There were unscalable cliffs and crags at the western end of the island, and it is possible that they had their nests among them.
Lieutenant Platt described the first of these huge birds as being at least thirty feet from tip to tip.

It flew low above the top of Split Mountain and disappeared beyond the hills to the west.

When first descried by one of the lookouts, this bird was far out over the ocean, approaching the island from the east.

As it soared over the heads of the men, several hundred feet above them, its wings full spread, it was more like a small monoplane than a bird.

In colour it was a dirty yellow, with a black belly and head.