Sooty Tern (sterna fuscata) 
Current st at us : Breeds annually 
Prior Records : Munro (1941) saw this species off Nihoa May 26-27, 1891, 
Other records are Fisher (1906), Munter (1915), Wetmore (1923), Yanderhilt 
and de Schauensee (1941), Woodside and Kramer (1961), Kramer (1961), Kramer 
and Beardsley (1962). 
Population: Fisher (op. cit) noted that this species was abundant both on 
June 1-2 and August 10-15 19QS0 Munter (op. cit) estimated 20,000 on March 
18, 1915. Wetmore (op. cit) estimated 6000 pairs June 11-16, 1923. Vanderbilt 
and de Schauensee (op. cit) reported one large and one small colony August 7-15 
19^0 but gave no estimate of numbers present. Woodside and Kramer (op. cit) 
reported them to be abundant March 2, 1961. Kramer (op. cit) saw two birds 
flying over the island December 10-15, 1961. 
The POBSP tr4p of June 5-6, 1963 saw hundreds of these birds from the 
SuK'sf*'* PfiiZrr 7>/9 #ty 
ship. The t-±*£p of March 6, 1964 estimated 12,000 while the ‘trip of September 
23-24, 1964 heard a single bird calling at night. The March 24, 1965 
estimated 100,000 birds present. 
Reproduct ion: Fisher (op. cit) saw many immatures between August 5-10, 1902. 
Munter (op. cit) found birds with eggs on the South slopes on March 18, 1915, 
and indicated that nest density was highest near the summit of the island. 
Wetmore (op. cit) in June ll-l6, 1925, found them !, in small colonies on the 
lower slopes, the larger congregations being found on the highest slopes below 
the highest peak. Tf He found the majority of nests containing fresh eggs 
although a few nestlings were found on the higher slopes. Vanderbilt and 
de Schauensee (op. cit) from August 7~15, 19^-0, found a large colony near the 
