Wake Island 
8 
McFarlane, R. W. 
1963 
June 11 
Banded 200 terns at the channel colony this morning. More eggs 
have been laid. There is a distinct difference in behavior of birds 
according to age of egg. Those birds on new eggs desert them quite readily. 
Birds which have been incubating several days are far more reluctant to 
depart. 
Checked the VOR colony again. No birds seen on ground. Small flock 
flying nearby, k Red-tailed Tropicbirds flying over area. Appear to be 
looking for nest sites. Bulldozer and grader working close to area. 
Had atalk with Escobar and visited VORTAC area with Sperling. I 
have recommended th&t they do not clear area where birds were apparently 
starting to nest last Saturday. I have also recommended that they do no 
remove all vegetation. When the Grader is run over an area once it removes 
everything except the small clumps of bunch grass. This leaves a much more 
natural lappearing area. 
^hey told me that at the height of the breeding season the birds 
extend throughout the messerschmidia vegetation, all the way back to the 
lagoon (submarine channel). (This channel was cut just before WW II. It 
was to provide access into the lagoon for submarines. The dredge was acuttled 
in the lagoon, still visible.) 
Sperling told me of masked boobies breeding on the island in the past. 
Says he has some movies of them. Also says Palmyra I. is a booby haven. He was 
there with a tuna clipper. 
Banded 300 terns after dark. These birds apparently do not have a 
brood patch. Many of them are incubating with the egg beneath the feathers 
