30 
The influx of wedgetails here is incredible. Ho eggs found. Wedge- 
tail courtship prior to copulation (3 observed) is virtually the same as 
in Bonin Petrels and similar to the Albatross Mutual Preening by both 
birds takes place$ then the (cf?) Moulting bird preens the ($?) mate 
very vigourously abort the head and neck and than abruptly mounts for 
copulation. After copulation each bird preens itself. 
Burrows are vigourously defended and often a wide space abort the 
mouth of the burrow. Fights are common now. A total of 202 Wedgetails 
were banded tonight; 7 were dark phased. 
The Booby Colony continues its progress. Approximately VJO eggs 
230 nests or young and about 10 young (2 banded) hatched. This group 
locks very good. Counted 4l0 roosting birds and could not see lower 
roosts where at least 40 nests are. Probably close to 600 Boobies 
on this point now excluding chicks. I noticed an apparent increase in 
the number of hippoboseids/bird tonight. Is it the case that buds when 
not at sea give the ectoparasites more niche to reproduce on? And 
also is there a need for hippobosdids to change hosts and to breed with 
a number of other flys rather than a single genetic line? If so, 
yearly concentrations of birds for breeding could be necessary for the 
parasite to maintain itself. Goes of the Boobies tonight locked mottled 
on head and neck from the large numbers of Hippoboscids there. 
March 27. 1964 
Up late this AM. Proceeded up to Wiarnea Canyon in heavy rains. 
