ISLAND REPORT 
Southern Grid Survey No# 3 
November - December 1965 
Itinerary 
23 
November 
Landed on Howland Island . '< 
1400 
25 
November 
Departed Howland Island 
0700 
25 
November 
Landed on Baker Island 
1130 
25 
November 
Departed Baker Island 
1630 
This report is based on observations made on Howland and Baker Islands 
by P#O.B.S#P# personnel during the period 23 - 25 November 1965# Party 
members were Richard Crossin (Biologist in Charge)* Dayle Husted* Richard 
A 
Maze* and Robert DeLong# 
Population estimates and breeding status were noted for all species of 
birds present on both islands (see Table I)# Eight species were recorded on 
Howland and ten on Baker. A total of 106 blood samples were collected from 
the three species of boobies on Howland# No blood samples were taken on 
Baker# Banding and color-tagging operations were carried out on Howland (see 
Table 2). 
The vegetation on both islands was extremely lush as it had been in 
September and October# Apparently heavy rainfall has continued over both 
islands since October# One heavy cloudburst occurred on the night of 24 
November on Howland. 
Boobies were the dominant group on Howland Island# On Baker a small 
colony of Common Noddy Terns were nesting* and wintering shorebirds were 
abundant. The south and east beaches on Baker Island* where extensive areas 
of exposed coral rock occur at low tide* were apparently favored feeding 
places for shorebirds# 
