Ocean
Watch
Monday, January 13, 1997
There’s hope albatrosses
might make a comeback
Every now and then, we nature lovers get discouraged
about the state of the world's wildlife.
Too many uncaring people, not enough money, more and
more species getting listed as endangered . . .
I was feeling like that last week, brooding in
particular over the fact that so many of our black-footed albatrosses are
getting killed by long-line fishing hooks that the species may soon be
listed.
Then I got a message from Gail Kaaialii, coordinator of
the Laysan albatross project at Kaohikaipu Island off Sea Life Park.
Gail had good news: An albatross had settled down on
the island for three entire days.
My mood suddenly soared.
If this low-budget program staffed mostly by volunteers
is starting to work, there's hope for the future.
The Laysan albatross project began three years ago as a
joint effort among federal, state and private agencies to entice
pioneering albatrosses to breed in safe territory.
Uninhabited and predator-free Kaohikaipu Island is such
a place.
To lure the sea birds there, workers made and put out
decoys that look like Laysan adults and chicks.
Compact discs also continuously play albatross mating
songs.
The theory is that passing pioneers will see and hear
other members of their species and rightfully think the island a good
place to set up housekeeping.
Once a few real birds nest there, the colony will grow
on its own since most albatrosses nest in the place of their birth.
To monitor its effectiveness, volunteers watch the
island from Sea Life Park and record activity.
The past two years have been encouraging but not great.
Some birds have stopped to check the place out, then
left soon after.
This latest bird seems to be more serious. It was even
dancing with one of the decoys.
But one bird doesn't make a colony.
"We're so close, and yet so far," Gail told
me. "The bird on the ground still has to attract another flying
by."
There's a good chance that will happen.
Over the last decade or so, Laysan albatross numbers
have been increasing throughout the North Pacific, making colonies in
Hawaii's northwest chain more and more crowded.
Pioneer birds are thus venturing to Oahu.
The problem is that the birds are trying to nest in
places dangerous to both themselves and humans.
One such area is the Kaneohe Marine base runways of
Mokapu Peninsula. Another is Kaena Point Nature Park where mongooses,
cats, dogs and people routinely kill hatchlings in their ground nests.
The Kaohikaipu project is a good effort to help
wildlife return to Oahu.
Now if long-line fishermen will voluntarily use
anti-sea bird fishing techniques, we may see some black-footed albatrosses
here. too.
If you love to birdwatch, you can help with this
project by calling Gail Kaaialii at 528-4241.
