INTRODUCTION 
This report comtains the results of research on the relation 
between bird populations and aircraft operations at the U. S. Naval 
Station, Midway Islands. The investigation was carried out by the 
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, U. S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of the Interior, with funds provided by the Bureau 
of Asronautics, Department of the Navy. The results of field work from 
July 1957 through July 1958 are reported hereins this work was a : 
continuation of previous studies, the results of which were published in 
"Birds and Aircraft on Midway Islands, 1956-57 Investigations" by Karl 
W. Kenyon, Dale W. Rice, Chandler S. Robbins, and John W, Aldrich, JU. S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service as Special Scientific Report--Wildlife No, 38, 
January 1958. 
The species of greatest concern are the Laysan aipatrose: 
Diomedea dmmutabilis, the black-footed albatross, Diomedea nigripes, 
and the sooty tern, Sterna fuscata, and the studies have been focused 
on these species. 
' Control of birds usually requires knowledge of size of 
populations, longevity, production, movements, behavior, and other 
facets of the life history of the species. Consequently, a complete 
analysis of these factors was undertaken, 
Only those aspects of the study of immediate concern to the 
problem of aircraft operation are discussed here, Several other papers, 
covering in more detail the basic biological studies on the albatrosses, 
as well as other aspects of ornithology and wildlife conservation in 
the Leeward Chain of the Hawaiian Islands, are in preparation for 
publication in ornithological journals. 
In October 1957, Johnson A, Neff, Denver Wildlife Research 
Laboratory, took over leadership of the project. Neff.spent the 
periods 18 November to 13 December 1957, and 29 April to 16 May, 1958, 
on Midway. Dale W. Rice was in the field from 17 November 1956 to 21 
July 1958. Willis C. Royall was on Midway from 18 November 1957 to 
8 February 1958, Richard E. Warner, biologist with the Hawaii 
Division of Fish and Game, was temporarily employed for the period 13 
May to 7 June 1958 to assist with studies on Laysan Island. 
Captain John A, Gamon, Jr., Commanding Officer of the Midway 
Islands Naval Station, and his entire staff extended complete co- 
operation throughout all phases of the study. Naval personnel, their 
dependents, and civilians stationed on Midway assisted in many ways, 
both in an official capacity and voluntarily. Special thanks are due 
Iieutenant Commander J. B. Maze and Lieutenant (jg.) R. Ts. Takahashi, 
who served most efficiently as liaison officers. The U. S. Coast 
Guard generously provided transportation to Laysan Island and French 
Frigate Shoals; special acknowledgment should be made of the courtesy 
