WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER-Annotated List 
DECKER 
June 17-20,29,1923 
(Wetmore) 
June 17-19* Common but less abundant than at Dihoa. The birds 
habe eggs scatterred about pver the slopes most of them showing slight traces of 
incubation . I saw one instance where two eggs had rolled together and one bird 
was incubating both, 
June 20 : About 3000 pairs here. The calls of these birds echo 
along the rock cliffs at nightfall with a weird cadence that is ghostly in the 
extreme- June 29: Do change 
July 26, 1964- 
(Kfidler) Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were very common but the birds had the same 
problem here which they have on Dihoa Island; they are unable to burrow becasue of 
the rocky nature and as a result they use any holes or depressions they can find 
in the rocks, the rim rocks, and along the cliff sides as well as nesting on the 
surface of the ground under the thick growth of Chenopodium on the west slope of 
Flagpole hill. Many of the nests contained eggs. 
__L — _ — _ ___ 
Sept.” 25,^196k 
(Filet, PQBSP) Total population estimate- 1500 young 
downy chicks some of body tracts in 
Banded- 19 
( Kr idler) Underneath these growths of Chenopodium [which mostly grows at the higher 
parts over all the slopes] are a number of Wedge-tail burrows; however we found 
Wedge-tail Shearwaters not only utilizing the holes in the rubble of the rock but 
also nesting in whatever nook and cranny they could find. Some were foudd nesting 
in slight caves above the surface of the rock exposed to the wind and the climate. 
.... a population of k to 5 thousand -- this is an estimation at best. About 1500 
downy young were recorded. A few of the young had their just breaking out 
of their sheaths. 
March 15, 1965 
(Bahko, PQBSP) Estimated Island total population- 2, 000 
Breeding (88 pairs seen, no eggs) 
(Kr idler) A very speculative estimate of 2,000 was made. Do eggs or chicks were 
found, 
Sept.10-11,1966 
(Kridler) Do estimate was made but these birds were considered to be 
abundant with populations increasing considerably at night. All young were found 
in the big downy stage. There was considerable caterwauling and calling during 
the night by this species. 
March 10, 1966 
(Hackman, PQBSP) (Kept) Population estimate* 10+ adults roosting.. .These birds were 
sitting around or were increvices between rocks. (Dotes) Saw 
about 10 birds in holes along top of ridges. Do eggs were seen. 
Sept.15 ,1967 
(Kridler) 
___ Do attempt was made to conduct a throough census of these birds, 
however, we observed the following during our investigation: adults- 
60, locals - 112, all downy; eggs 8; on the Dorthwest Cape we found i 6 downy chcisk. 
There undoubtedly were many more but since they tended to be found along holes in the 
steeper slopy sides of the island as well as being scattered undernesth the Chenopodium 
on the hillsides and we didnt have time to chekc all the areas. 
