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Phase 2: Palmyra Island to Northern Grid . 
The second phase of this report will be the observations taken from 
the 15th to the 17th of November during the cruise from Palmyra Island 
to the Northern Grid Area. 
No streamered or banded birds of any species were seen during this 
portion of the cruise. 
There was a very significant difference in the number oi birds seen 
per linear mile during this phase of the cruise compared with the first 
portion from Honolulu to Palmyra (see table). The reasons for the 
dramatic increase are two-fold. On the fifteenth of November, the first 
day out of Palmyra, we were on a NW cruise course which put us into a 
rich feeding area apparently used by all species from the island. Red¬ 
footed Boobies, Sooty Terns,and Fairy Terns (all breeding on Palmyra 
Island) were seen in large numbers (see table). An interesting point 
here is that none of these species were observed to any extent to the 
north of the island. The area west of the island is at approximately 
5 N. latitude which is known to be a rich feeding area north of Howland 
Island. 
On the 16th and 17th of November, as we traveled west of 16U-20 we 
observed less island birds, but we began to see large numbers of Sooty 
and Slender-billed Shearwaters traveling south (see table). We were 
apparently crossing a migration route for these birds and consequently 
they became the omir nt species observed on the the 16th and 17th. 
Flock activity was moderate east of 163-1? west longitude, and 
high further west on the l6th and 17th. The majority of the flocks on 
the 15th were searching and feeding mixed groups containing species 
found on Palmyra Island. On the l6th and 17th, west of 16U-20 
longitude, most of the flocks v,ere traveling groups of Sooty or 
Slender-billed Shearwaters. 
A brief account of each species observed during this phase of the 
cruise follows: 
Sooty/Slender-billed Shearwater: 
Numerous birds identified as either Sooty or Slender-billed 
Shearwaters were observed on botn the 16th and 17th of November (see 
table). The majority of these species were traveling flocks which were 
going to the southwest. Some were described as having light under wings 
but the majority had dark underwings. One interesting point here is 
that almost none of these birds, or positively identified Sooty Shearwaters 
and Slender-billed Shearwaters, were recorded on the 15th of November 
east of 16U-20 W. longitude. This, plus the fact that we saw almost no 
birds of these species during the cruise from Honolulu to Palmyra, 
suggests that the late migrating birds, at least, must pass to the 
west of Oahu and possibly to the west of the Leeward chain, on their 
way south. 
Sooty Shearwater: 
(Puffinus griseus) 
A moderate number of Sooty Shearwaters was observed on the loth and 
17th of November (see table). The majority both days were seen in 
small traveling flocks. On the l6th, a mixed flock containing both 
Sooty and Slender-billed Shearwater was seen. Most of the birds observed 
on both days were traveling in a southwest direction, however, a few 
were headed south and a few had no direction. 
