I just returned from a research trip on a longliner off Kodiak Island. The
objective of the trip was to tag halibut but lucky for me it makes for a great
birding platform.
I was wondering if anyone knew the current status of the Short-tailed
Albatross? In a month of work we encountered 2 different
birds (1 adult and 1 subadult). The immature bird followed our boat for about
a week and the adult appeared by itself the following week. Both birds were
in amongst a huge flock of Black-footed Albatross. Good thing we were fishing
on Albatross Gully. It seems I was awfully lucky or their status has improved.
Should I be out buying lottery tickets?

Tracee Geernaert, Seattle,WA
tracee at kaf.iphc.washington.edu