M» 2$> 4M 
Gardner Pinnacles 
17. Under Gray-backs the comment is most have young, varying age from 
those just pipped to young that are flying. Since it doesn't 
sound quite right to indicate that pipped eggs are young, would 
it be all right if I stated something to the effect most birds 
have young, varying in age from hatching to flight stage? Some 
pipped eggs present? 
18. On Blue-faced Boobies, Brown Boobies, and Common noddy Terns it 
is stated that most have young. Were there some eggs of each of 
these species present? I must say, Dave's recent observations 
are strongly at odds with earlier observations from about the 
same time of year. My only guess is that there must have been 
one helluva nesting failure earlier in the year, numbers of 
Blue-faced Boobies, Common Noddies, Gray-backs and Sooty Terns 
are ray down from any other May-June estimate. The absence of 
breeding Sooty Terns is incredible. The more you, we, and 
others do in the Leewards, the more it seems that there are a 
lot of unresolved problems about changes and populations from 
year to year. My guess is thata lot of these changes are due 
to really phenomenal late weather storms. The comments on the 
lose of the sign on Keeker, certainly indicate that seas are 
sometimes extraordinary out there. 
Monk Seal 
19. I have been pulling together all the various data on Monk Seals 
to send to you (as well as Green Turtle data - of which more in 
my neat letter). Enclosed are tables for Keeker and Nihoa on 
the Monk Seal for you to look over. Do you want to write the 
comments for this species account or shall I? 
It looks like a sure bet that June is the end of the FOBSF. I am 
really going to have to get cracking to get the various reports out. Will 
write again soon. 
Best regards. 
Roger B. Clapp 
Pacific Ocean Biological 
Survey Program 
