ISLAND SUMMARIES 
HOV/LAND ISLAND 
A new colony of Sooty Ternc, in addition to the one\:hat has existed on tne 
windward shore since July 1964, has established itself near the Amelia Earhart 
Lighthouse. This colony was rapidly expanding during the two day visit-. Gray- 
backed Terns are becoming increasingly common, as a nesting species, with a 
nesting colony of 60 nests along the edge of the new Sooty Tern colony. 
Red-footed Boobies and Red-tailed Tropicbirds were at the low point in 
their breeding cycles whereas the Greater Frigatebird, 63 nests with fresh eggs, 
was just beginning a new cycle. Very small numbers of roosting Rod-footed ana 
Blue-faced Boobies were observed. 
One Sooty Tern wearing an old Biological Survey band , series it 38 , was 
captured and released. 
BAKER ISLAND 
Large numbers of Common Noddy Terns were beginning a new breeding cycle 
with 35 bandable young and 342 eggs packed onto the small islet in the lagoon. 
Surf conditions on this island were especially bad and necessitated 
carrying all gear 'k mile across the island in order to make the departure. 
The entire afternoon, on the first day of landing, was devoted to: six unsuc¬ 
cessful attempts to launch the raft through heavy surf with no calm periods. 
During the departure one raft load of personnel and gear was flipped over and 
some items of gear were lost. 
McKEAN ISLAND 
Saturation of the Sooty Tern colony,that is located in the heavy growth 
of Sida fallax, on three successive trips, has begun to yield results^ A 
total of 192 returns were recorded during two nights of oanding. Ox these 
returns, 100 were of birds that had been banded during February 1964 while the 
remaining 92 were of birds that had been oanded during July 19^4. 
There was an unusually large concentration of bird ticks in tne Soo^y lern 
colonies along the west shore of the island* All members of the field party 
received numerous very irritating tick bites during the two day visit. Live 
collections v/ere made. 
• 
Three birds, presumed to be aberrant White-throated Storm Petrels 
( Nesofregatta albigularis ), were collected. This species was so abundant 
and conspicuous that 166 were banded with a minimum of effort. 
One Hawaiian Noddy Tern banded on Cook Island, Christmas island was 
captured. 
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