P.Woodward 
SIC 9 
Species Accounts 
Phoenix Island - 30 Sept. 1965 
Christmas Shearwater : At least 3 OOO birds present in the rocks. All stages of nesting 
but large young moce common. Watched an adult excavate a burrow. Its head was down in the 
hole with its right foot braced against the edge of burrow. It dug withs its left foot 
which was extended fully backwards. This is something I dont think most birds can do. 
Brown Booby ; Found one nest mn a high spot by the edge of the lagoon 
Lesser Frigatebird : Saw a beautiful female on a nest. Instead of a white brecjst it was 
a beautiful rust color. Small colonies located behind camp. One group nesting in 
Boerhavia had 250 + eggs while another 250 + nestlings wee located in back of the other 
group. The nestlings wee scattered in an areas of dead vegetation. 
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper : Saw 3 birds in the lagoon 
Sooty Tern : (29 ) Remanants present, perhaps 7 OOO birds. 
Brown Noddy : Very few birds on nests found. Three downy chicks seen - all dark phase. 
Blue-gray Noddy : The "foot loook" of this species is of shorter duration than 
Sterna fuscata. Saw an adult feeding a large young. The nestling was on the right side 
of the adult at a slight angle but sitll facing the smae wasy as the adult. It pecked 
at the adult bill but didnt call. The adult would bend its head down to the young which 
would then gat take the food from the adults mouth. Feeding action was not at all violent. 
White Tern : Only a small number of bjrds seen. Saw only one egg on a log. 
