oikonos

Exploring Albatross Movements
Adopt-an-Albatross

Black-footed Albatross photographed on a pelagic cruise at Cordell Bank. Lightweight, 54 gram, satellite tag attached to feathers on back. Tag will fall off when the bird replaces feathers (molts) or waterproof tape wears.
© Mike Danzenbaker 2004, www.avesphoto.com

Follow the Ocean Wanderers

Protecting Albatross by tracking their oceanic movements and overlap with potential risks at sea

Donations Needed for the 2008 Season

Follow birds from Kure Atoll and Cordell Bank

What? Learn about Black-footed Albatross and help protect the population

Why? Satellite tracking provides important information about their at-sea explorations and risk of overlap with longline fisheries and known concentrations of marine debris. see details below

How?

Become a Supporter by donating at any level

or

Become a full Sponsor, as an individual or group, by donating $ 2,500.

This is the cost of one tag and 3 months of location data from the satellites.
Please consider Sponsoring in the name of a school classroom or community group.

Donations are tax deductible

Special benefits described below:

Sponsor Benefits

Name your Albatross !

Follow your bird in real-time via online maps !

Framed photo of your Albatross!

Color Map sent to you of the completed journey!

Learn more about becoming a Supporter or Sponsor, please contact project ecologist Michelle Hester

michelle@oikonos.org

(415) 868-1399

As an option, Donations can be made securely online:

Your donation is very needed and appreciated!

How can Satellite Tracking Help Albatross?

Across the North Pacific, bycatch in longline fisheries and ingestion of marine debris impact the Black-footed Albatross. The birds are attracted to the squid used as bait and the discards thrown into the sea. When attempting to feed on the bait, they can get hooked, causing entanglement and drowning. Based on predicted population declines ascribed to longline fisheries bycatch, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature recently raised the species status to "endangered".

Effective measures which can virtually eliminate albatross deaths in longline fisheries are being applied in the Alaska and Hawaii fisheries. However, little is known about the at-sea movements of these far-ranging birds in the Northeast Pacific, where they can meet with other fisheries. With satellite tracking, we can follow individuals and learn where they spend time and overlap with specific fisheries. With this information, we can work with fisheries managers to reduce bycatch mortality.