Fairy Tern (Gygis alba) 
Current status : Breeds annually 
Prior Records : Munro (194-1) saw this species off Rihoa May 26-27, 1891. 
Other records are Fisher (1906), Munter (1915), Wetmore (1923), Vanderbilt 
and de Schauensee (194-1), Woodside and Kramer (I96I), Kramer (1961). 
Population : The largest concentrations of this species on Nihoa are on the 
cliffs of the north, west and east sides of the island and are consequently 
difficult to census accurately. Fisher (op. cit) noted them to be (&«■}? 
common June 1-2 and August 5-10, 1902. Munter (op. cit) estimated 50,000 
birds on March 18, 1915, but this is probably too high in view of f other? - ) 
later estimates. 
Wetmore (op. cit) estimated 4,000 pairs, occurring only on high cliffs 
of the west, north, and east faces of the island. Vanderbilt and de Schauensee 
(op. cit) considered them to be "not particularly abundant" August 7-15, 194-0. 
Woodside and Kramer (op. cit) noted them to be abundant March 2, 1961 and 
Kramer (op. cit) reported them as one of the most abundant species December 
5-10, 1961. 
ft/Kver PARTY 
The P0BSP visi t of June 5-6, 1963 noted several thousand as did the trip 
. ^ surety PftRrr 
of March 6, 1964-. The tri p of September23-24-, 1964- estimated 350 present and 
pAtery 
the - v i sit of March 24-, 1965 estimated 800. 
Reproduct ion : Wetmore (op. cit) noted pre-breeding activity and nestlings in 
June 11-16, 1923. Vanderbilt and de Schauensee (op. cit) found eggs just 
beginning to hatch in August 7"15, 194-0. Kramer (op. cit) noted immature birds 
between December 10-15, 1961. 
svAvcr Sc ,£ i/<c y par rr 
Two P0BSP t r ips have reported, breeding. The vmdbt- of June 5-6, I963 
party 
reported many nestlings and the trip- of March 6, 1964- found eggs, nestlings 
and immatures. 
