9 
9-27-63 cont. 
all day and night with gusts to 36 Knots and a 
steady 20 Knot level* Spent all morning hunting for 
small land birds. However, saw none in the .AM, but 
collected a Wandering Tattler and a Bristle-thighed 
Curlew. Curlew was one of eight in a flock: Previous 
to today there were a maximum of four seen at any one 
time. Saw at least 5 and perhaps 7 Tattlers. There is 
an$ abundance of turnstones and plovers here. Saw one 
very light colored Sanderling. In the afternoon went 
out again. Bill tagged two seals, and right behind 
the Station another tiny land bird ( another Waterthrus: 
flew over out ofjL§ shot range and I was unable to get 
a glimpse of him thereafter. At night skinned three of 
the shorebirds: Finally regaining some of the rusty 
bird skinning skills. 
9-23-63 Ftue, 
High winds and interm.ttantis still continuing 
today as we are forced to work inside again. I finiscd 
all on my backlog of refrigerated birds and helped 
R-m on some of the rats. About 12 as I walked back to 
quarters I saw one of these tiny land birds fly by 
fast - gun locked up in Armory. Will try to get out 
againl“ w , . . . , ~ » 
By this afternoon the wind let up and at cleared oil 
by 15 OO. Went hunting at 1600 and saw two sparrows, 
both the same in a pair ( perhaps Song sparrows? ) 
Very Dark in plumage. CouldnSt get a shot at them. 
Also a greater Xellowlegs which I was unable to get close 
enough to shoot. In the evening went banding, ana. met inj 
with some real difficulties. The Scaveola here is so 
very thick and continuous that it is neeixy impossible 
to band numbers of the larger birds: Crashing through 
the brush alerts them and they are gone before we 
reach them. It will be particular hardto band the 
frigates. Red-footed Boobies and Noddies because of 
this. Tropicbirds also present a problem as do 
shearwater chicks that are found under the jungle 
like tangles. Our high hopes for large bandings 
may be unrealistic for this islanc. Some of this.pro¬ 
blem may be eliminated if we can noose the roosting 
birds. 
/ 
i 
N 
