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PROGRESS REPORT 
ATF if- 7 - February 1-21, 1965 
Between February 1 and 21, 1965 thirteen days were spent on Howland 
and Baker Island and on five of the Phoenix Islands. In spite of logistxc 
problems, caused by unusually heavy surf and a nonfunctional radar system, 
the U.S.S. Hitchiti (TF 103) provided the field party with excellant support 
ana assistance during t;he period# 
Surf conditions were unusually severe during the first half of the trip 
because of winds that deviated from the normal easterly direction. Frequent 
shifts of the wind, to the northeast, consistently produced a heavy surf that 
made landings and departures dangerous. Considerable damage was done tojboth 
rubber rafts and the outboards motors, numerous people were thrown out of raits, 
and several raft loads of personnel and gear were capsized by the rough surf. 
A landing on Hull Island was decided against because of 15 foot surf along the 
entire length of the shoreline# 
Throughout the first half of the trip roosting populations ofphe Blue¬ 
faced Booby have been consistently below those encountered during .reDruary^ and 
March 1964. There have been no large evening roost flights observed and the 
roost clubs have all been small# 
Efforts have been made to wing tag adult Greater Frigatebirds on every 
island on which they occur as a breeding species. This has proven to oe a 
very time consuming and fruitless endeavor on all islands except Enderbury, 
where a large nesting population was encountered. 
A number of species have either been encountered on several of the islands 
for the first time, some as breeding species, or have appeared in larger than 
normal numbers. One three—quarters grown nestling Common noddy was banded on 
Howland Island and six adults were observed. On Baker Island, the Gray-backed 
Tern has established itself as a nesting species away from the lagoon with a 
small colony of 12 birds. The Audubon's Shearwater was found and banded in 
small numbers on Enderbury Island (2) and Birnie Island (2). A club ox 11 
Wedge-tailed Shearwaters was enoountered on Birnie Island and a colony,estimated 
to contain 100 burrows, was found on Canton island# 
A total of 26,997 birds were banded and 1698 returns and 77 recoveries were 
made of 20 species# 385 blood samples have been taken# ho fish or reptile 
collections have been made# Mammal and bird collections have been made where 
needed# Two days were devoted to at-sea collection between Canton island and 
American Samoa during which birds were uncommon and only three specimens we-e 
obtained# A collection of live arthropods was made on McKean island where an 
abnormally large tick concentration was encountered# 
