[Birdbycatch] albatross specimen collection

[Liz Mitchell]

Hello,

In 2000, there was a follow-up meeting to the 1998 Black-footed Albatross 
Population Biology Workshop in Relation to Mortality Caused by Longline 
Fishing. The follow-up meeting was held in Hawai'i in conjunction with the 
Second International Conference on the Biology and Conservation of 
Albatrosses and Other Petrels. During that workshop the North Pacific 
Albatross Working Group was formed to address threats to the black-footed 
and Laysan albatrosses, while the international Short-tailed Albatross 
Recovery Team would coordinate their efforts.

At the last quarterly meeting of this working group held in Honolulu in 
November 2002, the issue of albatross specimen collection was addressed. A 
subcommittee was formed to work out the logistics of getting specimens to 
researchers. It would help to be in contact with researchers and curators 
who are requiring specimens of North Pacific albatrosses (black-footed, 
Laysan, Short-tailed and Galapagos albatrosses).

I am working up a list of potential recipients and what sort of specimens 
are needed. Please be specific about what aspect of albatross conservation 
you are trying to address and from what region, during what season, from 
what source (fisheries bycatch, colony, etc.) and from what body part you 
need the specimen. Also, it would help to know the minimum you need as well 
as the ideal.

If you have tried to get specimens and have come across complications, 
please include this information. We are at the initial stages of developing 
a specimen collection protocol that hopefully will facilitate permits and 
coordinate logistics in order to get needed specimens to researchers.

Thanks so much for your cooperation.


Elizabeth Mitchell
P.O. Box 933
Eugene, Oregon 97440
U.S.A.
Tel: 541/344-5503
E-mail: emitch@efn.org