James P. Ludwig 
1963 
Wednesday, September 11, 1963 - Midway Island 
4 
Got equipment out of storage and found most in 
good condition. Following are fie(4 notes for 10-9 
and 10, 1963 * 
October 9> 1963 
'2000 - Few'Bonin Petrels tonight. Caught only 1, 
— * 
Going Thursday 
again to equipment on Sunday. Wavy very helpful. 
Asked for weather summaries also. Scouted main 
concentrations of Tropithirds and found one 
patch of birds 100 yards to the north of the 
SAP hanger infected to some kind of tumor forming 
agent. Bulbous masses on rictus of bill, 
eyelids, rarely on the feet. Infection confined 
to this area and only in chicks. Several nearly 
blind. Found 2 adults on eggs. 
Spent morning working on gear, odds and ends and 
trying to get permission to shoot shorebirds went 
to the old gravel pit to look for shorebirds. 
Bristle-thighed Curlews, lost of Golden Plover^, 
Turnsones, Several surf birds and three others. 
I could not identify. Banded 85 Tropicbirds (72 
local, 13 adult) and took pictures of infected 
birds. Adult birds are covered with lice and 
mites, but none have the tumors on them suggesting ; 
an age-immunity factor. Infection confined to area 
near SAP hanger and occurs where birds are closest 
together. Most Tropicbirds found under bush cover 
or in the ground crotch of Australian pine trees. 
Three eggs, 75 young (3 dead, 12 with tumored 
eyes) found today. 
pWmkXr 
O c tober 1 2 , 1963 
Went to gravel pit with Com. Fry and shot a 
Bristle-thighed Curlew - bird of the;, year- spent 
a while estimating shorebirds. 1500 - 2000, mostly 
plovers. Wine Bristle-thighed Curlews• Skinned 
bird, arranged equipment. 2100 - few petrels. 
Bike swiped while banding petrels. Saw three 
White-rumped Sandpipers ?. 
