Wedge-tailed Shearwater (248) 
Much of the increase over November is due to the difference in areas 
sampled. Hovever, even for comparable areas, particularly from Oahu to the 
grid, there was a substantial increase in numbers. Though only about 50 birds 
could be distinguished as definite young, iramatures leaving the breeding 
grounds probably represent the greatest part of the increase. Some adults 
were still present, however. 
Numbers increased daily from Oahu to the grid, remaining low thereafter 
Until in the vicinity of Oahu on the last day when they increased again. 
This distribution is similar to last month's and again suggests that movement 
may be generally SE. Such a distribution might also be due to birds leaving 
nesting grounds progressively later from west to east along the chain, the 
Kauai and Oahu cycles finishing last. 
The most often recorded flight direction seems to be SE. This is 
particularly true for December 1 and 2 when nearly half the birds were 
headed this vay, in the same area where this was noted in November. Perhaps 
birds from the leeward islands move east along the chain beyond Oahu, then 
SE; this might account for other flight directions. Furthermore, nearly 
all the birds going -SE were flying very fast, often arcing like Slender- 
billed Shearwaters, suggesting migratory flight. Here again the picture 
is not clear cut, for the wind increased to 15-25 knots the same days and 
both manner and direction of flight may be related to this rather than 
indicating migration. The two factors of distribution and flight direction 
together do suggest a strong possibility of such a migration to the SE. 
On several occasions birds were found following the ship for periods 
up to 20 minutes, usually in the company of albatrosses. 
