1U00,19 February - 
070C,20 Februaiy —Diurnal and nocturnal watch to S.E. 
t of Baker Island. Pickup Baker party. 
0700—20 February - 
Cr 
1310—23 February - 2h-hour watches completing grid pattern 
Methods: One-man watches were i*un during all periods save the island 
landings and the nights of the 17th and 18th. Diurnal watches were held on the 
helicopter deck and bow area during fair weather. During rain squalls, 
the watch was moved to the leeward side of the quarterdeck (where area 
of observation is reduced by ca §). Nocturnal watches were stationed 
on the quarterdeck, when possible on the lee side. 
Nocturnal drifiting stops were made on three nights. The present 
support ship is not well suited for night collecting. Coming to a full 
stop takes ca 1$ minutes and even then aerodynamic factors often cause 
the ship to "sail" at a slow ahead speed making it impossible to retrieve 
fallen birds. 
Heavy seas and high winds from the 17th on prevented use of the 
skiff. 
No birds were collected during the survey. 
Discussion: The paucity of birds other than Sooty Terns, Frigates and 
Booties was the most striking aspect of the survey. Thirteen species 
were recorded, but the daily count average of 5.0 is irrieed minimal. 
On 22 January in areas A,B & 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 (5.9t). 
The over-all density figure is misleading considering the general lack 
of birds encountered. Sixty three percent of the total was recorded on 
