuary, Cordell Bank
State of Hawai'i, Kure Atoll, Department of Land and Natural Resources
Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument
U.S. Satellite - ACES Project
Hawai'i Pacific University
U.S.G.S. Western Ecological Research Center
Bonnell Cove Foundation
National Geographic Research & Exploration Grant (2007 & 2008)
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (2004 & 2005)

Dan Howard, Jenny Stock, and Rowena Forest from Cordell Bank NMS
Peter Pyle and Rob Suryan, Advisors
Michael Coyne from Seaturtle.org
Glen Schuster from Signals of Spring
Bolinas Market Butchers
Moss Landing Marine Labs - Open House squid and field gear
Will's Bait Shop in Bodega
Else Jensen and Larry Switzer
Diana, Igby, Milo, and John