-7- BIRDS SPECIES ACCOUNTS Black-footed Albat (Diomedea nigripes One Black-foo as obse on the first day out of San Diego. Pale-footed Shearw r (Puffinus carneipe One Pale-foot observ ll°S. Wedge-tailed Shearwa (Puffinus pacificus) Wedge-tails were very abundant in the equatorial counter current along 10°N. The main population (240) was observed west of Clipperton Island. The color-phase ratio was 83% light to 17% dark. In view of the lack of Wedge-tails around the Revilla-Gigedo Islands, it seems logical to conclude that the birds found at 10°N constitute the main wintering population from these islands. It is not entirely impossible for Hawaiian Wedge-tails to be present in small numbers since Wedge-tails appear constant across this counter current area to the west. Two males were collected. One was molting and had small gonads. The second male was in fresh plumage and the gonads had begun to increase in size. Slender-billed Shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris) Two separate sightings of this species at 13° and 16°S. Both birds passed close enough for positive identification, and both were heading northwest. This species and the Pale-foot are presumably non-breoders, or birds that have departed from their nesting home early due to nest failure. Another possibility is that these Slender- bills may be from the small Easter Island population which may have completed nesting. Christmas Shearwater (Puffinus nativitatus The single sighting of this species along the equator at 105°W. was quite unexpected. Until more is known about its pelagic range, the Christmas Shearwater must be considered a straggler this far east.