/ 
50 
It was seen sitting in pairs, but no eggs were found. When Palmer and 
Munro visited the island in late June 1891 they found burrows all over the 
_ . _ y $~p &***+*? 
island, mostly with eggs, Jn it a few youggx(Munro, op . cit .). Wedgetails 
were also numerous at sea before they reached the island. Munter (op. cit .) 
v 
noted that the species was ’Very common and found everywhere on the island” 
in March 1915* They were generally found in pairs and sometimes in small 
colonies. ’’Just before sundown a great many of them were noticed on the 
wing over the water.” About 15,000 birds were present on the island, but 
no eggs were found. 
In May 1925 Wetmore (unpub. notes, 1925) noted that this was the most 
abundant species. He found them scattered in pairs or in small groups 
,, j • 
everywhere on the island. Copulation was observed frequently, but no eggs 
Were found. Birds were seen above ground during the day, and there was a 
great amount of activity at dusk. About 25,000 birds were present. 
Richardson (pers. comm.) saw 10 to 15 birds in March 195^-. Woodside 
* 
and Kramer ( 196 I) noted that the interior bunchgrass areas were honeycombed 
- * - ' ^ v'. .; •• . * ‘ r ' •’ mi. 
* . i ! j , 
with burrows of this species and the Bonin Island Petrel ( Pterodroma hypoleuca ) 
«■ * 
, # , 
in March 1961. 
b 
Population : The species has been found on each P0BSP visit to the island. 
Only one adult was found in early March 1965 , about two dozen, with some 
courting pairs, were found in March 19$f, and 150 were present in mid-March 
1965 . In August 196 ^ there were an estimated 40,000 adults and 10,000 Immatures 
present. Birds were distributed over most of the island in areas of bunch- 
grass and Boerhavia , sharing this plant association with Bonin Island Petrels 
(Pterodroma hypoleuca ) and Sooty Terns ( Sterna fuscata ) in some places. 
i y . VV- 
