10 
Sundell, R. A. 
wz~ — 
been dead for rjuite some time (several weeks), Kte other four chicks 
were In very good shape. The adults coming la to feed the chicks seemed 
thoroughly disoriented and confused (antlxropomorphic, hut best passible 
expression of the situation) by the disappearance of the burrow entrances 
the adults readily utilised them. No banding was attempted after 
completion of the excavations. 
Octo ber 26 — -A full moon from dusk until 4 a.m. (October 27) restricted 
banding operations. 
Wvom. 4 to 6:50 a.m. (dawn) I was able to band fifteen Common Noddies, 
from 5:50 until 8:50 X made observations on the entire colony. The 
shearwaters started leaving about 6 (very faint streaks of light 
in the east) and continued until the sun was completely up with most of 
them observed heading out to sea after circling over the island a few 
t irnes before it was completely light. The Co muon Noddies all take flight 
and circle and swoop around (mostly over the water, occasionally over 
\ l ! ! i 
the island) fear about 20 minutes (ten before sunrise, ten afterwards) 
s » » 
ti 
The noddies ffesa the large roosting concentrations then either return:. 
i . 1 : ' 
to the roosting sites or disappear out to sea. Several birds were 
observed circling around close to the east end of the island gaining 
altitude with each spiral, fees® finally flew off n a southeasterly 
direction. The frigatebirds from the colony cm the top of the island 
were the first to leave when it became completely light. They circled 
some but mainly seemed to hover motionless (supported by the wind) 
over the high part of island (east of the bOPAN antenna) where the southern 
