head usually goes under but the wings are still extended and flapping. 
It appears to be on the water 1 or 2 seconds then flies sway. 
Three different times during the trip I saw Sooty Terns sitting on 
7 ivcf 
the water. A total of 6 birds were observed, always in pairs, ^ach pair 
contained an immature bird and an adult. In one case octh the immature 
and the adult were observed on the water. In the other 2 cases lust the 
immature was on the water with the adult hovering overhead. In all cases 
the birds flew off as the. ship approached. I never saw them land on the 
;-;ater so I can’t say how long they stayed there. The longest ± observed 
them was about 5 seconds. 
Observations within 50 miles of land 
This section of the report handles Palmyra, Washington -fanning, and 
Christmas Islands as one unit. The waters' around each island were visited 
twice on the trip, first between 23 Sept, and 5 let. and again from lo See . 
to 22 Oct. All islands were circled once on each visit except, Christmas 
which was only circled once on 18 October. 
At 
Species Account 
»/r j 
dost 
?-sd-footed Booby 
This is one of the most sound? nt species seen in mis srer. 
1 
were immature s- (?), very light brown in color. There were 50-100 in every 
flock being most dominate around kalmyra, becoming out -numoe red to one soutn 
.■ 
by noddies. 
Boobies fed in 2 ways \.l) By diving irom tne air in^o hie water ana 
Ci) by sitting on the water and ducking the head. 
