WIHOA MILLER BIRD--Annotated List-WIHOA-p.3 
a 
« i 
June 10, 1962 
(Marshall, cont. ) of the milierbird with one egg was found at the summit of 
Miller ? s Peak. To the best of our knowledge this constitutes 
a first nesting record for this species. 
March 6 - 7 , 1964- Population estimate- 7 seen 
(Amerson) ho of nests-- none 
Lb of young- — 
Remarks- Miller y s Peak only 
(Walker) Seven birds seen, no signs of young or nests. ... Saw three 
Miller Birds around flat area, possibly four others. Very 
secretive, quickly darting under vegetation. Attempted to capture with a shirt -- 
negative results. Would be easy to do so with a net. Wo Miller birds seen in Miller 
gulch. 
July 26, 1964 I observed three Millerbirds foraging about oil Miller Plateau. 
(Kridler) Two of these seemed to have formed a pair bond. 
.0ept. 23-24,1964 
(Fleet, PQBSP) Mist netted 8, estimated 40 on Miller Peak, estimate for islands 150 
(Kridler) Camp was made at the base of East Palm Gulch, a specieal Miller bird 
count was made from the camp across the West Palm Gulch a bout 
halfway up the south slope on a diagonal. A total of 21 was seen. Twelve were noted 
on the plateau near Miller Peaks. Mist nets were erected and eight birds were captured 
and banded. There seemed to be little plumage difference except for two which had their 
secondary wing coverts lightly edged with gray. In view of the 21 seen in scattered 
locations on the island it was felt that previous estimates of perhaps 50 birds was far ± 
too low and that the island population must number at least 150 birds, if not more. 
During the day a brief rain shower triggered off some singing by these bit birds as they 
shook off the moisture while perched in Chenopodium bushes. Attempts to net the birds 
at Miller Peak were frustrated in some instances by Blue-faced Boobies walking into 
the nets and becoming entangled .... We found no evidence of nesting.... Miller birds 
are very secretive and it was only after we would practically step on them that some 
would fly out from a clump of brush across a clear spot and back into another clump 
of brush. We actually had to drive than in to the net by forming a semicircle and 
walkingback and forth through the brush, stepping into the thick clumps and most 
of the birds were caught in the net less than a foot from the ground* .Miller birds 
can be found actively searching for insects and other forms of food throughout the groves. 
March 13-14,1965 Estimated island total population - 100-500 
(Banko, PQBSP) Breeding: Wo nests seen; only 12 individuals seen. 
Banded-- 2 1 
(Kridler) _ We counted a total of 9 throughout both days. Attempts to net them 
on a helicopter flat -sere unsuccessful because of the problem 
previously discusssed. There were only two Millerbirds found over 
the entire plateau. Apparently they move down the slope when large numbers of Sooty 
Terns and Boobies utilize the area for nesting in the spring. 
