6 
the night of 11-12 December* Attempts to collect while drifting on this night 
were not very fruitful, as only one Sooty was shot. Efforts to catch up with 
Sooties during the day were almost comical as they would flee when the diip was 
within a mile. However, all was not lost as we did manage to get close enough 
to one flock on the 11th to be sure of the age composition. Of 57 Sooties noted, 
eleven were identified as immatures. On the 12th another mixed flock was seen, 
but with only one Sooty in it. This was a heavily speckled subadult bird, 
probably two or three years old. The bird colledted on the night of 11-12 November 
was also a subadult, with very sparse breast-flecking, but with apparently 
juvenile feathers showing on the wing coverts, back, head, and rectrices. It is 
estimated to be a three or possibly four year old bird and would have appeared to 
have been An adult with binocular identification. 
The status of the "winter 1 ' population of Sooties would now seem open to 
question. The above discussed flock (composed of about 20$ immatures) would 
tend to refute the theory that immatures migrate to the Philippines; 
tut actually it could just as well be argued that the above-mentioned immatures 
were strays which for some reason did not migrate. Or it could be theorized 
k 
that, the Philippine recoveries of POPSP-banded Sooties were strays in that area.,etc. 
The status of the adults here in the central Pacific from November through 
- 
January is also confusing. It is possible that they may be mostly birds pf non- 
breeding age; this suggestion is based on very slim evidence which indicates that 
it is mostly sub-adults which linger around a breeding colony after tbf nesting 
population leaves (see June through September Johnston Island biweekly reports 
and French Fri f ate Shoals August report.) However, it would be unfounded at 
present to propose that only subadults remain in the area as not enough specimens 
have been seen or collected at sea from November throu b h January in the northern 
areas. A more efficient means of collecting would be neeessary to supply the 
information needed. 
