The researchers found the fossils, of short-tailed albatrosses, at a site they determined to be 405,000 years old.

Short-tailed albatross were rarely seen at Midway before then and a potential breeding pair was first observed just two years ago in 2008.

This is only the second known time a short-tailed albatross chick has hatched any place other than two small islands in Japan.

It can be distinguished from the very rare Short-tailed Albatross by its all dark back and smaller size.

Short-tailed albatross were rarely seen on Midway Atoll before the effort began.

The endangered short-tailed albatross congregates to feed over the surface waters of the canyon.

First signs of nesting Short-tailed albatross outside of Japan in modern history!

This marks the first confirmed hatching of a short-tailed albatross outside of Japan in recorded history.

The short-tailed albatross is the rarest, with fewer than 2,200 surviving after excessive feather hunting in the late19th century.

"An unconfirmed report of a short-tailed albatross chick hatching at Midway in 1962 could not be substantiated".

This breeding season, on November 16, 2010, an adult short-tailed albatross was observed incubating a freshly laid egg.

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The Short-tailed Albatross came perilously close to extinction.

At one time short-tailed albatross ruled the Pacific Ocean, however turn of the century feather hunting activity decreased their numbers.

Short-tailed albatross chick.

In 1939, the short-tailed albatross' main breeding grounds on Torishima were buried under 30 to 90 feet of lava after a volcanic eruption.

Refuge staff will use a remote camera to monitor the progress of the short-tailed albatross chick (dark flluff beneath the adult in the center).

Regulations stipulated that a take of six short-tailed albatrosses within a two-year period could interrupt or close Alaska's $300 million longline fisheries.

The Short-tailed Albatross feeds mainly on squid, but will follow ships for their discarded offal.

Fossil remains of a variety of species have been found on the island, including a crane, an owl and the Short-tailed Albatross.

It has also made many island species, such as the long-extinct Dodo or the Short-tailed Albatross, vulnerable to human hunting.

The Hawaiian monk seal, which is considered highly endangered, and the short-tailed albatross, known as the golden gooney, also inhabit the atoll.

The same short-tailed albatross couple that reared the first documented chick on Midway Atoll last year, has just returned for an encore performance.

The area around this landhead is a natural habitat for the Short-tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus).

In Alaska's longline fisheries, short-tailed albatrosses, an endangered species, would become hooked and drown as they attacked sinking baited hooks.

The Short-tailed Albatross or Steller's Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) is a large rare seabird from the North Pacific.

The area around this landhead is a natural habitat for the Short-tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus).

Short-tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus)

Ms. Mostello has even seen the rarest species of albatross in the world, the short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus), at Midway.

Amongst all islands, Minami Kojima is one of the few breeding places of the rare Short-tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus).

The Short-tailed Albatross or Steller's Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) is a large rare seabird from the North Pacific.

It is also one of the few places to see a Short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus), which is extremely rare; the species was thought to have gone extinct after World War II.