29 
Staadell, R. A. 
w — 
A Red-tailed Tropiebird was observed over Johnston in the early 
afternoon and probably the same bird was seen over the bird colony on 
Sand later in the afternoon. 
We talked with Ken American, Jlia Ludwig and Roger Clapp on Kure 
over the haul radio late in the afternoon. 
From 10 p.m. to midnight we banded 29 Noddy Terns and two 
Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. A flock of about 100 Sooty Terns (mostly 
adults with perhaps a half dozen 
identified by voice were 
seen and heard circling over the bird colony for a eh cart time during our 
banding operations. They are very conspicuous with their constant 
dalling. They have been heard for the past two nights and several 
members of the Coast Guard crew have commented about their presence. 
December 6— George had to close the mist nets due to unusually high 
winds throughout the day. When he checked the frigatebird 
nesting area both eggs were found to be broken by unknown factors 
(possibly the birds themselves smash the eggs when they are disturbed 
v»y> 
and flush suddenly from the colony). 
From 11 p.m. to 1 a.a. we handed 25 Noddy Terns. The flock of 
about 100 Sooty Terns was again conspicuously present for a short time 
as we banded. 
December 7 —The day was spent writing up field notes and reports. 
Four Sooty Terns were found in the bird colony on the grounds 
with broken wings (due to collisions with the guy wires). It seems as 
if the number of birds with broken wings might serve as a rough estimate 
of total population. The exact number of dead birds picked up each week 
by the Coast Guard crew could he recorded and these figures then checked 
