Albert, Donald Patrick2021-08-162021-08-162018Albert, Donald P. 2018. Did or Could Seabirds “Halo” Pitcairn Island for Fletcher Christian? Terrae Incognitae 50(2): 99-114.https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11875/3154The accepted version of an article published in Terrae IncognitaeHow did Fletcher Christian, leader of the mutiny on the Bounty, find Pitcairn Island when the supposed location was 342 kilometers west its actual location? This study in applied historical geography explores whether seabirds were potential navigational beacons pointing to the whereabouts of Pitcairn Island. Flight distances were extracted from seabird foraging range studies that employed global positioning system (GPS) with tracking devices. These data were used to construct foraging range buffers around Pitcairn and the other three islands of the Pitcairn Islands (Oneo, Henderson, and Ducie). The results indicated that seabirds extend island sighting distance and perhaps guided Christian to Pitcairn Island.GPSFletcher Christianhistorical geographyHMS BountyMutiny on the BountyseabirdsArticle