Albatrosses in the Western Tasman Sea

Abstract

Observations of albatrosses were made with recording of surface sea-water temperatures from a fishing trawler for a total of 2,822 daylight hours from 1 September 1976 to 31 March 1978. Eight species were observed. Wandering, Black-browed, Shy and Yellow-nosed Albatrosses were common and regular; their occurrence is quantified as average sightings per hour per month. Two forms of the Royal Albatross, the race impavida of the Black-browed, Buller's and Grey-headed Albatrosses were less regular but were seen more often than expected from the literature. One Sooty Albatross was recorded.