-5- 
abundance on Oahu. Since they associate with turnstones and Palmyra has 
a low turnstone population, it is possible that birds moving south from 
Hawaii head southwest to the Phoenix Islands. 
Hawaiian Noddy Tern Estimated population -5,CXX)t25$ 
( Anous minutus) Number collected -5 
Hawaiian Noddies were at a peak in their breeding cycle. Most 
nexts examined contained eggs. Due to the thick foliage, an accurate 
population estimate could not be obtained. 
The birds nested in most islets of the atoll with the largest 
number in the heavily forested southeastern islets. 
Common Noddy Tern Estimated population * -lOOtlO^ 
( Anous stolidus ) 
Common Noddies nested sparingly on most islets of the atoll. Nests 
found in coconut palms and Messerschmidia contained eggs. 
Sooty Tern Estimated adult population -10,00ct5$ 
( Sterna fuscata ) Number breeding -8,000 
Number chicks -4,000 
Number banded -3,400 
Number returns -20 
Number sera samples -112 
A Sooty Tern colony located on an island in the southeastern part 
of the west lagoon contained about 4,000 large chicks. Due to the 
dense cover of Messerschmidia on the islet, only one night's banding was 
accomplished. P0BSP personnel banded 2,400 chicks and 1,000 adults. 
Flying immatures were observed over the lagoon and the runway. A swirl 
of about 100 birds formed daily over the lagoon. Due to the complete 
lack of eggs and the small size of the swirls we arrived at the 
decision that Sooty Terns would not be present in sufficient numbers to 
make a December visit profitable. 
Fairy Tern Estimated population 
( Gygis alba ) Number collected -1 
Fairy Terns were common on all islets of the atoll. Very few 
nesting birds were found, and the population must be at a low in their 
breeding cycle. 
The one bird collected may have been preparing to nest. It proved 
to be a male with gonads slightly enlarged and brood patch bare. 
