Wandering Albatrosses on Macquarie Island

• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: Australian Ocean Data Network
• Subjects: biota; oceans; EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES; ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > BIRDS; BIRDS > ALBATROSSES/PETRELS AND ALLIES; AMD/AU; CEOS; AMD; CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA; GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR; Antarc*; Antarctica; Diomedea exulans; Macquarie Island
• Online Access: https://researchdata.edu.au/wandering-albatrosses-macquarie-island/2819187

Progress Code: completed Statement: Further data can be collected for other seasons, but for 1975-1977 this data are complete. Observations of the colony at Caroline Cove were made for 41 consecutive days between 5 December 1975 and 14 January 1976, for durations varying between 0.5hr and 14.5hr each day. Attendance of all breeders and non-breeders was recorded. Observation had also been made at this colony in the previous breeding season. Further observations at the Caroline Cove site were made for 103 consecutive days between 25 November 1976 and 7 March 1977, for 8.5hr daily on average. Attendance and intersection was recorded. Observations commenced where possible at 0900 hours and finished 1800 hours. All birds were banded with numbered monel bands (supplied by CSIRO, Canberra) and unique combinations of coloured plastic leg bands and marked with stripes of fluorescent spray paint. Each bird was sexed and its plumage scored. This meant that each bird was identifiable from the air and on the ground. Binoculars were used from a central observation point to observe the nests and activities of both the breeders and non-breeders. Weather conditions were irregularly noted daily. This dataset contains the results from surveys of Wandering Albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) on Macquarie Island. The majority of the surveys were conducted at the Caroline Cove colony which contains 59% of the Wandering Albatrosses found on Macquarie Island. Observations were made for 41 consecutive days between 5 December 1975 and 14 January 1976, and for 103 consecutive days between 25 November 1976 and 7 March 1977. Occasional observations were made of birds at other locations on Macquarie Island. Each bird in the colony was banded for identification, sexed and had its plumage scored. The times of arrival and departure, numbers present, interaction and behaviour were observed, and weather conditions were noted irregularly throughout the day. The results are listed in the documentation.