Some chit chat re the longevity subject. Today I received a couple of
recovery reports from the Bird Banding Lab of Black-footed Albatross I
had banded a year or two ago. An adult banded on Midway Island,
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands on 8 Feb. l964 was captured and released
on Southeast Island, Pearl and Hermes Reef of the Hawaiian Islands
National Wildlife Refuge, NW Hawaiian Islands on l8 Feb. l998. Since the
average age that this bird returns to land after it has fledged is 5
years, this bird was at least 39 years old. Another which I banded as a
nestling on Southeast Island 22 March l967 was recaptured and released
on l5 Feb. l998 on the same island about 3l years later. Bands on both
were replaced. E. Kridler, Sequim