It is extremely Important to concentrate on band returns and 
recoveries of all e peeies this spring. Ton seen particularly to be 
lagging on albatross recoveries. Continue working on frigates and 
boobies in the roosts* banding* obtaining recoveries, and spray- 
painting birds. Pat lets of paint on then as this marking as been 
decided upon in lien of streamers for at-sea identification of 
Leeward birds. I mean lots of paint; it should last for several 
months if ws do this* and this is important. Ve will begin wing¬ 
tagging lion in Island Petrels only* as soon ss the tags arrive. Bob 
will probably bring them out. Don't worry about banding Sonins 
until the wing tags arrive for we'll Just have to handle those birds 
a second time to put the tags on. Use this time to build up a re¬ 
serve of banded and painted boobies and frigates and to obtain 
albstrose recoveries. 
To save confusion here I have changed the specimen labeling 
policy for Knre to conform with what others ere doing. Prom now 
on put a complete museum label* filled out according to the circu¬ 
lar letter regarding the tame, on each specimen as soon as it is 
collected and processed. This is of course In addition to the 
field series label. Continue completing a KcBee card and cataloging 
as in the past. Bob and Alan should continue making up skins when¬ 
ever time permits. If large birds are too greasy at least make them 
to salted skins. Because of the backlog of eklns do not continue 
te collect big series of common things and freeze them* unless you 
feel there will definitely be time to skin then out there. Be cer¬ 
tain te collect all gulls* etc. that show up as soon as they are 
semi* take blood samples* collect ectoparasites and prepare the 
specimen. 
* 1 - - • . .. . ~ 
Be sure to check Bon ins, frigates and boobies for egg-laying 
dates this spring. It's best te palpate the Bonins when you're 
handling them to feel eggs; this works pretty well. 
We've got to increase eur efforts in the blood, ectoparasite* 
arthropod area. A minimum of 50 samples a week from as many species 
as passible (that's a total of 50 from all species, not 50 from each 
species) will be a good goal until I get more definite word from the 
contracting agency. Also continue taking ectoparasites off live 
birds. Ghee you get the 50 McBee cards per species stop making the 
eards and Juet take parasites, cataloging them in the ectoparasite 
catalog as ve have been doing in the past. Refer to the new field 
manual* items 1264 and 1267, for the proper labeling of specimens, 
and instructions for filling out the ectoparasite data sheet, a 
batch of which I'm sending under separate cover. Be certain to 
follow the instruction to use separate vials for specimens from 
different parte of the body of one bird* labeling each vial as to 
whore it earns from* but using only one ectoparasite catalog number* 
l.e. 237a, 237b, 237c; a head* bowings, c body. 
