Sooty Tern 
Population estimate 
Banded --—--— 
Returned - 
-c. 15000 
197 
(adults) 
(adults) 
Sooty Terns were nesting throughout much of the east-central interior 
of the island, particularly in sand- Eragr ostis associations but also in 
areas where Ipomea had covered the ground. Most of the birds were with 
large chicks but a very few of the young were flying. A comparison of 
the stage of nesting on Lisianski with that on Pearl and Hermes suggests 
that the Lisianski population is about two weeks behind the one on Pearl . 
and Hermes• 
Six of the 13 returns (46$) for which we knew the island of banding 
were banded on other islands. Two were banded on Laysan, and one each was 
banded on French Frigate Shoals^ Oahu^ and Johnston. We have no explanation 
for this anomalously large proportion of interisland birds. 
Sooty Tern 
Sooty Terns were swirlincr over the north-central portion of the island 
Breeding status: Down on ground 
by day but no nests with eggs or young found 
Estimated population 
c. 7500 
i-' 
