SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20560 
21 August 1966 
Dr. Philip S. Humphrey 
Department of Vertebrate Zoology 
Smithsonian Institi&on 
Washington, D. C. 20560 
Dear Phil: 
I don’t know whether you are in Washington or not but will 
write this letter anyway. As you know from my wires that things 
are going just fabulous here in the field. As of yesterday we 
had banded 4*408 birds and have picked up 741 returns including 
the Johnston Island bird and the"mystery" bird. The 662- band 
looked relatively new but our records don’t show any 662 series 
used by the POBSP. ¥e have about 15 days of banding left so hope 
for a possible 7*000 new banded birds. The weather has been a 
great help until the last two days when we have had heavy rains. 
¥e also had a clear night on August 18 and we lost a large number 
of adult birds. This year we have plenty of immatures so no 
worries over numbers to band (estimated to be about 10000 left). 
This letter is really to enquire about a lecture I have been 
ask to give here in Alaska. The Army CBE Division in Anchorage 
lists us on its official list of activities in Alaska, mainly be¬ 
cause they handle our clearances etc. The Commanding General of 
Alaska (past one) wanted a briefing on our activities. Col. Os¬ 
born thought maybe the new Commanding General would also want a 
briefing. If I have your permission to do so, please send me any 
slides that you used for the IOC talk. You might also have the 
office send me a few select slides from the files on the Central 
Pacific work. Col. Miller has briefed the CBE Div. in Anchorage 
already on his way to the interioi’. If you approve this, you 
should have Jane send the material as soon as possible as the 
hour is late. ¥e are departing St. George on Septemoer 6 bor St. 
Paul Island, If there are Glaucous-winged Gulls there we intend 
to do some rocket—netting and bleeding before coming south. 
i hope all goes well with you and that the IOC was a success 
Sincerely yours 
Max C. Thompson 
cc. Church 
