4 
SIC 20 
Preliminary 
At-Sea Report 
(7 October -2 November 1968 
ITINERARY 
1400 
07 
October 1968 
Depart Honolulu, Hawaii 
0900 
14 
October 1968 
Arrive McKean Island 
1200 
31 
October 1968 
Depart McKean Island 
0800 
3 
November 1968 
Arrive Pago Pago, American Samoa 
During October and early November 1968, I was aboard the Scripp's 
vessel R/v ALEXANDER AGASSIZ as a visiting ornithologist for POBSP. 
The primary purpose of the cruise was to perform tide and current studies 
around McKean Island. I conducted at-sea observations between Honolulu 
and McKean Island from 7-13 October 1968 and between McKean and American 
Samoa from ^,1 October to 2 November 1968. During these observations 
covering 778 miles and 71*3 hours, 4 -, 951 birds of 26 species were re¬ 
corded. No adverse weather conditions were encountered during the cruise. 
Since the Scripp’s mission called for a direct cruise without delays, 
I did not attempt to collect birds enroute. 
Bird density was rather low throughout the cruise except for great 
numbers of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters just south of Oahu on 7 October and 
large feeding flocks of Sooty Terns just south of the equator NE of 
McKean on 13 October. The Wedge-tails were undoubtedly from Oahu 
(Manana) since the vast majority of birds were moving in that direction 
throughout the afternoon. The high Sooty Tern density NE of McKean, on 
the other hand, probably did not represent McKean birds. The flocks were 
composed of adults with an estimated 10 percent plus immatures. At this 
time the Large McKean colony was tending eggs or small chicks. Hence 
the at-sea flocks represent a departing colony from one of the other 
Phoenix Islands or possibly from one of the Line Islands. 
SPECIES ACCOUNTS 
Wedge-tailed Shearwater No. of Birds Recorded: 1,080 
(Puffinus pacificus ) No. Light Phase Birds: 1,021 
No. Dark Phase Birds: 58 
Most sightings (78.2 percent) of this species were recorded on 7 
October from Oahu to ca_. 4-0 miles south. One large mixed breeding flock 
(estimated 4-00 Wedgetails, 200 Common Noddies and 150 Red-footed Boobies) 
