i , . k.<o>-v3a. V> - 
Typed Copy of extract from Scientists Log of McKernanS February 1955 visit to Laysan. 
(Note from R.L.Fyle states information was copied by Mary Lynn Godfrey and that apparently 
nothing more was written*). 
(Seal count evidently on preceding page that we did not receive). 
albatrosses - both Laysan and black-footed were everywhere* While we were ask to count 
them* we found it impossible. There probably were 1 or 2 hundred thousand of them about 
2/3 Laysan and 1/3 blackfooted. About 80$> of those with eggs or young had youngs 
although it appeared that some blackfooted in the northern part of the island 
had but recently come in and had yet to lay. 
We thoroughly surveyed the island for Laysan teal, we counted l6l teal; most of these 
had to be flushed from nests so there must have been a total of 200 ai 1 living in 
a ver V restricted section of the south shore of the salt lake on the island. 
We found several hundred frigate birds in breeding plumage, red-footed and blue-faced 
boobies in small numbers (less than 500), the Laysan finch was exceedingly abundant and 
several thousand must be present. A large band of curlew, large and probably the bristle- 
thied [sic] curlew, of about 100 were seen on the windward shore, golden plovers, wandering 
tattlers and sanderlings in great numbers were about the shores of the salt lake, 
which abounded in brine shrimp ( some were preserved). One white tern and several sooty 
terns were seen. Shearwater buroughs were common in the interior of the island. 
tally of Birds 
1 - possibly 200,000 albatross. At least twice as many as on Midway. 
2 - composed of about 2/3 Laysan and 1/3 blackfoot 
3 - shearwater burrows thick and several heard. No estimate, but according to burrows, 
several thousands. 
4 - l6l Laysan Teal counted and more known to be on nests. Total of 200 estimated. 
Teal were nesting among tall grasses and Scaevola. 
5 7 about 500 frigatebirds in about 5 colonies. 
6 - about 20 red-footed boobies on the south shore of the lake. 
7 - about 100 blue-faced boobies most of which were on the south shore of the lake. 
8 - only k- white terns were seen. 
9 - thousands of Laysan finches, second only to albatross in number. May have been 
20,000 or more. The finches were everywhere on the island. 
10 - Saw 2 Sooty Terns late in afternoon. 
11 - 3 or k-00 sanderiing along the lake eating the brine shrimps which abounded therein. 
12 - 50 or 100 golden plover seen. 
[Last page has crude map showing locations for Black-footed Albatross, Laysan albatross, 
teal and flock of curlew]. 
