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North Island 29-30 Aug. 1967 
on island s pprox. &5 hr®; Ely with Corpseman 
R^ngle (6 hrs. effective). 
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Arrived about 13#0 29 Aug,; departed about (> * 00 30 Aug. 
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First made quick tour of island then made shorebird count ground beach. 
Golden Plover - 9 seen; est, total 10 at most 
$ I 
Ruddy Turnstone - counted; est. total &o t 
Wandering Tattler - 1 seen; est, total not over 3. 
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No curlews were seen. Shorebirds were very shy and kept flying around island 
ahead of me. 0ne red-rumped bird was seen ons several occasions but could not be 
apuroached^ ,<J Birds especially frequented the rather bare southern part of the island 
especially the beaches. When flushed they usually flew to the southeast curve of the; 
island and after further approaches flew clear around the island to the south end. 
Also counted 2 large turtles and 32 seals (15 lr,rge; 6 small (yearlings?) and 11 un¬ 
recorded. A late afternoon count yielded 29 se ni s (incl. # 559) and 7 turtles 56 
large (3- i ft. shells;) 1 sm^ll (2 ft.) all estimates. All of the large turtles wer. 
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hauled up on the #d#£'^side of the south part of the island. 
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Summary ofi scattered bird notes: 
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Six albatross bands recovered (app, 3 Laysan & 3 Black-foot. 
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Red-tailed Tronlgbird - Max,, of 14 seen displaying over island at any one time. 
7 ads. and 10 nestlings (9 ne-p fledging; 1 large downv chick)banded. Same no 
el 
of displaying birds after I finished banding despite marking, ^ ^ over 
island during an hour ^eriod. Other nests probably present but did not cntinue 
_ search. Most birds were under Eragrostis clumps at the NE part of the isls» n d 
^or under S olanum an d Eragrostis -near center of north part of island. 
Est. total ad. pop for island 30 birds. (6 of 7 adults handled were NOT with 
chicks or e-gs). 1 bird was attacked by a frigate after it flew following 
banding. 
Y\ 
Great Frigatebird - 14 chicks were found at same stage as at SS (large downy wit 
wing & scapular feathers; and loosing some down on head). All nests were in J 
patches of Solanum & all nests we^e on Solanum plants within a foot of the grou] 
One group of five was near the east central part of the island; nine were the 
west central portion. The evening flock consisted of at least 8l birds and I] 
estimated the totalpop. (flying birds) at 100. Several roosted on Clapp Rod: 
between Notth Tslan and the reef to the North.. 10 birds banded (C? ads, 3 M; 3 - 
2 Subad; 1 Imm.; 1 Unrecorded; I return. 
Us 
Brown Booby - 1 ad. on Clapp Rock at dusk. None seen on island. 
Red-footed Booby - Small population - no adults on island during day. One nest ir| 
Scaevola on W. side of island with 1. d.c. Two immatures roosting in same 
bush; -ioined by Subad. in evening. Est. Total ad.pop, 6. 4 banded (1 ldc; 
2 imm; 1 Subad.) 
Blue-f-, r ed Booby - Up to 12 imms, counted along beach at 1 time possibly 15 on 
entire island and I believe others c^„e in at dusk with adults hut 
did not census the beach again.- Most frequent on west side of island. Band¬ 
ed 12 imms. & returned 4 adults. At least two ads. roosted on Clapp Rock. 
Total ad. pop. eyt. at 40 birds. 
