Rio (57712)

Exploring Albatross Movements - 2005

A project of Albatross Conservation Collaborative.

click map for full-size version Rio is a female albatross with a white rump and extensive white feathers around the bill. These plumage characteristics suggest that this age class 2 bird is likely a breeder (> 4 years old). Rio was tagged at Cordell Bank at 9:48 on July 19, 2005. Rio's movements are mapped showing only high quality locations (Argos quality classes 1, 2, and 3). The small black dots indicate lower quality locations (0, A, B, Z).

Full-Size Map (45KB)
Zoom Map (72KB)

Species: Black-footed Albatross
Life Stage: class 3 plumage
Gender: Female
Release Date: 2005-07-19 09:48:00
Release Location: Cordell Bank
Last Location: 2005-09-05 12:28:07

Background

The "Exploring Albatross Movements" program seeks to assess the conservation status of the Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), during the post-breeding dispersal period (from July to October) in the North Pacific Ocean.

We tag albatross at-sea within the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, off central California, and use satellite tracking and remote sensing imagery to identify important foraging grounds and habitats defined by seafloor depth and water properties (e.g., sea surface temperature, ocean productivity).

Within this larger context, this research addresses four priorities:
(i) to characterize albatross use of the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS), a famous albatross hotspot off central California
(ii) to provide needed information on albatross habitats and movements within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (E.E.Z.)
(iii) to enhance the understanding of the foraging grounds and the movements of this threatened species across the North Pacific Ocean
(iv) to assess the overlap of post-breeding albatrosses with North Pacific pelagic longline fisheries operating within their foraging range