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Newport man remembers seaman’s rendezvous with Pacific albatross

Barely visible beneath one of its parents in January, an endangered short-tailed albatross on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, about 1,200 miles northwest of Honolulu, became the first of its species to hatch outside of Japan.
By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com(509) 459-5508

WILDLIFE — I received a great letter today from Joe Dufresne regarding the memories evoked by today’s Critter Watch column on the us and downs of the albatross nesting on Pacific Island refuges.

Dear Mr. Landers;

Your article on the albatross today carried me back to about 20 years ago. I was on a merchant ship which stopped at Midway and Wake Islands while enroute to the Far East. We delivered and loaded a little cargo in both places, spending an overnight in each location. It was during the mating season and I recall it being said that a half million pairs of albatross were nesting there, all on the ground and all over everywhere, unafraid of people, concerned only with gathering enough twigs into a meager abode.

Read on for the rest of Joe’s remembrance.

They had the right of way, the golf course was closed and someone driving a motor vehicle either had a person with a broom walking in front to gently sweep a bird standing in the way, or was obliged to perform this service for himself, often by picking the bird up by the neck and setting it aside if a broom was not convenient.

Sometimes an albatross would wander back to where it had been removed if the driver was not quick enough, and the operation would be repeated. Fortunately neither island is large, so very little delay ensues during such a dance.  The human was gentle and respectful and the bird agreeable and compliant as long as nests were not disturbed. Wake Island was a similar set-up, though I don’t recall such a number as a half million pairs or a golf course being there.

The nights being warm, the port lights were open so that the constant chatter from more than one albatross squawking sweet-nothings to its mate seemed to sooth all of us seamen into eight hours of insomnia. Some nights when I can’t sleep I recall that time and enjoy it again. Thanks for the memory.

Regards,

Joe Dufresne, Newport

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Outdoors Blog." Read all stories from this blog