R.S. Crossin 
1966 
7 March - 2-33 S; 171-12 W - - 2-01 Sj 169 - 31 ¥ 
Bird numbers down as we move away from Islands into open water. Total 120. 
One White-rumped Storm petrel with odd white belly - not a White -throated Storm 
Petrel, and one small dark storm pet w/o white rump. 
8 March - 1-25 Sj 167-49 W - - 0 - 56 S; 166 - 13 W 
Total 64- birds, mostly Sooty tern in one flock (42). One Sooty collected - banded 
Enderbury 65 . Probably this is the NW limits of Phoenix Island Group birds 
ranging way out. Mostly quiet all afternoon. 
9 March - 0-19 Sj 164-32 W - - 0 - 19 Nj 162-53W 
Slow day as would be expected this far from any islands. 89 birds - mostly 
Sooty tern ( 36 ) and Storm Petrels (White-rumped - 29 ) 2 of which were Leach 1 s 
collected. 
10 March - 1 - 00 Nj l 6 l - 07 W - - 1 - 25 N; 159 - 33 W 
Total number of birds not unusually high, l 8 l, considering the numbers of band, 
but considerable variety of species exhibited. Two most common forms were Sooty 
terns, 119, and White-rumped Storm petrels ( 32 ). One of these latter was a 
Harcourt ? s Storm Petrel. The majority are unquestionably Leach 1 s - 3 collected. 
Due to arrive at Christmas at daybreak. 
11 March - Christmas Island 
Arrived on Island about O 93 O. Mr. Wardell was off on the ? side of the island, 
so we spent an hour in waiting. After his return and lining up the old dilapitated 
Land Rover we headed out on survey. One colony of Sooty terns is established on 
seaward side of main road about 5 mi from London on N side. Another scattered 
colony is spread along the long axis of the island by Carver way, but this did 
not seem dense enough to work. 
Spent the entire night at the PUR colony 5 mi from London with Harrington, 
Lewis, Smith and Heryford* Banded 7*400 Sootys, and tockca. 110 samples of blood. 
Chicks were mostly between half-grown and nearly ready to fly. Max and Dayle 
spent day on. Moto Opua. Phoenix Island Petrels with everything from fresh eggs 
to grown chicks. 
12 March - X-rnas 
Went out to Sooty tern colony on South end of island by deserted, long air strip. 
This extended for about 5 miles - long axis of island - and was in dense grass 
and Sida. Chicks ranged from week old to nearly full-grown. Entire party went 
here - banded 7*600 between chicks and adults. 
- Christmas Island 
Entire party went out in rubber raft to Moto Tabu. Banded ca. 700 Christmas 
Island Shearwaters. Phoenix Island Petrels and Wedgetails in combination. 
Wedgetwils 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 Messers chmid ia trees, as did Christmas Island 
Shearwaters which ranged through same stages of nesting. A few Red-tailed 
Tropicbirds with eggs and/or chicks were noted. Fairy terns abundant - eggs to 
young, mainly in the Messers chmid ia trees. Hawaiian Noddy Terns - eggs through 
chicks, nests built mainly in Messers chmid ia trees of leaves of same tree. 
Common Noddy Terns - eggs ? chicks, no nests built - the eggs laid on bare 
nets on the ground, usually under dense Messers chmid ia . 
Banded Sooty Tern chicks and adults In the colony on south end of island, 
during the night. Intermittent rain squalls seriously hampered work. 
