Discussion s The paucity of birds other than Sooty Terns, Frigates and 
Boobies was the most striking aspect of the survey. Thirteen species were 
recorded, but the daily count average of 5*0 is indeed minimal. On 22 January 
in areas A, B, and C, only three sightings (of 20 birds) were made. Sooty 
Terns, Frigates and Blue-faced Boobies accounted for 92.1% of all diurnal 
observations. Sooty Terns accounted for 93.1% of the nocturnal sightings. 
The overall grid density of 6.69 birds/linear mile slightly lower than 
the January figure (7.20) but not as low as the December, 1966 (5.9U). The 
over-all density figure is misleading considering the general lack of birds 
encountered. Sixty-three percent of the total was recorded on the 18th when 
the main Sooty Tern feeding area East of Howland was surveyed. Omitting Area 
"G2 from consideration, the grid density drops to 1.39. The linear density 
of Area ,f G fl was an unusually high 21.01, mostly attributable to large feeding 
flocks of Sooty Terns. 
SPECIES ACCOUNTS: 
Wedge-tailed Shearwater (8): Seven dark phase birds in a traveling flock 
accounted for '//20ths of the birds seen on the 22nd in the barren N.W. 
sectors of the Grid. The other single dark phase bird was seen S.W. of Baker. 
Bulwer Petrel (1): The single sighting was in Area "J 11 . Two Shearwater/Petrel 
sightings on nocturnal watch completes the Shearwater/Petrel total, a new low 
under January* s l£. 
White-ramped Storm Petrel (Leach ?) (9)2 As in past surveys, most sightings 
were in the south and west portions of the grid. 
Red-tailed Tropicbird (2): With tropicbirds unusually low in breeding numbers 
all through the Phoenix Islands, the low count at-sea is puzzling. Perhaps 
some undetected non-breeding region exists at-sea elsewhere. 
Blue - faced Booby (112+1 Nocturnal): Eighty-seven percent of the sightins were 
made on the 17, 18, and 19, in conjunction with feeding flocks of Sooty Terns 
in Area M G ,f . The Howland breeding population is at a low, with a new cycle 
just being initiated. 
A subadult seen on a bright moonlit nocturnal watch was associated with 
a large (20+) flock of Sooty Terns. 
