7 
many as four eggs have been record- 
ed in one nest. Both of the eggs 
may hatch* but only one of the 
nestlings usually lives longer than 
a week. Both adults guard and feed 
the nestling. 
When the nestling is small* 
feeding is a relatively simple 
affair. The adults arrive with the 
food* the chick calls* pecks at the 
adult’s bill* and is then fed. As 
the chick develops* its begging for 
food becomes more active. It calls* 
arches its neck backwards* flaps 
its wings, and pecks at the adult’s 
bill more vigorously. 
After three months young Brown 
Boobies begin to fly. For some- 
time afterward they return to the 
nest site to be fed but eventually 
they are "on their own." 
During the first two or more 
years of their lives many of them 
wander widely* sometimes 1000 miles 
from the island where they were 
raised. Throughout this period 
they develop the skills necessary 
to become proficient fishermen 
- Paul W. Woodward 
PiilECT SEEKS HELP 
Fiii PACIFIC RESIDENTS 
Interested persons living in 
the Pacific are urged to assist our 
study of Pacific birds by sending 
us your personal observations. Al- 
though we have scientists stationed 
in the Pacific* there are many 
islands* some of which are substan- 
tially populated* that are not 
covered by their studies . Obser- 
vations, made by interested laymen 
are often just as useful as those 
made by scientists and will help 
fill these gaps. 
Your letters giving information 
such as the local breeding and 
migration schedules for various 
species* approximate numbers of a 
migratory species there at any one 
time* etc.* would be especially 
appreciated. Also useful are inter- 
esting photographs from your area, 
particularly if of a bird which is 
not commonly found there. 
We look forward to publishing 
appropriate contributions in future 
issues. Editor 
Although they nearly always lay 
two eggs s Brown Boobies rarely 
rear both young . These two 
three-month-old chicks s shown 
with the female * fledged from a 
nest on Johnston Atoll in 1966 . 
-Photo by Philip C, Shelton 
