102 USGS/BRD/ITR-2000-0012 



were collected between 1 905 and 1910 when only about 

 1 00 pairs bred at the colony. 



On 18 June 1885, W. C. Bradbury collected at least 

 one egg (set number 2) at Prince Island (WFVZ No. 

 4,385). On 24 June 1885, Bradbury collected at least 

 one more egg (set number 1 ; WFVZ No. 4,377). In late 

 July 1886, Streator (1888) did not mention murres at 

 Prince Island but birds might have finished breeding. 

 On 18 July 1894, Bradbury returned and collected at 

 least two more eggs (WFVZ Nos. 4,38 1 and 4,384); one 

 egg was reported from the "Isle of Santa Barbara" but 

 another was reported from Prince Island on the same 

 day. Breeding murres have never been reported from 

 Santa Barbara Island proper. On 1 July 1 895, Bradbury 

 collected at least one egg (set number 1; WFVZ No. 

 4,382). In June 1896, Bradbury obtained another egg 

 (set number 1; WFVZ No. 4,380). Hunt et al. (1979) 

 reported eight eggs taken by Bradbury on 24 June 1 885, 

 based on specimen numbers (WFVZ Nos. 4,377^1,386) 

 but examination of the egg specimen cards indicates 

 that they were collected in different years and dates as 

 shown above. I could not locate WFVZ No. 4,386, 

 reported by Hunt et al. (1979). 



Eleven eggs (incubation well advanced in each egg) 

 were collected by H. S. Burt from a ledge on a cliff 

 running back in large cave about 6-9 m (20-30 feet) 

 above the water. Burt estimated about 100 birds 

 breeding on 5 June 1905 (WFVZ Nos. 80,934-80,944; 

 set numbers 4 13, 18). Probably 18 eggs were collected 

 although Hunt et al. (1979) reported only 13. 



On 2 June 1906, H. Hedrick collected at least one 

 egg (set number 33) from Prince Island (WFVZ No. 

 46,466). On 4 June 1906, Hedrick returned and collected 

 another egg (set number 8) from a damp cave (WFVZ 

 No. 140,459). On 6 June 1906, J. S. Appleton collected 

 at least five fresh eggs (WFVZ Nos. 76,219-76,222; 

 76,224; set numbers 34, 38, 52, 54, 56) and estimated 

 100 pairs breeding on Prince Island. He noted that eggs 

 were laid on bare rocks and many eggs had been broken 

 by waves. At least 10 and as many as 56 or more eggs 

 probably were collected by Appleton on this visit. On 

 10 June 1906, Hedrick returned and obtained at least 

 one egg (WFVZ No. 46,470; set number 30). He listed 

 nearby San Miguel Island as the collection locality but 

 this was probably Prince Island. Perhaps 30 or more 

 eggs were collected by Hedrick on this visit. Two or 

 three colonies of 5-50 murres each were reported 

 breeding on the island by Appleton (Hunt et al. 1979). 

 In 1 906, 1 determined that between 8 and 1 27 eggs were 

 collected, based on the information above. Hunt et al. 

 (1979) reported 20-50 eggs were collected in 1906 by 

 Hedrick and Appleton. 



Several egg collectors collected murre eggs (that 

 were mostly advanced in incubation), caught adult birds 

 that did not leave their breeding sites, and estimated 

 about 100 breeding pairs on Prince Island on 15 June 

 1910 (Willet 1910; Hunt et al. 1979). Eight eggs 

 collected by G. Willet were found on the floor of a cave 

 in rocks (WFVZ nos. 6,174; 45,894-45,895; 80,929- 

 80,933; set numbers 348, 349, 35 1 , 354-356, 359, 360). 

 Probably at least 1 3 eggs were collected by Willet. Four 

 eggs collected by J. S. Appleton were obtained from the 

 same cave ledge (WFVZ Nos. 32,1 13-32,1 14; 76,217- 

 76,218; set numbers 31, 35, 36, 37). He probably 

 collected at least seven and perhaps 37 or more eggs. 

 Twelve eggs collected by A. Jay also were obtained 

 from the same cave ledge (WFVZ Nos. 109,801-109,812, 

 set numbers 1-12). Eight eggs collected by O. W. 

 Howard apparently were obtained from the same cave 

 ledge (WFVZ Nos. 46,410-46,417; set numbers 1-3 

 and 5-9). At least nine eggs probably were collected. 

 Together, I determined that between 32 and 71 eggs 

 were collected by these collectors from one small cave 

 ledge on that one day. Hunt et al. (1979) reported at 

 least 29 eggs were collected on this trip. They also noted 

 certain specimen numbers that I could not find (WFVZ 

 Nos. 6,172-6,173; DM [unknown collection] Nos. 

 1,226; 1,231). 



The last egg record available for Prince Island was 

 obtained on 12 July 1912. G. K. Synder collected at 

 least three addled eggs on rocky ledges high above the 

 water (WFVZ Nos. 47,518^7,520). He indicated that 

 at least four sets of eggs were collected. Wright and 

 Synder (1913) reported several small colonies on the 

 "high overhanging ledges" and many chicks on 12 July 

 1912. After 1912, the only record of murres on Prince 

 Island was one bird seen on 18 April 1939 (Sumner 

 1939, Hunt et al. 1979). It is unlikely that any murres 

 escaped detection of egg collectors. D. Bleitz 

 (unpublished field notes) noted that no murres were 

 breeding on 25 July 1961. Two birds in breeding 

 (alternate) plumage were observed on Prince Island on 

 23 July 1976(McCaskie 1 976; Garrett and Dunn 1981), 

 indicating that nonbreeding attendance may occur 

 sporadically. Detailed surveys in 1975-77 (Hunt et al. 

 1979) and 1991, 1994, and 1995 (Carter et al. 1992; 

 McChesney et al. 1995; H. R. Carter, unpublished data) 

 failed to find any murres on land at Prince Island and 

 virtually none at sea nearby during the breeding season. 

 In 1999, murres were noted on land at Prince Island 

 during the early breeding season (see Chapter 2 text). 



In summary, the extensive egging evident in these 

 records as well as the close temporal proximity of the 

 collecting and extirpation support the assertion by Hunt 

 et al. (1979) that specimen collecting contributed to 



