Hello Tweeters,

Thought everyone might be interested in the following.

Ted Kenefick
Seattle, WA
tedk at nwlink.com




Subject: RBA: SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS
From: Greg Gillson <guide at TELEPORT.COM>
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2000 20:47:07 -0700

One juvenile SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS viewed (44 22.21 N, 124 50.87 W) about
20 seconds as it flew up from behind the boat, and then flew off as it
reached the boat. Well seen by several people (Greg Gillson, Tim
Shelmerdine, Barbara Horn), poorly seen by many, not seen by those trampled
underfoot. It was identified and announced to the boat within 5 seconds of
the initial sighting, but it still wasn't enough time for most people up
front to see it. As it turned out, it was mostly the poor seasick people in
back who lifted their heads to view this amazing creature. A great
consolation prize.

This is off Perpetua Bank only 3.1 nautical miles from the October 1996 Shy
Albatross and within 5 miles of the December 1961 Short-tailed Albatross,
all about 30-32 miles west of Yachats, Oregon. Two weeks ago we set an
Oregon record with 456 Black-footed Albatrosses, most within 5 miles of this
location. Remember, we had 7 Laysan Albatrosses here in both February and
May. We have located a very small area of consistently very dense albatross
concentrations, probably due to permanent upwelling of the polar
undercurrent off the Heceta/Perpetua banks complex.

We also recorded 2 LAYSAN ALBATROSSES and about 40 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES,
so a 3 albatross day! Also 3 FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATERS, a bunch of
SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATERS, an amazingly close-to-shore (25 miles) and
cooperative LEACH'S STORM-PETREL. We also recorded 14 foot seas, but that
story will have to wait. I'm going to bed.

Greg Gillson
The Bird Guide, Inc.
Cornelius, Oregon
guide at teleport.com
http://www.teleport.com/~guide