Gould, P . J . 
1953 " 
(Wedge -tailed Shearwater) 
5 
collected, all had stomachs filled with flying fish (none had wings on them). The 
wedge-tails would fly low and fast over the fish and either hit a fish in mid air or 
(more commonly) they would splash into the water and chase the fish by hopping and 
jumping along with fore and bill thrusts until the fish was captured. Once a fish 
was caught the bird would immediately rise and swallow the fish in mid air. No 
precision diving from high in the air was noted. 
Groups of Shearwaters would occasionally be noticed forming on the water. These 
birds did not feed but went through preening movements and some wing stretching. There 
were always birds in the air. In general these sitting birds would be joined by 
other birds periodically, and a few would leave the sitting group from time to time. 
No single birds were ever noted sitting on the water. 
Much more flapping was required while the birds were actively catching fish 
than when hunting. 
September 8--Pacific Ocean, k days out Oahu, Hawaiian Is. 
Following is a series of observations made by Roger Clapp while on watch: 
05^4 10 Wedge-tails group of individual birds flying in from the NNW and then 
returning in the same direction. Flying up from waves in soaring circles. 
( Tf Possibly these are members of a just dispersing flock. ") 
0553 1 Wedge-tail headed S 
0555 1 Wedge-tail headed NNW 
0601 7+ Wedge-tails headed NNW 
0604 10 + Wedge-tails headed NNW, then SSE 
0615 2 Wedge-tails headed NnW. "Bird shit from 15'. IT 
Also performed comfort movements while on the wing; bringing one foot up and 
ruffling and smoothing on flank feathers- -also (apparently) yawned. 
0616 3 Wedge-tails headed WSW 
0632 2 Wedge-tails headed NNW 
