It looks like about 3/4 of the albatross chicks have hatched so far. That means there are only 100,000 or so to go. We had no flight this week, so no new people or projects going on. That doesn't mean I'm not keeping busy, especially since I'm leaving for a couple of weeks on Thursday. I probably won't do a blog entry while I'm off island, but I'll be back in March.
We had a Super Bowl party today. There weren't many 49er or Ravens fans here and I think there would have been more cheering if it were a Vikings/Patriots match-up. At least it was a decent game.
Every now and then the chicks fall out of the nests. Sometimes the parents will move a few inches to cover them, but usually not. They think that it's another bird's chick if it's not in the nest. A few of the chicks haven't made it through the cool nights, so we put them back under the parents when we can.
This Black-footed albatross chick has been left alone already. It's a bit on the young side, but it can still be ok.
A Laysan albatross parent talks to its chick.
Another new chick.
The dolphins followed (escorted may be a better word) us back from Eastern Island last week.
