R.S. Crossin 
1955 
SIC 11 
£>c 
February 3 - 6 - 31N; 17 U 18 W - 5-05N; 175-OOW 
Collected a Puffinus puffinus early in the morning, and saw several more 
throughout the day. These do not appear to be typical Newell's, possibly are 
P. p. opisthomelas from Btfja California. Many White-rumped Storm Petrels through 
out the day - collected 3 Leach's and saw 48 other unidentified. Christmas 
Island Shearwaters common. At 1502 saw first large flocks of about 35 Sooty Terns 
and shear pet and throughout the rest of the afternoon large flocks of up to 
325 birds seen. Mostly Sooty Tern and dark Wedge- tails with a sprinkling of 
Christmas Islands, Juan Fernandez Petrels and Storm Petrels intermixed. Fish 
(probably tuna) were noted jumping during chasing some of the large flocks. 
A new evidently very rich feeding waters to attract so many birds as the area to 
the north has been especially devoid of most every species. A total of 13 birds 
collected = (6 Wedgetails [5 dajrks, 1 intermediate with mottled barring on flanks 
and breast], 2 Sooty Terns [1 ad, 1 imm] 1 Puffinus puffinus ; 3 Leach’s Storm 
Petrels, and 1 Bulwers Petrel. Total of 9^7 birds recorded for the day; 802 of 
these in flocks ( 10 ). 
At least 3 Sooty Terns noted between immature and adult plumage. This could 
be a once-over molt and thus relatively few would be noticed unless one was in 
the area where the sub-adult birds are when undergoing molt. 
February 4 - 3-07N; 175-49W; - 1-53N; 176-26W 
Total birds 367 , mainly Sooty Terns. 302 birds were encountered in one 
feeding flock. Otherwise sightings were irregular. The ship has been on the 
blink since early morning with a leaking, actually gushing oil line to one engine 
and s 6 we are running on single engine. Most collecting was done today with 
the skiff operating out from the ship. 
Held all night watches, but only encountered a total of 8 birds. 
Between Howland and Baker and west to 0-27N; 176-52W. 
February 5 - Total of 101 birds today, primarily terns with a few boobies of all 
3 species. Upon landing at Howland shortly after 0700 an estimated 75 Sooty lenns 
were noted over Howland. Max informed me by radio that 1-5000 were over the 
island during late afternoon and night which looks like a breeding colony shaping 
up. All night observations held on board Shearwater. Terns (actually only a few) 
most numerous when we doubled back east and passed within a mile off Howland at 
11-1200 P.M. 
February 6 - 1-02N; I 76 -O 3 W - 1-01N; 175-18. 5W 
Pan one eastern leg of the Grid while the people were on the Islands. 
Running all day again (since early morn of the 4th) on one engine, oil leak. 
Few birds - total = 66 . Nocturnal yielded 79* mainly Sooty Terns. 
February 7 - 0-11N; I 76 - 29 W - 1-06N; 177-05W 
Starboard engine still out with oil line leak. Picked up DeLong and Lewis on 
Baker, we had difficulty getting out with the surf and broke the case around drive 
shaft on one of the new Merc engines. Birds more numerous today, an abundance of 
