Wake Island 
6 
McFarlane, R. W. 
i^r 
pattern when wings raised while preening. Wo sharp wing or tail pattern 
seen when in flight. This is only the second shorebird I have seen to date 
(l wandering tattler seen first day). 
Also saw 5 fairy terns, for the first time. 
Sooty Tern colony adjacent to channel is growing steadily. Many more 
eggs laid than just two days ago. Colony has crossed north of pipe line, along 
beach. Birds on plain area (bare or scattered small plants) have just about 
finished laying. Birds on high spoil band have not started. Colony is almost 
continuous from channel to 50 yds. beyond PMR installation. Very dense along 
beach, among messerschmidia, eggs completed. Only one 2-egg clutch seen. 
Birds are starting to get into grass area near fuel farm. Birds nesting 
among messerschmidia commonly have difficulty taking flight through brush. 
Estimate population of 5000 within confines of PMR. This is one nest per 
2 
sq. yd., measured approximate nesting area, 2500 yds. They have been settling 
there for two weeks. 
It is very starnge that no birds are utilizing the bare ground within 
the fence around the fuel farm. 
Visited the V0R colony. Wo birds on ground. Several thousand in 
air but moved off as I approached. 
A number of frigates and red-footed boobies were roosting in nest 
area. They flew upon my approach and I could not get a count. I found 
only 3 young, downy, white, booby chicks. All were partially fledged. Wings 
and tail, one with scapulars. Several other immatures have just recently 
feathered, one still had white down on head and neck. Probably 5 or 6 such 
birds OWly saw one or two unoccupied nests. There was either a very small 
crop or these few birds are very late stragglers. Wo sign of frigate breeding. 
One bird on nest turned out to be an immature and nest seemed too well 
