A . Anderson 
1964- 
13 October (cont.) 
Activity studies were run every hour. 
14 October - Baker Island 
Set out at 3 AM for the large club of boobies observed forming in the 
evening. A party took 40 blood samples from the common noddies, and another 
took 20 samples from scattered boobies not in the club. Long and I managed 
about 110 bands before the birds had scattered. The club when we first 
dipped into it held 400-500 birds; about 100 took off immediatly and the rest 
were semi -workable . Over half a dozen Howland boobies turned up with fresh 
paint from several days previous. After the club split up for the night it 
formed scattered groups of 3-7 along the S beach which we worked, banding 
about a score more. Returned to camp about dawn. 
Skinned birds after breakfast and then went banding common noddy chicks 
in a guano- laden stagnant lagoon fed by oceanic seepage. The colony was on 
a tiny island (100 yds x 4 yds) In the middle of the lagoon, protecting the 
nesting birds from the cats which lived here until the last (June - July) 
ATF trip. The cats seem to have feasted largely on frigates, as many empty 
oil drums held their skeletons. Presumably the cats had dragged them there 
to eat. Noddies were in all stages of nesting from egg to flying fledglings. 
All age young were banded. 
After lunch miscellaneous collection of skinks, gekkos, mice and crabs 
was done. Skinks were very abundant everywhere, and gekkos lived especially 
on the sides of the lighthouse. Mice could be seen at night every fifty feet. 
Hermit crabs were more numerous than on Howland; many hundreds could be found 
in the shade of a barrel or metal wall during the day. Land crabs were more 
widespread but less abundant. 
More skinning after dinner. 
Baker Island - October 13 
Up at 1 AM to hit the blue-footed booby club again. All six of us 
(including the botanist) went for them but after we had made one round of 
bands the entire club took off when our backs were turned. After that we all 
spread out and picked up what stray we could find. In all, we banded the 
majority of birds in the club, judging by estimated size of the club as 400. 
I went to the surf-coral side )e( of the island after this to look for cowries 
and other nocturnal littoral species but the coast was quite sterile except 
for the thousands of rock crabs and two gray morays. 
Toward midmorning most of us went back to the E side with fish poison 
and nets. We found hundreds of big-eyes (red squirrel fish), many jacks, surgeon fi 
fish, one red snapper, angel fish - about 35 species altogether. Crabs were 
extremely numerous (not killed). 
McKean Island - Oct. 18 
Landed McKean 0900 on beach rock at low tide with fairly, calm surf 
situation. No beach landing available. Ptiched camp and set out to circle 
the island with all manner of booby bands and greater frigate bands. 
