McFarlane, R. W. Summary of Birds Present on 12 
1963 Wake Island June 8-l6 
Red - tailed Tropicbird --at least 4. Seen a number of times flying about 
VORTAC installation on Wilkes I.; appeared to be searching for nest sites 
White - tailed Tropicbird--6. Appeared to be searching for nest-sites on Wake 
near HHW, on lagoon side. 
Red - footed Booby --73 +• Nest-sites on Wilkes I. 3 large white downy chicks 
fledging. 5 or 6 immatures pre-flight stage. Scarce during daytime. Can 
be seen feeding offshore. High count at night (75). 
Brown Booby--50+. Common during daylight perched on rocks around NW end of 
Wilkes I. 
Great Frigatebird --200+. Apparently breed with Red-footed Boobies. No 
breeding activity now. Roost with boobies in messersehmidia and on poles and 
wires at PMR on Wilkes and LORAN on Peale. A good many immatures. 
Sooty Tern--l/4 to l/2 million or more. 1 Extremely abundant, especially at night. 
Two major colonies at opposite ends of Wilkes I. Egg-laying heavy. No 
chicks. 
Fairy Tern --3. Seen twice flying over Wilkes I. ( 3 ) and Peale (2). 
Common Noddy --200+. Breeding at reef rocks off NW end of Wilkes. Eggs being 
laid. Nests still being constructed. No young. Also 10+ on Peale I. roosting 
on iron girders of old building. 
Wandering Tattler --!. Seen only once. Peacock Point. 
Sandpiper (unidentified)--1. Seen once near bridge to Wilkes. 
Total species seen T -10. 
No albatrosses, shearwaters, or petrels. No other evidence. Masked boobies 
apparently nest earlier. Gray-backed terns may have been nesting during 
April-May. Shorebirds and ducks at other seasons. Pigeons have been imported 
not set loose. 
