Short-tailed Albatross on Sand Island Midway Atoll - 2010

This is a Short-tailed Albatross seen on Sand Island, Midway Atoll. The last successful breeding pair of STAL at Midway was in 1961 or 1962. Since 2000 there have been STAL decoys in place at Midway along with a sound system to attempt to attract STAL that may be passing through. In recent years there have been two individuals seen dancing together on Eastern Island (where decoys are located). It is hope in the next few years we might once again see a successful nest on Midway Atoll. The STAL population currently numbers about 2500 individuals and it is an endangered species. Most of the STAL in the world nest in Japan on a volcanic island called Torishima Island. The individual in this video is a sub-adult and eventually the dark feathers on the head will become gold. This bird is probably 8 to 10 years old.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• yt:quality=high
• short-tailed albatross
• seabirds
• Wayne Sentman
• Midway Atoll
• north pacific
• Phoebastria albatrus
• Hawaii
• decoy
• Stephen Kress
• Papahanaumokuakea
• conservation
• endangered species
• restoration
• fisheries

[kattysharry1]

this bird look like a dodo bird