SIC 11 
R.S. Crossin 
19^6 
March 15 - Christmas Island 
Entire party went out in rubber raft to Motu Tabu. Banded ca. 700 Christmas 
Island Shearwaters, Phoenix Island Petrels and wedge-tails in combination. 
Wedgetails were primarily digging new burrows. The Phoenix Island Petrels had 
fresh eggs up to full grown chicks and nested mainly under clumps of vines and 
dense bushes and under sheltered Messerchmidia trees, as did Christmas Island 
Shearwaters which ranged through same stage of nesting. A few Red- tailed Tropic- 
birds with eggs and/or chicks were noted. Fairy Terns abundant - eggs to young, 
mainly in the Messerschmidia trees. Hawaiian Noddy Terns - eggs through chicks, 
nests built mainly in Messerschmidia trees of leaves of same tree. Common Noddy 
Terns - eggs through chicks, no nests built - the eggs laid on bare spots on 
the ground, usually under dense Messerschmidia . 
Banded Sooty Tern chicks and adults in the colony on south end of island 
during the night. Intermittent rain squalls seriously hampered work. 
March l4 - Party went out to Cook Island about mid day. The Sooty Tern colony was 
just finishing a nesting cycle. About 500 adults were sitting on the ground, but 
only about 10 full grown flying chicks were present. A few Crested Tern chicks 
were scattered about - l/2 - 3/4 grown. A few Blue-gray Noddies appeared to be 
nesting. Fairy Terns were especially abundant in all the gringing Messerschmidia 
trees. Common Noddy and Hawaiian Noddy Terns present in low numbers and nesting. 
Banded Sooty Tern chicks and adults on the N end of the island (before PMR) 
from . Roughly 7000 banded in combination. Chicks ranged from half to 
tu.ll grown. Colony of ca. 150-200,000 birds. Cats are very abundant here as 
elsewhere in the vicinity of cononies and are taking a great toll of chicks. 
Finished banding after 0300 and broke camp and returned to Shearwater. 
March 15 - 2-30N; 157-36W - 4-35N; 157-32W 
First day N Christmas - numerous birds - 1210 total. Dark wedgetails very 
common - 345 total. Most WT going N or M throughout A.M. Many returning S. 
during P.M. Very large feeding flock at dusk (1750). Phoenix Island Petrels 
common throughout day - 25. Sooty Terns very abundant - 720. Most birds string 
out traveling, except when in large flocks (feeding). Red-footed Boobies common 
in flocks up to dark. Probably the vast majority of the days total were birds 
based on Xmas Is. or others in the Line group. 
March 1 6 - 6-34N; 157-30W - 8-36N; 157-31W 
Considerable number of birds observed, but practically all confined to 5 
flocks. Total of 459 birds, 4l8 in 3 flocks. Flocks composed of Sooty Terns 
and Wedgetails. One flock with 200 wedgetails were 90 percent light birds, so 
apparently represent northern populations. A few Juan Fernandez and Phoenix 
Island/tabit Petrels about, Storm Petrels have dropped off drastically since 
Xmas Island. Seas continue very rough and hinder collecting as spray shoots 
over the bow and it becomes impossible to stand watches from there. 
March 17 - IO-39N; 157-33W - 12-36N; 157-39W 
Seas quite rough, wind strong - very few birds. A total of 4l, mostly 
Sooty Terns in 2 flocks (33)* Only 9 sightings over entire day. 
