Preliminary At-Sea Survey 
March 1966 
Survey No.28 
Non-Grid 
This report summarizes twenty days of ihbservations made by 
SMthsonian personnel Paul Woodward, Robert De Long, and Richard Maze. 
The cruise tract was from S.I. Grid No. 1 to Pago Pago, then to the 
Manua Islands, Canton Island, Howland Island, Baker Island and then 
north again to the Grid. During diurnal watches, 1935 Biles were covered 
in 221.5 hours. • Night watches were held on 24 and 26 March, during which 
time 72 miles were traveled in 12.5 hours. 
Weather conditions were generally good throughout the trip. From 
29 March to 1 April rough seas and strong winds made watching difficult. 
A total of 2927 birds of 27 species was seen during diurnal watches. 
Another 11 birds were recorded at night. Terns accounted for 74# of the 
total, while shearwaters and petrels constituted 15 # of the total. 
Almost 65 # 6f the birds were seen in flocks. Large numbers of birds were 
♦ 
seen near Howland Island, the Phoedix Islands, and the Samoan Islands* 
A lesser concentration was recorded between 4^N and 8^N. Shearwaters and 
petrels were common in this area. 
Interesting sightings included 30 Mottled Petrels, 4 s ooty Shear¬ 
waters, 4 Red Phalarope, and 13 Puffinus puffirlus . 
One Sooty Tern with a new orange streamer was seen* A Common Noddy 
Tern was collected. 
The following area abbreviations are used in the species accounts 
to show a more corredt distribution pattern of the forms involved* 
Area A= SI Grid No.1 to Samoa (7-14 March 1966) 
Area B= Canton Island to Howland Island and Baker Island to Canton 
(24 March and 26-27 March 1966) 
Area C= Samoa to SI Grid via Manila Islands (20-23 & 28-31 March 1 April) 
