approximately 58,000 beeeding birds, most of them with fresh eggs. 
Around the periphery of the.southernmost colony, in a number of small 
sub-colonies were some 5;>0C0 1° 8,000 young, most of them somewhat larger 
than the recently hatched chicks in the more northerly colony. 
Tne colony, a short distance to the north, was roughly triangular in 
shap with sides about 625,800, and 10o0 feet in length, 'it was estimated 
to. occupy about 366,125 square feet and to contain about 189,000 breeding 
birds, about 60 percent of them with eggs, most of them well incubated, 
and about kO percent with recently hatched chicks. A considerable number 
of birds in the two colonies were still sitting down to lay eggs and a 
large prebreeding swirl, estimated at 50,000 birds, was swirling by day 
over the east side of the island. 
These figures for breeding birds were determined by pacing off the 
size of the colonies and by computing densities for 10x10 pace plots. In 
the six density plots made,the density ranged from 15*5 nests / 100 square 
feet to 10.2 nests/100 square feet with a mean density of 25*8 nests/100 
square feet. 
All returns were of birds that had previously been banded on Howland. 
Gray-backed Tern Humber seen----- 2 
The only Gray-backed Terns seen were two that Hackman saw flying over 
the west oeach on the afternoon of the 17th. Ho evidence of breeding was 
found. 
Shorebirds 
Shoresirds were very few in number and due to time limitations, we 
made no census of their populations. 
Golden Plover 
Hackman noted seeing two on the 17th and a few others were probably 
present. 
Ruddy Turnstone. 
Hone were noted by members of the field party but it is quite likely 
that a few were present and were overlooked. 
Wandering Tattler 
One was seen on the west beach by Crossin, and two were noted by 
Hackman. 
Bristle-thighed Curlew 
Hackman saw three along the west beach crest in the late afternoon of 
the l6th and saw four flying in from the ocean over this beach crest on 
