SKUA. (1) 
Irregularly recorded in the grid since last fall, always of single sightings# 
One was observed last month# 
SOOTY TERN (4469 + 524 nocturnal) 
This species was dominant during every day of the cruise# Sooty Terns account 
ed for over 86 7# of total birds (diurnal + nocturnal)# The Howland Island pop 
ulation is presently beginning a new breeding cycle, but as yet only about 30 
7# of the birds are on the ground# If this population (roughly 70,000) is now 
#. 
stable, then little change in numbers can be expected in the grid until late 
summer# A total of 120 birds was collected (99 diurnal, 21 nocturnal)# A 
high percentage of these were not in breeding condition. This suggests that 
either a portion of the birds in the Howland breeding population will not 
currently nest or that there are numerous birds in the grid from non-breeding 
populations outside the Howland-Baker area# 
GRAY-BACKED TERN (3 nocturnal) 
COi-2-iON NODDY + 2 nocturnal) 
BLUS-GRAY NODDY (2) 
WHITE (FAIRY) TERN (18+2 nocturnal) 
All 4 species have been thus far recorded in the grid in low numbers# The Gray 
backed Terns were recorded at night by call only# Fairy Terns have increased 
since last month# Higher numbers of this species were recorded in the grid 
last fall when large flocks of Sooty Terns were utilizing the grid area# 
