4 
0400 No terns present. 
0400-1530 
Occasionally Sooty Terns were seen flying over the 
island, but rarely more than 3-4 at one time. 
1530 30 terns flew over lighthouse but back to sea. 
1550 50- off west shore, 100- off SE shore both groups 
moved over land and then back to sea. 
1558 SE swirl again moved over land but moved back to sea 
shortly. 
1603 SE swirl broke up but Immediately started reforming 
over water. 
1605 W swirl ( 50 ) came in over island and formed a loose 
swirl. 
1700 200 terns in swirl over center of Island; 300 terns 
over SE section; 100 terns off W shore. Groups form¬ 
ing and breaking up constantly. 
1800 1000 terns over SE shore; 500 over S end; 500 over 
lighthouse. Groups appear to be stabilizing. 
1900 Two southern swirls merged and single group (5000+) 
over SE shore; 1500 over lighthouse. Impossible to 
estimate numbers after dark but calling and flying 
around the island again ceased around 0300. 
Prom past behavior of Sooty Terns we feel certain that the 
terns will be down within a month or two to begin a new nesting 
cycle. 
The second trip shows that the Howland nesting season was 
