2 
General Discussion 
lumbers decreased 17 °/o from 2960 in January to 2445 in February. 
This decrease was due mainly to a drop in Sooty Tern numbers which more 
than accounted for the difference of 515 birds. Sooty Tern numbers 
dropped 535 and, although they were still the predominant species of 
the area, they accounted for only 75 /o of the total compared with 91 
in January. There is no apparent cause for this decline. An increase 
was anticipated. 
Procellariiformes were very scarce in the area. The two most 
plentiful. Black-footed Albatross and Leach*s Petrel, showed no appareno 
gain in numbers from January. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters reached a new 
low of seven birds, and the wintering and migrating Procellariids were 
almost totally absent it. \ 
Of significance was the recording of a dark-phase Fulmar in the area, 
the first live sighting in the Central Pacific Ocean. In addition a 
Bristle-thighed Curlew was seen for the first time in the BCF grid. 
I 
Other interesting records include a Herald 1 s Petrel, a single Sooty 
Shearwater, two Christinas Island Shearwaters, eight phalaropes of 
undetermined species, and the reappearance in the area of Laysan Albatrosses. 
Overall distribution patterns were similar to those found in January 
and March last year. Greatest bird concentrations occurred within 50 
1 
miles of the high Hawaiian Islands and in the southern end of the area, 
r 
especially in the southeastern corner. The appearance of Black-footed 
Albatrosses south to 10°N was unexpected. Ho Procellariid was seen within 
200 miles of the high Hawaiian Islands. 
Numbers of most species are expected to increase in March concurrent 
with the approach of the summer breeding season. 
