DXHOA* MILLER BIED 
Annotated List 
)A 
Dec, 9-1 6 , 1961 
(Kxamer) 
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This spocias is tho most difficult of all birds in the entire refuge to find 
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and would bo extremely difficult to study. This is duo to its preference for ro- 
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mi n ing under tho very dense, closed canopy of ChcnopodiunjSolanum. and probably, 
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Sid a . In the first threo days on the island only three birds wore soon, one in a 
Very thick Chonopodlitm patch, ono on a rock noxt to a Solanura bush in a dcoply shaded 
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gulch at dusk, and ono at early dawn in tho mouth of a shelter cave wo camped in, 
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The only other Miller birds seen were at the sum it camp whore considerable time was 
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spent in attempting to flush them from dense Chenopodium for photographic purposes, 
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They remained still and hidden until nearly stepped on and then either hopped or 
flew rapidly to tho noxt shrub* - T : ‘ - 
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For tho cost part they appear to bo solitary in habit, but pairing appeared to 
bo taking place. It would be extremely difficult to census these birds duo to their 
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cautious habits, but a random guess would indicate perhaps a total of 200 birds, 
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This estimate is based upon the apparently large feeding range of those we saw plus 
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the fact that wa did not see any of those birds on the eastern half of the island 
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dospito our constant lookout for them. Very few insects wore noted other than tho 
usual hippoboscid Hies around the albatross and booby colonies} and only one large 
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species of moth, Agrotls bryanl (swezy) with larvae of the "cutworm" type was found, 
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Tho host plant for this larvae is unknown, Tho generally dry, rocky naturo of the 
soil, plus the lack of ground crooping plants (which aid in soil moisture retention) 
very probably limits the food supply available to this bird. It is very possible that 
with the apparent docline of EraErostls varlabilis. that a particularly important • 
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food item in tho form of a host spociflo moth larvae has also declined, hence limit¬ 
ing the food supply. 
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