R. S. Crossin 
19^5 
Laysan 
Red^footed Booby 
18-21 July Estimated population = 1300 birds . This species builds a 
frail nest of sticks, usually on Scaevola bushes, but occasionally 
other shrubby type plants are used* All nest observed contained 
young from large still down covered to nearly fully-feathered 
individuals. 
7 August No change from July. 
Frigatebird 
18-21 July Nesting season well along all nests with young ranging from 
a few still covered with white down to adult-size birds. All 
nests observed were of sticks forming a shallow platform in 
Sc aevola frutescens bushes. Apparently only one young nest. 
Estimated population = 5,000 birds. The adult c f often seen on 
the nest shading the young, both morning hours and P.M. so shifts 
probably vary with each pair. 
7 August No change in numbers, young larger as expected. 
11 August Possibly numbers are up this month - this probably due to more 
immatures in the air. 
Laysan Teal 
18-21 July On the night of the 17th just after landing we started banding 
Sooty Terns on the west side of the island. I captured one 
individual of this species which had been wandering about in the 
Scaevola - grass tern colony. This was some distance from the 
lake. On another o casion one individual was flushed from the 
dense tangle formed by the con ? plant which surrounds the lake. 
Estimated population = <( 200 birds. 
7 August 6 adults, 2 ducklings about 3/4- grown seen so far. 
9 August After banding until dawn, we came back to Camp and observed an 
adult c? feeding in the surf on the west shore. The bird would 
run down the beach as the tide went out and grab up crustaceans 
or some small animal life, then the tide would swoop in and carry 
the bird up the beach - then the feeding would be resumed. Two 
birds (adults) seen along the ease shore of the lagoon. One flew w 
west over the heavily vegetated belt surrounding the lagoon and 
was chased for about 100 yds by a common noddy tern. 
In the afternoon the entire crew of 5 went into the area on the 
east shore of the lagoon banding Red-footed Boobies. With all the 
tramping around, no teals were flushed. Two were see^n on the 
shore of the lagoon in late afternoon and right at dusk Ken saw 
two which may or may not have been different birds. Jeff caught 
one banded bird way over on the south end of island by the rail- 
road. track (band No. 615-30603). This may be the clue to the 
problem - they may be scattered at random - over a good portion 
