20 
Snecies 
No. 
Percent 
Red-footed Booby 
26 
^•3 
Frigate sp. 
6 
1.0 
White-capped Noddy 
215 
35-3 
Common Noody 
61 
10.0 
Noddy sp. 
200 
32.8 
Blue-Gray Noddy 
.5 
White Tern 
99. 
16.5 
• 
610 
100 
The following information might be surmised from the above: Both 
White-capped and Common Noddies breed commonly. Red-footed Booby is likely 
a regular breeder,surely at least a common rooster. Several light-phase 
birds were seen, but most were intermediate types (much the same ratio as 
found in the Palmyra population). Great Frigatebirds probably breed in 
moderate to low numbers. The Fairy Tern certainly is an abundant breeder. 
The offshore numbers indicate an island population that must exceed sev- 
m 
eral thousand. Without a doubt this is the largest•breeding concentration 
of this species in all the Line and Phoenix Islands, and it probably con¬ 
stitutes one-fourth to one-third of the total population of the two chains. 
Several Blue-Gray Noddies were seen about three miles offshore and must 
certainly represent a small breeding population. 
Notably abs'ent were Sooty Terns and White-tailed Tropicbirds. Sooty 
Terns would not be expected as breeders on this heavily vegetated island 
but White-tailed Tropicbirds should have been evident if they were present 
in any significant numbers. 
Large mixed feeding flocks (200+ birds) of Common and White-capped 
Noddies, White Terns, and Red-footed Boobies were conspicuous around five 
miles from the island. 
Fanning Island 
21 March 
The approach to Fanning reflects the relatively sparse number of 
birds present on the island. The chief breeding birds (Noddies, White 
Terns, Red-footed Boobies, and Frigates) are chiefly concentrated on the 
eastern (noninhabited) sections. Brown Boobies, which may breed but were 
not located during the island survey, were surprisingly conspicuous around 
the western opening to the lagoon where several birds, adults and im¬ 
mature s, were seen. Soaring Frigates were scattered around the edges of 
the island. An adult bird was seen with what was described as an orange 
Sand-Johnston streamer, but since natives occasionally have captive birds 
with tethers of some unknown sort the record is open to some question. 
No noticeable flocking was seen offshore. An accidental small Pterodroma 
was seen about two miles from shore. 
Christmas Island ‘ 25 March 
During the day the offshore region is typically a mixture of the 
breeding populations in scattered and ^diverse combinations. During the 
