ATOLL RESEARCH BULLETIN NO. 150 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS, NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS by A. Binion Amerson, Jr. Issued by THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION with the assistance of The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife U S . Department of the Interior Washington D.C., U.S.A. December 20, 1971 ACKNOWLEDGMENT The Atol l Research B u l l e t i n is issued by t h e Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n as a p a r t of i t s Tropical Biology Program. r t i s co- sponsored by t h e Museum of Natural History, t h e Office of Environ- mental Sciences, and t h e Smithsonian Press . The Press supports and handles production and d i s t r i b u t i o n . The e d i t i n g i s done by the Tropical Biology s t a f f , Botany Department, Museum of Natural History. The Bu l l e t in was founded and t h e first 117 numbers issued by t h e P a c i f i c Science Board, National Academy o f Sciences, with f inanc ia l support from t h e Office of Naval Research. Its pages were l a rge ly devoted t o r e p o r t s r e s u l t i n g from t h e P a c i f i c Science Board's Coral Atol l Program. The s o l e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r a l l s tatements made by authors of papers i n t h e Atol l Research Bu l l e t in r e s t s with them, and statements made i n t h e Bu l l e t in do not necessa r i ly represent t h e views of t h e Smithsonian nor those of t h e e d i t o r s o f t h e Bu l l e t in . Editors F. R . Fosberg M.-H. Sachet Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n Washington, D. C. 20560 D . R . Stoddart Department of Geography University of Cambridge Downing Place Cambridge, England TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................... i v LIST OF 'PABLES ............................................ i x INTRODUCTION ............................................... 1 DESCRIPrION ................................................ 3 GEOLOGY ................................................... 28 CLIMATE .................................................... 32 HISTORY ................................................... 38 ................................... A French Discovery 38 ............................. United S t a t e s Possession 39 ................................. Guano and Shipwrecks 39 Hawaiian Cont ro l ..................................... h l United S t a t e s T e r r i t o r y .............................. 4 1 World War I1 ......................................... 45 Tern I s l and Naval A i r F a c i l i t y ....................... 48 Fishing I n t e r e s t s .................................... 52 Eas t I s l and LOXAN S t a t i o n ............................ 53 Tern I s l and LORAN S t a t i o n ............................ 56 Refuge S t a t u s ........................................ 59 SCIENTIFIC VISITS ......................................... 59 VEGETATION ................................................ 62 Vascular P l a n t s ...................................... 65 Tern I s l and ...................................... 67 East I s l a n d ...................................... 7 1 T r i g I s l a n d ...................................... '72 ............................... Whale-Skate I s l and '75 Round I s l and ..................................... 75 L i t t l e Gin I s l a n d ................................ 77 ....................................... Gin I s l a n d 77 ..................................... Shark I s l a n d 77 .................................... Other I s l a n d s 79 REPTIUS .................................................. 79 ....................................... Chelonia mydas 79 .............................. Lepidodactylus lugubr i s 92 BIIiDS ..................................................... 93 In t roduct ion ......................................... 93 Resident Seabirds ................................ 95 Migrant Shorebirds ............................... 96 ....... Vagrant, Accidental , and Introduced Birds . 90 Offshore and Pelagic Birds ....................... 97 Annual Cycles ........................................ 99 .................................. Breeding Cycles 99 Population Cycles ............................... 101 Ecological D i s t r i b u t i o n Within t h e A t o l l ............ 104 Resident Seabirds ............................... 104 Migrant Shorebirds .............................. 107 Vagrant, Accidental , and Introduced Birds ....... lo7 I s l and Accounts ..................................... 107 ..................................... Bare I s l a n d 108 Disappearing I s l and ............................. 108 ..................................... East I s l a n d 108 Gin Island ...................................... 114 La Perouse Pinnacle ............................ -114 ............................... Little Gin Island 119 Mullet Island ................................... 119 Near Island .................... ; ................ 121 Round Island .................................... 121 Shark Island .................................... 123 Tern Island ..................................... 126 Trig Island ..................................... 131 Whale-Skate Island .............................. 135 Banding and Movements ............................... 139 Banding ......................................... 139 Movements ....................................... 141 Species Accounts .................................... 144 ............................... Diomedea nigripes 144 ............................ Diomedea immutabilis 153 Fulmarus glacialis rodgersii .................... 161 Pterodroma hypoleuca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Pterodroma ultima ............................... 165 Pterodroma arminjoniana heraldica ............... 165 Bulweria bulwerii ............................... 165 Puffinus griseus ................................ 169 Puffinus pacificus .............................. 170 Puffinus nativitatus ............................ 1'79 Oceanodroma tristrami .......................... -182 Phaethon aethereus mesonauta .................... 184 Phaethon rubricauda ............................. 185 Phaethon lepturus ............................... 193 Sula dactylatra ................................ -193 - Sula sula ....................................... 205 -- Sula leucogaster ................................ 214 - Fregata minor ................................... 218 BUbUlcUs ................................... 227 Anas platyrhynchos .............................. 228 - Anas strepera ................................... 228 - Anas acuta ...................................... 228 -- Gallus g a l l ~ ~ ................................... 229 Phasianus colchicus ............................. 229 Fulica americana ................................ 229 Pluvialis dominica .............................. 230 Charadrim semipalmatus ......................... 237 Numenius tahitiensis ............................ 237 Heteroscelus incanum ............................ 241 Arenaria interpres .............................. 247 Crocethia alba ................................. -254 - Larus delawarensis .............................. 258 - Larus occidentalis .............................. 258 Larus glaucescens ............................... 258 - Larus pipixcan .................................. 259 Sterna fuscata .................................. 259 Sterna lunata ................................... 268 iii Proeelsterna cerulea ............................ 274 Anous stolidus .................................. 275 . A* tenuirostris .............................. 286 Gygis alba ..................................... -293 Psittirostra cantans ultima ..................... 299 A- flameus ................................... 301 polyglottos ............................... 302 .................................................. MAMMALS 302 Stenella roseiventris ............................... 303 Tursiops tr~~catus .................................. 303 Cetacea species ..................................... 304 Monachus schauinslandi .............................. 304 Canie familiaris .................................... 317 Felis catus ........................................ -318 -- Sus =~fa .......................................... 318 - SUMMARY .................................................. 319 A C K N O m G m T s .......................................... 320 LITERATURE CITED ......................................... 322 APPENDIX U B U S .......................................... 337 FIGURES The Hawaiian I s l ands . Map of French F r iga te Shoals. Redrawn from U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Chart No. 4172. F i r s t map of French F r iga te Shoals . Published i n 1796 i n P a r i s ( ~ r e n c h Hydrographic Office Map No. 556). Map of French F r i g a t e Shoals. Drawn 1859, p r i n t e d 1867. Map of French F r iga te Shoals by N.C. Brooks showing t r a c k of Gambia and wreck of South Seaman, l a t e A p r i l o r e a r l y May 1859. Or ig ina l 1914 survey map of French F r i g a t e Shoals surveyed by t h e o f f i c e r s of t h e U.S.S. Rainbow. Northeast face of La Perouse Pinnacle 7 August 1965; L i t t l e La Perouse a t r i g h t . POBSP photograph by A.B. Amerson, Jr. Tern Is land , 10 January 1966. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. Tern I s l and Naval A i r F a c i l i t y , 15 December 1943. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy b luepr in t map. Map of Tern Is land , 22-27 June 1923. Redrawn from Tanager Expedition map. Tern Is land , 24 June 1932. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. Eas t I s land , 10 January 1966. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. Map of Eas t and Mullet I s l ands , 22-27 June 1923. Redrawn from Tanager Expedit ion map. East I s land , 11 November 1935. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. Map of Eas t I s l and , 1 November 1948. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Coast Guard Operat ional Data Report. Whale-Skate I s land , 10 January 1966. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. 17. Map of Whale, T r ig and Skate I s lands , 22-27 June 1923. Redrawn from Tanager Expedition map. Whale and Skate I s l ands , 24 June 1932. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. T r ig I s land , 10 January 1966. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. T r ig I s land , 24 June 1932. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. Gin and L i t t l e G i n I s l ands , 10 January 1966. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. G i n I s l and and unnamed sandspi t , 24 June 1932. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. Round and Mullet I s l ands , 10 January 1966. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. Round Is land , 24 June 1932. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. Shark Is land , 10 January 1966. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. Disappearing Is land , 10 January 1966. Redrawn from o f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. The mode of t h e monthly means f o r a 12-year period, December 1950-December 1962, and t h e range of t h e maximum and m i n i m u m modes of temperature f o r French F r i g a t e Shoals . Mean number of days wi th measurable p r e c i p i t a t i o n f o r French F r i g a t e Shoals, June 1954-~anuary 1960, March 1960-~ecember 1962. 34 Mean monthly p r e c i p i t a t i o n i n inches for French F r i g a t e Shoals, June 1 9 5 4 - ~ a n u a r ~ 1960, March 1960-December 1962. 34 Wind d i r e c t i o n and speed a t French F r i g a t e Shoals from December 1950 t o December 1962. Length of d i r e c t i o n a l l i n e i n d i c a t e s percent of observat ions from t h a t d i r e c t i o n ; f i g u r e a t end of d i r e c t i o n l i n e i s mean wind speed i n knots . 36 Eas t I s l and " t e n t c i t y " 11 November 1935. O f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. 46 Map of Eas t I s l and seaplane anchorage, 1 October 1937. O f f i c i a l U.S . Navy photograph. 47 Newly cons t ruc ted Tern I s l and Naval A i r F a c i l i t y , 9 September 1943. O f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. 50 Newly constructed East I s l and Coast Guard LORAN Sta t ion , 24 A p r i l 1945. O f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. 54 Tern I s l and Coast Guard LORAN and power bui ld ing 21August 1965. POBSP photograph by A.B. Amerson, Jr . 58 Tern I s l and Coast Guard barracks 21August 1965. POBSP photograph by A.B. Amerson, Jr. 58 A e r i a l view of Tern Is land 11 December 1966 showing vegeta t ion growing along both s ides of t h e a i r s t r i p . O f f i c i a l U.S. Coast Guard photograph. 68 C.S. Judd p lan t ing Hau t r e e s a t west end of Tern I s l and 26 June 192'3. B.P. Bishop Museum photograph by E.H. Bryan, Jr. 68 Abandoned Tern I s l and Naval A i r F a c i l i t y 16 August 1949 showing i t s barren, white-coral expanse. O f f i c i a l U.S. Navy photograph. A e r i a l view of Tern I s l and 3 January 1956 showing l i t t l e vegeta t ion along t h e northwest s ide of t h e a i r s t r i p , but two l a r g e vegetated a reas on the eas t e rn h a l f of t h e southeas t s i d e . O f f i c i a l U.S. Coast Guard photograph. A e r i a l view of Tern I s l a n d ' s vegetat ion l3 December 1961; Lamoureux (1961: 7-10) found 22 p lant spec ies here on h i s September v i s i t . O f f i c i a l U.S. Coast Guard photograph. A e r i a l view of East I s l and Coast Guard LORAN S t a t i o n , c i r c a 1949, showing ex ten t of vegeta t ion . O f f i c i a l U.S. Coast Guard photograph. Eas t I s l a n d ' s vegeta t ion June 1962. Hawaiian Division of Fish and Game photograph by David B. Marshall . West view from e a s t end of Tr ig Is land 16 August 1965; dug-up a r e a i n foreground caused by t u r t l e s l a y i n g eggs; small Tournefor t ia p l an t s on the l e f t . POBSP photograph by A.B. Amerson, Jr. Southwest view from e a s t end of Tr ig I s l a n d 3 J u l y 1966; Tournefort ia along south c r e s t has grown two f e e t in l e s s than a year ( see Figure 44) . POBSP photograph by A.B. Amerson, Jr. Whale-Skate I s l a n d ' s vegeta t ion June 1962 showing o v e r a l l coverage except the beaches and a shor t sandy s t r e t c h near the f a r southeas t end. Hawaiian Division of Fish and Game photograph by David B. Marshall . v i i Tota l vegeta t ion (Boerhavia and Portulaca =) on L i t t l e Gin I s l and 25 August POBSP photograph by A . B . Amerson, Jr. Green Sea Tur t l e s sun-basking on the southeas t lagoon beach of Eas t I s land 19 June 1966. POBSP photograph by A.B. Amerson, Jr. Green Sea T u r t l e s u t i l i z e the e n t i r e south seaward 50-foot edge of East I s l and f o r digging nes t p i t s , thus des t roying many seabi rd n e s t s 19 June 1966. POBSP photograph by A.B. Amerson, Jr. Breeding cycles of seabi rds a t French Fr iga te Shoals; s t i p p l e d a reas represent eggs, barred a reas young, and black do t s non-breeding b i r d s . Sooty Terns nes t ing over most of East I s land 12 June 1966. POBSP photograph by A.B. Amerson, Jr. Laysan Albat ross young in foreground, Black-footed Alba t ross in background, and Sooty Terns f l y i n g over e a s t por t ion of Eas t I s l and 19 June 1966. POBSP photograph by A.B. Amerson, Jr . W Blue-faced Boobies nes t ing on low Round Is land 10 A w u s t 1965; no vegeta t ion present . POBSP photograph by A.B. Amerson, Jr. 124 Nesting b i r d s on e a s t por t ion of Whale-Skate I s l and 24 June 1966. POBSP photograph by A.B. Amerson, J r . 13 8 Great F r iga teb i rds and Red-footed Boobies nes t ing on Tourne- f o r t i a bush, Whale-Skate Is land 24 June 1966. POBSP photograph by A.B. Amerson, Jr. 138 Annual cycle of Black-footed Albat ross . 145 Annual cycle of Laysan Albat ross . 154 A p u a l cycle of Bonin P e t r e l . 162 Annual cycle of Bulwer's P e t r e l . 166 Annual cycle of Wedge-taixed Shearwater. 170 Annual cycle of Christmas Shearwater. 17 9 Annual cycle of sooty Storm p e t r e l . 183 Annual cycle of Red-tailed Tropicbird. 185 v i i i Annual cycle of Blue-faced Booby. Annual cycle of Red-footed Booby. Annual cycle of Brown Booby. Annual cycle of Great F r iga teb i rd . Daily shorebird population f l u c t u a t i o n a t Tern Is land, August-September 1966. Annual cycle of Sooty Tern. Annual cycle of Gray-backed Tern. Probable annual cyc le of Blue-gray Noddy. Annual cycle of Brown Noddy. Annual cycle of Black Noddy. Annual cycle of White Tern. TABLES Chemical a n a l y s i s of l ava1 rock from La Perouse Pinnacle c o l l e c t e d by Palmer i n June 1923 and analyzed by Washington and Keyes (1926: 350). Dates of POBSP and BSFW surveys of i s l ands a t French F r i g a t e Shoals . D i s t r i b u t i o n of vascu la r p l a n t s a t French F r iga te Shoals . Green Sea Tur t l e observa t ions a t Eas t I s l and . Green Sea T u r t l e observa t ions a t Gin I s l and . Green Sea Tur t l e observa t ions a t L i t t l e G i n I s land . Green Sea T u r t l e observat ions a t Tern I s l and . Green Sea T u r t l e observa t ions a t T r i g I s l and . Green Sea Tur t l e observa t ions a t Whale-Skate I s l and . Pe lag ic b i r d s which r e g u l a r l y migrate i n t o t h e waters surrounding French F r iga te Shoals . Maximum breeding periods of French F r i g a t e Shoals b i r d s . Monthly occurrence of non-resident b i r d s a t French F r i g a t e Shoals . S t a t u s of b i rds on French F r i g a t e Shoals . Breeding s t a t u s of spec ies on vegeta ted and non-vegetated i s l ands , some of which have been inhabi ted by man. S t a t u s and recent populat ion of Disappearing I s l and b i r d s . 16. S ta tus , recent populat ion, and h a b i t a t of East I s l and b i r d s . 110 17. S t a t u s , r ecen t populat ion, and h a b i t a t of G i n I s l and b i r d s . 115 18. S t a t u s , r ecen t populat ion, and h a b i t a t of La Perouse Pin- nac le b i r d s . 116 19. S t a t u s , recent population, and h a b i t a t of L i t t l e Gin I s l a n d b i r d s . 120 20. S t a t u s , recent population, and h a b i t a t of Round I s l a n d b i r d s . 122 Sta tus , recent population, and h a b i t a t of Shark I s l and b i r d s . S ta tus , recent population, and h a b i t a t of Tern I s l and b i rds . S ta tus , recent population, and h a b i t a t of Tr ig I s l and b i r d s . S ta tus , recent population, and h a b i t a t of Whale-Skate Is land b i rds . Yearly banding t o t a l s of French Fr iga te Shoals b i r d s . Yearly band r e t u r n t o t a l f o r French Fr iga te Shoals . I n t e r i s l a n d movement of 'banded b i rds involving French Fr iga te Shoals . Observations of Black-footed Albatross a t East I s l and . Observations of Black-footed Albatross a t L i t t l e Gin I s l and . Observations of Black-footed Albatross a t Tern I s l a n d . Observations of Black-footed Albatross a t Tr ig I s l and . Observations of Black-footed Albatross a t Whale-Skate Is land. Observations of Black-footed Albatross on o ther i s l ands a t French Fr iga te Shoals. Observations of Laysan Albat ross a t Eas t I s l and . Observations of Laysan Albat ross a t Tern I s l and . Observations of Laysan Albat ross a t T r ig Is land. Observations of Laysan Albatross a t Whale-Skate Is land Observations of Laysan Albat ross on o the r i s l a n d s a t French Fr iga te Shoals . Observations of Bonin P e t r e l a t Tern Is land. Observations of Bulwer's P e t r e l a t French Fr iga te Shoals . Observations of Wedge-tailed Shearwater a t Eas t I s l and . Observations of Wedge-tailed Shearwater a t Tern I s l and . Observations of Wedge-tailed Shearwater a t T r ig I s l and . Observations of Wedge-tailed Shearwater a t Whale-Skate I s l a n d . Observations of Wedge-tailed Shearwater on o the r i s l a n d s a t French F r iga te Shoals . Observations of Christmas Shearwater a t Tr ig I s l and . Observations of Christmas Shearwater on o ther i s l a n d s a t French F r i g a t e Shoals . Observations of Sooty Storm P e t r e l a t French Frj-gate Shoals . Observations of Red-tai led Tropicbi rd a t East I s l a n d . Observations of Red-tai led Tropicbird a t Tern I s l a n d . Observations of Red-tai led Tropicbird a t Tr ig I s l a n d . Observations of Red-tailed Tropicbird a t Whale-Skate I s l a n d . Observations of Red-tai led Tropicbi rd a t La Perouse Pinnacle. Observations of Blue-faced Booby a t Eas t I s l and . Observations of Blue-faced Booby a t Gin I s l and . Observations of Blue-faced Booby a t L i t t l e G i n I s l and . Observations of Blue-faced Booby a t Round I s l and . Observations of Blue-faced Booby a t T r ig I s l and . Observations of Blue-faced Booby a t Whale-Skate I s l and . Observations of Blue-faced Booby on o the r i s l a n d s a t French F r i g a t e Shoals . Blue-faced Boobies banded a t French F r i g a t c Shoals . Observations of Red-footed Booby a t Eas t I s l and . Observations of Red-footed Booby a t T r ig I s l and . Observations of Red-footed Booby a t Whale-Skate I s l and . Observations of Red-footed Booby on o the r i s l a n d s a t French F r i g a t e Shoals . x i i Red-footed Boobies banded a t French F r i g a t e Shoals . Observations of Brown Booby a t La Perouse Pinnacle. Observations of Brown Booby on o ther i s l ands a t French Fr iga te Shoals. Observations of Great F r iga teb i rd a t Eas t I s l and . Observations of Great F r iga teb i rd a t Tern I s l and . Observations of Great F r iga teb i rd a t T r ig I s l a n d . Observations of Great Fr iga tebi rd a t Whale-Skate I s l and . Observations of Great F r iga teb i rd a t La Perouse Pinnacle. Observations of Great F r iga teb i rd on o the r i s l a n d s a t French Fr iga te Shoals. Great F r iga teb i rds banded a t French Fr iga te Shoals Observations of Golden Plover a t East I s l and . Observations of Golden Plover a t Tern I s l and . Observations of Golden Plover a t Tr ig I s l and . Observations of Golden Plover a t Whale-Skate I s l and . Observations of Golden Plover on o ther i s l ands a t French Fr iga te Shoals. Observations of Br i s t l e - th ighed Curlew a t Tern I s l and . Observations of Br ie t le - th ighed Curlew on o ther i s l ands a t French Fr iga te Shoals . Observations of Wandering T a t t l e r a t Eas t I s l and . Observations of Wandering T a t t l e r a t Tern I s l and . Observations of Wandering T a t t l e r a t Trig I s l and . Observations of Wandering T a t t l e r a t Whale-Skate I s l and . Observations of Wandering T a t t l e r on o the r i s l ands a t French Fr iga te Shoals. Observations of Ruddy Turnstone a t East I s l and . Page - 213 xiii Observations of Ruddy Turnstone at Tern Island. Observations of Ruddy Turnstone at Trig Island. Observations of Ruddy Turnstone at Whale-Skate Island. Observations of Faddy Turnstone on other islands at French Frigate Shoals. Observations of Sanderling at Tern Island. Observations of Sanderling on other islands at French Frigate Shoals. Observations of Sooty Tern at East Island. Observations of Sooty Tern at Tern Island. Observations of Sooty Tern at Trig Island. Observations of Sooty Tern at Whale-Skate Island. Sooty Tern banded at French Frigate Shoals. Observations of Gray-backed Tern at East Island. Observations of Gray-backed Tern at Trig Island. Observations of Gray-backed Tern at Whale-Skate Island. Observations of Gray-backed Tern at La Perouse Pinnacle. Observations of Gray-backed Tern on other islands at French Frigate Shoals. 0bserva;ions of Blue-gray Noddy at La Perouse Pinnacle. Observations of Brown Noddy a; East Island. Observations of Brown Noddy at Little Gin Island. Observations of Brown Noddy at Tern Island. Observations of Brown Noddy at Trig Island. Observations of Brown Noddy at Whale-Skate Island. Observations of Brown Noddy at La Perouse Pinnacle. Observations of Brown Noddy on other islands at French Frigate Shoals. Brown Nod&y banded a t French Frigate Shoals. %!E Observations of Black Noddy a t East Island. 288 Observations of Black Noddy a t Tern Island. 289 Observations of Black Noddy a t Trig Island. 290 Observations of Black Noddy a t Whale-Skate Island. 291 Observations of Black Noddy a t La Perouse Pinnacle. 292 Observations of Black Noddy on other islands a t French Frigate Shoals. 293 Observations of White Tern a t Tern Island. 296 Observations of White Tern a t La Perouse Pinnacle. 297 Observations of White Tern on other islands a t French Frigate Shoals. 298 Observations of Nihoa Finches a t Tern Island. 301 Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals a t East Island. 3 07 Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals a t Gin Island. 3 08 Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals a t L i t t l e Gin Island. 309 Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals a t Round Island. 310 Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals a t Tern Island. 311 Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals a t Trig Island. 3 12 Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals a t Whale-Skate Island. 3l3 Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals on other islands a t French Frigate Shoals. 3 15 APFENDIX TABLES Sc ien t i f i c v i s i t s t o French Frigate Shoals, 1859-1969. 337 Publications and manuscripts on sc i en t i f i c collections and studies on French Frigate Shoals. 343 Annotated l i s t of vascular plants from French Frigate Shoals found i n the herbarium of the United States National Museum (USNM), the Bernice P. Bishop Museum (BPBM), and the University of Hawaii (UH) . 350 4b. 5a . 5b. 6a. 6b. 7a . 7 b . 8. 9a. 9b. 10a . l ob . l l a . l l b . Page - Black-footed Albat ross movement from French F r iga te Shoals . 354 Black-footed Albat ross movement t o French F r iga te Shoals . 355 Blue-faced Booby movement from French F r i g a t e Shoals . 355 Blue-faced Booby movement t o French F r i g a t e Shoals . 35'7 Red-footed Booby movement from French F r iga te Shoals . 358 Red-footed Booby movement t o French F r i g a t e Shoals. 364 Great F r iga teb i rd movement from French F r iga te Shoals . 372 Great F r iga teb i rd movement t o French F r i g a t e Shoals . 374 Ruddy Turnstone movement t o French F r i g a t e Shoals. 376 Sooty Tern movement from French F r i g a t e Shoals . 376 Sooty Tern movement t o French F r i g a t e Shoals . 377 Brown Noddy movement from French F r i g a t e Shoals . 380 Brown Noddy movement t o French F r i g a t e Shoals. 381 Black Noddy movement from French F r i g a t e Shoals . 381 Black Noddy movement t o French F r i g a t e Shoals. 382 THE NATURAL IIISTOJ Ada working out of Yokohama, v i s i t e d French F r i g a t e Shoals from j February t o 1 May 1882 (Hornel l , 1934). It l e f t t h e Shoals with a cargo of sha rks ' f l e s h , f i n s and o i l , t u r t l e s h e l l s and h o i l , d r i e d beche-&-rney and b i r d s ' down. I n e a r l y 1888 t h e schooner Wandering Mins t re l , with Captain Walker, h i s wife and t h r e e sons aboard, spent a week a t French F r i g a t e . This was the f i r s t record of a woman v i s i t i n g t h e Shoals ( F a r r e l l , 1928). The f i r s t b i o l o g i c a l survey of French F r i g a t e was made by Henry Palmer and George C . Munro aboard t h e Hawaiian bark Kaalokai 30 May t o 5 June 1891 (Walker, 1909). During l a t e sp r ing 1894 the yacht e, commanded by John Cameron, anchored a t the Shoals . With him were h i s wife, daughter, a f r i e n d ' s ch i ld , servant , and crew ( ~ a r r e l l , 1928). The North P a c i f i c Phosphate and F e r t i l i z e r Company was i n t e r e s t e d i n mining guano on t h e c e n t r a l P a c i f i c i s l a n d s . A l e t t e r from J.?. Hackfeld, s e c r e t a r y of t h e company, da ted 6 January 1894, t o James A . King, Minis te r of t h e I n t e r i o r o:C t h e new Republ-ic of Hawai-i, requested t h a t King order the l e a s e by publ ic auc t ion of French Fri.gate Shoals , Kure, Midway, and P e a r l and Hermes Reef fo r a term of 25 yea r s and t h a t t h e purchaser should have t h e exc l~us j~ve r i g h t t o mine guano, phosphate, f e r i : i e s and o ther materia1.s. The i s l a n d s were leased on 15 February 1894 f o r a period of 25 years t o t h e North P a c i f i c Phosphate and F e r t i l i z e r company.l This company was a l s o granted excl.usive r i g h t s t o t h e guano depos i t s provided they would be worked within f i v e yea r s ; otherwise, t h e r i g h t s would r e v e r t t o t h e Nawaiian government. Since t h e P a c i f i c Guano and F e r t i l i z e r Company never worked French F r i g a t e Shoal.s, t h e i r guano r i g h t s pre- sumably rever ted i n 1899; t h e i r lease , however, was probably v a l i d . Hawaiian Control. I n order t o obta in c l e a r t i t l e s t o t h e northwestern i s l ands f o r t h e Republic of Hawaii, Pres ident Sanford B. Dole on 9 J u l y 1895 appointed James A . King, Min i s t e r of t h e I n t e r i o r , Republic of Hawaii, a s Spec ia l Commissioner t o take possession of French F r iga te Shoa1.s. On t h a t same da te , King s a i l e d from Honolulu on the Revenue Cu t t e r m a a , corn- manded by Captai.n Berry, i n pursuance of P res iden t Do1.e '~ commission. King (Hawaiian S t a t e Archives) , i n a subsequent l e t t e r t o Dole on 22 Ju ly , noted t h a t t h e -- Lehua s ighted t h e rock i s l e t of French F r i g a t e Shoals on 1.3 July, t h a t he landed and took possess ion; on a nearby sand isl.and they p lanted t h e Hawaiian Flag. On 22 February 1896 t h e seal.iny schooner M a t t i e . Dyer wrecked. Captain Mockler and h i s 23 crewmen were a b l e t o g e t t o the l a r g e s t isl.and i n four whaleboats. Finding no water, they s e t out f o r Niihau; a l l a r r i v e d s a f e l y by March 2 n d ( P a c i f i c Commercial Adver t i ser , 2 March 1.896, 1: 5-6, 2: 1-2; and Hawaiian Gazet te , 3 March 1896, 3: 1 -3 ) . United S t a t e s T e r r i t o r x The U.S. Navy, a s wel l a s o the r U.S. Government agencies , became i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e Northwestern Hawaiian i s l a n d s i n the l a t e 1890's and e a r l y 1900 ' s . Hawaii became a United S t a t e s l This company changed i t s name t o the Paci . f ic Guano and F e r t i l i z e r Company on 3 Apri.3. 1.894. T e r r i t o r y on 30 A p r i l 1900 . l On 28 and 29 May 1902 the U.S. F i s h Commission Steamer Albat ross stopped a t t h e Shoals; among t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s was w i l d l i f e survey. A French ship, the Connetable Richmont, wrecked a t t h e Shoals on LO October 1903. A l l hands escaped i n t h r e e boats and a r r i v e d s a f e l y i n the Main Hawaiian I s l ands by t h e 27th (Paradise -- of t h e P a c i f i c , 8 November 1903, 8 : 2; 9: 1). Preserva t ion of w i l d l i f e was of prime importance i n t h e e a r l y 1900 ' s and Pres ident Theodore Roosevelt signed an Executive Order on 3 February 1909 s e t t i n g a s i d e a l l t h e Northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands , except Midway, a s a preserve and breeding ground f o r na t ive b i r d s . This preserve, t o be known a s t h e Hawaiitn I s l and Reservation, was t o be adminis- t e r e d by the Department of ~ ~ r i c u l . t u r e . 2 Subsequently, U.S. Revenue Cut te r Serv ice v e s s e l s were used t o p a t r o l the a rea f o r b i r d poachers. The USRC Thet i s made s e v e r a l t r i p e t o the i s l ands . Her s tops a t French FrLgate Shoals include 19 December 1912, 9 September 1914, 20-21 March 1915, and 28 January 19163 (u.S. Nat. Archives, T h e t i s log, R.G. 26 ) . The USS Hermes v i s i t e d on 4-5 September m n a s i m i l a r inspec t ion survey[TJ .~ . Nat. Archives, Hermes log, R .G. 45 ) . From 25 August t o 30 September and from 10 October t o 4 November 1914 the USS Rainbold conducted a hydrographic survey outs ide of t h e r e e f . The subsequent map, f i r s t p r i n t e d i n June 1915, i s considered t o be t h e f i r s t modern map of French F r iga te Shoals (u.s. Nat. Archives, Cartographic Div., R.G. 3 7 ) . The C i t y and County of Honolulu hold j u r i s d i c t i o n over French F r i g a t e Shoals by v i r t u e of Sec t ion 1717 of Chapter 118 i n t h e Revised Laws of Hawaii dated 1925 ( see a l s o Morris, 1934). The a t o l l a l s o became p a r t of t h e S t a t e of Hawaii when t h e T e r r i t o r y of Hawaii was admit ted a s t h e 50th S t a t e i n t h e Union on 21 August 1959 ( ~ e a r c y , 1959; U.S. Dept. of S t a t e , 1965). I n 1940 t h e preserve was t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e Department of the I n t e r i o r . Other inspec t ion t r i p s included those by t h e USS Pel ican on 8 May 1924, t h e USRC I t a s c a of 9-10 February 1931 and 20 June 1934, and t h e USCGC Reliance of 4 t o 6 March 1936. Despite the a v a i l a b i l i t y of such maps, another ship, t he Churchi l l , ran aground and caught f i r e j u s t before midnight on 25 October 1917. For tunate ly t h e sampan Makiawa was f i s h i n g nearby and a l l crewmen were saved (Honolulu Star Bul le t in , 30 October 1917, 1: 6-7, 2: 1 -2 ) . Eight persons re turned aboard the J.L. Cummins t o salvage whatever poss ib le from the wreck; they-stayed from 2 t o 9 November but l e f t with only 1 2 bags of wet and sand-covered copra. The sh ip was completely broken up a s a r e s u l t of a severe storm (Tucker, 1917). As p a r t of a b i o l o g i c a l survey of c e n t r a l P a c i f i c i s l ands , t h e Tanager Expedition, with 11 s c i e n t i s t s , v i s i t e d t h e a t o l l from 22 t o 28 June 1923. Alexander Wetmore was the f i e l d d i r e c t o r f o r t h i s survey; h i s unpublished f i e l d notes (wetmore, ms.) r evea l d e t a i l s on the avifauna present a s we l l a s a desc r ip t ion of each i s l and . Many s c i e n t i f i c c o l l e c t i o n s were made. This survey was t h e f i r s t o v e r a l l s c i e n t i f i c survey of French Fr iga te Shoals . The U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Steamer Guide con- ducted a complete hydrographic and topographic survey of French F r i g a t e from 11 t o 19 May, 5-23 Ju ly , 3-21August, and 8-29 September 1928 (U.S. Nat. Archives, Guide log, R.G. ) The cu r ren t cha r t s , numbers 2922, 4171, and 4172, were drawn from t h e combined 1914 and 1928 survey da ta . While t h e Guide was conducting i t s survey of French - Fr iga te Shoals, correspondence took place concerning pub- l i c a t i o n of t h e f i n a l c h a r t . On 8 June 1928--prior t o the Guide's f i r s t re tu rn t o Honolulu--J.H. Peters , Of f i ce r i n - Charge, U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Honolulu F ie ld S ta t ion , wrote a l e t t e r t o the Commandant, U.S. Naval S ta t ion , Pea r l Harbor, i n which he pointed out " t h a t French Fr iga te Shoals might be a very important poin t i n case of a war between t h i s na t ion and some power t o the westward which would r equ i re t r o o p movements in t h a t d i r e c t i o n . Prel iminary d e s c r i p t i o n s i n d i c a t e a long a rea s u i t a b l e f o r anchorage of l a r g e v e s s e l s .. . which would be pro tec ted from preva i l ing winds a s we l l a s many smaller v e s s e l s such a s submarines o r des t roye r s . . .which would be pro tec ted from a l l winds. There appears t o be s u f f i c i e n t land a rea f o r t h e cons t ruc t ion of a landing f i e l d and any amount of shallow q u i e t water f o r t h e use of seaplanes ." P e t e r s noted t h a t the r e s u l t s of t h i s survey were t o be published but suggested t h a t , s ince t h e a t o l l was of so l i t t l e commercial value and o f such g r e a t m i l i t a r y p o t e n t i a l , it would be wise f o r t h e Navy Department t o reques t the Commerce Department t o keep the r e s u l t s of t h e survey conf iden t i a l . From a subsequent l e t t e r from R.S. Pat ton, Acting Direc tor , U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, t o t h e Hydrographer, U.S. Hydro- graphic Office, dated 14 J u l y 1928 (U.S. Nat. Archives, Mod. M i l . Hist. Div., R.G. 37, &H 78/41-18, 95026), it is learned t h a t t h e Sec re t a ry of t h e Navy requested t h e Sec re t a ry of Commerce t o t r e a t t h e c h a r t f o r French F r i g a t e Shoals a s c o n f i d e n t i a l . Pa t ton pointed out t h a t no c h a r t had y e t been cons t ruc ted and t h a t a l a rge - sca le c h a r t would not be published without f i r s t consu l t ing t h e Navy Hydrographic Office. The French F r i g a t e Shoals survey was, however, "being perf3rmed f o r t h e purpose of safeguarding t r ans -Pac i f i c commerce ...[ and] navigat ion." On 22 June 1932 t h e U.S.S. (AM 15) anchored a t French F r i g a t e Shoals; t h e s h i p ' s seaplane was h o i s t e d i n t o t h e calm waters near Eas t I s l and on the 23rd; it took o f f and photographed t h e i s l a n d s wi th in t h e sprawling atoll . . The next day it was up again, and on t h e 25th t h e s h i p depar ted f o r P e a r l Harbor. The r e s u l t i n g photographs were t h e second s e t of a e r i a l photographs t o be taken of the shoals (U.S. Nat. Archives, Log of U.S.S. &uail f o r 1932, R.G. 24) . The June photographic mission paved t h e way f o r a coordi - na ted p lane-sh ip exe rc i se by t h e U.S. Navy i n August 1932 involv ing f i v e sh ips and s i x seaplanes . Two sh ips anchored a t the Shoals on t h e 17 th ; using t h e o the r t h r e e sh ips a s guides, t h e p lanes a r r i v e d on t h e 18 th . A l l departed f o r P e a r l Harbor on t h e 20th. This exe rc i se produced one of t h e f i r s t long- d i s t ance f l i g h t s by U.S. Navy p lanes i n t h e Cent ra l P a c i f i c (U.S. Nat. Archives, Logs of U.S.S. Oglala, Breese, Gamble, and Montgomery f o r 1932, From17 t o 29 A p r i l 1933 a l a r g e r naval a i r maneuver took p lace . T h i r t y seaplanes, guided by seven ships, flew from P e a r l Harbor t o French F r i g a t e Shoals, and on t o Johnston A t o l l ; they re turned by t h e same rou te (u.S. Nat. Archives, Mod. M i l . H i s t . Div., R.G. 2 QU 78/41-18, 305598). These 1932 and 1933 Naval a i r maneuvers were t h e forerunners of many such opera t ions . From 7 t o 28 May 1935 Phase Three of F l e e t Problem sixteen1 u t i l i z e d t h e Shoals a s a t r a i n i n g a r e a ; e i g h t sh ips and 45 seaplanes took p a r t i n t h e exe rc i se . The a t o l l provided t h e needed lagoon landing a r e a f o r a mass f l i g h t t o and from Midway; t h i s was t h e f i r s t such long-distance f l i g h t by t h a t many planes, which was even more s i g n i f i c a n t s ince bombs were a t t ached t o t h e i r wings. Although two se r ious a i r The Annual F l e e t Problem's purpose was t o advance t h e t r a i n i n g of t h e e n t i r e U.S. F l e e t ; condi t ions of war were t o be simulated a s nea r ly a s p r a c t i c a b l e under peace-time t r a i n i n g . a c c i d e n t s occurred k i l l i n g seven persons, t h e experience gained i n t h i s opera t ion was of g r e a t b e n e f i t t o naval a v i a t i o n (u.S. Nat. Archives, R.G. 80, A 16-3--5-XVI; Grimes, ms . ) . Other Naval t r a i n i n g exe rc i se s u t i l i z e d French F r i g a t e Shoals i n September and November 1935 and October and November 1936. A wooden cook shed and a " t e n t c i t y " were cons t ruc ted on Eas t I s l and (Fig . 31). The Honolulu Adver t i ser repor ted po r t ions of t h e November 1935 maneuver on t h e 1 1 t h (1: 6 ) , 1 4 t h (5: 3 ) , and 18th (1: 4); t hese were t h e f i r s t newspaper accounts of t h e usua l ly s e c r e t i v e advanced base a c t i v i t i e s of t h e Navy's P e a r l Harbor VP seaplane squadrons. French F r iga te Shos1.s was again used by t h e U.S. F l e e t from 1 t o 1 0 May 1937 f o r F l e e t Problem Eighteen. Eas t I s l a n d was used a s a base camp and some nine sh ips and two seaplane squadrons p a r t i c i p a t e d . This f l e e t problem provided va luable d a t a on a i r c r a f t anti-submarine a c t i v i t i e s , a s wel l a s important experiences i n c a r r i e r t a c t i c s (Grimes, me. ) . Another U.S. Navy exe rc i se , i n which t h r e e sh ips and 33 seaplanes took p a r t , was he ld i n l a t e October and e a r l y November 1937 (Fig . 3 2 ) . The a t o l l ' s first recorded death, however, marred t h e e x e r c i s e (U.S. Nat. Archives, Log of USS Langley f o r 1937, R.G. 24) . P a r t Five of F l e e t Problem Nineteen, which took p lace from 25 t o 30 March 1938 was a l s o he ld a t French F r i g a t e Shoals . Some 25 ships, inc luding f i v e submarines, and numerous seaplanes, took p a r t . P a r t Five demonstrated t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s of success fu l car r ie r -based a i r a t t a c k s on shore o b j e c t i v e s (Grimes, ms.). The Shoals was a l s o involved i n P a r t S ix of F l e e t Problem Twenty-one. From U t o 21 A p r i l 1940 s i x sh ips and one VP squadron u t i l i z e d the lagoon and surrounding ocean. This e x e r c i s e a l s o provided u s e f u l information and experience f o r naval a v i a t o r s (Grimes, m s . ) . World War I1 When Japan a t t acked China i n 193'7 and increased i t s m i l i t a r y a c t i v i t y i n t h e Marshall and G i l b e r t I s l ands , tens ion mounted i n the P a c i f i c . Thus i n February 1941 P res iden t FrankLin D . Roosevelt i s sued Executive Order No. 8682 s e t t i n g a s i d e such i s l ands a s Midway, Wake, Johnston, and P a h y r a a s naval defensive a r e a s (Bailey, 1956). French F r iga te Shoals was, however, not e n t i r e l y f o r g o t t e n . By 1940 it was considered so important t o the United S t a t e s Figure 32. Map of East I s land seaplane anchorage, 1 October, 1937. O f f i c i a l U. S. Navy photograph. t h a t only Hydrographic Chart No. 2 made from the 1859 survey, was i ssued t o t h e publ ic ; t h e c h a r t s from t h e 191.4 and 1928 eurveys were c l a s s i f i e d (u.S. Na.t . Archives, Mod. M i l . H i s t . Div., R.G. 37, QH '78/41-18, 95026). A f t e r t h e su rp r i se c a r r i e r plane a tback on Pear:L Harbor 7 December 1941 by t h e Imperial Japanese Navy, the United S t a t e s dec lared war on Japan on 8 December 19h:L. The Japanese had not used French F r i g a t e Shoals and it i s doubt fu l t h a t t h e i r warships had v i s i t e d t h e a t o l l . When Japan captured Wake I s l and on December 1941, however, they came i n t o possession of a c l a s s i f i e d publication--'"u.s. Naval A i r P i l o t , P a c i f i c I s l ands , 1936"--from which they learned of t h e Shoa l s ' e x c e l l e n t seaplane lagoon-landing c a p a b i l i t i e s . On t h e n igh t of 3 March 1942, t h e Japa,nese successfu l ly used French F r i g a t e ' s e x c e l l e n t lagoon a s a rendezvoue po in t f o r two submarines t o r e fue l , a s welL a s t o Load with bombs, two "Emilies" f o r a t r i a l r a i d on P e a r l Harbor. Suspect ing t h e a t o l l ' s r o l e i n t h i s r a id , U.S. Navy expe r t s mined t h e anchorage a rea on 3 and 8 Apr i l , placed a U.S. Marine detach- ment on Eas t I s land on 1'3 Apr i l , and ordered naval v e s s e l s t o p a t r o l t h e a rea beginning 13 May. Finding these d e t e r r e n t s on 26 t o 31 May, t h r e e Japanese submarines c a l l e d o f f a second P e a r l Harbor reconnaissance. Thus t h e Japanese combined F l e e t was fo rced t o s t a r t i t s s t t a c k on Midmy wi.thout knowledge of t h e whereabouts of t h e U.S. F l e e t , which had s e c r e t l y depar ted P e a r l Harbor and headed nor th of t h e Hawaiian Chain f o r Midway. The s tunning United S t a t e s ' v i c t o r y a t the B a t t l e of Midway i s now h i s t o r y . IHad t h e Japanese captured Midway, however, they intended t o s e i z e French F r i g a t e Shoals and use it a s a s t ag ing a r e a f o r r a i d s on t,he main FIawaiian I s l ands ( ~ a ~ t o n , 1953; Lord, 1967; Shibuya, ms .; Amerson, i n p rep . ) . Tern I s l and Naval. A i r F a c i l i t y Midway was s t i l l smouldering from t h e unsuccessful Japanese a t t a c k when one of t h e mort s e c r e t p r o j e c t s i n t h e P a c i f i c Theatre was i n s t i t u t e d . The Navy was determined t h a t Midway be b e t t e r protecbed (Woodbury, lg4-6) and decided on an a i r base a t French F r iga te ShoaLe a s t h e means. The idea of bu i ld ing a landing s t r i p a,t French F r i g a t e Shoals was considered p r i o r t o t h e Batt1.c of Midway, but t h e dec i s ion t o bu i ld was a d i r e c t r e s u l t of t h e b a t t l e . The purpose of t h e a i r s t r i p was t h r e e f o l d . F i r s t , i t would provide f u e l i n g and landing f a c i l i t i e s f o r f e r r y i n g a i r c r a f t between P e a r l Harbor and Midway. F ighter planes i n 1942 d id not have f u e l capac i ty f o r t h e 1,300-mile t r i p t o Midway and the Navy needed t o g e t l a rge numbers of p1.anes t o Midway i n case t h e Japanese struck again. Moreover, f i gh t e r s could operate out of French Frigate Shoals t o engage any enemy i n the area . Second, it would serve a s an emergency landing f a c i l i t y for e i t he r land or seaplanes. Third, it would be an outpost for the defense of Pearl Harbor; radio, radar, lookouts, and planes could detect and report any enemy a c t i v i t y in the area (R.M. Ricketts, ms. ; Quaile, 1947; Anon., 1949). Thus, Project "ME-36" (most often called "ME-6"), the Navy's code for the Naval A i r Station Project a t French Frigate Shoals, was born. On 12 June 1942 a Navy vessel made a secret t r i p t o the a t o l l t o see i f construction of a land base was feas ib le . The survey team, headed by Edward Brier, found very l i t t l e land and thousands of seabirds, but decided a land base could be b u i l t by dredging and constructing a new island on the s i t e of l i t t l e Tern Island. The newly formed Seabees, along with the Hawaiian Dredging Company, were cal led upon t o do the job. Men of Company B, F i f th Naval CDnstruction Battalion, went t o French Frigate i n mid-July 1942 (Woodbury, 1946). Dredging s ta r ted on U August, and a 12,000 foot ship channel, 200 f ee t wide and 20 f ee t deep, was soon opened t o Tern Island. Next, a seaplane landing area, 8,000 f e e t long and 1,000 f e e t wide, was cleared of coral heads adjacent t o the island. Coral removed from these areas was dumped on Tern, covering the 1,800- by 450-foot or iginal island. By November 1942, a l l dredging--660,000 cubic yards of cora l f i l l - - was complete; the island had been turned in to a landing f i e l d 3,100 f e e t long and 350 f e e t wide, pa r t i a l l y rimmed with 5,000 f e e t of s t e e l sheet p i l i ng driven t o a depth of 15 f e e t ; it stood only 6-l/2 f e e t over the mean t i de leve l (pig. 33). By March 1943 ground f a c i l i t i e s consisted of e ight buildings, both above and below ground, 21 f u e l tanks, and a 90 foot radar tower. The construction crew l e f t on 21 March 1943; the new island had cost nearly $2,000,000 (Beech, 1946b, Woodbuq, 1946; Quaile, 1947; Anon., 1949). To American naval p i l o t s f lying reconnaissance missions out of Honolulu i n mid-1943, Tern Island suddenly took on a strange but famil iar shape--that of an a i r c r a f t ca r r i e r . Although much la rger than a regular car r ie r , the new island featured a " f l igh t deck," with "storage decks" along i t s s ides . Seen from a distance, the white water breaking over the ex- tensive reef t o the east gave a p i l o t the impression tha t the "coral ca r r i e r " was steaming t o the west with i t s wake arching behind. The new Naval A i r Fac i l i t y was commissioned on 17 March 1943 when the f i r s t d r a f t of men arrived with L t . W.S. Tenhagen i n charge. The organization allowed f o r 118 men, who rotated Figure 33. Newly constructed Tern I s l and Naval A i r F a c i l i t y , 9 September 1943. O f f i c i a l U . S . Navy photograph. every t h r e e months, L t . A.B. Clarke was designated a s o f f i ce r - in-charge, but he d id not a r r i v e u n t i l 23 March. The f a c i l i t y a t f i r s t was a department of the Naval A i r S t a t ion , P e a r l Harbor. I n May 1943 it was t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e c o n t r o l of the Naval A i r Center, Pea r l ~ a r b o r l (Ricket t s , m s . ; Dat-er & g., ms.). I n November 1943 plans were i n i t i a t e d t o add new barracks and ga l l ey f a c i l i t i e s . Construction by a Seabee detachment d i d n ' t s t a r t , however, u n t i l 30 January 1944. By 24 September t h e o r i g i n a l temporary base had been converted t o a semi- permanent i n s t a l l a t i o n . I n November 1944 the re were four o f f i c e r s and 123 e n l i s t e d men. Land plane capac i ty was 18 VF's o r small VB's, with 22 plane parking spaces a v a i l a b l e . The c o r a l runway was in use a s an emergency r e f u e l i n g s t r i p , and c e r t a i n a i r c r a f t r e p a i r s could be made (u.s. Naval Const. Bn. Cent., 99th NCB summary report, 1942-1944; U.S. Navy, Class . Oper. Archives, 14th Naval Di s t . , co r resp . , Op 4 4 1 ~ ) . During t h e war, d a i l y reconnaissance f l i g h t s were flown f o r a radius of 100 mi les . Radar scanned a 40-mile r ad ius . Weather da ta were cons tant ly supplied t o F l e e t Weather Control, Pea r l Harbor (U.S. Naval Const. Bn., 99th NCB summary r e p o r t , 192-1944) . Enemy a c t i o n a t o r near the Shoals a f t e r the B a t t l e of Midway was very l i g h t and the s t a t i o n was never a t tacked. The War Diary of t h e Commander Hawaiian Sea F r o n t i e r (U.S. Navy, Class . Oper. Archives, War Diary, 14th Naval D i s t . ) from October 1942 through 1945 revea l s only seven ins t ances of poss ib le enemy ships i n the a rea . The war ended 2 September 1945 and the Navy no longer needed t h e A i r F a c i l i t y . On 7 October 1945 it was placed in a care taker s t a t u s ; f i n a l disestabl ishment came on 9 June 1946 (U.S. Navy, Class . Oper. Archives, 14th Naval D i s t . , War Diary, 1945; U.S. Nat. Archives, R.G. 80, Op. 2k-1 jn. A 4-~/NA; Buchwach, 1946a). I n January 1944, the Naval A i r F a c i l i t y a t French Fr iga te Shoals was designated Task Group 97.2 and operated under the Commander Hawaiian Sea F ron t i e r ask Force 97). On 28 September 1944 t h i s u n i t was designated a detached o r separa te command with au thor i ty t o convene summary cour t rnar t ia l s , deck cour ts , and t o adminis ter punishments s e t f o r t h in A r t i c l e 24, A r t i c l e s f o r t h e Government of the Navy (U.S. Navy, Class . Oper. Archives, War Diary, J an . 1944, 14th Naval D i s t . corresp. , 1944). Fishing I n t e r e s t s The U.S. Navy, f o r g e t t i n g about French F r i g a t e ' s s t a t u s a s a f e d e r a l w i l d l i f e r e se rva t ion and th ink ing they owned Tern I s l and , t r i e d t o hand over t h e d i s e s t a b l i s h e d base t o t h e T e r r i t o r y of Hawaii. The T e r r i t o r y refused, but d iscuss ion on t h e i s sue continued. In e a r l y November 1948 the T e r r i t o r y ' s Hawaiian Aeronautics Co~nmiseion n o t i f i e d t h e Commandant of t h e 14th Naval D i s t r i c t , P e a r l Harbor, t h a t it was " in a pos i t i on t o t ake over t h e a i r s t r i p and o ther f a c i l i t i e s . .. and...make them a v a i l a b l e ... t o the f i s h i n g indus t ry" (Hawaiian S t a t e Archives, FFS f i l e #1871). As e a r l y a s June 1946 Hawaiian commercial fishermen began t o use t h e f a c i l i t i e s . Ear ly f i s h i n g boats enjoyed good f i s h i n g which prompted t h e Hawaiian Tuna Packers, Ltd. t o send a v e s s e l t o t h e Shoals i n mid-September 1946. Both Honolulu newspapers ( ~ e e c h , 1946a, 1946b, 1946c, r946d, 1946e; Buchwach, l946a, 1946b) c a r r i e d s t o r i e s on t h e venture. Two shipments of f i s h were subsequently sen t from Tern t o Honolulu by cha r t e red plane. I n a j o i n t venture two companies, t h e Hawaiian-American F i s h e r i e s , headed by Louis K . Agard, Jr., and t h e Seaside Fish ing Co., run by Frank Opperman and Warren Haines, e s t ab l i ehed a f i s h i n g base on Tern I s l and e a r l y i n November 1946. They cha r t e red a DC-3 from Trans-Air Hawaii f o r t r a n s p o r t i n g t h e f i s h . The companies obtained permiesion t o use t h e a i r s t r i p from t h e proper Terri . tory o f f i c e s ; t h e Hawaiian Fish and Game Department gave them permission t o use l a r g e f i x e d t r a p s (Agard, i n litt.). During t h e f i r s t t h r e e yea r s of operat ion, Hawaiian-' American F i s h e r i e s grossed over $73,000 a t t h e Shoals; p r o f i t s t o t a l e d almost $20,000. Had t h e company owned i t s plane, p r o f i t s would have been g r e a t e r . Thus, a new corpora t ion , Aero F i s h e r i e s , was formed and a plane purchased by Agard and h i s pa r tne r s . I n l a t e July l @ g one f l i g h t was completed. Mechanical d i f f i c u l - t i e s grounded t h e plane i n mid-August and t h e corpora t ion d i d not have t h e reserve f inances t o continue t h e plane operat ion (Agard, i n litt . ) . Various commercial f i s h i n g v e s s e l s v i s i t e d t h e a t o l l i n the 1950 ' s with varying success. I n 1959 Agard s t a r t e d another j o i n t venture, and even purchased a r e f r i g e r a t e d v e s s e l and a plane. This t o o was shor t - l ived (Agard, i n litt.). I n August 1948 t h e P a c i f i c Oceanic F ishery Inves t iga t ion (POF~) ,wi th headquarters i n Honolulu, was organized by t h e Bureau of Commercial F i s h e r i e s of t h e U.S. F i sh and Wi ld l i f e Serv ice . Since 1948, POFI v e s s e l s v i s i t e d French F r iga te Shoals on numerous occasions (POFI , ms.). East I s l and LORAN S t a t i o n As e a r l y a s January 1940, the Chief of the U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics reco.mended t o t h e Chief of Naval Operations t h a t French F r i g a t e Shoals be the s i t e of a r a d i o s t a t i o n . This was subsequently approved by the C i v i l Aero- n a u t i c s Administrat ion (CAA), and on 22 J u l y 1940 the Sec re ta ry of Navy gave permission t o the CAA and Department of Commerce t o occupy East I s l and . Two days l a t e r t h e Judge Advocate General of the Navy informed the Chief of Naval Operations t h a t , although East I s l and had been used by the Navy, it had not been placed under Navy c o n t r o l by Executive Order; furthermore, t h e i s l a n d was under the j u r i s d i c t i o n of the Department of I n t e r i o r . The I n t e r i o r Department was contacted and they, i n tu rn , consulted Governor J . B . Poindexter of Hawaii. On 9 September Poindexter signed Executive Order #893 which s e t as ide Eas t I s l and f o r government use by t h e United S t a t e s . They were reminded, however, t h a t French F r i g a t e Shoals was a b i r d r e se rva t ion (U.S. Nat. Archives, R.G. 80, NR EG 62--390603, and H 4-~/QG-400613; R.G. 48, 9-4-56). The men, ma te r i a l s , and equipment f o r bui ld ing the Radio Communications S ta t ion were i n Honolulu by e a r l y June 1941, but due t a the P a c i f i c c r i s i s t h e U.S. Navy was unable t o provide the necessary t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . Thus t h e proposed con- s t r u c t i o n o f t h e s t a t i o n was postponed and f i n a l l y cancel led (U.S . Nat . Archives, R.G. 80, H 4-~/QG--400613-1). On 16 December 1943 the Chief of Naval Operations d i r e c t e d t h e U.S. Coast Guard t o e s t a b l i s h and operate t h r e e Long S n g e Navigation (LORAN) t r ansmi t t ing s t a t i o n s in t h e ~ a w a E a n I s l ands ; &e of these--CG u n i t 2di o r code GEORGE or GNAW--was t o be loca ted a t East I s land. Coast Guard Detachment C cons t ruc t ion personnel and LORAN opera t ing personnel, a s we l l a s m a t e r i a l and equipment, were taken t o the Shoals i n e a r l y June 1944 (U.S. Coast Guard, 1946). By t h e end of July t h e s t a t i o n was complete and contained 7 Quonset h u t s in which personnel l i v e d and worked, 6 smaller bui ld ings o r sheds used f o r a weather s t a t i o n , d i s t i l l a t i o n p lan t , and s torage , a 96-foot dock, and a 7-pole antenna network ( ~ i g . 34 ) . On 15 J u l y L t . ( j g ) John J . Roshti, USCGR, was assigned a s commanding o f f i c e r with a crew of 26 e n l i s t e d men. The 3 - s t a t ion system went on t h e a i r on 23 J u l y and was informally commissioned in August. The Commander, Coast Guard Construct ion Detachment, P a c i f i c Area, o f f i c i a l l y turned over j u r i s d i c t i o n of the Hawaiian Chain of LORAN s t a t i o n s t o the Commander, Coast Guard D i s t r i c t , 14th Naval D i s t r i c t , on 8 November 1944 (U.S. Coast Guard, 1946; 'Bragg and Cronk, ms.; Fed. Rec. Cen., Md., 14th CG corresp . , 1944). Figu re 34. Newly cons t ruc t ed Eas t I s l a n d Coast Guard LOXAN S t a t i o n , 24 A p r i l 1945. Official U. S . Navy photograph. Morale a t f i r s t was high due t o t h e newness of the s t a t i o n ; by l a t e October, however, t h e important ques t ion on t h e men's minds was: How long before r o t a t i o n ? By 1 January 1945 most men had been t h e r e s i x months and were g e t t i n g t i r e d of t h e i s o l a t e d duty. The s i t u a t i o n was aggravated by the f a c t t h a t t h e e n t i r e crew a t t h e nearby Tern Is land Navy s t a t i o n was r o t a t e d every t h r e e months. I n addi t ion , r e q u i s i t i o n s f o r f r e s h food and rou t ine s t a t i o n suppl ies went u n f i l l e d , and t h e s t a t i o n began t o show t h e e f f e c t s of heavy wind and s a l t a i r . Supplies began a r r i v i n g with r e g u l a r i t y i n A p r i l and soon t h e s t a t i o n ' s appearance improved. During June a r o t a t i o n plan took e f f e c t and by e a r l y J u l y a l l personnel except the Commanding Off icer had been r o t a t e d with the u n i t a t Hawaii (Fed. Red. Cen . , Md., Summary Report, 1944-1945) . Afte r the Japanese surrender i n August 1945, t h e men a t Eas t I s lanh immediately began th inking of r e t u r n i n g home. I n October 1945 f l i g h t s t o Tern Is land were reduced t o one per week. This f u r t h e r i s o l a t e d the East I s l and s t a t i o n and morale dropped. To make ma t t e r s worse, a t i d a l wave inundated t h e s t a t i o n on 1 A p r i l 1946. None of the personnel suf fered in ju ry and damage t o t h e s t a t i o n was comparatively l i g h t (Fed. Rec. Cen., Md., Summary Report, 1945-1946 ) . When the Navy A i r F a c i l i t y a t Tern closed on 9 June, t h e Eas t LORAN s t a t i o n l o s t i t s weekly de l ive ry of suppl ies and mail . Instead, a Coast Guard buoy tender serv iced t h e i s l and twice a month. This took care of s t a t i o n needs, but many times over the fiext s i x yea r s t h e sh ip a r r ived without ma i l o r movies, a f a c t which always g r e a t l y disappointed the i s o l a t e d crew (Fed, Rec. Cen., Md., Summary Reports and Logs, 1946-1950). By 1951 normal opera t ion continued d e s p i t e a reduction i n l o g i s t i c s support t o one supply vesse l per month. Morale was good considering t h e i s o l a t e d duty, reduced f r e s h food and mail serv ice , and l ack of v a r i e t y i n r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s . Storms and s a l t spray caused t h e bui ld ings t o be i n need of almost constant r e p a i r (Fed: Rec. Cen., Md., Log f o r 1951). In October 1951 the Coast Guard Commandant decided t o renovate the Eas t I s l a n d S t a t i o n ; Headquarters s e t a s i d e $200,000 f o r t h e job. A f i e l d survey i n December suggested, however, t h a t it would be b e t t e r , and no more expensive, t o renovate the o ld Kavy bui ld ings a t Tern I s l a n d and on 17 January 1952 CG Headquarters t e n t a t i v e l y approved t h e move. On 28 January the Hawaii Aeronautics Commission, which thought it had con t ro l over t h e i s l and , granted a l i c e n s e t o t h e Coast Guard permi t t ing them t o use and occupy Tern 1 s l a n d . l On 6 March f i n a l approval f o r the Tern I s l and p r o j e c t was made and on 24 A p r i l 19522 a con t rac t was awarded t o C.W. Winstead, Ltd. , of Honolulu. Construction began s h o r t l y t h e r e a f t e r (Fed. Rec. Cen., Md., corresp. , 67A2057, Box 2 ) . On 24 October 1952 t h e East I s l and LORAN s t a t i o n secured transmission and on 3 November the s t a t i o n was formally de- commissioned. A l l personnel who had not been t r ans fe r red t o t h e new Tern I s l and f a c i l i t y were removed t o the USCGC Kukui which was anchored of fshore ( ~ e d . Rec. Cen., Md., Log, 61A726, Box 1312). Tern I s l and LORAN S t a t i o n On 14 October 1952 U.S. Coast Guard LORAN Transmitting S t a t i o n Tern I s l and was placed i n commission and command was assumed by L t . ( j g ) Thomas E. Hawkins, USCG. The s t a t i o n cons is ted of a power and s i g n a l bui lding, a bar racks containing l i v i n g a reas , ga l l ey and mess deck, and a r ec rea t ion bui ld ing . There was a l s o an antenna system, 5 water tanks , and 9 f u e l tanks (Fed. Rec. Cen., Md., cor resp . , 67A2057, Box 2; Log, 6 1 ~ 7 2 6 , Box 1312). The i s o l a t e d duty a t Tern was s i m i l a r t o t h a t on Eas t . Tern, however, was l a r g e r and the biweekly plane serv ice and bimonthly s h i p se rv ice brought f r e s h vegetables , suppl ies , and mai l r e g u l a r l y . The monotony was occas iona l ly in t e r rup ted by v i s i t o r s , e s p e c i a l l y fishermen and s c i e n t i s t s , and by winter storms and t i d a l wave a l e r t s . The tou r of duty was f o r one year ( ~ e d . Rec. Cen., Md., Log 1952-1958). I n February 1959, ma te r i a l and equipment were t ranspor ted t o Tern I s l and f o r r e p a i r s on t h e seawall . That spr ing Naval a i r and surface operat ions were he ld i n the a rea and seve ra l sh ips v i s i t e d the Shoals. I n l a t e 1960 it was decided t o place a P a c i f i c Miss i le Range (PMR) team on French Fr iga te t o t r a c k s a t e l l i t e s and miss i l e s and on 3 December t h e USS Skagit (AKA 105) anchored and commenced landing equipment, supplies , and personnel f o r the PMR F a c i l i t y (Fed. Rec. Cen., Md., Log, 61A35 and 62P.352). The Department of I n t e r i o r i n 1965 quest ioned the l e g a l i t y of the Coast Guard's occupation of Tern I s l a n d . A formal agreement was signed on 22 September 1966 between t h e U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of the I n t e r i o r g iv ing the Coast Guard permission t o occupy Tern I s l and . The f i n a l c o s t t o t a l e d $286,793.81 (Fed. Rec. Cen., Md., r epor t , 67A2057, Box 2 ) . Afte r t h e opening of the new f a c i l i t y , plane serv ice i n 1961 almost t r i p l e d : 109 planes and 13 h e l i c o p t e r s landed in 1961 conpared with 44 planes and 11 h e l i c o p t e r s i n 1960. During 1962, landings increased t o 125 planes and 25 h e l i - cop te r s . The numbers of sh ip v i s i t s a l s o increased a s wel l a s personnel (Fed. Rec. Cen., Md., Log 62A352, 64A319, Box I 2 and 80; 65A593, Box 173). By l a t e August 1963 ships and planes had removed the PMR equipment and personnel. During e a r l y 1964 p lans were drawn up f o r r e h a b i l i t a t i o n of the s t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s . On 8 A p r i l t h e first cement was poured f o r t h e foundation of a new cement block LORAN bui ld ing (Fig. 35). Repairs were a l s o made t o the. r e c r e a t i o n a l bui ld ing and barracks (Fig . 3 6 ) ; new p i l i n g s were placed seaward of the o ld seawall along the e a s t and west ends of t h e runway. Two a i r -condi t ioned t r a i l e r s l e f t by t h e PMR were moved near t h e barracks f o r use by personnel . Construc- t i o n and r e p s i r s were completed by 6 August ( ~ e d . Rec. Cen., ~ d . , ~ o g 65~593, Box 173; and 6 6 ~ 7 6 1 , Box l j ) . The i s l a n d ' s rou t ine f o r the next seve ra l years was in t e r rup ted only by a few v i s i t i n g sh ips and p e r i o d i c v i s i t s by BSFW and POBSP personnel. During the predawn darkness of 1 December 1969 the s t a t i o n was h i t by tremendous waves which washed completely over t h e 8-foot-high i s l a n d . The power equipment was flooded, fo rc ing a shut-down of a l l e l e c t r o n i c equipment. The men sought refuge on t h e roof 04 t h e LORAN bui ld ing . A Coast Guard rescue plane a r r i v e d j u s t a f t e r noon, but s ince it cou ldn ' t land dropped s u r v i v a l equipment ( ~ o f r o n , in litt . ) . No one was hur t , but the i s l a n d ' s seawall was crushed in va r ious places, s o i l was badly eroded along t h e nor th shore and around the base of the 129-foot LORAN tower, and the vegeta t ion , e s p e c i a l l y on the northwest s ide , was washed away. The c a r p e n t e r ' s shop and Quoneet hu t s torage bui ld ing were demolished. The double doors of t h e engine room were smashed; t h e equipment ins ide was wet and u s e l e s s . The wooden barracks was i n shambles; doors, windows, and some w a l l s were destroyed. Furn i tu re was broken and wet and many of t h e men's personal 1 belongings were water damaged o r washed away (Xofron, in l i t t . ) . A t dawn on t h e 2nd, t h e men and t h e i r t h r e e dogs were rescued by a h e l i c o p t e r from the New Zealand f r i g a t e HMS The damage was l a t e r placed a t approximately $142,000. Figure 35. Tern I s l and Coast Guard LOFAN and power bui ld ing , 2 1 August 1965. POBSP photograph by A . B . Amerson, Jr. Figure 36. Tern I s l and Coast Guard barracks, 2 1 August 1965 POBSP photograph by A. B. Amerson, Jr. Waikato. They were taken t o Midway and subsequently re turned t o Honolulu. The crew re turned t o Tern I s l a n d on the 12th aboard the USCGC Buttonwood and began the long, hard, messy job of cleaning up. The USCGC Mellon, USCGC Planet ree , and USS Union had a r r i v e d e a r l i e r and had succeeded i n g e t t i n g the LORAN system i n t o operat ion on t h e 6 t h . Repairs were begun i n l a t e December on the damaged barracks . The runway was ope ra t iona l by 15 January 1970 and the s t a t i o n was back t o normal short1.y t h e r e a f t e r (Kofron, in litt.; U.S. Coast Guard, Hdqtrs. f i l e s ) . Although i n t h e pas t t h e quest ion of whether t o continue t h e LORCLN s t a t i o n has been much debated, t h e ma t t e r seems s e t t l e d f o r the next 10 yea r s . Funds have been a l l o c a t e d f o r improvement t o the seawall, t he runway, and t h e barracks. The s t a t i o n w i l l probably be in operat ion u n t i l such time a s a sa t e l l i t e -a ids - to -nav iga t ion system i s per fec ted . Refuge S t a t u s French F r i g a t e Shoals ' value a s a w i l d l i f e sanctuary i s genera l ly acknowledged and it w i l l cont inue a s p a r t of the Hawaiian I s l a n d s National Wi ld l i f e Refuge. The a t o l l o f f e r s a unique oppor tuni ty t o t e r r e s t r i a l and marine b io lo - g i s t s : t he re a r e few places where one can f i n d i s o l a t e d undisturbed i s l a n d s and waters teeming with w i l d l i f e so c lose t o an a i r p o r t and lodging f a c i l i t i e s . Unquestionably t h e importance of French Fr iga te Shoals w i l l continue, and probably w i l l increase , over succeeding yea r s . SCIENTIFIC VISITS The logs and r e p o r t s from e a r l y sh ip cap ta ins s a i l i n g among the Northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands provide t h e f irst l i s t s of s c i e n t i f i c information about French Fr iga te Shoals. Among them were L t . Brooke of t h e Fenimore Cooper (Brooke, l955), and Capt. Brooks (1860) of the Gambia, both of whom v i s i t e d t h e a t o l l i n 1859, and Mate Mansbridge (Hornell , 1934) of the Ada -who stopped i n 1882. The schooner Kaalakai, commanded by F.D. Walker, v i s i t e d i n l a t e May and e a r l y June 1891 on the f i r s t b i o l o g i c a l survey of the a t o l l 1 (Walker, 1909). Aboard were two n a t u r a l i s t s , On 3 December 1841 two ships of t h e United S t a t e s Ekploring Expedition s ighted French Fr iga te Shoals, but were unable t o s top due t o bad weather. Henry Palmer and George C . Munro, who had been s e n t by Walter Rothschild t o c o l l e c t b i r d s . Later Rothschild (1893-1900) published on the b i r d s and Munro (1941a, 1941b, 1944) published h i s notes on the a t u l l ' s w i l d l i f e . On 28 and 29 May 1902 the Albatross Expedition v i s i t e d the Shoals; aboard were n a t u r a l i s t s Charles H . G i lbe r t , Walter K. F isher and John 0. Snyder. F isher (1903, 1906) published the o r n i t h o l o g i c a l r e s u l t s of t h i s t r i p . A f t e r t h e depredat ions by b i r d poachers i n the l a t e 1800's, t he importance of t h e preservat ion of w i l d l i f e was recognized. Pres ident Theodore Roosevelt signed an Executive Order on 3 February 1909 s e t t i n g a s ide French Fr iga te Shoals and most o t h e r Northwestern Hawaiian I s l a n d s a s a preserve and breeding ground f o r b i rds , and t h e r e a f t e r t h e U.S. Revenue Cut ter The t i s s t a r t e d pe r iod ica l p a t r o l s of a l l t h e north- western i s l ands . These continued u n t i l t he mid-1920's. Various s c i e n t i s t s accompanied the Thet i s on many of t h e t r i p s . D.T. Fullaway, an entomologist, George W i l l e t t , an o rn i tho log i s t , and Alf red M. Bailey, a n a t u r a l i s t , went the re i n December 1912; Bailey (1952, 1956) l a t e r published d e t a i l s about the w i l d l i f e . W.H. Munter (1915), t h e T h e t i s ' F i r s t Lieutenant , f i l e d a comprehensive b i o l o g i c a l r epor t a f t e r a spr ing 1915 v i s i t t o t h e Shoals. The Tanager Expedition, organized by t h e Biologica l Survey of t h e U.S. Department of Agr icul ture and the B.P. Bishop Museum of Honolulu, v i s i t e d French Fr iga te Shoals from 22 through 28 June 1923. A l l i s l ands except one were v i s i t e d and t h e names given t o them then a r e s t i l l i n use . The s c i - e n t i f i c col lec t ions- -b i rds , mammals, f i s h , i n s e c t s , molluscs, p l an t s and marine invertebrates--made by t h e Tanager Expedition were extens ive and added a wealth of information on t h e ecology of the Northwestern Hawaiian Is lands . Twenty b i r d species were recorded by Wetmore (ms.), t he Expedi t ion ' s leader ; Wetmore (1925) l a t e r wrote a popular account of t h e f i e l d work. Fowler and B a l l (1925) published an account of the f i s h e s c o l l e c t e d . I n 1926, E.H. Bryan, J r . , and co l l abora to r s published a paper on the i n s e c t s co l l ec ted . Christophersen and Caum (1931) published on the vascular p l a n t s . On 4 and 5 March 1928 D r . Victor Pietschmann, Curator of Fishes, Museum of Natural History, Vienna, Aus t r i a , paid a s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t t o French Fr iga te Shoals . He was on a f i v e - weeks'cruise up the northwestern Hawaiian chain aboard the f i s h i n g schooner Lanikai, commanded by Captain William G. Anderson. Pietschmann co l l ec ted 11 f i s h spec ies (~ ie tschmann, 1938), 14 mollusc species (Schilder , 1933), and 5 polychaete species (Holly, 1935) from the lagoon off Tern and East I s l ands . The U.S. Revenue Cu t t e r I t a s c a , on an in spec t ion t r i p , s ighted t h e a t o l l on 18 and 27 June 1934, but see ing no poachers o r o the r sh ips soon l e f t . The U,S, Coast Guard P a t r o l Boat Rel iance inves t iga t ed t h e wj.ldlife dur ing March 1936; e i g h t b i r d spec ies were noted (U.S. Rat . Archives, Logs of I t a e c a and Reliance, R.G. 26) . Since 1948 va r ious Paci:fi.e Ocean F i s h e r i e s Inves t iga t ion (POFI) sh ips of t h e Bureau of Commercial F i s h e r i e s , U.S. F ish and Wi ld l i f e Serv ice , have visi-bed French F r i g a t e Shoals . Published r e p o r t s from these v i s i t s include those of Smith and Schaefer (1949), Eckles (1949)j June and Re in t j e s (1953) and Ikehara (1953). On 25 Ju ly 1952, C.R. Joyce, a.n Iiawaiian entomologist , v i s i t e d Tern Is land and subsequen-tly (Anon., 1953) it was revealed t h a t he found a t i c k spec ies t h a t was b i t i n g m i l i t a r y personnel . Joyce became t h e f i r s t non-marine b i o l o g i s t t o v i s i t t h e a t o l l s ince t h e end of World War 11. Frank Richardson (1954a, 1954b) v i s i t e d t h e Shoals from 26 October t o 2 November and 18-19 December 1953, and 20 March 1954; he recorded 15 b i r d speci-es and a few s e a l s on the f i r s t v i s i t , 15 b i r d spec ies on h i s second v i s i t , and 11 species on h i s l a s t . On t h e b a s i s of h i s t h r e e v i s i t s t o French F r iga te and o the r Hawaiian I s l ands , Richardson (1.957) l a t e r published an extens ive paper on t h e breeding cycles of Hawaiian seab i rds . From 11 t o 21 February 1956 Arthur Sv ih la (1957, 1959) of t h e B.P. Bishop Museum v i s i t e d Tern I s l and t o s tudy t h e l i f e h a b i t s and abundance of t h e Hawaiian monk s e a l . He recorded s i x p l an t , s i x i n s e c t , seven b i rd , t h r e e mammal (o the r than man), and one ~ p t i l e spec ies . On 3 August 1956 two zoologis t s , no t i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e s ta , t ion log , a r r i v e d a t Tern I s l and by Coast Guard plane ( ~ e d . Rec. Center, Md., Log, 5 8 ~ 6 0 2 , Box 101); perhaps one of these wae Archie 3'. Carr (1964), t u r t l e spec ia l - i s t from t h e Univers i ty of F lo r ida . On 28 December 1957 Dale Rice and Kar l Xenyon (1962) made a low- l e v e l photographic run over French Fr<.gate Shoals -to check t h e a l b a t r o s s populat ion. Richard E. Warner of t h e Univers i ty of C a l i f o r n i a and t h r e e o the r s c i e n t i s t s accompanied t h e USCGC Mata- on it? b r i e f 26 May 1958 supp1.y ~ t o p a% Tern :Island. Before heading f o r Laysan, Warner (1958) obcerved seven b i r d spec ie s on Tern I s l and . D r . Hubert Casper from Hamburg Univers i ty , Hamburg, Germany, v i s i t e d Tern by a Coast Guard plane on 19 August 1959 (Fed. Rec. Center, Md., Log, 6L4275, Box 111) ; h i s purpose f o r v i s i t i n g t h e a t o l l i s not known. Chandler S. Robbins of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (BSFW) v i s i t ed the a t o l l v ia Coast Guard plane on 13 Apri l 1960 t o inspect the Refuge. He recorded 3 species of birds . Hawaiian Division of Fish and Game (HDFG) personnel made addit ional survey v i s i t s on 19 October 1960, March and September 1961, and June 1962. They recorded the bird species present, and ( in 1961) collected algae (Tsuda, 1966). On 2 September 1961, 10 sc i en t i s t s of the Coolidge Expe- d i t ion spent an hour on Tern Island between disembarking from a Coast Guard plane and departing f o r the USCGC Ironwood, anchored offshore, which was t o take them t o Laysan. In subsequent publications, Udvardy (1961a) and Udvardy and Warner (1964) noted tha t they had observed s ix bird species, on, or f lying over, the island but saw no signs of nesting birds . LamouPeux (1961) published notes on the plants he collected during his br ief s.topover. POBSP personnel have spent 203 days a t French Frigate Shoals on 11 separate t r i p s since June 1963. BSFW personnel have been present on four of these t r i p s . BSFW personnel spent an addit ional 73 days on 10 other t r i p s . Dates and islands v i s i t ed for each t r i p are l i s t e d in Table 2. Personnel for a l l surveys a r e l i s t e d in Appendix Table 1. Papers resul t ing from POBSP ac t iv i . t i e s a t French Frigate Shoals were published by Amerson (1968), Amerson and Emerson (1971), Clapp and Woodward (1968), Gould and King (1967), Hendrickson (1969), Kohls (1966), Kohls and Cli f ford (1967), Maa (1968), Sibley and McFarlane (1968), and Tsuda (1966). One hundred sc i en t i f i c publications have resulted from the various surveys t o French Frigate Shoals. Some are specific; others cover several topics. The various topics and number of publications f o r each are: Coelenterata (2); Mollusca ( 3 ) ~ Echinodermata (5); Annelida (3) ; Arthropoda: Crustacea (I), Arachnida (8); Insecta (15); Chordata: Pisces (ll), Rept i l ia ( l o ) , Mammalia ( l a ) , Ayes (26); Flora: Vascu- l a r Plants (4), Algae (2 ) ; Geophysical ( 2 ) . These publications are l i s t e d i n Appendix Table 2. VEGETATION Neither Brooke (1955: 618-620) nor Brooks (1860: 500) recorded vegetation when they v i s i t ed French Frigate Shoals i n 1859. The f i r s t mention of vegetation came from the ship- wrecked crew of the Daniel Wood, who in Apr i l 1867 reported one "small sand bank, barren, with the exception of here and there a t u f t of grass" (!& Friend, May 1867, 37: 1-3). In July 1872 Table 2. Dates of POBSP and BSM surveys of islands a t French Frigate Shoals M 1963 7- i5June POBSP 11 7-11 12-15 14-15 10 9 9 8 9 11 8 8 1965 16 Mar. BSFW Did Not Go Ashore POBS P 4 Aug.- 2 Sept. POBSP 4-5 5-10 11-17 16,29 7 25 25 10,23 10-12 23-28 1 3 1 1966 21-24 mr. 8 June- 9 July 11 Aug.- 16 Sept. 12-15 Sept BSFW 21 23 22 22 23 23 23 POBSP 8-10 10-14 io,23- 10,23 4 6 16-21 29 1,3-4 21-23 29-1 4 -7 PJBSP 11-15 18-24 13,15- 13-14 4 17-1826-30 17,4 4,12 24-26 30-16 BSFW 12-13 12-13 13 1967 11-14 Mar. BSFW POBSP 11-14 11-12 14 13-14 3 wood of t h e Kamehameha 1 a l s o found very l i t t l e vegeta t ion (The -Friend, October 1872, 81: 2-3). But by February 1882 t h e crew of the Ada found an i s land with "bushes growing on it" ( ~ o r n e l l , 19m. Walker ( lgog) , who spent a week a t French Fr iga te in mid-1891, pointed out t h a t some of the sand i s l e t s were profuse ly covered with scrub. The Tanager Expedition v i s i t e d t h e a t o l l i n June 1923 and found s i x species o f plants--Lepturus repens, Chenopodium oahuensis, Boerhavia d i f fusa [=-I, P o ~ t u l a c a e, Tribulus c i s t o i d e s , and Ipomoea~es-caprae (Christophersen and Cam, 1931: 8)--on nine of the i s l ands . Wetmore (ms.) noted t h a t another nine spec ies were planted by expedit ion personnel . It i s not known how long these introduced p lan t s l i ved , but none apparent ly survived long. Some, however, have been reintroduced s ince . During World War 11, m i l i t a r y a c t i v i t i e s completely a l t e r e d one i s l and and p a r t i a l l y a l t e r e d another . With t h i s a c t i v i t y came p lan t in t roduct ions . A p l a n t coll.ection of 10 species from var ious i s l a n d s i n the a t o l l was made by H. Ivan Rainwater i n October 1953; these unnumbered specimens a r e deposi ted i n the B.P. Bishop Museum i n Honolulu. Svih la (1957: 1-2) published observa- t i o n s of vegeta t ion a f t e r v i s i t i n g Tern from 11 t o 21 February 1956. He reported Ipomoea p s -caprae, Scaevola, Cocas nucifera, and Casuarina sp., and c o l l e c t e d seven a d d i t i o n a l spec ies . On 2 September 1961 Lamourerut (1961: 7-10) v i s i t e d Tern I s l and and co l l ec ted 21 of 22 species of vascular p l a n t s observed; 14 of these 22 were new records f o r the a t o l l . POBSP and BSFW personnel have c o l l e c t e d vascular p l a n t specimens, o r have taken notes and photographs, on most v i s i t s t o the Shoals . In June 1963 POBSP personnel c o l l e c t e d 15 specimens of 8 spec ies and observed 2 o ther species on four i s l a n d s . Twenty- one p l a n t species were c o l l e c t e d a,nd four o the r s were observed on f o u r i s l a n d s i n September 1964 by C. Robert Long, a POBSP b o t a n i s t from t h e Universi ty of Hawaii. The i s l ands and t h e i r major vegetat ion a s soc ia t ions were mapped i n June 1967. P lan t specimens c o l l e c t e d by t h e POBSP, i t s cooperators , and pas t bo tan ica l c o l l e c t o r s may be found in the he rba r i a of t h e National Museum of Natura.1 History (USNM), t h e B.P. Bishop Museum (BPBM), and the Universi ty of Hawaii (UI-I), Vascular P lan t s For ty species of vascu la r p l an t s , r ep resen t ing 24 fami l ies , have been observed o r c o l l e c t e d from e igh t i s l ands a t French F r i g a t e Shoals (Table 3 and Appendix Table 3 ) . Table 3. Distribution of vascular plants at French Frigate Shoals Whale - Little Species Tern East Trig Skate Round Gin Gin Shark Cenchrus echinatus x x x Cynodon dactylon x Eleusine indica x Eragrostis whitneyi x Lepturus repens x x x x x x Setaria verticillata x x x x Fimbristylis cymosa x Cocos nucifera x x Livistona australis x Pritchardia gaudichaudii x Pritchardia pacifica x x Ficus sp. - X Casuarina equisetifolia x x Atriplex muelleri x Chenopodium oahuensis x x x x Salicornia virginica x Coccoloba uvifera x Boerhavia repens x x x x x x x Portulaca lutea - X X X X X X X Portulaca oleracea x Coronopus didymus x Spergularia marina x Haematoxylon compechianum x Tribulus cistoides x x x x x Euphorbia thymifolia x Euphorbia prostrata x Hibiscus tiliaceus x x Thespesia populnea x x Calophyllum inophyllum x x Frankenia grandifolia x Barringtonia asiatica x Plumeria obtusa x Ipomoea E-caprae x x - Tournefortia argentea x x x x Solanum lycopersicum x Scaevola taccada x x x x Conyza bonariensis x Lactuca ep. x Pluchea odorata x x Sonchus oleraceus x x The following vegeta t ion d iscuss ion , by i s land , i s based on POBSP da ta , a s w e l l a s a l l previous bo tan ica l accounts . I s l ands a r e l i s t e d i n order of magnitude of occurrence of p l a n t spec ie s . Whenever p l a n t a s s o c i a t i o n s a r e discussed, t h e spec ie s a r e l i s t e d i n order of decreas ing abundance. Tern I s l and Thirty-seven vascu la r p l an t s have been recorded from Tern I s l and (Table 3 ) . O f t hese 37 spec ies , 30 a r e exo t i c p l a n t s . The vege ta t ion i e p re sen t ly dominated by 18 species . Vegetation i s l i m i t e d t o both s i d e s of t h e a i r s t r i p (F ig . 17) . The a rea southeas t of the a i r s t r i ~ i s covered \ - - . , with an herbaceous growth of Ipomoea pes-caprae, Boerhavia repens, Cenchrus echinatue, S e t a r i a v e r t i c l l l a t a , Sonchus oleraceus, and Conyza bonar iens ie . Widely sca t t e red shrubs of Tournefor t ia a rgentea and Pluchea odorata, a s wel l a s a few Scaevola tazcada, a r e found throughout t h i s s i d e . Of l e s s f requent occurrence here a r e Eleueine indica, Lepturus repens, Po r tu l aca l u t e a , and P_. o le racea . Spergular ia marina and F i m b r i s t y l i s cyinosa a r e common al.ong t h e margins of t h e packed- c o r a l a i r s t r i p . The narrow a rea along t h e northwest s i d e of t h e a i r s t r i p i s r a t h e r densely covered wi th shrubs of Pluchea, Tournefort ia , and Casuarina e q u i s e t i f o l i a . Tr ibulus c i s t o i d e e and Cynodon dactylon were found, a s w e l l a s t h e same herbaceous spec ies found on t h e southeas t s i d e . Introduced e x o t i c p l a n t s around t h e U.S. Coast Guard bu i ld ings include s e v e r a l 50-foot-high Casuarina, and a few Coccoloba uvi fera , Cocos nuci fera , and Plumeria obtusa. From 1964 through 1969, Solanum lycopersicum was c u l t i v a t e d by USCGS personnel . I n June 192.3 t h e Tanager Expedition recorded Lepturus repens, Chenopodium oahu-ensis, Boerha.via d i f fusa [ -1, Por tu l aca l u t e a , and Tr ibulus c i s t o i d e s from Tern (Chris toph- e r sen and Cam, 1931.: 8 ) . Wetmore (ms.) noted t h a t on 26 June Judd ( ~ i g . 38) planted sprouted Cocas nuc i fe ra , s l i p s of Hibiscus t i l j - aceus , and seeds of Ca.lophyi1um - inophyllum, Thespesia populnea, Casuarina e q u i s e t i f o l i a , and P r i t c h a r d i a a c i f i c a on Tern. I f any of these survived, they were destroyed !n 1942. From Ju ly t o November 1942, U.S. Navy personnel and c i v i l i a n workers dredged coral. from t h e lagoon, covered t h e o r i g i n a l Tern Isl.a.nd, and cons t ruc ted a new i s l and i n i t s p lace . Figure 37. A e r i a l view of Tern I s l and , 11 December 1966, showing vegetati.on growing along both s i d e s of t h e a i r s t r i p . O f f i c i a l U . S. Coast Guard photograph. Figure 38. C . S . Judd p lan t ing Hau t r e e s west end of Tern Is land, 26 June 1923. B. P . Bishop Museum photograph by E. H . Bryan, Jr . >. ., This new Tern I s l and was devoid of vege ta t ion (Fig. 33); furthermore, s eve ra l of t h e f i rs t Commanding Of f i ce r s would not allow even a blade of g r a s s t o grow. The f i r e t recorded vegeta t ion , Tribulus c i s t o i d e s , reappeared i n l a t e December 1943 o r e a r l y January 1944. Dabagh, t h e new C.O., c a r e f u l l y watered it and shor t ly the p lan t produced a small, yellow blossom. He c a r e f u l l y picked t h e bloom and enclosed it i n h i s next l e t t e r home; h i s wife Jean s t i l l has the pressed Tr ibulus i n he r possession ( ~ a b a g h , in l i t t . ) . U.S. Navy photographs taken i n A p r i l 1945, a year p r i o r t o d ises tabl i shment of the Navy s t a t i o n , show Tern a s a white- c o r a l expanse. Sparse vegeta t ion probably d i d occur, however. U.S. Coast Guard photographs taken i n 1949 show Ipomoea and Lepturus s c a t t e r e d around t h e abandoned N a v y bui ld ings , but o v e r a l l (Fig. 39) t h e i s l and was s t i l l bare . Between June 1946 and March 1952 Tern I s l and was abandoned by the m i l i t a r y . During t h i s period, the Coast Guard personnel on Eas t kept t h e a i r s t r i p usable, and an occasional plane landed. Commercial fishermen a l s o used the i s l a n d . Lamoureux (1964: 8 ) repor ted t h a t " in 1948 D r . Vernon E. Smith v i s i t e d the i s l and and d id not f i n d any higher p l a n t s growing t h e r e . " I n A p r i l 1952 workers began renovating the old Navy bu i ld ings so t h a t the Coast Guard could use Tern ins tead of Eas t . The small amount of vegeta t ion growing around t h e bu i ld ings was probably destroyed during t h i s period; USCGS photographs show very sparse vegeta t ion i n June, July, and August 1952. The new LORAN s t a t i o n went i n t o operat ion i n October. Photographs taken i n January 1953 by Pr i ce ( i n l i t t . ) show a narrow growth o f low g rass along the c e n t r a l por t ion of t h e northwest edge of t h e a i r s t r i p ; s c a t t e r e d grass clumps grew around the o ld Quonset hu t s on the west ha l f of the southeas t s i d e ; t h e eas t e rn port ion of the southeas t s i d e was completely bare. Lamoureux (1964: 8) noted t h a t "by October 1953 re- vegeta t ion had progressed t o t h e po in t where H . I . Rainwater was a b l e t o c o l l e c t 9 [lo] species ." A U.S. Coast Guard photograph ( F . 40) taken in January 1956 shows l i t t l e vegeta t ion along t h e northwest s ide of t h e a i r s t r i p , but shows two l a r g e vegeta ted a r e a s on the e a s t e r n h a l f of t h e southeast s ide . Sv ih la (1957: 1-2), who v i s i t e d Tern I s l and from 11 t o 21 February 1956, co l l ec ted seven p l a n t species and repor ted four o t h e r s . He noted t t ia t t he i s l and "cons i s t s l a r g e l y of t h e barren landing s t r i p but the re i s a small a r e a of approximately t h r e e ac res i n ex ten t which s t i l l r e t a i n s some of the o r i g i n a l f l o r a . " As f o r exot ics , he Figure 39. Abandoned Tern I s l and Naval A i r F a c i l i t y , 16 August 1949, showing i t s barren, whi te-cora l expanse. O f f i c i a l U. S. Navy photograph. Figure 40. A e r i a l view of Tern I s l and , 3 January 1956, showing l i t t l e vegeta t ion along t h e northwest s i d e of t h e a i r - s t r i p , but two l a r g e vegetated a reas on t h e e a s t e r n ha l f of t h e southeas t s i d e . O f f i c i a l U. S. Coast Guard photograph. observed t h a t around the bui ld ings "the t h r e e coconut t r e e s a r e about one f o o t high and seem t o be e s t ab l i shed . The Casuarina [ s i c ] , planted i n f r o n t of t h e mess h a l l a r e about 15 f e e t h igh ." On 2 September 1961, Lamoureux (1961: 7-10) v i s i t e d Tern and found 22 speches of p l an t s . He noted t h a t 6 of these were c u l t i v a t e d species, 5 were species which were p a r t of the o r i g i n a l vegeta t ion , 1 was probably i n t e n t i o n a l l y introduced but could be a na t ive species, and 10 were probably un in ten t iona l ly introduced weeds. Figure 4 1 shows an a e r i a l view of T e r n ' s vege- t a t i o n i n December 1961, three months a f t e r Lamoureux's v i s i t . Lamoureux (1961: 8) speculated on the modes of in t roduct ion of the weedy spec ies . He noted t h a t "it seems l i k e l y t h a t t h e seeds of some of these came t o the i s l and i n t h e s o i l which was r epor t ed ly brought t h e r e from Honolulu (Svihla, 1957). " Svihla, however, was i n e r r o r , f o r no s o i l was barged o r otherwise brought from Honolulu (Amerson, i n prep . ) . Lamoureux (op. c i t . ) f u r t h e r noted t h a t "other weedy spec ies may have r e a c h e r ~ e r n ... a c c i d e n t a l l y v i a cons t ruc t ion equipment, a i r c r a f t , o r per- sonnel." He a l s o d id not "discount the poss ib iLi ty of ' n a t u r a l ' d i s p e r s a l by wind, b i rds , o r ocean c u r r e n t s . " He s t r e s sed t h a t "most of the weedy species were p resen t in t h e main Hawaiian I s l a n d s f o r many yea r s before 1923, but the species were not found on French Fr iga te Shoal then . Thus, t he weeds appeared t h e r e only a f t e r man began t o make f requent v i s i t s . " Eas t I s l and Twenty-one species of vascular p l an t s have been recorded from Eas t I s l a n d . POBSP personnel recorded e i g h t species i n J U e 1963, and two a d d i t i o n a l species i n September 1964. Eas t I s l a n d i s covered throughout with Tr ibulus c i s t o i d e s ; an almost Dure s tand grows in t h e c e n t e r of t h e length of t h e i s l and . &wards the edges Tribulus i s mixed with ~ o e r h a v i a repens and Por tu laca l u t e s . Lepturus repens i s s c a t t e r e d along - t h e lagoon s ide of the northwest h a l f , a s w e l l a s on the middle por t ion of t h e southwest s ide . Chenopodium oahuensis i s s c a t - t e r e d around the ru ins of t h e LORAN s t a t i o n , a s wel l a s on the southeas t por t ion of the southeakt s i d e . one low Scaevola taccada occurs near the lagoon beach about midpoint of the southeas t h a l f . A l a rge , 4-foot-high Tournefor t ia argentea i s s i t u a t e d a t t he southeas t t i p of t h e vegeta ted por t ion; a dead one occurs near t h e ocean beach a t t h e midpoint of t h e northwest h a l f . Sparse Sonchus oleraceus, S e t a r i a v e r t i c i l l a t a , and Cenchrus echinatus grow among t h e bu i ld ing r u i n s . I n June 1923, Christophersen and Caum 61931: 8) repor ted Lepturus repens, Chenopodium oahuensis, Boerhavia d i f fusa [=repens], Portulaca - l u t e a , Tribulus c i s t o i d e s , and Ipomoea pee-caprae from Eas t . w e t m o m a l s o noted t h a t Judd planted nine species i n June 1923. They were: 50 c u t t i n g s of Hibiscus t i l i a c e u s , 8 sprouted Cocas nuci fera , and seeds of Haematoxylon campechianum, Thespesia populnea, Casuarina e q u i s e t i f o l i a , P r i t cha rd ia pac i f i ca , P. gaudichaudii , Liv is tona a u s t r a l i s , and Calophylium inophyllum. Only Cocas nuc i fe ra has been recorded since, and t h a t not from the o r i g i n a l i n t r o - duct ion. Vegetat ion on t h e lagoon s ide of the i s l a n d was p a r t i a l l y destroyed i n the mid-1930's due t o m i l i t a r y caml, s i t e s connected with var ious U.S. Naval f l e e t exe rc i ses . I n 1944 the U.S. Coast Guard constructed a LORAN s t a t i o n on Eas t . The e i g h t main bui ld ings and a few roads d is rupted vegeta t ion on the north- western h a l f of the i s l a n d ( ~ i g . 42) . I n 1952 the s t a t i o n was abandoned. By 1962 t h e bu i ld ings were s t i l l present , bu t a l l evidence of the road had disappeared (Fig. 43). POBSP personnel burned t h e remains of the bui ld ings i n 1965. Tr ig Is land Nine species of vascuLar p l a n t s have been recorded from Tr ig Is land, a l l s ince 1963 (Table 3 ) . The western ha l f i s covered predominately with Tr ibulus c i s t o i d e s and Lepturus repens. Sca t t e red throughout t h i s sec t ion a r e Pprtulaca lutes and Boerhavia repens. Chenopodium oahuensis occurs on t h e south and west po r t ions of t h i s h a l f . Severa l low Scaevola taccada grow along the north border of t h i s h a l f . A l a r g e 15-foot-high, 30-foot-wide Tournefort ia a rgentea grows i n the cen te r of the i s land. Smaller Tournefort ia occur on t h e south and e a s t s ide of the eas t e rn h a l f ; two occur near the west end of the i s l and . Sparse S e t a r i a v e r t i c i l l a t a and Cenchrus echinatusl have been found on t h e i s l and . Christophersen and Caum (1931: 8) co l l ec ted Lepturus repens, Boerhavia repens, Por tu laca *, and Tr ibulus c i s - - t o i d e s from Tr ig i n June 1923. No seeds were planted on t h i s i s l a n d by Tanager personnel (Wetmore, ms. ) POBSP personnel have noted considerable vegeta t ion changes a t T r ig s ince 1963. From 1963 through 1965 the eas t e rn h a l f was almost barren sand ( ~ i g . 44) . I n subsequent years , Tourne- f o r t i a mew so r ap id ly on t h e south c r e s t ( ~ i g . 45) t h a t by -he bushes were about f i v e f e e t high; these now provide BSFW personnel el iminated t h i s species i n l a t e 1969. Figure 11-1, A e r i a l view of Tern I s l a n d ' s ' vegetat ion, 13' December 1961; Lamoureux (1961:7-10) found 22 p l a n t species here on h i s September v i s i t . O f f i c i a l U. S. Coast Guard photograph. Figure 42. A e r i a l view of East I s l and Coast Guard LORAN S t a t i o n , c i r c a 1949, showing ex ten t of vegeta t ion . Offi.cia1 U . S. Coast Guard photograph. Figure 43. East I s l a n d ' s vegetat ion, June 1962. Hawaiian Division of Fish and Game photograph b y David B. Marshall . Figure 44. West view from e a s t end of Tr ig Is land, 16 August 1965; dug-up a r e a i n foreground caused by- t , u t l e s l ay ing eggs; small Tournefort ia p l a n t s on t h e lef-1;. POBSP photograph by A . B. Amerson, J r . added nes t ing and roos t ing space f o r Red-footed Boobies, a s w e l l a s roos t ing space f o r Great F r iga teb i rds . The grassy western ha l f underwent a d r a s t i c reduction i n vegeta t ion between June 1968 and February 1969; t h i s reduction, which was s t i l l apparent i n June 1969, was perhaps caused by excessive t u r t l e n e s t i n g a c t i v i t y o r by a drought. Storm damage was ru led out f o r t h i s i s l and was otherwise una l t e red . This a rea undoubtedly w i l l r evegeta te and should r e t u r n t o i t s p r i o r s t a t u s i n a shor t t ime. Whale-Skate I s l and Eight vascu la r p l a n t species have been recorded from Whale-Skate I s l and (Table 3 ) ; a l l s t i l l occur. Except f o r the beaches and a shor t sandy s t r e t c h near t h e southeas t end ( ~ i a . 46). Whale-Skate i s mainlv covered bv veae- > - , , - t a t i o n . Tr ibulus c i s t o i d e s and Lepturus repens form t h e pre- dominant ground cover over a l l vegetated p o r t i o n s . Scat te red throughout a r e Por tu laca l u t e a and Boerhavia repens. Two l a r g e a reas of Chenopodium oahuensis occur i n t h e c e n t r a l por t ion of the two ha lves . Sca t t e red 4- t o 5-foot-high Tournefort ia argentea grow along t h e beach c r e s t s on both lagoon and ocean s ides . Severa l small Scaevola taccada occur near the southeast t i p . A few clumps of S e t a r i a v e r t i c i l l a t a grow on the lagoon s ide i n t h e middle por t ion of t h e southeas t h a l f . I n June 1923 during the Tanager Expedition, Whale and Skate were sepa ra te i s l ands . Five p l a n t species c o l l e c t e d from both i s l ands were i d e n t i f i e d by Christophersen and Caum (1931: 8) a s Lepturus repens, Chenopodiwn oahuensis, Boerhavia r e ens, Portulaca , and Tribulus c i s t o i d e s . W m s * o r t e d no in t roduct ions t o e i t h e r i s l and i n 1923. With t h e exception of the add i t ion of l a r g e Tournefort ia and the two minor species , Whale-Skate i s l a n d ' s vegeta t ion has changed l i t t l e s ince 1923. The i s l a n d has had very l i t t l e human dis turbance . Round I s l and Four p l a n t species a r e known t o have occurred on Round I s l a n d (Table 3 ) ; none p resen t ly grows t h e r e . In 1923, Christophersen and Caum (1931: 8) reported Lepturus repens, Boerhavia d i f fusa [=repens], Portulaca l u t e a -7 and Tr ibulus c i s t o i d e s . The i s l and was considerably l a r g e r then . A U.S. Navy a e r i a l photograph taken i n June 1932 a l s o shows considerable vegeta t ion p resen t . None e x i s t s , however, i n Kenyon and Rice ' s a e r i a l photographs taken in December 1957. Figure 45. Southwest view from e a s t end of Tr ig Is land, 3 July 1966; Tournefort ia along south c r e s t has grown two f e e t i n l e s s than a year ( see Figure 44). POBSP photograph by A . B. Amerson, Jr. Figure 46. Vegetation covers a l l of Whale-Skate Is land except t h e beaches and a shor t sandy s t r e t c h near t h e f a r south- e a s t end, June 1962. Hawaiian Division of F ish and G3me photograph by David B. Marshal l . The i s l a n d ' s extremely low height and small s i z e made it suscept ib le t o wave and wind ac t ion , and i t s vegetat ion, and consequently f o u r nes t ing b i rd species , was el iminated. pOBSP personnel recorded no vegetat ion from 1963 through 1969. L i t t l e Gin Is land Three p l a n t species have been recorded from L i t t l e Gin I s l and (Table 3 ) ; only two have been recorded i n recent years . POBSP personnel observed and photographed ( ~ i g . 4'7) Boerhavia repens and Por tu laca l u t e a growing i n small numbers - i n the c e n t r a l depression during August 1965. No p lan t s were recorded dur ing the June 1963 v i s i t , and none has been found subsequent t o 1965. Christoohersen and Cam (1911: 8) reoor ted small clumos \ ,- A of Lepturus repens, Boerhavia d i f f u s a [=repens] , and Portulaca l u t e a from L i t t l e Gin i n June 1923. None was subsequently observed u n t i l t h e 1965 POBSP records. L i t t l e Gin ' s usual l ack of vegeta t ion d e s p i t e i t s l a rge s i z e demonstrates t h e e f f e c t of wave a c t i o n during winter storms. I n yea r s having v i o l e n t storms, the p l a n t s a r e covered up o r destroyed. I n those yea r s with few winter storms, the dormant vegeta t ion has a chance t o grow. Gin I s l and One p l a n t species has been recorded from Gin I s l and (Table 3 ) ; no vegeta t ion present ly grows. Christophersen and Caum (1931: 8) found sparse Portulaca lutes i n June 1923. No vegeta t ion has s i n c e been observed and t h e i s l a n d i s p resen t ly bare sand. This i s land, l i k e L i t t l e Gin, i s probably af fec ted by winter storm wave ac t ion . Shark Is land Table 3 shows t h a t one p lan t species has been recorded a t Shark I s l and . No p l a n t s p resen t ly grow t h e r e . A small amount of Le tu rus repens was recorded a t Shark by Christophersen and c'-1: 8) in June 1923. None has been found s ince . This i s l a n d ' s p resen t lack of vegeta t ion is undoubtedly due t o wave a c t i o n during winter storms. Other I s l ands The o t h e r sand islands--Bare, Disappearing, Mullet , and Near--have no records of vegeta t ion because of t h e i r small s i z e and low he igh t . S a l t water washes over them regu la r ly , pre- cluding growth of vege ta t ion . No vege ta t ion has been recorded from La Perouse Pinnacle . Wetmore (ms.) found none when he climbed t h e rock i n 1923. Richardson (1954a: 63) found no vegeta t ion on t h e c l i f f f a c e s around t h e west end on 31 October 1953. POBSP personnel found no vege ta t ion on t h e no r theas t f ace o r on t h e e n t i r e t o p of t h e main rock i n June 1969. The nearby l i t t l e rock i s a l s o bar ren . Two r e p t i l e s - - t h e Green Sea T u r t l e and t h e Mourning Gecko-- a r e known from French F r i g a t e Shoals . Both spec ie s breed on the a t o l l . The gecko i s an introduced spec ies , whereas the t u r t l e spec ies i s a r e s i d e n t . Poss ib ly t h e P a c i f i c Hawksbill Tur t l e , Eretmochelys imbricata , an uncommon spec ies i n t h e Hawaiian I s l ands , has v i s i t e d the a t o l l , bu t no records e x i s t of i t s occurrence. GREEN SEA TURTLE: Chelonia mydae S t a t u s Common r e s i d e n t breeder ; occurs on a l l i s lands , except those awash a t high t i d e ; n e s t s on t h e s i x major sand i s l a n d s . Maximum recent populat ion es t imate 1,300 i n August 1965. Observations Sea t u r t l e s were f i r s t recorded from t h e sand i s l a n d s of French F r iga te Shoals 3 t o 7 January 1859 by L t . John M. Brooke . ~ - - - - - " of the USS Fenimore Cooper (U.S. Nat. Archives, Old M i l . H i s t . , Log of USS Fenimore Cooper f o r 1 8 5 9 ) I n May ( ? ) of t h e same year Captain N.C. Brooks of t h e Gambia a l s o found the Shoals abounding with t u r t l e s . From 3 February t o 1 May 1882, the crew of the Japanese- owned American-chartered schooner A&, wi th two sampans, v i s i t e d French F r i g a t e Shoals " t o ge t anything they could s e l l i n t h e way of f i s h , shark, [and] t u r t l e " (Hornell , 1934). When t h e Ada - departed on 1 May i t s cargo included 47 ga l lons of t u r t l e o i l and 1,543 pounds of t u r t l e s h e l l . The Ada's - l og g ives some ind ica t ion a s t o how much t u r t l e was a c t u a l l y taken . P r i o r t o i t s a r r i v a l a t t he Shoals, 168 t u r t l e s had been co l l ec ted . Assuming a s i n g l e a d u l t t u r t l e y i e l d s t h r e e pounds of t o r t o i s e s h e l l (Parsons, 1962), about 346 t u r t l e s were taken by the Ada's - crew. T u r t l e s were not el iminated, however, f o r g rea t numbers were present in e a r l y 1888 when the Wandering Mins t re l v i s i t e d t h e a t o l l ( F a r r e l l , 1928), a s we l l a s i n May and June 1891 when t h e Kaalokai surveyed the a t o l l (Walker, 1909; Munro, 1 9 4 l a ) . The USS Rainbow's hydrographic survey of French Fr iga te Shoals i n t h e l a t e summer and f a l l of 1914 found t u r t l e s p l e n t i f u l (U.S. Nat. Archives, Mod. M i l . K i s t . Div., Rainbow cor resp . , R.G. 37, 1132-100666). T u r t l e s and t u r t l e eggs, a s we l l a s evidence of previous t u r t l e s laughter , were found by Wetmore (ms.) during the A p r i l 1923 v i s i t of t h e Tanager Expedition. Two commercial f i s h i n g companies, t he Hawaiian-American F i she r i e s , headed by Louis X. Agard, Jr. , and the Seaside Fish ing Company, es tabl i shed a f i s h i n g base on Tern Is land i n November 1946. A g r e a t many t u r t l e s were captured and taken t o the Honolulu market. Tur t l e meat became one of t h e mainstays of the crew's d i e t , supplant ing beef . However, t he t u r t l e numbers dwindled, probably more a s a r e s u l t of human disturbance than a c t u a l k i l l i n g , and soon t u r t l e was not taken f o r the comme'rcial market. Agard (& litt . ) es t imates taki.ng about 200 t u r t l e s between 1946 and 1% Commercial fishermen again took t u r t l e from the a t o l l i n the spr ing of 1957 ( ~ 0 ~ 1 , 1957). HDFG, BSFW, AND WBSP personnel have recorded t u r t l e s on almost a l l v i s i t s during the 1960's . A l l t u r t l e observat ions a t Freneh Fr iga te Shoals a r e presented i n Tables 4-9. Annual Cycle French Fr iga te Shoals ' Green Sea T u r t l e population i s the l a r g e s t i n the Hawaiian I s l ands . T u r t l e s have been recorded year-round. The a d u l t population i s lowest in the f a l l , winter, and e a r l y spr ing . The h ighes t population occurs i n t he l a t e sp r ing and summer and coincides with breeding. Copulation has been observed i n e a r l y May; nes t ing usua l ly commences in l a t e May. Inf requent egg-laying has been noted i.n August and Sep- tember. Hatchlings probably appear i n l a t e J u l y and a r e commonly seen i n August and e a r l y f a l l . . Hendrickson (1969: go) suggests t h a t French Fr iga te Shoals ' t u r t l e h a t c h l i n g production exceeds t h a t of a l l t h e o ther Hawaiian nes t ing s i t e s combined. Table 4 . Green Sea Turtle observations a t East Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1955 May 5 1956 Apr. 11 June 4 1957 Apr. 24 May 11 1959 July 21 1961 Feb. 9 Mar. 4 July U 1962 June 1963 June 7-11 1964 sept . r / 2 2 6 10 - 15 12 4 1 1 3 present 2O+ 5 1965 Aug. 5-10, 32+ 23 -28 1966 Mar. 23 4 May U 12-15 June 10-14, 5-24 16-21 Sept. 13-14 86+ Medium-sized (POFI, 1955). Ca. 100 lb s . each (POFI, ~ 9 5 6 ~ ) . - Dead, appeared t o have been k i l led , but not butchered; 0 adul ts diurnally; 33 s e t s of f a i r l y f resh haul-out tracks on beaches; nest p i t s (FQFI, 1959). I n nearby water (POFI, 1961s). Dead newly hatched t u r t l e ~ F G , 1961.b). Considerable number noted, nest p i t s (WFG, 19628). Adults nightly; much egg laying (POBSP, 1963). Dead: 2 adults, 3 hatchlings; 250 nest p i t s counted (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). Adults: la', 319; numerous hatchlings; 5-20 adul ts dai ly; 99 laying nightly (POBSP, 1965b). Adults: 3, 2 unknown (BSFW, 1966a). Copulation observed ( ~ F I , 1966). Adults observed da i ly ; 5+ P? laying nightly (POBSP, 19666)). Adults daily; some laying eggs; hatchlings present (POBSP, 1966b). 1 adul t 9 a t night may have hauled up t o lay eggs; 85 hatchlings seen on the 14th (BSFW, 1966b). Table 4. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1967 ~ a r . 11-12 1 Offshore (BSFW, 1967a;' POBSP, 196713). May 26-31, 20-60 Adults dai ly , 5-21 99 laying nightly; June 9-13 1 subadult (POBSP, 1967a). Dec. 9 0 5 old nest p i t s a t e a s t end (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 1968 June 6-11, present Adults laying (POBSP, 1968a) 14-16, 25 1969 June 5-10, 15-40 Adults da i ly ; PP laying nightly (POBSP, 1969). 0 7 LI ~ u g . 2 30 6 Adults i n nearby water; many nest p i t s , only a few appeared freshly dug (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 5. Green Sea Turtle observations a t Gin Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1923 June 24 3 -4 1 with a f ron t f l i ppe r missing (Wetmore, ms.) 1956 Apr. 11 9 - Ca. 100 1bs. each (POFI, 1956a) June 4 4 (POFI, 1956b). 1957 Apr. 25 10-15 (POFI, 1957). m y 12 10-12 (POPI, 1957). 1961 Feb. 18 2 (POFI, 1961a). 1963 June 9 10 Adults (POBSP, 1963 ) . 1966 Mar. 23 2 d adul ts (BSFW, 1966a). Sept. 14 0 20 nest p i t s , but no hatchlings (~SFW,1967b). 1967 June 9 5 Adults, no nes t p i t s (POBSF, 1967a). 1969 Aug. 23, 30 0 25 old nest p i t s counted (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 6 . Green Sea Tur t l e observat ions a t L i t t l e Gin I s l and Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1923 June 24 ? Nest of t u r t l e eggs with developing embryos (Wetmore, m s . ) . 1950 June 19 4 (POFI, 1 9 5 0 ~ ) . 1956 Apr. 11 1 - ca . 100 l b s . (POFI, 1956a). 1957 Apr. 25 10-15 0 , 1957). 1961 Feb. 18 2 (POFI, 1961a). 1966 Mar. 23 0 25 o ld n e s t p i t s on h igher ground (BSFW, 1966a) . 1967 June 9 3 Adul ts ; no nest, p i t s (POBSP, 1967a) . 1969 ~ u g . 23, 30 0 66 o ld n e s t p i t s counted (BSFW, 19692). Table 7. Green Sea T u r t l e observat ions a t Tern Is land Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References J u l y 21 1 1-year o ld pe t kept i n sa l t -wa te r pond; 1 haul-out t r a c k on beach; USCG C . O . revealed t h a t 25-50 t u r t l e s had been taken by commercial fishermen from French F r i g a t e Shoals by a i r dur ing pas t few months (POFI, 1959). 1962 June 11-13, ? 21-22 1964 Sept . 27-28 o 1966 June 8-10, 0 14-16, 21-23, 29 J u l y 1, 4-7 A r t i f i c i a l t u r t l e pond s t a r t e d (BSN, 1962b ) . Severa l n e s t s repor ted t o have hatched about L s o n t h p r i o r (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). Old n e s t p i t s on southeas t beach (POBSP, 1966a ) . Table 7 . (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1966 Aug. 11-15 75 Hatchlings, no adul t s (POBSP, 1966b). 17-18 24 -26,30- Sept. 16 1967 May 25-26, 3 A4ults; some nest p i t s (POBSP, 1967a). 31-June 2, 7-9, U-15, 18, 20-22 1968 Mar. 11-15 1 Adult d (POBSP, 1968b) May 29- present Adults i n nearby water (POBSP, 1968a) June 6, 11-14, 16-17, 19-20, 22-27 1969 Mar. 23 1 Near p i e r (BSFW, 1969b) June 2-4, 2 Adults: 1 on north beach, 1 i n water 11-15 (FOBSP, 1969). 25 -26 Aug. 21- 2 1 adul t on beach, 1 subadult in water; ~ e p t . 6 1 nest p i t (BSFW, 1.969~). Table 8. Green Sea Turtle observations a t Trig Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 26 ? Considerable t u r t l e signs on beach (Wetmore, ms . ) . 1950 Jan. 19, 1 Caught on 23rd ( P ~ F I , 1950a). 23-25 1951 May 8-10 ? Breeding (POFI, 1951). 1953 Oct. 28 2 Large sea t u r t l e s sleeping on beach (Richardson, 1954a: 62). Table 8. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Sta tue , Remarks, and References 1956 Apr. 11 June 5 1957 May 10 1959 J u l y 21 1961 Feb. 18 1963 June 14,15 1964 s e p t . 3 1965 Aug. 16, 29, 31 June 10-23, J u l y 1,3-4 Aug. 13-14, Sept . 4,12 Sept . 12 June 2 8- 9, 19-20 Sept . 17 Dec. 7 Ca. 100 l b s . (POFI, 1956a). - (POFI, 195613 ) . (POFI, 1957). Recently-butchered p a r t s of l a r g e t u r t l e ; no haul-out t r acks (POFI, 1959). (POFI, 1961a) . Adults d a i l y (POBSP, 1963 ) . 5 a d u l t s ; Id, 29, 2 unknown; 18 hatch- l i n g s : 1 a l i v e , 17 p e t r i f i e d (BSFW, 1964b ; POBSP, 1964 ) . Adults: 13d, 159; 5-20 a d u l t s d a i l y ; PO l ay ing n i g h t l y (POBSP, 1965a). Adults: b', 39, 5 unknown (BSFW, 1966a). Adults d a i l y ; 5+ OO lay ing eggs n igh t ly (POBSP, 1966a). Adults on the 13th ; some 99 l ay ing eggs; ha tch l ings present (POBSP, 1966b). Adul ts : Id, l?, 3 unknown (BSFW, 1966b). Adults : 143, 159 (23 a d u l t s on l e t day coun t ) ; another 15-20 a d u l t s s l eep ing on bottom between Tr ig and seaward r ee f (BSlW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). Adults d a i l y ; 52 99 l ay ing n igh t ly ; a d u l t sex r a t i o on 20th: 9, 19 (POBSP, 1967a). Dead a d u l t (BSFW, 1967b). Adults , s ighted from plane (BSW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . Table 8. (continued) Population Date of Survey Est.imate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1968 June 6, present Adult 99 laying (POBSP, 1968a). 11, 22, 24-25 a969 Feb. 22-23 8 Adults on 23rd; 1 on 22nd (BSFW, .1969a). June 3, 14 5 -20 Adults daily, 99 laying nightly (POBSP, 23-24 1969). ~ u g . 2 3 , 1 Adult dai ly; west end l i t e r a l l y torn up by t u r t l e digging; some new digging; 12 eggs almost f u l l y developed collected (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 9. Green Sea Turkle observations a t Whale-Skate Island Population Date of Sunrey Estimate Breeding Status, R e m ~ k s , and R e f e r s 1923 June 26 June 26 1951 May 8-10 May 8-10 1953 0ct . 28 1956 Feb. 21 Feb. 21 Apr, 11 June 5 Turtle bones near a rock f i replace (Wetmore, ms. ) . Remains of a number of t u r t l e s lay scattered about (Wetmore, ms. ) . Breeding (POFI, 1951) Breeding (POFI, 1951). Dead newly hatched young (Richardson, 1954a). (Svihla, 1957). 100 t o 150 lbs; a large L O ' shark attacked a 100 lb . t u r t l e Jus t offshore, t u r t l e l a t e r seen on beach minus i t s l e f t f ront f l ipper (POFI, 1956a). Table 9. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1963 June 12-15 1964 Sept. 27 1965 Aug. 17, 29-Sept .1 1966 Mar. 22 June 10, 23-July 3 Aug. 15-17, 2+ Sept. 4 196'1 June 2-7, 20-45 15-19 1968 June 6, present 16 - 25 * Whale ** Skate (POFI, 1957 ) . Large she l l s : carapace and plastron cu t apart , f l ippers and head lacking; slaughter appeared recent; few haul- out t racks ( ~ 0 ~ 1 , 959). Adults da i ly ; much egg laying (POBSP, 1963). 125 nest p i t s counted (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). Adults: Id, '269; numerous hatchlings; 5-20 adul ts da i ly ; 99 laying nightly (POBSP, 1 9 6 5 ~ ) . Adults counted da i ly ; 5+ 99 laying nightly (POBSP, 1966a). Adults; some 99 laying eggs; hatchlings present (POBSP, 1966b). Adults daily, 5-10 99 laying nightly; 3 subadults; adult sex r a t i o on 18th and 19th: 6S, 249 (POBSP, 1967a). Adult 99 laying (POBSP, 1968a). Adults dai ly; 99 laying nightly (POBSP, 1969) . 1 adul t , 5 subadults in nearby water; none on beach; some digging a c t i v i t y (BSFW, 1.969). Estimating the Green Sea Tur t l e s ' population i s complicated by severa l f ac to r s . Adult t u r t l e s of both sexes bask on the beaches during the day, perhaps, a s Hendrickson ( i n litt.) has suggested, t o a i d i n d iges t ion of t h e i r f0od.l I f d is turbed by humans, these baskers leave. Adult females l ay t h e i r eggs only a t night and may re lay a f t e r about a week. Tagging has shown t h a t t h e r e i s a l a rge d a i l y i s land population turnover, with new t u r t l e s being found each day. Few t u r t l e s a r e seen within the lagoon. This ind ica tes t h a t t u r t l e s r e tu rn t o the sea a f t e r basking i n the sun or laying eggs on the i s land. In 1965, 86 a d u l t t u r t l e s were tagged by POBSP on 3 is lands during August; an average of 5 t u r t l e s was tagged on each of the 17 days tagging occurred. Thus, i f new t u r t l e s a r r ived and departed each day, t h i s would mean roughly 150 using each of the 3 i s l ands during the month, or a t o t a l of 450 f o r these 3 i s l ands f o r August. But t h i s i s a minimum f igure f o r severa l were l o s t or missed each day and from 5 t o 20 were a c t u a l l y observed each day. Using 10 a s a more r e a l i s t i c average, the est imate f o r these 3 i s lands then becomes 900. If we consider those using the o ther 2 t u r t l e i s lands in the a t o l l , the August population could range from 650 t o as many a s 1,300. The June and July breeding populations a r e probably higher khan i n August f o r a s many as 60 t u r t l e s have been counted on a s ing le i s land a t one time. The t o t a l population using the a t o l l may be very l a rge . Hendrickson (1969: 90) discussed t h e POBSP August 1965 est imates and noted t h a t they were "highly t e n t a t i v e , " but suggests " that one might assume twice the August number t o represent the month of July and take the same increment f o r the e a r l y p a r t of the season. One would then obta in a f igure of between 2,600 and 5,200 t u r t l e s a s the Hawaiian breeding popu- l a t i o n ( 1 + 2 + 1 times 650 - 1,300, and ignoring a l l other i s l and nes t ings) ." He then s t a t e s " f l a t l y t h a t t h i s est imate has l i t t l e bas i s and i s - not t o be t rus ted , " but then notes " that it does not a p p e a r b c o n f l i c t v i o l e n t l y with any other ava i l ab le information." BSFW personnel, a s s i s t e d by POBSP personnel, inaugurated a tagging operat ion throughout the Northwest Hawaiian I s l ands ; present and fu ture r e t r a p data w i l l provide more information on French Fr igate Shoals ' t u r t l e population. These data a re being analyzed by Kridler and Sincock. The surrounding water, being cooler than a t o ther breeding areas , may hinder d iges t ion; basking in the sun would a id the d iges t ive process. Ecologica l D i s t r i b u t i o n Green Sea T u r t l e s a r e known from Disappearing, Eas t , Gin, L i t t l e Gin, Tern, Trig, Round, and Whale-Skate I s l ands . Nesting occurs on each of these i s l ands , except .Disappearing ( ? ) and Round. Eas t I s l and : Although t u r t l e s were probably f i r s t observed a t East I s l and i n the mid-180Oqs, t h e f i r s t known record was by POFI personnel i n May 1955. Since then, except f o r 1958 and 1960, t u r t l e s have been recorded each year able 4 ) . BSFW and POBSP personnel found the t u r t l e population on East I s l and t o be the h ighes t i n t h e a t o l l dur ing the 1960's . ~ o s t l i k e l y , however, t he breeding t u r t l e population a t East was el iminated, o r discouraged, during the 1944 t o 1952 Coast Guard tenure . The sun-basking a reas a t East a r e t h e nor th lagoon beach, the southeas t lagoon beach ( ~ i g . 48), and t h e south seaward beach. The e n t i r e seaward 50-foot edge of t h e vegetated port ion i s prefer red by t u r t l e s f o r digging t h e i r n e s t p i t s (Fig. 49 ) . They a l s o u t i l i z e the vegetated edge o f t h e Sagoon s ide . These nes t ing a r e a s a r e subjec ted t o much digging which des t roys many seab i rd n e s t s , e spec ia l ly those wi th eggs o r small chicks. Species a f f e c t e d include Sooty Tern, Brown Noddy, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, and Blue-faced Booby. Gin Is land: Wetmore (ms.) f i r s t recorded t u r t l e s a t Gin i n June 1923. POFiO personnel observed them t h e r e in t h e 1950's and BSFW and POBSP personnel found them breeding in t h e 1960's (Table 5 ) . The population is small, with from 2 t o 15 basking on t h e beaches. Twenty-five nes t p i t s were counted i n August 1969. T u r t l e s usua l ly sun bask on Gin ' s leeward beaches. Nest p i t s a r e dug above the beach c r e s t . L i t t l e Gin Is land: Tur t l e s were f i r s t found a t L i t t l e Gin Is land by Wetmore (ms.) i n June 1923. POFI personnel recorded them t h e r e in t h e 195O's, and BSFW and POBSP observed them t h e r e during t h e 1960's able 6 ) . S ix ty - s ix nes t p i t s were counted on L i t t l e Gin i n August 1969. T u r t l e s u t i l i z e the southwest leeward beach cove a rea f o r sun basking and the a rea j u s t above the beach c r e s t f o r digging t h e i r nes t p i t s . Tern Is land: Although t u r t l e s probably u t i l i z e d t h e o r i g i n a l Tern I s l and f o r basking and n e s t i n g p r i o r t o the 1942 Navy cons t ruc t ion , no such records e x i s t . POFI personnel noted Figure 48. Green Sea Tur t l e s sun-basking on t h e southeast lagoon beach of East I s l and , 19 June 1966. POBSP photograph by A . B. Amerson, Jr. Figure 49. South seaward 50-foot edge of East I s land u t i l i z e d by Green Sea Tur t l e s f o r nes t p i t s , 19 June 1966. POBSP photograph 3: A . B. Amerson, Jr. one s e t of haul-out t r a c k s on Tern ' s beach in J u l y 1957. Since then, BSFW and POBSP personnel have seen a few adu l t s , a s w e l l a s s e v e r a l n e s t p i t s (Table 7 ) . Nest p i t s a r e most common a t the southeas t lagoon edge. I n June 1969 one f r equen t ly was found basking on the small sandy north beach. Tr ig Is land: Wetmore (ms.) noted "considerable t u r t l e s ign" i n June 1923. POFI personnel found them breeding i n the 1950's ; BSFW and POBSP personnel f requent ly recorded them dur ing t h e 1960's (Table 8 ) . A t Trig, t u r t l e s sun bask pr imar i ly on t h e nor th seaward beach. Nest p i t s a r e placed above t h e beach c r e s t of t h i s same a rea . Af te r June 1968 t u r t l e nes t ing a c t i v i t y was so extensive in t h e western vegetated por t ion t h a t by February very l i t t l e vegeta t ion remained. Whale-Skate Is land: Wetmore (ms.) found a few t u r t l e bones on Whale-Skate Is lands i n June 1923. POFI personnel recorded them breeding i n the 1950 s . BSFW and POBSP personnel. fo?md them t o be numerous during t h e 1960 's able 9 ) . T u r t l e s most f requent ly u t i l i z e t h e nor th beach f o r sun basking. They prefer t h e sandy lagoon edge of t h e vegeta ted port ion, however, f o r p l ac ing t h e i r n e s t p i t s . Other I s lands : Ten a d u l t t u r t l e s were recorded basking a t Disappearing I s l and on 9 June 1963 by POBSP personnel. An a d u l t was seen swimming near La Perouse Pinnacle on both 6 and 13 June 1969 by POBSP personnel. POFI personnel noted a 100-pound a d u l t a t Round I s l and 11 A p r i l 1956 and another a t Shark I s l a n d on 25 A p r i l 1957. POBSP personnel observed four a d u l t s a t Shark 4 June 1969. No nes t p i t s were seen on any of these i s l a n d s . Tagging and Movement Since 1963 BSFW and POBSP personnel have tagged 288 Green Sea T u r t l e s a t French Fr iga te Shoals, a s fol lows: 3 i n 1964, 86 in 1965, 3 i n 1966, 6 1 i n 1967, 121 in 1968, and 13 i n 1969. At l e a s t 18 t u r t l e recaptures have been taken on t h e a t o l l . Of these , one tagged a t Laysan I s l and was captured a t Eas t I s l and ; another tagged a t Southeast I s land, P e a r l and Hermes Reef, was captured a t Whale-Skate, I s l a n d . Two female t u r t l e s tagged a t Whale-Skate I s l and were captured a t Southeast I s land, P e a r l and Hermes Reef. I n addi t ion , two t u r t l e s tagged a t French Fr iga te Shoals were taken' i n t h e main Hawaiian I s l a n d s (Hendrickson, 1969: 93). These da ta a r e being f u r t h e r analyzed by BSFW personnel. Hendrickson (1969: 94) has theorized t h a t "a double population nests a t French Frigate Shoals, one group migrating eastward t o feeding grounds around the inhabited islands, the other group moving westward t o an equal distance f o r the same purpose. " Carr (1,964: 41-52) found the French Frigate Shoals t u r t l e population t o be predominantly dark and high-shelled. When he v i s i t ed the a t o l l i n 1956, he noted a single light-colored, f l a t yearling. He was unable t o determine whether t h i s individual was a variant of the loca l dark stock or a v i s i t o r from some d is tan t , genetically dif ferent , population. Specimens POBSP: USNM 161524, hatchling, collected 12 August 1966 a t Tern Island by Harrington. MOURNING GECKO Skatus Lepidodactylus lugubris Common introduced breeder; occurs on East and Tern Islands. Observations It i s not known when Mourning Geckos were introduced t o the French Frigate Shoals. They were f i r s t recorded from the a t o l l by POBSP personnel, who found them prominent i n and around the USCG LORAN sbation buildings on Tern Island during August 1965. Subsequently, POBSP personnel have observed them a t both East and Tern Islands. Annual Cycle Mourning Geckos are present on the a t o l l year-round; nothing i s known of t h e i r population f luctuat ion. Gravid females and pa r t i a l l y grown young were collected in March 1968. Ecological Distribution A t French Frigate Shoals, Mourning Geckos are known only from East and Tern Islands. East Island: Mourning Geckos were f irst observed here by POBSP personnel during May and June 1967. They were seen again in June 1969. They frequent the ruins of the USCG LORAN s ta t ion ; they especially prefer the darkened in t e r io r of the two walk-in refr igerators . Tern Is land: Subsequent t o the discovery of Mourning Geckos i n August 1965, POBSP personnel observed them i n June, August, and September 1.966, May and June 1967, March and June 1968, and May and June 1969. This gecko f requents a l l t he bui ld ings on the i s l and , e spec ia l ly the o ld Quonset hu t and the o ld "Ham" building. They a l s o a r e found i n the cement block s to rage a r e a . Specimens POBSP: USNM 161.517-519, co l l ec ted 15 August 1966 on Tern I s l and by Harrington; USNM 161520-523, co l l ec ted 1 2 August 1966 on Tern I s l and by Harrington. Two specimens co l l ec ted August 1965 on Tern I s l and by B.. Amerson and two specimens co l l ec ted 12 March 1968 on Tern I s l and by Cla.pp have been misplaced o r l o s t . This i s a new specimen record f o r the a- tol l . BIRDS Severa l sources were used i n assembling the common and s c i e n t i f i c names of t h e b i r d s occurr ing a t French Fr iga te Shoa1.s. The names used i n the American 0rni thologi . s t s ' Union's Checkl is t of Horth American Birds, 1957, 5 t h e d i t i o n , were followed f o r soec ies occurr ing in North America. I n the i n t e r e s t of con- & - s i s t encv . seab i rd names aaree with those which aonear in Watson's ", - Smithsonian I d e n t i f i c a t i o n Manual: Seabi rds of the Tropical A t l a n t i c Ocean, and King's Smithsonian I d e n t i f i c a t i o n Manual: Seabi rds o f the Tropica l P a c i f i c Ocean. Taxonomic order follows t h a t of P e t e r ' s Checklis t of Birds of t h e World, volumes I, 11, and 111. with the exceotion of t h e Procel la r i i formes . which follow Alexander & (1965), t he Anseriformes, which fol low Delacour (1954, 1959), and t h e Charadriiformes, which follow ~ o c k (1958). In t roduct ion - The 44 species o f b i r d s recorded a t French Fr iga te Shoals belong t o 9 orders , 16 fami l ies , and 28 genera. I n t h e follow- ing l i s t , r e s i d e n t b i r d s a r e unma.rked, non-resident b i r d s a r e marked with an *, and b i r d s introduced by ma.n a r e marked with a #. Order P roce l l a r i i fo rmes Family Diomedeidae Diomedea n ig r ipes Black-footed Albat ross Diomedea immutabi1i.s Laysan Albatross Familv Procellariidae Northern Fulmar Oceanodroma tristrami Order Pelecaniformes Family Phaethontidae - Phaethon aethereus mesonauta* Phaethon rubricauda Phaethon lepturus* Family Sulidae ~ u l a dactylatra - Sula sula -- Sula leucogaster - Family Fregatidae Fregata minor Order Circoniiformes Family Ardeidae Bubulcus ibis* - Order Anseriformes Familv Anatidae Order Galliformes Family Phasianidae Gallus gallus # Phasianus colchicus # Order Gruiformes Family Rallidae Fulica americana* Order Charadriiformes Family Charadriidae ~luvialis dominica* Charadrius semipalmatus* Herald Petrel Murphy's Petrel Bonin Petrel Bulwer's Petrel Sooty Shearwater Wedge-tailed Shearwater Christmas Shearwater Sooty Storm Petrel Red-billed Tropicbird Red-tailed Tropicbird White-tailed Tropicbird Blue-faced Booby Red-footed Booby Brown Booby Great Frigatebird Cattle Egret Mallard Gadwall Pintail Domestic Chicken Ring-necked Pheasant American Coot Golden Plover Semipalmated Plover Family Scolopacidae Crocethia w* Family Laridae ~ a r u s delawarensis* - Larus occ identa l i s* Larus glaucescens* Larus pipixcan* Gygis a l b a Order St r ig i formes Family S t r i g i d a e A& f lammeus* Br is t le - th ighed Curlew Wandering T a t t l e r Ruddy Turnstone Sanderl ing Ring-bi l led Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull F rank l in ' s Gull Gray-backed Tern Sooty Tern Blue-gray Noddy Brown Noddy Black Noddy White Tern Short-eared O w l Order Passeriformes Family Mimidae polyglot tos* Mockingbird Family Drepaniidae P s i t t i r o s t r a cantans ul t ima# Nihoa Finch Of t he 44 b i rd species recorded a t French Fr iga te Shoals, 18 spec ies a r e c lassed a s r e s iden t seabi rds , 5 species a r e r egu la r migrant shorebirds, and 21 species a r e vagrant , acc i - den ta l , and introduced. Resident Seabirds The 18 r e s i d e n t seabi rds recorded a t French Fr iga te Shoals belong t o 7 fami l ies : Diomedeidae, P r o c e l l a r i i d a e , Hydrobatidae, Phaethontidae, Sulidae, Fregat idae, and Lar idae . These 18 species a l l breed i n t he Hawaiian I s l ands . Only 1, the Laysan Albat ross , breeds s o l e l y i n t h e Hawaiian I s l ands . Three others-- the Black-footed Albat ross , Bonin P e t r e l , and Sooty Storm Petrel--breed only i n t he Hawaiian I s l ands and t h e Bonin-Volcano I s l ands a rea . The range of these 4 species i s normally nor th of 10" N . The remaining 14 residents--Bulwerls P e t r e l , Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Christmas Shearwater, Red- t a i l e d Tropicbird, Blue-faced Booby, Red-footed Booby, Brown Booby, Great F r iga teb i rd , Gray-backed Tern, Sooty Tern, Blue- gray Noddy, Brown Noddy, Black Noddy and White Tern--all breed i n both the north and south Pac i f i c . Miarant Shorebirds Over 30 shorebird species have been recorded from t h e Northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands ( ~ r y a n , 1958; Udvardy, 1961b; Clapp, 1968; Clapp and Woodward, 1968); only 5 of these-- Golden Plover, Br is t le - th ighed Curlew, Wandering T a t t l e r , Ruddy Turnstone, and Sanderling--are considered t o be regular migrants and a l l 5 have been r e g u l a r l y recorded from French F r i g a t e Shoals . These 5 shorebird species breed during t h e sununer i n t h e nor thern hemisphere and migrate south during the f a l l . Some ind iv idua l s use French Fr iga te a s t h e i r r egu la r "wintering ground." Others v i s i t the a t o l l f o r a shor t period of time while migrat ing f a r t h e r south, o r while on t h e i r northward migra t ion back t o t h e i r breeding a r e a s . Some, p a r t i c u l a r l y f i r s t - y e a r b i rds , spend the summer on c e n t r a l P a c i f i c i s l a n d s . Vagrant, Accidental , and Introduced Birds Twenty-one species , c lassed a s vagrant , acc identa l , and introduced, have been recorded from French Fr iga te Shoals. S i x of these a r e seabi rds ,of which only the White- tai led Tropicbird breeds i n t h e c e n t r a l Pac i f i c . The Sooty Shearwater migrates through the c e n t r a l P a c i f i c from i ts breeding grounds in t h e south P a c i f i c t o feeding a r e a s in the north Pac i f i c . Both a r e a c c i d e n t a l v i s i t o r s t o French F r i g a t e . The remaining 4 species--Herald P e t r e l and Murphy's P e t r e l which breed i n t h e southeas t and southwest P a c i f i c , t he Northern Fulmar which breeds i n the f a r no r th Pac i f i c , and t h e Red-billed Tropicbird which breeds i n t he eas t e rn Paci f ic - -are r a r e , vagrant species on land and sea in t h e Hawaiian I s l ands a rea , a s wel l a s the c e n t r a l P a c i f i c . Four g u l l species--Ring-billed, Western, Glaucous-winged, and Franklin's--have been recorded once each a t French F r i g a t e Shoals and a r e considered acc iden ta l . The Glaucous-winged Gull i s H o l a r c t i c i n o r ig in , while the o the r t h r e e species a r e North American. One shorebird species--Semipalmated Plover- - i s an accidental v i s i t o r t o French F r i g a t e . This spec ies normally winters from the southern United S t a t e s t o South America. There a r e se-veral poss ib le explanat ions f o r t h e occurrence of only one a c c i d e n t a l shorebi rd species from the Shoals . The a t o l l i s loca ted i n t h e cen te r of t h e Hawaiian Chain; a c c i d e n t a l spec ies coming from the e a s t would reach the Main Hawaiians f i r s t and those coming from t h e west would reach t h e western Northwestern Hawaiians. There would be a tendency f o r them t o s top on the outer ends of t h e chain ins t ead of continuing t o the middle i s l ands . The s i z e of t h e i s l and may a l s o be imporkn t . Larger i s l ands , such a s Laysan and L i s i ansk i , may a t t r a c t more species because of t h e v a r i e t y and ex ten t of roos t ing space and food supp l i e s . Cer t a in ly the lagoon and i t s food a t Laysan i s a f a c t o r in a t t r a c t i n g shorebi rds ; French Fr iga te Shoals has no i s land- enclosed lagoon. Enough v i s i t s have been made i n spring, summer, and f a l l t h a t acc iden ta l s would l i k e l y have been seen had they been t h e r e . French Fr iga te Shoals has no record of r e s i d e n t land o r fresh-water b i rd spec ies . An endemic f inch, P s i t t i r o s t r a cantans, i s found on both Laysan and Nihoa I s l ands , some 563 miles a p a r t and approximately equ id i s t an t from French Fr iga te Shoals . It i s probable t h a t i n the past t he f inch occurred a t , o r used as a s tepping stone, French F r i g a t e Shoals . Whether o r no t it survived a t t he Shoals f o r any s i g n i f i c a n t period i s not known. The recent in t roduct ion of Nihoa Finches, P.2. ul t ima, may o r may not be successfu l . - - Two o the r introduced species--Domestic Chicken and Ring- necked Pheasant--did not l i v e on the a t o l l long a f t e r being introduced i n t h e l a t e 1940's . Of t he t h r e e duck species recorded from French Fr iga te , t he P i n t a i l and Mallard a r e f a i r l y r egu la r migrants t o the Main Hawaiian I s l ands , but only occasional migrants t o the Shoals . The t h i r d duck species , t he Gadwall, i s acc iden ta l t o t h e Hawaiian a r e a . The American Coot, a s t r a g g l e r t o French F r i g a t e Shoals, breeds on a l l the Main Hawaiian Is lands , where it i s known a s t h e Hawaiian Coot and i s a recognized endemic subspecies, Fu l i ca americana m. The C a t t l e Egret, a l s o a s t r a g g l e r t o the Shoals, i s a wel l -es tabl i shed in t roduct ion i n t h e Main Hawaiian I s l ands . The Short-eared O w l , an occas ional v i s i l o r , i s probably from t h e Main Hawaiian Is lands ; t h e r e it i s recognized a s an endemic subspecies, A s flammeus sandwichensis. The Mockingbird, a l s o an occasional v i s i t o r , i s a l s o probably from the Main Hawaiian I s l a n d s where it was success fu l ly i n t r o - duced i n 1928. Offshore and Pelagic Birds The exposed semic i rcu la r reef (Fig . 2) enclos ing 12 sand i s l a n d s a t French Fr iga te Shoals s i t s on a s l i g h t l y l a r g e r i r r e g u l a r ova l which r i s e s abrupt ly out of t h e ocean's depths. The only offshore shallow a rea i s j u s t west o f the exposed semici rcular reef and o f f e r s an exce l l en t feeding a rea f o r such seabi rds a s the Brown Booby, Gray-backed Tern, Blue-gray IIloddy and White Tern. I n the surrounding ocean one may f i n d both seab i rd species t h a t use o r breed a t French Fr iga te and those t h a t seldom occur a t t h e Shoals. These include some species t h a t breed only on the Main Hawaiian I s l ands : Dark-rumped P e t r e l (~ te rodroma phaeopyjqia), Newell 's Shearwater (puff inus puff inus newe l l i ) , Harcour t ' s Storm P e t r e l (Oceanodroma c a s t r o ) , and White- tai led Tropicbird. Other pe lag ic b i r d s breed i n o the r a reas of t h e P a c i f i c and migrate i n t o o r through t h e waters of the Hawaiian I s l ands during t h e i r non-breeding season. Ten pe lagic species able 10) occur with such frequency a s t o be c a l l e d r egu la r migrants . I n addi t ion , 40 o the r species a r e c l a s s i f i e d a s e i t h e r r a r e migrants o r vagrants t o t h e Hawaiian I s l ands a rea ( ~ i n g , 1967). Normally a l l of these spec ies s t a y a t sea but , due t o s ickness , storm, o r accident , any could t u r n up on t h e i s l ands of French Fr iga te Shoals. To date, 6 such species have been taken on t h e a t o l l . Table 10. Pelagic b i r d s which r egu la r ly migrate i n t o the waters surrounding French Fr iga te Shoals Species Breeding Area Hawaiian Occurrence Juan Fernandez P e t r e l Juan Fernandez (Pterodroma externa ex te rna ) Is. White-necked P e t r e l Kermadec ( ~ t e r o d r o m a externa c e r v i c a l i s ) Is. Mottled P e t r e l New Zealand (pterodroma inexpecta ta) Kermadec P e t r e l South Pac i f i c (Pterodroma neg lec ta ) Black-winged P e t r e l (~ te rodroma hypoleuca Ke made c n igr ipennis) Is. Sooty Shesrwater New Zealand (puff inus g r i s e u s ) and A u s t r a l i a S lender-b i l led Shearwater Aus t ra l i a (Puff inus t e n u i r o s t r i s ) A l l months; May-Dec. peak A l l months; May-Jan. peak Apr.-May and 0 c t . - Nov . A l l months; June-Jan. peak May -Nov . Mar.-May and Sept . - Nov. Oct. -Dec . Table 10 . (continued) Species Breeding Area Hawaiian Occurrence Leach's Storm P e t r e l Asia and North A l l months; 0ct.-May (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) America ' peak Red Phalarope A r c t i c North Feb . -Apr . (Phalaropus f u l i c a r i u s ) America Pomarine Jaeger A r c t i c Asia and 0ct.-June ( S t e r c o r a r i u s pomarinus) No. America Annual Cycles Breeding Cycles The seabi rds of French F r i g a t e Shoale breed during a l l seasone of t h e year (Fig . 50). Some have shor t , d i s t i n c t breeding periods, while o the r s have extended breeding cyc les . If one cons iders maximum breeding periods (Table l l ) , these b i r d s may be grouped a s : winter and sp r ing breeders (4 s p e c i e s ) ; spr ing and summer breeder^ (11 spec ies ) ; summer and f a l l breeders ( 2 spec ies ) ; and f a l l and winter breeders ( 1 s p e c i e s ) . Table 11. Maximum breeding periods of French Fr iga te Shoals b i r d s Winter-Spring Spring-Summer Summer-Fall Fall-Winter Black-f ooted Christmas Bulwer ' s P e t r e l Black Noddy Albat ross Shearwater Wedge-tailed Laysan Albat ross Red-tailed Shearwater Bonin P e t r e l Tropicbird Sooty Storm Blue-faced Booby P e t r e l Red-footed Booby Brown Booby Great F r iga teb i rd Gray-backed Tern Sooty Tern Blue-gray Noddy Brown Noddy White Tern Winter and Spring Breeders: A l l 4 of the breeding species having a winter and spr ing maximum breeding period a r e pro- c e l l a r i i f o r m s . There i s v a r i a t i o n in t h e s t a r t of egg laying , wi th t h e Black-footed and Laysan Albat rosses beginning t o n e s t Black-footed Albatross Layson Albatrosr Bonin Petrel ................... Bulweri Petrel Wedge-tailed Sheorwoter Chrirtmor Shearwater Sooty Storm Petrel Red-tailed Tropicbird Blue-faced Booby Red-footed Booby Brown Booby Great Frigotebird Gray-backed Tern Sooty Tern Blue-gray Noddy Brown Noddy Black Noddy White Tern Figure 50. ~ e ~ ~ e ~ e ~ e e ~ e ~ e e ~ ~ ~ e ~ e ~ e ~ e ~ e ~ ~ ~ e ~ ~ e ~ e , ~ ) ~ e ~ e ~ e Jan. Feb. Mar. A p r May ' June ' JU-OV. Breeding cycles of s eab i rds a t French F r i g a t e Shoals; s t i pp led a r e a s r ep resen t eggs, barred a r e a s young, and black d o t s nonbreeding b i r d s . i n l a t e f a l l , and the Bonin P e t r e l s and Sooty Storm P e t r e l s beginning i n midwinter. Albatrosses do not begin t o f ledge u n t i l e a r l y summer, but f ledging is usua l ly completed by l a t e July. Bonin P e t r e l s and Sooty Storm P e t r e l s f ledge i n l a t e spring, and some indiv iduals may remain i n t o June. Spring and Summer Breeders: Of a l l t h e 11 species which have a sp r ing and summer maximum breeding period, 1 i s a procel la r i i form, 5 a r e pelecaniforms, and 5 a r e charadri i forms. Egg l ay ing wi th in t h i s group v a r i e s . Seven speciee (64 percent ) l a y during t h e spr ing months: Christmas Shearwater, Brown Booby, Great F r iga teb i rd , Gray-backed Tern, Sooty Tern, Blue- gray Noddy, and White Tern. O f t he remaining 4 species (36 percent ) , i nd iv idua l b i r d s commence l ay ing during t h e winter months--the Brown Noddy and Red-footed Booby a s e a r l y a s December, t he Blue-faced Booby i n mid-January, and the Red- t a i l e d Tropicbird i n mid-February. Of t h e 11 spring-summer breeders , only the young of one species (Blue-gray Noddy) completely f ledge during the summer months. The young of the o the r t en species usua l ly commence f l edg ing in t h e summer and f ledging extends i n t o the f a l l . Fledging of 4 species (Christmas Shearwater, Brown Booby, Gray-backed Tern, and Sooty ern) continues i n t o e a r l y f a l l ; t he remaining 6 species ( ~ e d - t a i l e d Tropicbird, Blue-faced Booby, Red-footed Booby, Great Fr iga tebi rd , Brown Noddy, and White ern) extend i n t o l a t e f a l l . Summer and F a l l Breeders: The two breeding species having a swnmer and f a l l period a r e p roce l l a r i i fo rms : Bulwer's P e t r e l and Wedge-tailed Shearwater. Both commence l ay ing i n e a r l y summer and usua l ly compl.ete f ledging by mid- o r l a t e f a l l . F a l l and Winter Breeders: The Black Noddy has a f a l l - winter maximum breeding period a t French F r i g a t e Shoals . Eggs a r e l a i d i n l a t e f a l l and f ledging i s u s u a l l y completed by l a t e winter o r e a r l y spr ing . Although a l l 18 breeding species have a maximum breeding period, four have an extended breeding season. These a re the Red-tai led Tropicbird, Blue-faced Booby, Red-footed Booby, and Brown Noddy. I n a l l of these species t h e egg l ay ing period e i t h e r extends over a three-season per iod o r i s non-continuous (Fig . 50) . Populat ion Cycles Inspect ion of Figure 50 slid Table 12, as w e l l a s subse- quent species accounts, shows t h a t many of both r e s iden t and non-resident species leave French F r i g a t e Shoals during p a r t of each yea r . Others s t ay year-round, but,even so, a l l have a populat ion buildup sometime during t h e y e a r . Table 12 . Monthly occurrence of non-resident b i r d s a t French Fr iga te Shoals* Species Feb. Mar. May June J u l y Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Northern Fulmar Herald P e t r e l Murphy's P e t r e l Sooty Shearwater Red-billed Tropicbird Whi te- ta i led Tropicbird C a t t l e Egre t Mallard Gadwall P i n t a i l American Coot Golden Plover Semipalmated Plover Br i s t l e - th ighed Curlew Wandering T a t t l e r Ruddy Turnstone Sanderl ing Ring-bi l led Gull Western Gul l Glaucous-w inged Gull F rank l in ' s G u l l Short-Eared O w l Mockingbird * No observat ions i n January and A p r i l Resident Species: Of t h e 18 r e s i d e n t seab i rd breeding species , indiv iduals of 7 remain on the a t o l l year-round: Blue- faced Booby, Red-footed Booby, Brown Booby, Great Fr iga tebi rd , Brown Noddy, Black Noddy, and White Tern. Populations of a l l except the Black Noddy decrease during t h e i r non-breeding seasons i n t he l a t e f a J l ; the Black Noddy population increases dur ing i t s non-breeding season due t o an i n f l u x of a d u l t and subadult b i r d s from other Hawaiian I s l ands and Johnston A t o l l . The 11 res iden t seabi rd breeding species which do no t s t a y on t h e a t o l l throughout t h e yea r leave a f t e r breeding and j u s t before o r j u s t a f t e r t h e i r young f l edge . Some remain a t sea i n the genera l a rea of the Hawaiian Is lands ; o thers leave the c e n t r a l P a c i f i c and migrate t o d i s t a n t a r e a s . The Black-footed Albat ross , Laysan Albat ross , Bonin Pe t re l , Red-tailed Tropicbird, and Gray-backed Tern a r e only away from t h e a t o l l f o r two t o t h r e e months. A l l except t h e Gray-backed Tern and Bonin P e t r e l n e s t about a month a f t e r r e tu rn ing t o the a t o l l ; t h e Bonin P e t r e l spends about four months, mainly during nocturnal h o ~ r s , on the a t o l l before nes t ing . The o ther s i x species--Bulwer's P e t r e l , Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Christmas Shearwater, Sooty Storm Pe t re l , Sooty Tern, and Blue-gray Noddy--spend from four t o seven months away from t h e a t o l l (Fig. 50 ) . Non-resident Species: The monthly occurrence of t h e 23 non-residents--regular migrant shorebirds, and vagrant and acc iden ta l b i r d s - - i s shown i n Table 12. Some species occur throughout the yea r while o the r s occur inf requent ly . The LO non-resident seabi rd and g u l l spec ies show an i r r e g u l a r p a t t e r n of occurrence; none,however, has been recorded i n winter months. The Herald P e t r e l , Ring-bi l led and Glaucous- winged Gul l a r e each known from a s ing le spr ing record, and t h e Northern Fulmar, Sooty Shearwater, Red-billed Tropicbird, and Frank l in ' s Gull a r e each known from a s ing le summer record. The Murphy's P e t r e l i s a f a l l record. The Whi te- ta i led Tropicbird i s known from March and June; and t h e Western Gull from one b i r d seen i n October and November. Five of the 6 shorebi rd species a r e known from most of t h e year . Only two species, t h e Golden Plover and Sanderl ing, a r e recorded f o r a l l months dur ing which observat ions were made (no observat ions were made i n January and A p r i l ) . The Ruddy Turnstone has been recorded f o r nine of t h e t e n months of observat ion and t h e Wandering T a t t l e r and Br is t le - th ighed Curlew f o r e i g h t . Addi t ional observat ions i n t h e l a t e f a l l and winter would probably increase the known occurrence of these f i v e common species . The Semipalmated Plover, an a c c i - den ta l , i s known only from December. The populat ion of t h e r e g u l a r migrants i s h i g h e s t during l a t e summer and f a l l . Of t he 5 fresh-water b i r d s , t he C a t t l e Egret , Gadwall, and American Coot have each been recorded during one month; t h e Mallard has been recorded during two months; t h e P i n t a i l has been recorded during f i v e months. The occurrence of t h e t h r e e duck species is i n t h e f a l l and winter; t h e P i n t a i l record i n March rep resen t s a recovery of a long-dead b i r d . Of t he 2 non-resident landbi rds , t he Short-eared O w l has been seen only i n winter ; t h e Mockingbird has been observed ar reported during a l l f o u r seasons. Ecologica l D i s t r i b u t i o n Within t h e Atoll. Some i s l a n d s a t French F r iga te Shoals a r e more s u i t a b l e h a b i t a t than o the r s f o r t h e 44 spec ies of b i r d s recorded from t h e a t o l l . The 13 named i s l ands a l l d i f f e r i n s i z e , he ight , s o i l , vegeta t ion , f resh-water supply, and human d i s tu rbance . The av i f auna l d i s t r i b u t i o n on these i s l a n d s i s presented i n Table 1 3 . The major d i s t i n c t i o n s a r e between vegetated and non-vegetated i s l ands , and those t h a t have o r have not been d i s tu rbed by human h a b i t a t i o n . The major i s lands- -Eas t , Tern, Trig, and Whale-Skate-- a r e a l l f a i r l y l a r g e and well-vegetated. A l l spec ies have been recorded from a t l e a s t one of these major i s l ands : 39 from Tern, 26 from Eas t , 24 from Whale-Skate, and 23 from Tr ig . Tern Is land , wi th t h e g r e a t e s t number of recorded spec ie s and the present h i g h e s t number of spec ies , i s , nonetheless , the one i s l and t h a t i s c u r r e n t l y human-inhabited. The e f f e c t of human h a b i t a t i o n has apparent ly not apprec iably a f f e c t e d t h e t o t a l spec ies number, but i t has a f f e c t e d t h e populat ion s i z e of most spec ie s ( see Tern I s l and Avifauna s e c t i o n ) . Eas t I s l and i s not c u r r e n t l y inhabi ted by man; t h e number of spec ie s and populat ion s i z e s have i n - creased by almost one- th i rd s ince man depar ted ( see Eas t I s l a n d Avifauna s e c t i o n ) . Trig and Whale-Skate I s l a n d s have never been d i s tu rbed by human h a b i t a t i o n ; t h e number of spec ies and popula t ion s i z e s have va r i ed l i t t l e over t h e yea r s . The remaining i s l a n d s support l i t t l e o r no vege ta t ion ; only 20 of t h e 44 spec ie s have been recorded t h e r e . These i s l ands can be d iv ided i n t o two types: h igh , rocky ( ~ a Perouse p innacle) and low, sandy ( a l l the o t h e r s ) . La Perouse Pinnacle i s bare but because of i t s high rocky t e r r a i n o f f e r s e x c e l l e n t h a b i t a t f o r c e r t a i n spec ies ; 17 speciee have been recorded t h e r e . The low sandy i s l a n d s have records of from 1 t o 10 spec ies per i s l a n d . Resident Seabirds Table 1 4 compares t h e breeding s t a t u s of t h e 18 r e s i d e n t s eab i rd spec ies nes t ing on vegetated i s l a n d s t o those nes t ing on non-vegetated i s l a n d s . Vegetated and non-vegetated i s l ands have 9 nes t ing spec iee t h a t a r e p re sen t ly common t o both; an a d d i t i o n a l spec ie s formerly was common t o both but i s now absent from t h e non-vegetated group. Twice a s many spec ie s p re sen t ly n e s t on t h e uninhabited vegeta ted i s l a n d s a s on t h e inhabi ted one; t h e number of spec ies p re sen t ly nes t ing on t h e previously inhabi ted i s l and f a l l s almost halfway between these two extremes. The h i s t o r y 106 Table 1.3. (continued) White Tern B P O O B Shor t -eared O w l P Mockingbird A Nihoa Finch I I I B=Breeding; P=Present; @Over f l i e r ; A=Accidental; I=Introduced, C a p i t a l l e t t e r s i n d i c a t e s t a t u s 1560-1969; lower case l e t t e r s i n d i c a t e s t a t u s 1891-1959, if d i f f e r e n t than present . Table 14. Breeding s t a t u s of spec ie s on vegeta ted and non-vegetated i s l ands , some of which have been inhabi ted by man Vegetated Non-Ve~etated Inhabited l n h s b i ~ e u Uninhabited: Uninhabii.ed: a t Present : i n Pas t : Whale-Skate La Perouse A l l Other Species Tern Eas t and T r i g I s l ands Black-footed Alba t ros s x x x x Laysan Albatross x x x x Bonin P e t r e l x Bulwer' s P e t r e l x x x Wedge-tailed Shearwater x x x * Christmas Shearwater x Sooty Storm P e t r e l x Red-tai led Tropicbi rd x x x Blue-faced Booby * x x Red-footed Booby x x Brown Booby x Great Frigatebird x Gray-backed Tern x x Sooty Tern x x x Blue-gray Noddy Brown Noddy * x x Black Noddy White Tern x x=Presen t Breeders; *=Past Breeders of the two i s l ands t h a t have been inhabited by man shows t h a t t h e number of breeding spec ies decreased with t h e advent of man and the d e s t r u c t i o n of vegeta t ion during i n i t i a l m i l i t a r y cons t ruc t ion . Breeding species increased with t h e r e -es t ab l i sh - ment of vegeta t ion , and re turned t o o r above pre-disturbance s t a t u s with the depar ture of man. The non-vegetated i s l ands have had a t o t a l of 1 2 breeding species, 2 of which p resen t ly nes t exclus ive ly on t h i s group. Almost t h r e e times a s many spec ies p resen t ly nes t on high, rocky La Perouse a s on the low, sandy i s l ands . The influence o f vegeta t ion and human dis turbance i s discussed f u r t h e r under the Is land and Species Accounts. Migrant Shorebirds The 5 r egu la r migrant shorebirds t o French Fr iga te Shoals a r e a l l recorded from a l l fou r major i s l ands i n the a t o l l . I n addi t ion , a l l except the Br i s t l e - th ighed Curlew have been found on two o r more of t h e nine l e s s e r i s l a n d s (Table 1 3 ) . Vagrant, Accidental , and Introduced Birds Thir teen of the 21 vagrant , acc identa l , and introduced species a r e known only from Tern Is land a able 13) ; t he r e - maining 8 species a r e known var ious ly only from t h e four major i s l a n d s . Four of t h e 6 seab i rd species a r e known only from Tern Is land. Three of the 4 g u l l spec ies a r e apparent ly a t t r a c t e d t o Tern because of i t s garbage dump and f r equen t fresh-water puddles which occur on t h e runway a f t e r ra ins torms. A l l 5 non- r e s i d e n t fresh-water species have a l s o been recarded from Tern; only the P i n t a i l has been recorded from Tr ig a s wel l . The acc iden ta l shorebird, t he Semipalmated Plover, was observed on Tern. The two non-resident land b i rds have both been recorded s o l e l y from Tern I s l a n d . The t h i c k vegeta t ion and bui ld ings would a t t r a c t both species . The owl, however, probably goes t o the o t h e r major i s l a n d s i n search of food. Of t he t h r e e introduced land b i rds , only t h e Nihoa Finch remains. It has no t survived a t East I s l and and has decreased on Tern; one was observed a t Whale-Skate. I s l and Accounts The following i s l a n d accounts a r e l i s t e d i k a l p h a b e t i c a l order . A l l i s l and names a r e o f f i c i a l names adopted by t h e U.S. Board of Geographic Names. Bare I s l and Only t h e Brown Noddy has been recorded a t Bare I s l and ; it was recorded roos t ing i n June 1923 and again in June 1967. This small i s land, although loca ted i n s i d e the lagoon and j u s t e a s t of Eas t Is land, i s so low t h a t it is awash a t high t i d e . No vegeta t ion e x i s t s ; thus, b i r d s a r e only a t - t r a c t e d t o it f o r roos t ing purposes. Few s c i e n t i s t s have taken t h e time t o v i s i t it. Disappearing I s l and Ten b i r d species have been recorded from Disappearing I s l and (Table 15). The only s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s were made by POBSP personnel i n June 1963 and 1969. Rice and Kenyon flew low over t h e i s l and i n December 1957 and made a e r i a l photo- graphs; these r evea l the presence of 2 species , 1 of which was d e f i n i t e l y nes t ing . Nine species, none of which waa nest ing, were observed during the 1963 and 1969 v i s i t s . The loca t ion and sea condit ions of Disappearing Is land have severe ly l imi t ed the number of s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s . The i s l and i s loca ted a t t he southwest t i p of t h e a t o l l and i s about nine mi les from Eas t . It i s bounded by open ocean on two s ides with r e s u l t a n t rough seas. Because of i t s small s i ze , narrow width, and low height , t h e i s l a n d i s probably awash during rough seas . This, coupled with a l a c k of vegeta- t i o n , has l i m i t e d i t s use by b i r d s . Recent t o t a l daytime populat ions a r e very low: only 53 non-breeders were p resen t i n ~ i n e 1963 and 66 i n June 1969. N i g h t populat ions may be h igher . Very small numbers of Black-footed Albat ross were nes t ing i n the middle of the widest por t ion i n December 1957; Blue- faced Boobies, a s s i n g l e s and pa i r s , were a l s o present and cou ld have been nest ing-- the photograph i s no t c l e a r enough t o determine t h i s . Blue-faced Booby, Brown Booby, Great F r iga teb i rd , Gray-backed Tern, Brown Noddy, and Black Noddy r o o s t on the i s l a n d . Wandering T a t t l e r , Ruddy Turnstone, and Sanderl ing a r e known f rom ' the i s l a n d . No acc iden ta l s have been recorded. East I s l and Twenty-six b i r d species have been recorded from East (Table 1 6 ) ; 18 were observed p r i o r t o 1935, 15 were recorded from 1935 through 1959 (1935-1949: 8; 1950-1959: 12) , and Table 15. S t a t u s and recent populat ion I s l a n d b i r d s S t a t u s Dre 1935- 1960- of Disappearing Recent Maximum Population Non- Species i935 1959 1&9 Breeding breeding Black-footed Albat ross Blue-faced Booby Brown Booby Great F r iga teb i rd Wandering T a t t l e r Ruddy Turnstone Sander l ing Gray-backed Tern Brown Noddy Black Noddy 30 few 10 1 1 1 2 50 15 2 3 have been recorded s ince then. Of t h e breeding spec ies , 9 were known p r i o r t o 1935, 6 from 1935 through 1959 (1935- 1950: 4 ; 1950-1959: 5 ) , and 9 s ince . One spec ies t h a t nested p r i o r t o 1.935 no longer does so, and one present n e s t e r d i d not n e s t p r i o r t o 1960. The dec l ine , and subsequent increase , i n t h e number of spec ies , both recorded and breeding, r e f l e c t s t h e U.S. Navy and Coast Guard occupation between 1935 and 1952, a s we l l a s t h e increased observat ions dur ing s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s i n r e c e n t t imes (post-1952). Unlike Tern, Eas t d i d not l o se i t s vege ta t ion . With the exception of t h e west ha l f of t h e i s l a n d where t h e bu i ld ings were constructed, t h e i s l a n d ' s vegeta t ion was not g r e a t l y d i s tu rbed except f o r a reduct ion i n Chenopodium. Photo- graphs show no Chenopodium dur ing t h i s period, and t h e Red- footed Booby and t h e Red-tai led Tropicbird, both dependent on Chenopodium, stopped nes t ing dur ing t h e occupation. Vegetation today i s very s i m i l a r t o t h a t seen i n photographs taken i n June 1923; Chenopodium i s aga in present and s o a r e t h e two spec ie s t h a t temporari ly l e f t . Recent t o t a l populat ions (breeders 131,402; non-breeders, 80,194) on Eas t a r e t h e h ighes t i n t h e a t o l l . Populat ions of a l l p re sen t spec ie s a r e h igher than during t h e pre-1960 period. The Sooty Tern, when present , i s by f a r t h e most numerous of t h e i s l a n d ' s avifauna. Other spec ies with h igh populat ions a re , i n order , t h e Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Brown Noddy, and Black- foo ted Alba t ros s . Table 16. Status, recent population, and hab i ta t of East Island birds Recent Sta tus Maximum Population pre 1935- 1960- ' Non- Species 1935 1959 1%9 Breeding breeding Habitat Black-f ooted Albatross B B B 1,544 184 Nests around en t i r e outer edge; concentrated a t e a s t end. Laysan Albatross B B B 678 83 Nests scat tered i n i n t e r io r ; concentrated a t e a s t end. Bonin Pe t r e l P 1 Found dead. Red-billed Tropicbird A 1 S i t t i n g on ground during day. Bulwer's Pe t r e l B 1 Nests under old t u r t l e shel ls , June 1891. Wedge-tailed Shearwater B B B 8,000 5,000 Burrows over en t i r e vegetated portion. Christmas Shearwater P P 1 Possibly bred i n June 1923. Sooty Storm Pe t re l P Possibly bred in June 1891. Red-tailed Tropicbird B B 40 10 Nests under Tournefortia and rubble. Blue-faced Booby B P B 18 6 Nests on southeast upper beach and west t i p . Red-footed Booby B B B 120 320 Nests on Chenopodium, Tournefort ia, and rubble. Brown Booby P P P Great Frigatebird P P Chicken I Pheasant I 1 Occasional v i s i t o r . 375 Roosts on a l l rubble. ? Unsuccessful introduction i n 1949. Unsuccessful introduction i n 1949. Table 16. (continued) Recent Status Maximum Population re 1935- 1960- Non- Species i935 1959 1969 Breeding breeding Habitat Golden Plover P P P 47 Beaches, sometimes i n vegetated areas. Bristle-thighed Curlew P P P 3 Beaches and vegetated areas. Wandering Ta t t l e r P P P 5 Beaches. ~ u d d y rurnstone P P P 13 0 Beaches. Sanderling P P 3 Beaches. Gray-backed Tern B 2 3 Nest near edge of vegetated part , lagoon side. Sooty Tern B B B 120,000 70,000 Nests over en t i r e vegetated portion. Brown Noddy B B B 1,000 4,000 Nests mainly a t eas t and west end of vegetated area. Black Noddy P 5 Occasional roosting bird. White Tern P P 5 Occasional v i s i t o r . Nihoa Finch 10 Introduced 10 March 1967; none present June 1967. A l l a r eas of East a r e u t i l i z e d by t h e nine present n e s t e r s (F igs . 51-52). Eight n e s t on o r under the ground; the n i n t h n e s t s i n bushes o r on rubble . Black-footed Albat ross n e s t on t h e e n t i r e periphery ( inc lud ing t h e sandy ends) of t h e vege- t a t e d po r t ion of t h e i s land , a s wel l a s on t h e sparse a r e a s of t h e i n t e r i o r . Laysan Albat ross n e s t only on t h e sparse a r e a s of t h e i s l a n d ' s i n t e r i o r . Both a l b a t r o s s e s concent ra te t h e i r n e s t s on t h e e a s t e r n h a l f of the i s l and which was t h e a r e a of l e a s t d is turbance during t h e m i l i t a r y occupation. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters d i g burrows over most of t h e vegetated por t ion of t h e i s l a n d except t h e west t i p ) they a l s o n e s t under rubble l e f t from t h e period of m i l i t a r y occupation which i s s c a t t e r e d over the c e n t e r of the i s l and . Red-tai led Tropicbirds a l s o n e s t under t h i s rubble, a s we l l a s under t h e Tournefor t ia bush a t the e a s t t i p . Blue-faced Boobies n e s t j u s t above t h e beach c r e s t on both t h e e a s t and west t i p s , and a fho~- t d i s t ance in l and along t h e vegetated edge on t h e ocean s i d e . The Gray- backed Tern p a i r u sua l ly n e s t on t h e no r th -cen t r a l edge of t h e vegeta ted por t ion near p i l e s of bui ld ing rubble. Sooty Terns n e s t over the e n t i r e vegeta ted por t ion , a t t imes even onto t h e upper beach c r e s t . Brown Noddies n e s t i n two l a r g e colonies- - i n t h e extreme west t i p of t h e vegeta ted a rea , and on t h e ocean s ide of the e a s t t i p i n t h e vegetated por t ion . This spec ie s has a l s o been recorded nes t ing i n s c a t t e r e d p a i r s o r sma l l groups around t h e edge of t h e e n t i r e i s l a n d . Red-footed Boobies n e s t above ground on the l i v e Tournefor t ia bush a t t h e e a s t e r n t i p and t h e dead one on the ocean s i d e of t h e weft- c e n t r a l a rea , on s c a t t e r e d Chenopodium bushes i n the c e n t r a l area, and on s c a t t e r e d rubble i n the cen te r of the i s l a n d . Roosting ind iv idua l s of t hese breeding spec ies usua l ly u t i l i z e t h e same genera l a r e a s a s t h e n e s t e r s . Brown Noddies r o o s t on t h e o l d p i e r on t h e ocean s i d e . Red-footed Boobies, Great F r iga teb i rds and Black Noddies r o o s t on the var ious p i l e s of rubble . Brown Boobies from La Perouse Pinnacle occas ional ly f l y over t h e i s l and and sometimes a l i g h t on t h e o ld p i e r o r on t h e extended sand arm a t t h e extreme west t i p . White Terns have been known t o a l i g h t on t h e high po r t ions of t h e rubb le . Shorebirds a r e found over most of Eas t Js:i.and, cipecj~l.3.y on t h e beaches (most notably t h e Wandering T a t t l e s , Ruddy Turn- s tpne, and Sander l ing) . The Br i s t l e - th ighed Curlew and Golden Plover f requent t h e vegetated a r e a s . The Nihoa Finches introduced i n March 1967 d i d not surv ive , probably due t o a l a c k of a con t inua l f r e s h water supply. One acc iden ta l seabird, a Red-billed Tropicbird, was found on Eas t i n June 1968. No a c c i d e n t a l shore-, fresh-water, o r land b i r d has been observed on t h e i s l and . Figure 51. Sooty Terns nes t ing over most of East I s l and , 12 June 1 . POBSP photograph by A . B. Amerson, Jr . Figure 52. Laysan Albatross young i n foreground, Black-footed Albat ross young i n background, and Sooty Terns f l y i n g over e a s t po r t ion of East I s l and , 19 June 1966. POBSP photograph by A . B . Amerson, Jr. Gin I s l and Seven b i r d spec ies have been recorded from Gin I s l a n d (Table 1 7 ) ; none were recorded p r i o r t o 1935, 4 were recorded from 1935 through 1959, and 5 have been recorded s i n c e . Of t h e nes t ing spec ies , 2 a r e known t o have nes ted from 1935 t o 1960, and 1 from 1960 t o t h e present . The o t h e r 2 previous n e s t e r s do not p re sen t ly n e s t on t h e i s l a n d . The absence of spec ies records p r i o r t o 1935, and t h e low populat ion and breeding numbers recorded s ince , i s due mainly t o t h e small s i z e of t h e i s l and and t h e l ack of vege- t a t i o n . This sandy i s l a n d i s low and dur ing extremely bad weather i t s l o c a t i o n i s such t h a t wave a c t i o n would des t roy b i r d n e s t s and vege ta t ion . I n 192'3 a small amount of Portulaca was recorded, but no vegeta t ion has been recorded s ince . However, s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s t o G i n , e s p e c i a l l y p r i o r t o 1960, have been few. Recent t o t a l daytime populations (breeders 70, non- breeders100) a r e small, but rank second h i g h e s t among t h e low, sandy non-vegetated i s l a n d s . No nocturna l populat ion es t imates a re a v a i l a b l e . Present populat ion es t imates of breeding spec ies a r e lower than es t imates made p r i o r t o 1960. P resen t ly only t h e Blue-faced Booby n e s t s a t G i n I s l and . It n e s t s around t h e upper beach c r e s t i n t h e c e n t r a l depressed a rea . During t h e 1950's , t h e two a l b a t r o s s spec ie s nes ted i n t h e c e n t r a l a r e a . Both the Brown Noddy and Black Noddy roos t i n small numbers on t h e beaches during t h e daytime. Addit ional numbers of t hese spec ies probably r o o s t a t n i g h t . Low numbers of t h e Golden Plover and Ruddy Turnstone have been observed on t h e beaches. La Perouse Pinnacle Seventeen spec ies of b i r d s a r e known from La Perouee Pinnacle: 11 were known p r i o r t o 19'35; 9 were recorded from 19'35 through 1959; a l l 17 have been recorded s ince (Table 18) Two spec ies a r e known t o have nested p r i o r t o 1935, 5 from 1935 through 1959, and 9 have been known t o n e s t s ince the beginning of 1960. Three of t h e p resen t n e s t e r s d id not nes t p r i o r t o 1960. The s l i g h t decrease and subsequent i nc rease i n t h e number of spec ies recorded, a s wel l a s t h e increase i n t h e number of breeding spec ie s recorded, i s due, no doubt, t o inf requent and b r i e f s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s . Due t o i t s i n a c c e s s i b i l i t y except during very calm sea condit ions, v i s i t s n e c e s s a r i l y have been few. Table 17. S t a t u s , recent populat ion, and h a b i t a t of Gin I s l and b i r d s Recent S t a t u s Maximum Populat ion p re 1935- 1960- Non - Species 1935 1959 1969 Breeding breeding Habi ta t Black-footed Albat ross B Laysan Albat ross Blue-faced Booby Golden Plover Ruddy Turnstone Brown Noddy Black Noddy 70 45 Nests i n c e n t e r of i s l a n d . 5 Beach. 5 Beach. 40 Roosting on beach. 5 Roosting on beach. Table 18. S ta tus , recent population, and h a b i t a t of La Perouee Pinnacle b i r d s Recent S t a t u s Maximum Population pre 1935- 1960- Non- Species 1935 1959 1969 Breeding breeding Habi ta t Bulwer ' s P e t r e l P Wedge-tailed Shearwater B Sooty Storm P e t r e l Red-tailed Tropicbird P Blue-faced Booby P Red-footed Booby P Brown Booby P Great F r iga teb i rd Golden Plover Wandering T a t t l e r P Ruddy Turnstone Gray-backed Tern Sooty Tern Blue-gray Noddy 500 few 200 few 1 2+ 9+ 10 6 100 30 100 10 1 5 1,000 500 few 2 4 Neats i n crevices and i n guano c r u s t . Nests i n c rev ices of c l i f f s . Nests on ledges and i n c revices of c l i f f s . Roosts on t o p of main rock. Roosts on t o p of main rock. Nests on ledges and top of main pinnacle. Roosting on t o p of main rock. Present on both rocks. L i t t l e rock. L i t t l e rock. Nests on ledge of nor th c l i f f . Nests in low c rev ices of north c l i f f . Table 18. (continued) Recent Status Maximum Population pre 19'35- 1960- Non - Species 1935 1959 1969 Breeding breeding Habitat Brown Noddy Black Noddy White Tern P B B 1,000+ 5005 Nests on ledges of both c l i f f s . P B B 600 2,000 Nests on ledges of c l i f f s . P B B 1,000 2 , 5 0 0 ~ Nests on ledges of both c l i f f s . I s o l a t i o n has r e s u l t e d i n almost unchanged condi t ions f o r a t l e a s t t h e l a s t 55 yea r s . Vegetation i s lacking and none i s thought t o have ever e x i s t e d on the i s l and . The many ledges and c rev ices on the c l i f f s , however, provide a v a r i e t y of n e s t i n g h a b i t a t s . I n r e c e n t years , maximum population es t imates f o r La Perouse Pinnacle t o t a l 4,404 breeders and 5,676 non-breeders. Although t h i s rock i s not considered one of t h e four main i s l a n d s due t o i t s lower species complement, it does rank t h i r d i n t o t a l populat ion. The White Tern population i s t h e h ighes t of a l l 17 species on t h e i s l a n d ; t h i s colony a l s o r ep resen t s t h e g r e a t e s t concent ra t ion of White Terns i n the a t o l l . The Black Noddy populat ion i s second h ighes t on t h e i s l and . Although the Brown Booby i s known from seve ra l of the o t h e r i s l a n d s , i t n e s t s almost exc lus ive ly a t La Perouse Pin- nac le . The exception was a s i n g l e n e s t found a t Whale-Skate I s l and i n the f a l l of 1967. The La Perouse population may have o r i g i n a l l y come from t h e rock-nest ing populationsof Necker and Nihoa Is lands , r a t h e r than from the sandy-ground n e s t i n g populat ions of t h e low i s l a n d s i n t h e Northwestern Hawaiian Chain. The nine p resen t ly known breeders n e s t i n the rocks from j u s t above high-water mark t o t h e t o p of t h e 122' peak. Red- t a i l e d Tropicbirds n e s t on the she l t e red ledges and c rev ices of t h e nor th and south c l i f f s . The Brown Booby population n e s t s on var ious ledges from halfway up t h e north and south c l i f f s t o the very top of the peak. Gray-backed Terns nes t on a wide ledge halfway up t h e nor th c l i f f . The few Blue-gray Noddies nes t i n t he low c rev ices of t h e nor th c l i f f , j u s t above t h e extreme high-water mark. The Brown and Black Noddies nes t on the ledges on the nor th and south s i d e s o f the pinnacle, but predominantly on the south. The Wedge-tailed Shearwater and Bulwer's P e t r e l nes t i n the c rev ices of the c l i f f s . Blue-faced Boobies, Red-footed Boobies, and Great F r iga te - b i r d s r o o s t on the t o p of the high rock; no records of nes t ing e x i s t a l though the h a b i t a t i s favorable . It i s possible t h a t Christmas Shearwater, Sooty Storm P e t r e l , and White- tai led Tropicbird n e s t i n the crevices of the c l i f f s . No b i r d s n e s t on the small rock e a s t of t h e main pinnacle. Three shorebird species , Golden Plover, Wandering T a t t l e r , and Ruddy Turnstone, have been observed on t h e low and middle ledges of t h e main pinnacle, a s w e l l a s on t o p of the small rock. No acc iden ta l spec ies have been recorded from La Perouse Pinnacle. L i t t l e Gin I s l a n d Nine b i r d spec ie s have been recorded from L i t t l e G i n (Table 1 9 ) ; 4 spec ie s were recorded p r i o r t o 1935, 3 from 1935 through 1959, and 8 s ince 1959. Of t h e 4 nes t ing spec ies , 4 nested t h e r e p r i o r t o 1935, l ' f r o m 1935 t o 1960 and j s ince . The low number of b i r d species recorded and breeding a t L i t t l e Gin over t h e yea r s r e f l e c t s t h e small s i z e of t h e i s l a n d and t h e almost complete l a c k of vege ta t ion . This sandy, d e s e r t - l i k e i s l and i s high i n p laces ( 2 0 ' ) but, during extreme weather condi t ions , i t s loca t ion i s such t h a t wave a c t i o n changes t h e i s l a n d ' s shape and s i z e . This a c t i o n could des t roy b i r d n e s t s and probably has been the main f a c t o r i n reducing t h e spec ie s number and the amount of vegeta t ion on t h e i s l and . I n June 1923 Tanager Expedit ion b o t a n i s t s found a small amount of Lepturus, Boerhavia, and Por tu laca (chr i s tophersen and Cam, 1931). Lepturus i s p resen t ly absent from t h e i s l a n d and t h e o the r two spec ies number only a few small p l a n t s each. Few s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s have been made t o t h i s i s l and , e s p e c i a l l y p r i o r t o 1960. Recent t o t a l daytime populations (breeding 536, non- breeding l35) a r e low when compared t o La Perouse Pinnacle or one of t h e major i s l ands , but t h e populat ion on L i t t l e G i n i s higher than on the o t h e r low, sandy i s l a n d s . The population probably inc reases a t n i g h t . The t h r e e spec ies p re sen t ly nes t ing a t L i t t l e G i n use pr imar i ly t h e middle por t ion of t h e i s l a n d . When t h e i s l a n d ' s sandy peninsula e x i s t s , a s i n 1963, 1965, and 1969, some nes t t h e r e . Black-footed Albat ross n e s t on t h e h igh western r idge as wel l a s i n t h e cen te r po r t ion . Blue-faced Booby and Brown Noddy n e s t s a r e s c a t t e r e d over t h e c e n t r a l p o r t i o n ; some of the l a t t e r a r e placed among t h e few low p l a n t s . Wedge-tailed Shearwaters nes ted on t h i s i s l and i n June 1923 and b u i l t burrows a t t h e base of t h e Lepturus. With t h e disappearance of Lepturus (between l 9 2 j and l953), t h e Wedge-tailed Shearwater a l s o disappeared. The Brown Booby and Great F r iga teb i rd a r e occas ional v i s i t o r s , e i t h e r f l y i n g over o r r o o s t i n g on rubble. .+ Low numbers o f Golden Plover and Ruddy Turnstone have been observed on t h e beaches. No a d d i t i o n a l shorebi rd spec ies have been recorded. Mullet I s l a n d Two b i r d spec ies have been recorded from Mullet I s l a n d . Tanager Expedit ion personnel v i s i t e d the i s l a n d i n June 1923 and found no b i r d s . No s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s were made again Table 19. Status, recent pqpulation, and habi ta t of L i t t l e G i n Island birds Recent Status Maximum Population pre 1935- 1960- Non- Species 1935 1959 1969 Breeding breeding Habitat Black-footed Albatross B B B 504 ? Nests i n center of island. Wedge-tailed Shearwater B Blue-faced Booby B P B 10 50 Nests i n center of island. Brown Booby P 1 Great Frigatebird Golden Plover Ruddy Turnstone Brown Noddy Black Noddy 1 Roosting on rubble. 10 Beach. 5 Beach. B 22 43 Nests on sand i n cen t ra l area. P 25 Roosting on beach. u n t i l August 1965 and June 1967 when POBSP personnel viewed it from a shor t d i s t ance ; POBSP and BSFW personnel landed i n June 1968. Two seab i rd species were observed, n e i t h e r of which was nes t ing . This i s l and i s loca ted j u s t southeast of Round. No vege- t a t i o n has been noted t h e r e . Because of i t s pos i t ion in the c e n t e r of the lagoon, it i s pro tec ted from d i r e c t wave a c t i o n from the open ocean, but,due t o i t s low e leva t ion , waves wash over it during extreme sea condi t ions . I n June 1963 the i s l and washed away but reappeared by August 1965, and was s t i l l there , although awash a t high t i d e , i n June 1967, 1968, and 1969. The i s l a n d ' s lack of vegeta t ion and low p r o f i l e has l imi t ed i t s use by b i r d s . Brown and Black Noddies have been recorded roos t ing , al though o the r seabi rd species may occas ional ly do so . No shorebird species have been recorded. Near I s l and Only the Brown Noddy has been recorded from Near I s l and . The i s l a n d was not present i n 1923 but i s shown on recen t maps. It i s p resen t ly awash a t high t i d e , and thus can only be used a t low t i d e by roos t ing b i r d s . Round I s l and Ten b i r d species have been recorded from Round I s l and (!l!able 20); 7 were observed p r i o r t o 1935, 6 were recorded from 1935 through 1959, and 3 have been recorded s ince . Of t h e 4 known nes t ing species, 4 a r e known t o have nes ted p r i o r t o 1935, 1 from 1935 t o 1960, and 1 from 1960 t o the present . The decrease i n the number of b i rd species recorded and breeding over t h e yea r s r e f l e c t s the dec l ine i n i s l and he ight and vegeta t ion . The pos i t ion of t h i s i s l and i n t h e cen te r of the lagoon and among c o r a l i s such t h a t it is protec ted from excessive wave a c t i o n except during extreme weather and sea condi t ions . I n 1923 Lepturus, Boerhavia, Por tu laca , and Tr ibulus were found by C h r i s t ~ p h e r s e n and -1). However, wave a c t i o n s ince 192.3 has apparent ly a f fec ted t h e i s l a n d . No vegeta t ion has been found s ince . From photographs t h e i s l and appears t o be lower today than i n 1923. Few s c i - e n t i f i c v i s i t s were made between 1923 and 1960 and recen t v i f i t s have been infrequent and.of shor t dura t ion . Recent t o t a l daytime population es t imates (breeding 50, non-breeding 23) a r e very low; even so, Round I s l and ranks t h i r d h ighes t i n population among the low non-vegetated i s l a n d s . The population probably inc reases a t n igh t . Present popula- t i o n s a r e much lower than before 1960. Table 20. Status, recent population, and habi ta t of Round Island birds Recent Status Maximum Population pre 1935- 1960- Non- ,~ Species 1935 1959 1969 Breeding breeding Habitat Black-footed Albatross B B Wedge-tailed Shearwater B Blue-faced Booby B P B Brown Booby P Great Frigatebird 0 Golden Flover P Ruddy Turnstone P P Sanderling P Brown Noddy B P Black Noddy 0 P 50 10 Nests i n center of island. 10 Roosts on beach. 3 Roosts on beach. Present ly , only the Blue-faced Booby n e s t s on Round I s l and (Fig . 53). I t s n e s t s a r e placed on t h e sand throughout t h e cen te r por t ion . I n recent years t h e r e i s evidence t h a t wave a c t i o n has destroyed a l l o r most of the n e s t s . Black- footed Albat ross nested a s l a t e a s December 1957 over most of t h e nor th h a l f of the i s l and . A small Wedge-tailed Shearwater populat ion ex i s t ed here i n 1923; burrows were found a t t h e base of s c a t t e r e d vegeta t ion , e s p e c i a l l y Lepturus. Brown Noddies a l s o nested i n among t h e s c a t t e r e d vegeta t ion i n 1923. The Brown Booby, Great F r iga teb i rd , and Black Noddy have been recorded e i t h e r f l y i n g over o r roos t ing on the i s l and . Small numbers of Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, and Sanderl ing have been recorded. Shark I s l and Five b i r d species have been recorded from Shark Is land (Table 21). The f i rs t s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t was by personnel of t h e Tanager Expedition i n June 1923; they recorded 3 seabi rd species , none of which was nes t ing . POBSP personnel attempted a v i s i t i n June 1963 but, due t o rough seas, could only view t h e i s l a n d from about 100 yards. A second POBSP v i s i t i n June 1969 was successfu l ; 2 b i r d species were recorded. Shark I s l a n d ' s loca t ion , he ight , and p resen t l ack of vege ta t ion have probably played a major r o l e i n l i m i t i n g the number of b i r d species using the i s l and . It i s loca ted a t t h e northwest t i p of the a t o l l and i s s t r u c k by ocean waves on two s i d e s . I t s low height and sandy composition enable waves t o change i t s shape during severe weather and sea con- d i t i o n s . I n June 1923 a small amount of Boerhavia was recorded (Christophersen and Caum, 1931); no vegeta t ion occurs today . Only two b i rds , a Blue-faced and a Brown Booby, were recorded on Shark i n 1969; o the r s probably r o o s t t h e r e . No b i r d s have been known t o nes t t h e r e . I n June 1923 the Great F r iga teb i rd , Brown Noddy, and Black Noddy were observed roos t ing . U.S. Coast Guard personnel have v i s i t e d the i s l and i n r ecen t y e a r s ; they r epor t small b lack birds--probably Brown o r Black Noddies--roosting on the beach. No shorebi rds have been recorded. Tern I s l and Of t h e 44 b i r d species t h a t occur a t French Fr iga te Shoals, 39 spec ies have been recorded from Tern I s l and a able 22). F i f t een spec ies were recorded p r i o r t o 1935, 20 between 1935 and 1959 and 35 have been recorded s ince . Of the 10 recorded nes t ing species , 6 a r e known t o have nested on the i s l and p r i o r t o 1935, 3 from 1935 t o 1959, and 7 s ince 1960. Three species t h a t nested p r i o r t o 1935 no longer nes t on the i s l and ; 4 present n e s t e r s d id not n e s t p r i o r t o 1960. The sharp increase in the number of spec ies recorded pos- s i b l y r e f l e c t s t h e increased number of s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s t o t h e i s l a n d s ince 1950; it a l s o r e f l e c t s the increased amount of vegeta t ion a v a i l a b l e t o the avifauna. The decrease, and subsequent increase , i n breeding species r e f l e c t s t h e vege- t a t i o n a l h i s t o r y of the i s l and . With t h e advent of m i l i t a r y cons t ruc t ion i n 19&, a l l vegeta t ion was des t royed. Photographs from va r ious sources r evea l t h a t both n a t u r a l and introduced vegeta t ion r ees t ab l i shed i t s e l f slowly u n t i l the l a t e 19501s, a f t e r which a rap id increase took place i n both ground cover ( g r a s s and weeds) and l a r g e r p l a n t s ( ~ o u r n e f o r t i a , Casuarina, and Pluchea) . Recent t o t a l populations (breeders 1,586, non-breeders 480) on Tern a r e low compared t o those on the o t h e r t h r e e major i s l a n d s and La Perouse Pinnacle. Species t h a t n e s t i n l a r g e colonies (Sooty Tern, Brown Noddy, and Blue-faced ~ o o b y ) a r e now a l l absent except f o r occas ional v i s i t o r s . Although t h e t o t a l Tern I s l and b i r d population is now lower, present breed- ing and non-breeding populations a r e higher than in the pre- 1935 e r a . The th ree species which formerly nested on Tern have probably joined es t ab l i shed colonies on o t h e r i s l ands within t h e a t o l l . Conversely, Bulwer's P e t r e l , Red-tailed Tropicbird, and White Tern--species which d id not nes t on the i s l and p r i o r t o 1960--undoubtedly have come from other i s l a n d s within the a t o l l . The Bonin P e t r e l has been recorded only a t Tern Is land, f i r s t in 1953 (Richardson, 1954b), and a s nes t ing i n 1967. The nea res t Bonin P e t r e l population is 281 miles t o the northwest a t Laysan I s l and . Seven breeding seabi rd species p resen t ly u t i l i z e the narrow vegeta ted s t r i p on e i t h e r s ide of t h e runway (Fig. 37 ) . The runway was u t i l i z e d by the Sooty Tern dur ing the period between i t s abandonment by the U.S. Navy i n 1945 and i t s reoccupation by the U.S. Coast Guard i n 1951. The a l b a t r o s s e s nes t pr imar i ly on the grass-covered a r e a s in , and e a s t of, Table 22. S ta tus , recent population, and h a b i t a t of Tern I s l and b i r d s Recent S ta tus Maximum Population p re 1935- 1960- Non- &ecies i935 1959 1969 Breeding breeding Habi ta t Black-footed Albat ross B B B 14 ? Nests mainly on south s ide of runway. Laysan Albat ross B B B 400 ? Nests on both s ides of runway. Northern F'ulmar P One on beach, 1923. Herald P e t r e l A 1 Runway. Murphy ' s P e t r e l A 1 East end of runway. Bonin P e t r e l P B 1,000 ? Burrows on south s i d e of runway. Bulwer's P E t r e l B 2? ? Possible n e s t under Quonset h u t . Wedge-tailed Shearwater B P B 60 40 Burrows on both s ides of runway and under bui ld ings . Christmas Shearwater 0 occas ional Sooty Storm P e t r e l P 1 Runway. Red-tailed Tropicbird P P B 90 10 Nests under Pluchea and Tournefor t ia . White-tailed Tropichird 0 2 Blue-faced Booby B P 0 occas ional Red-footed Booby P P P occasional Roosting. Table 22. (continued) Recent S t a t u s Maximum Population a r e 1935- 1960- Non- Species i935 1959 1569 Breeding breeding Habi ta t Brown Booby P Great F r iga teb i rd P C a t t l e Egret Mallard Gadwall P i n t a i l American Coot Golden Plover P Semipalmated Plover Br i s t l e - th ighed Curlev P Wandering T a t t l e r Ruddy Turnstone P Sanderl ing P . . western Gull Glaucous.-winged Gull occasional occas ional 1 6 1 19 1 50 1 5 4 80 9 1 1 O f f shore. Roosting. Lepturus area , south s i d e . Runway near garbage dump. Runway ( 7 ) . Low Tournefort ia and Pluchea. Runway, vegetated area , and beaches. East end of runway. Runway and vegetated por t ion . Runway and beaches. Runway, vegetated areas , and beaches. Runway and beaches. Table 22. (continued) Recent S t a t u s Maximum Population pre 1935- 1960- Non- a e c i e s 1935 1959 1969 Breeding breeding Habi ta t F r a n k l i n ' s Gull Gray-backed Tern Sooty Tern B B Blue- g a y Noddy Brown Noddy B P Black Noddy White Tern P Short-eared O w l Mockingbird Nihoa Finch 1 Dead under Pluchea. occas ional occasional occasional 5 5 Roosting a d u l t i n Casuarina. 18 200 Nests i n Casuarina, Tournefortia, e t c . 1 Vegetation. 2 ~ o u r n e f o r t i a and Pluchea. 2 32 I n vegeta t ion and around buildings. t h e antenna f i e l d ; some nes t on the grassy por t ions of t h e nor th edge of the i s land, p a r t i c u l a r l y on t h e e a s t s ide . The Bonin P e t r e l n e s t s only on the south s i d e of t h e runway; i t s burrows a r e mainly i n the sandy por t ions in , and e a s t of , the antenna f i e l d . The Bulwer's P e t r e l n e s t s under the o ld Quonset hu t and o ther bui ld ing ma te r i a l s c a t t e r e d about the south s i d e . The Wedge-tailed Shearwater n e s t s pr imar i ly i n burrows i n t h e grass-covered, sandy south por t ions , from the antenna f i e l d t o t h e e a s t t i p ; it a l s o n e s t s under var ious bui ld ings on the south s ide, inc luding t h e o ld Quonset 'hut and the wooden water tanks next t o t h e main bar- racks, and under the dense Pluchea on the nor th s ide . The Red-tailed Tropicbird n e s t s on both s ides of t h e runway; on t h e nor th s i d e it n e s t s under the dense Pluchea and s c a t t e r e d Tournefort ia , on the south s ide under Tournefort ia , bui ld ing mater ia ls , and t h e Quonset hu t . The White Tern n e s t s i n t h e Casuarina t r e e s i n f r o n t of the barracks, i n the l a r g e r Tournefort ia bushes, on t h e concrete supports of t h e metal f u e l tanks and the rubber water tank, on t h e concrete survey marker, on va r ious wooden pos ts around t h e docks, and on t h e l a r g e r c o r a l rocks loca ted in the nor th -cen t ra l po r t ion . Breeding seab i rds from other i s l ands i n t h e a t o l l t h a t occasional ly v i s i t Tern roos t on various o b j e c t s : a Black Noddy c o n s i s t e n t l y r o o s t s i n the Casuarina i n f r o n t of t h e barracks; t h e occas ional Red-footed Booby r o o s t s i n t h e l a rge Tournefort ia a t t h e e a s t end; while t h e Great F r iga teb i rd p re fe r s t a l l s t r u c t u r e s such a s t h e wooden p o s t s near the docks, and t h e pole and o the r ob jec t s near t h e ea$t .end. S ix of t h e a t o l l ' s t en non-resident s e a b i r d and g u l l spec ies have occurred exclus ive ly on Tern. Another i s known from Tr ig and Tern. Tern i s loca ted a t t he northern edge of the a t o l l , t he c l o s e s t major i s l and t o t h e open ocean. Dead b i r d s from t h e sea can, thus, more e a s i l y wash up on' Tern ' s lengthy beach, and b i r d s passing c l o s e t o the a t o l l may acc ident ly , o r i n tak ing a shor t cu t , f l y over the i s l and Water puddles on t h e runway and t h e garbage dump a r e probably the major a t t r a c t i o n s t o the g u l l s . A l l f i v e r egu la r migrant shorebird spec ies frequent the runway, vegetated a reas , and t h e beaches. Ruddy Turnstones and Golden Plovers a r e most common i n the g ras sy a reas around the bui ld ings ; Br is t le - th ighed Curlews i n t h e t h i c k e r vege- t a t e d areas,and Wandering T a t t l e r s on t h e beaches. Tern I s l a n d ' s a t t r a c t i o n f o r acc iden ta l land- and f r e s h - water b i r d s i s a l s o due t o i t s s i z e and favorable h a b i t a t . Vegetation and fresh-water puddles a r e the main a t t r a c t i o n s . The s i n g l e C a t t l e Egret was found i n the Lepturus a rea on t h e south s ide of the runway; when c o l l e c t e d it was feeding on i n s e c t s . The Mockingbirds have been found i n t h e vege- t a t e d a r e a s along both s i d e s of t h e i s l a n d . The introduced Nihoa Finch. searches a l l vegetated por t ions of t h e i s l a n d f o r food. T r i g I s l a n d Twenty-three b i r d species have been recorded from Trig I s l and able 23) . Of these , 1 2 were recorded p r i o r t o 1935, 14 from 19.35 through 1559, and 22 s ince 1959. Ten species a r e p resen t ly known t o nes t ; of these , 7 were recorded n e s t i n g between 1935 and 1960, and 6 were known t o n e s t p r i o r t o 1935. The increase i n t h e number of recorded species , a s wel l a s i n t h e number of species recorded nes t ing , i s probably due both t o t h e increased number of s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s s ince 1950, which has r e s u l t e d i n an increase in number of observat ions, and t o t h e increase i n c e r t a i n types of vegeta t ion which has made t h e i s l and a more a t t r a c t i v e h a b i t a t . The increased number of s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s has r e s u l t e d in observat ions i n almost a l l months of t h e year , thus increas ing knowledge of seasonal breeders . Vegetation changes have been marked s ince 1923. Wetmore reported no t a l l vegeta t ion on the i s l and in June 1923; likewise, Richardson repor ted no high vegeta t ion during h i s t h r e e v i s i t s between October 1955 and March 1954. However, photos taken by Rice and Kenyon in t h e i r 1957 a lba- t r o s s work r evea l t a l l . vegeta t ion which was iden t i f i ed i n 1963 a s Tournefor t ia . The Christmas Shearwater and Red- t a i l e d Tropicbird, both of which began nes t ing here in recent years , r equ i re such cover. The Red-footed Booby, which b u i l t t a l l ground n e s t s of s t i c k s i n 1923, p resen t ly nes ts i n the Tournefort ia . Recent t o t a l populat ions (breeders 2,815, non-breeders 3,652) on Trig a r e much g r e a t e r than on Tern, but a r e no t a s l a r g e as on Eas t and Whale-Skate I s l ands and La Perouse Pinnacle. The reason t h a t populat ions a r e g rea te r than on Tern i s t h a t Trig has 2 c o l o n i a l n e s t e r s (Sooty Tern and Brown Noddy) and l a r g e numbers of nocturnal roos t ing b i r d s r re at F r iga teb i rd and Black Noddy). This r e f l e c t s the absence of human dis turbance on Trig, a s well. a s the exis tence of s u i t - a b l e roos t ing and nes t ing h a b i t a t . Although the Christmas Shearwater i.s known from four i s l a n d s in tile a t o l l , it only n e s t s a t Tr ig . An adequate explanat ion f o r t h i s r e s t r i c t e d breeding d i s t r i b u t i o n cannot be given. S imi lar h a b i t a t can be found on the o ther t h r e e Table 23. S ta tus , recent population, and h a b i t a t of Tr ig I s l and b i r d s Recent S t a t u s Maximum Population pre 1935- 1960- Non- Species 7935 1959 1969 Breeding breeding Habi ta t Black-footed Albatross B B B 102 ? Nests around t h e i s l a n d ' s periphery. Laysan Albat ross B B B 88 ? Nests i n vegetated a rea , west por t ion . Bulwer ' s P e t r e l P Few present i n June 1891. Wedge-tailed Shearwater B B B 500 few Burrows placed i n Lepturus area . Christmas Shearwater P P B 20 5 Shallow burrows under Scaevola and Chenopodium. Red-tailed Tropicbird B 1 0 Nests under Tournefor t ia . Blue-faced Booby B B B 137 14 Nests on upper beach, p a r t i c u l a r l y lagoon s i d e . Red-footed Booby B B B 106 94 Nests and r o o s t s on Tournefort ia . Brown Booby 0 occas ional Great Fr iga tebi rd P i n t a i l Golden Plover P P P Br is t le - th ighed Curlew P Wandering T a t t l e r P P P 300 Roosting on Tournefort ia , e t c . 20 Beaches and inland a reas . 3 Beaches and vegetated a r e a s . 5 Beaches only. Table 23. (continued) Recent S t a t u s Maximum Population pre 1935- 1960- Non- Species 1935 1959 1969 Breeding breeding Habitat ~ u d d y Turnstone P P P 102 Beaches only. Sanderling P 3 Beaches only. Ring-billed Gull 0 Glaucous-winged G u l l 0 A Gray-backed Tern sooty Tern Brown Noddy Black Noddy White Tern 1 1 Beach and j u s t west of the i s l and . 3 Nests associated with Lepturus, west and south port ion. B B B 1,400 100 Nests associa ted with Boerhavia, center and west port ion. P P B 440 ? Nests associa ted with Boerhavia and Tribulus. 3,000 Roosts i n Chenopodium and Tournefort ia . occasional main i s l a n d s . The small numbers i n which t h i s spec ie s occur on t h e a t o l l may provide t h e answer. I n order t o breed they must congregate. Moreover, s ince t h e r e a r e few Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on Trig, t h e r e i s no competi t ion between t h e two spec ies f o r n e s t i n g space. The human h a b i t a t i o n of Tern may be a f a c t o r , b u t on o the r a t o l l s (e .g . , Johnston) t h i s has not been important. The 1 0 spec ies t h a t n e s t on T r i g I s l a n d make maximum use of a l l a v a i l a b l e h a b i t a t . Black-footed Alba t ros s and Blue- faced Boobies n e s t on t h e upper beach, p a r t i c u l a r l y on t h e lagoon s ide , a s we1.l a s on t h e open sandy a r e a s i n the i n - t e r i o r of t h e i s l and and i n t h e e a s t p o r t i o n . Laysan Alba t ros s n e s t on t h e open a r e a s i n t h e vegeta ted i n t e r i o r of t h e west po r t ion . Sooty Terns usua l ly n e s t i n two small colonies--one j u s t west of t h e l a r g e Tournefor t ia bush loca ted i n t h e cen te r of t h e i s l and , t h e o t h e r on t h e northwest c r e s t of t h e i s land-- in a r e a s of sand and low Boerhavia. S ingle Brown Noddy n e s t s a r e s c a t t e r e d about t h e vege ta t ed por t ion , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n associa.tion with Tr ibulus and Boerhavia; one small colony e x i s t s on t h e west c r e s t . Gray-backed Terns n e s t a s s i n g l e p a i r s o r in small groups on t h e ground i n a s soc ia - t i o n wi th Tr ibulus and Lepturus i n t h e west and south a r e a s . Red- ta i led Tropicbi rds n e s t under t h e l a r g e , t h i c k Tournefort ia bushes s c a t t e r e d about t h e i s l and . Christmas Shearwaters a l s o n e s t i n shallow burrows under t h e very l a r g e Tournefor t ia bush l o c a t e d i n t h e cen te r of t h e i s l and , under low, t h i c k Scaevola bushes on t h e no r th c r e s t , and under s c a t t e r e d Chenopodium bushes i n t h e west and south po r t ions . Wedge-tailed Shear- waters d i g t h e i r burrows a t t h e base of t h e Lepturus-covered west h a l f of t h e i s l a n d . The only bush-nester on Tr ig I s l and , t h e Red-footed Booby, u t i l i z e s t h e many s c a t t e r e d Tournefor t ia bushes, ae we l l a s t h e low Chenopodium bushes. Roosting ind iv idua l s of t hese 10 spec ie s can be found i n t h e same h a b i t a t a s t h e n e s t e r e . Breeding seab i rds from o the r i s l a n d s i n t h e atol l . occas ional ly v i s i t Tr ig ; these e i t h e r f l y around o r r o o s t on var ious po r t ions of t h e i s l a n d . The Great F r i g a t e b i r d r o o s t s on Tournefor t ia and Chenopodium, a s wel l a s on t h e Fish and Wi ld l i f e s ign and o t h e r pos t s , s tanding o r on t h e ground. The Black odd^, mainly nocturna l , r o o s t s on Tournefort ia , Chenopodium, and Scaevola. Shorebirds f requent both the vegeta ted and beach a reas of T r i g I s l a n d . A l l spec ies can be found on t h e beaches. The Golden Plover and Br i s t l e - th ighed Curlew can of ten be found i n grassy a r e a s . No a c c i d e n t a l shorebi rds have been recorded. Two non-resident g u l l and fresh-water spec ie s - -P in ta i l and Ring-bi l led Gull--have been observed f l y i n g over the i s l a n d ; a t h i r d , Glaucous-winged Gull, was c o l l e c t e d t h e r e . Whale-Skate I s l and Of t he 44 species recorded from the a t o l l , 24 have been observed a t Whale-Skate I s l and (Table 24); 10 were recorded p r i o r t o 1935, 11 were recorded from 1935 through 1959, and a l l 24 have been recorded s ince then . Nine of the 13 breeding spec ies a r e known t o have nes ted p r i o r t o 1935; 5 nested from 1935 through 1959; a l l 1 3 have nested s ince . The sudden increase i n the number of species recorded a f t e r 1959 again r e f l e c t s an increase i n number of observa- t i o n s made by v i s i t i n g s c i e n t i s t , ? and, t o a l e s s e r extent , an increase i n amount and kind of vegeta t ion . The drop i n nes t ing spec ies during the 1935 t o 1959 period cannot be explained by l a c k of vege ta t ion ; Chenopodium and Tournefort ia did, however, i nc rease a f t e r 1957. As f a r a s can be determined. t h e r e has been no human disturbance of Whale-Skate. Recent t o t a l populat ions (breeders 8,870,non-breeders 13,167) a r e low compared t o those of East I s land, but they a r e t h e second h ighes t i n the a t o l l . Post-1959 ind iv idua l populat ions a r e higher than pre-1935 populat ions, and, with t h e exception of the two a lba t rosses , a r e h igher than they were from 1935 t o 1959. The Sooty Tern, Wedge-tailed Shear- water, Brown Noddy, and Black-footed Albatross, i n t h i s order , a r e the most numerous breeding spec ies . The Sooty Storm P e t r e l and Great F r iga teb i rd nes t only on Whale-Skate Is land; t h e next nea res t nes t ing colony f o r each i s Necker Is land, some 138 miles e a s t of the a t o l l . The Black Noddy population i s the l a r g e s t of the non-breeding spec ies . The 13 breeding species p resen t ly u t i l i z e a l l po r t ions of Whale-Skate f o r nes t ing (F igs . 54-55). Most species a r e concentrated toward the c e n t r a l por t ion o f both h a l f s , thus showing t h e influence of the two o r i g i n a l i s l ands . The Black- footed Alba t ross a r e found mainly along t h e sandy edges of the beach c r e s t ( e spec ia l ly on the lagoon e i d e ) ; t he Laysan Alba- t r o s s n e s t mainly on t h e bare spots i n t h e Lepturus and Tribulus-covered a reas of the i s l a n d . The small Bulwer's P e t r e l population n e s t s i n t h e Lepturus-Tribulus a r e a on t h e west ha l f of the i s l and ; occas ional ind iv idua l s have been found under Tournefor t ia . The Wedge-tailed Shearwater populat ion d i g s i t s burrows a t t h e base of the Lepturus and Chenopodium which grow over most of the i s l a n d . The Sooty Storm P e t r e l population i s small and may have been overlooked f o r yea r s . I t s d igs shallow burrows i n the Lepturus and Chenopodium near the middle of t h e e a s t h a l f of the i s l and . Red-tai led Tropicbirds nes t under t h e r ap id ly spreading Tournefor t ia . The abundant Blue-faced Booby n e s t s on t h e upper por t ion of the beaches, t h e beach c r e s t s , and edges of Table 24. Status, recent population, and habitat of Whale-Skate Island birds Recent Status Maximum Population pre 1935- 1960- Non- Species 1935 1959 1969 Breeding breeding Habitat Black-footed Albatross Laysan Albatross Bulwer's Petrel Sooty Shearwater Wedge-tailZd Shearwater Christmas Shearwater Sooty Storm Petrel Red-tailed Tropicbird Blue-faced Booby Red-footed Booby Brown Booby Great Frigatebird ? 20 1 600 3 295 72 occasional 58 Nests on upper beach periphery and inland. Nests interior portion, Lepturus- Tribulus area. Nests in shallow burrow under w- podium. Burrows in Lepturus-Tribulus area. Roosts occasionally on east central area. Burrows in Chenopodium-Lepturus area. Nests under Tournefortia. Nests on upper beach periphery and inland. Nests on Tournefortia and Chenopodium. Nests on ground in central portion. Nests on Chenopodium and Tournefortia. Table 24. (continued) Recent Status Maximum Population pre 1935- 1960- Non- Species 1935 1959 1969 Breeding breeding Habitat Golden Plover P P Bristle-thighed Curlew P P Wandering Tat t le r P P Ruddy Turnstone P P Sanderling P Ring-billed . G u l l A 50 Beaches and vegetated areas. 3 Vegetated areas. 5 Beaches only. 150 Beaches only. 3 Beaches only. 1 Beach. Gray-backed Tern B 24 0 100 Nests i n small groups under Chenopodium and Tournefortia. Sooty Tern B B 2,600 500 Nests i n two colonies, east and west cen t ra l portions. Brown Noddy Black Noddy White Tern Nihoa Finch B P B 1,700 1,300 Nests in association with Boerhavia and Tr ibulus . P 10,000 Roosts on Chenopodium and Tournefortia. P 5 Occasional v i s i t o r . I 1 Seen entering Tournefortia bush. Figure 54. Nesting b i r d s on e a s t p o r t i o n of Whale-Skate I s l and , 24 June 1966. POBSP photograph by A . B . Amerson, Jr. Figure 55. Great F r iga teb i rds and Red-footed Boobies nes t ing on Tournefort ia bush, Whale-Skate I s l and , 24 June 1966. POBSP photograph by A . B . Amerson, Jr. t h e vegeta ted por t ions and t h e spa r se ly vegeta ted por t ions of t h e i s l a n d ' s i n t e r i o r . It i s e s p e c i a l l y prevalent on the lagoon s ide of t h e i s l a n d . One Brown Booby p a i r nested i n t h e sandy c e n t r a l por t ion of the i s l and i n September 1967. Red-footed Boobies p r e f e r t o n e s t i n . t h e tops of Tournefort ia bushes, but a few s t i l l nes t on low-growing Chenopodium a s they d i d p r i o r t o the appearance of Tournefor t ia . Most of t h e Great F r iga teb i rds n e s t i n the two Chenopodium a reas ; a few n e s t i n the tops of Tournefor t ia . Gray-backed Terns nee t i n s i n g l e p a i r s o r i n small groups over the e n t i r e i s l and under t h e edges of Tournefort ia , Chenopodium, Lepturue, and Tr ibulus . The Sooty Terns nes t i n two colonies near the center of each o r i g i n a l i s l a n d . They nes t on the ground i n t h e sparse Tribulus. Brown Noddies nee t i n small co lonies and i n s i n g l e p a i r s i n Boerhavia and Tribulus; n e s t s a r e s c a t t e r e d throughout the vegeta ted por t ion of the i s l a n d . Most non-nesting ind iv idua l s of t h e above breeding species r o o s t very c lose t o t h e i r n e s t i n g counterpar ts . Some Blue- faced and Red-footed Boobies and Great F r iga teb i rds roos t on t h e o ld barge loca ted of fshore on t h e lagoon s i d e of the i s l and . Some non-nesting Brown Noddies, a s we l l a s v i s i t i n g Black Noddies, roos t i n l a rge f locks on the beaches. Most Black Noddies appear a t dusk and roos t i n the Chenopodium and Tournefor t ia . V i s i t i n g Christmas Shearwaters a r e occas ional ly found a t n ight under the Chenopodium in the e a s t c e n t r a l a r e a . White Terns a r e daytime v i s i t o r s and usua l ly f l y around t h e i s l a n d ; an occas ional ind iv idua l may r o o s t on t h e barge. When present , t h e f i v e speciee of regular , migrant shore- b i r d s can be found over most of the i s l a n d . The Wandering T a t t l e r , Ruddy Turnstone, and Sanderl ing a r e most f r equen t ly found on the beaches. The Br is t le - th ighed Curlew i s more o f t e n seen i n vegetated a r e a s . One Nihoa Finch, being chased by a Great Fr iga tebi rd , was seen on the i s l and i n June 1967. The Finch undoubtedly flew t o t h i s i s l and from e i t h e r Tern o r East I s l ands , where it was introduced i n March 1967. One Ring-bi l led Gull, one of two a c c i d e n t a l s eab i rd and g u l l spec ies found on the i s l and , was observed on the beach. The o ther , a Sooty Shearwater mummy, was found on the beach c r e s t . Banding and Movements Banding Birds t a t a l i n g 67,027 of 19 species were banded a t French F r i g a t e Shoals by POBSP personnel from mid-1963 through 1969 (Table 25) . Over 22,000 b i r d s were banded i n 1966 when two Table 25. Yearly banding t o t a l s of French Frigate Shoals birds 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 Total Black-footed Albatross 866 5 00 434 742 1,507 4,049 Laysan Albatross 3 29 198 103 3 14 3 95 1,342 Bonin Pe t re l 1 100 9 110 Bulwer's Pe t r e l 6 2 2 14 1 15 1 Wedge-tailed Shearwater 200 3,336 1,579 106 15 36 5,272 Christmas Shearwater 6 20 28 5 59 Red-tailed Tropicbird 28 70 107 139 112 169 6 25 Blue-faced Booby 728 304 222 373 268 369 2,264 Red-footed Booby 144 480 532 347 281 286 2,070 Brown Booby 1 2 21 24 Great Frigatebird 254 4 15 408 737 298 147 2,259 Golden Plover 1 2 1 4 Wandering Ta t t l e r 1 1 Ruddy Turnstone 1 7 5 U Gray-backed Tern 23 20 50 194 12 90 389 Sooty Tern 1,100 5,793 16,911 8,500 5,400 191 37,895 Brown Noddy 751 26 1,250 921 2,500 100 5,548 Black ~ o d d y 2,358 926 500 371 633 4,788 White Tern 63 76 1 4 20 164 Totals 4,425 26 14,110 22,461 14,036 7,947 4,022 67,027 month-long t r i p s were made during summer and ear ly f a l l . S l igh t ly over 14,000 birds were banded in 1965 and again i n 1967; smaller numbers were banded in the other years. These birds were banded on the eight islands within the a t o l l on which breeding occurs. The majority was banded on the four major islands--East, Whale-Skate, Trig and Tern, in that order. Over 40,000 have been banded on East Island alone. Of the t o t a l banded there were: 37,895 Sooty Tern adul ts and nestl ings: 5,548 Brown Noddies; 5,272 Wedge-tailed Shear- waters; 4,788 Black Noddies; and 4,049 Black-footed Albatross. Movement s Sixteen species have been recaptured a t French Frigate since 1963, .totaling 8,238 birds (Table 26). O f t h i s t o t a l , 7,958 were or ig ina l ly banded on the a t o l l , while 280 were banded on other a t o l l s . The 7,958 recaptured b i r d s banded on the a t o l l involve: 378 (7 species) in 1965; 2,222 (13 species) i n 1966; 2,550 (16 species) i n 1967; 1,466 (11 species) in 1968; and 1,342 (0 species) i n 1969. None would be expected t o be recaptured i n 1963. In 1964 only one short v i s i t was made which limited banding and recapture a c t i v i t i e s . The 280 captures of birds from other a t o l l s involve 12 species: 2 in 1963; 65 in 1965; 92 in 1966; 74 in 1967; 27 in 1968; and 20 in 1969. These 280 recaptures represent only 269 birds, fo r some have been captured more than once. These birds were or ig ina l ly banded on a l l the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands except Nihoa, and on Oahu, Kauai, Johnston, Wake, Palmyra, and Alaska (Table 27). Most came from Johnston Ato l l (128 birds, or 48 percent) with Laysan second (35, or 13 percent), and Kure th i rd (25, or 9 percent). In addition t o birds coming t o the a t o l l , 246 birds of 12 species originating a t French Frigate Shoals have been captured on other cen t ra l Pacif ic Islands (Oahu, Kauai, Nihoa, Laysan, Lisianski, Pear l and Hermes, Midway, Kure, Johnston, Wake, Eniwctok, -the Philippines, and New Guinea) and from several at-sea j.ocaLities i n i . 1 ~ north Pacific (Table Z / ) . More birds (121, or 49 percent) haire traveled t o Johnston Ato l l than t o any other island, and secondly t o Kure (43, or 17 percent) . The number of individual banded birds involved in in te r - island movement, both t o and from the a t o l l , t o t a l s 515. Johnston, Kure, Laysan, and Lisianski, i n tha t order, are the islands most frequently involved. Table 26. Yearly band return t o t a l fo r French Frigate Shoals* 1963 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 Subtotal Banded on: FFS Other FFS Other &S Other FFS Other FFS Other FFS Other FFS Other Total Black-footed Albatross Laysan Albatross Bonin Pe t re l Bulwer 's Petrel Wedge-tailed Shearwater Christmas Shearwater Red-tailed Tropicbird Blue-faced Booby Red-footed Booby Great Frigatebird Ruddy Turnstone Gray-backed Tern Sooty Tern Brown Noddy Black Noddy White Tern Totals 0 2 378 65 2,222 92 2,550 74 1,466 27 1,342 20 7,958 280 8,238 * No band returns i n 1964 Table Z [ . Inter ls lana movement or Danaea Dlras lnvolvlng r'rencn r'rlgaze snoals Black-footed Albatross 2 2 Laysan Albatross 1 1 2 Wedge-tailed Shearwater 5 5 Red-tailed Tropicbird 1 1 Blue-faced Booby 1 3 1 1 1 6 13 Red-footed Booby 10 6 2 14 2 6 14 4 61 141 Great Frigatebird 2 1 1 8 1 8 21 Ruddy Turnstone 8 8 Sooty Tern 1 5 1 5 35 1 48 Brown Noddy 1 9 10 Black Noddy 1 3 5 3 1 . 1 3 17 White Tern 1 1 Total (TO) 11 6 1 1 35 24 9 14 25 6 128 1 8 269 From French Frigate to: Black-footed Albatross Laysan Albatross Bonin Pe t re l Wedge-tailed Shearwater Red-tailed Tropicbird Blue-faced Booby 1 1 Red-footed Booby 1 Great Frigatebird Sooty Tern Brown Noddy Black Noddy White Tern 1 1 5 Total ( ~ r o m ) 1 1 1 26 19 7 3 43 2 1 121 l g 1 1 246 Grand Total 12 7 1 1 1 61 43 16 17 68 8 1 2 1 19 1 1 8 515 Species Accounts P r i o r t o t h e f i r s t POBSP survey i n June 1963, 85 specimens of 22 b i r d spec ies were known from French F r i g a t e Shoals . They a r e i n the c o l l e c t i o n s of t h e U.S. National Museum, Washington, D.C. (USNM), American Museum of Natural His tory , New York (AMNIL), Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Hono1ul.u (BPBM), and B r i t i s h Museum of Natura l History, London (BNNH). POBSP personnel co l l ec t ed 55 specimens of 26 spec ies from French F r i g a t e ; a l l a r e i n the U.S. National Museum c o l l e c t i o n . Eleven of t hese r ep resen t new specimen records f o r t h e a t o l l . An a d d i t i o n a l eigrit spec ies r ep resen t new s i g h t records . For d e s c r i p t i o n s and i l l u s t r a t i o n s of t h e 44 b i r d spec ie s recorded here in , the reader i s r e fe r r ed t o t h e o r n i t h o l o g i c a l sources c i t e d previously, especi.a,%ly King (1967). Tables a r e i n a l p h a b e t i c a l order by i s l a n d ; when few observa t ions have been made on some i s l ands , they a r e grouped i n the f i n a l t a b l e fol lowing each speciee account . BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS Diomedea n i g r i p e s S t a t u s Abundant breeding spec ie s ; present from e a r l y November through mid-July with peak populat ions during winter and e a r l y spr ing; absent during remainder of the yea r . Nests on the ground around t h e periphery and i n t h e i n t e r i o r of East , L i t t l e Gin, Tern, Tr ig and Whale-Skate I s l ands . Previously nested on Dis- appearing, G i n and Round I s l a n d s . Maximum POBSP populat ion es t imate 4,700 i n June of 1969. Observations The Black-footed Alba t ros s was f i r s t repor ted from French F r i g a t e Shoals during e a r l y June 1891 by Rothschild (1893-1900) and Munro (1941b). Recent observat ions i n d i c a t e a populat ion increase . Populat ions vary among the i s l a n d s and d i f f e r from e a r l i e r observat ions ( s e e Ecologica l D i s t r i b u t i o n ) . Annual Cycle Figure 56 presen t s t h e Black-footed Alba t ros s l o c a l breeding cyc le a s determined by a c t u a l observat ions and i n t e r p o l a t i o n of incubat ion and f ledging per iods . The a t o l l i s completely deser ted by t h i s spec ies from m i d - s m e r -to mid-fa l l , e period of about t h r e e and a h a l f months. Adults begin t o a r r i v e during mid- October, egg l ay ing s t a r 5 s i n e a r l y November, and most eggs a r e probably l a i d within a s h o r t per iod . Hatching probably commences i n mid-January, with t h e peak in l a t e January. Most young begin t o f ledge during t h e l a t t e r p a r t of June; a l l f l edg l ings have gone by mid-July. The a d u l t population diminishes i n l a t e spr ing and by e a r l y June only a few a d u l t s remain, u s u a l l y only f o r long enough t o feed t h e i r young. Figure 56. Annual cycle of Black-footed Alba t ross *x = eggs p resen t ; ++ = dependent young p resen t ; - = non-breeding b i r d s present Ecological D i s t r i b u t i o n Breeding Dis t r ibu t ion : Present ly breeds on East, L i t t l e Gin, Tern, T r ig and Whale-Skate Is lands . I n previous years nes t ing has occurred on Disappearing, G i n and Round I s l ands . Aug XX* Jan Disappearing Is land: A t p resent Black-footed Albatross do not n e s t . Rice and Kenyon (1962) found two p a i r nes t ing on May 28 December 1957 a able 33) . POBSP personnel found the i s l and awash i n June 1963; al thougb it was no longer awash in June 1969, no b i r d s were nes t ing . Sep Feb East I s land: A t French Fr iga te Shoals, East I s l and i s p resen t ly t h e major breeding i s l and f o r Black-footed Albatross a able 28) . Numbers have increased s ince Munter found 400 nes t ing i n March 1915 (see March 1966 [ ~ r i d l e r , BSFW, 1966aI and March 1967, Table 28). Subs tan t i a t ing t h i s apparent increase a r e f i g u r e s f o r s e v e r a l years f o r June when f ledging was a t i t s peak: lO0-t were recorded (Wetmore, ms.) i n 1923, 450 i n 1963, 1,800-t i n 1968, and 2,400-t i n June 1969. When the Coast Guard LORAN Sta t ion was i n operat ion, numbers apparent ly f e l l o f f d r a s t i c a l l y . Photographs by the U.S. Coast Guard (#30154912) and Henry (photo, 1949) show only 60-t and 80-t, respect ive ly , f o r spr ing 1949. I Oct lNov Dec Jun Gin Is land: Black-footed Albat ross do no t n e s t a t present . I n December 1953 a able 33), Richardson (1954b) observed 300 t o 400 with n e s t s and eggs. He could, however, have reversed t h e populat ions f o r Gin and L i t t l e Gin Is lands , as he only found 14 on the l a t t e r which normally has a high populat ion. Rice and Kenyon (1962) counted only th ree nes t s in December 1957. J u l Mar +++t+++++t+++++t+t+++t+++++t++++i4t++ Apr L i t t l e Gin Is land: Wetmore (ms.) observed about 150 young in January 1923 a able 29). I n June 1963 t h e r e were only 17 f l e d g l i n g s present ; numbers increased t o 125+ young i n 1969. Black-footed Alba t ross nes t on t h e high sandy r idges . Round Is land: No Black-footed Albat ross have been known t o n e s t here s ince 1957 a able 33), presumably because the i s l and has no vegeta t ion and may be awash a t extreme high t i d e o r during severe storms. ( ~ l u e - f a c e d Boobies s t i l l nes t on the i s land, however. ) I n June 1923 when Wetmore (ms. ) observed 90 young, Round was vegetated; by 1957 when Rice and Kenyon (1962) noted 30 b i r d s and 12 nes t s , t he i s l and had l i t t l e o r no vegeta t ion but may s t i l l have been above high t i d e . Tern Is land: Black-footed Albat ross occur p resen t ly in small numbers able 30) . Rothschild (1893-1900) and Munro (1941b), Bailey (1956) and Wetmore (ms.) a l l observed small numbers. Nothing i s known of t h e i r s t a t u s during t h e time, and s h o r t l y a f t e r , t he Navy constructed the present-day Tern Is land i n 1942. Photographs taken during A p r i l 1945 and March 1949 show none. I n December 1953 Richardson (1954b) found s i x n e s t s with eggs, bu t these were destroyed during January by high waves. A few were observed dancing but not nes t ing during February 1956 by Svihla (1957). The maximum number observed was 14 on 7 n e s t s i n December 1967. Tr ig Is land: Wetmore (ms.) repor ted 50 young Black-footed Alba t ross i n June 1923. The numbers dropped by June 1966 and 1967 and increased sharply i n 1968 and 1969 a able 31) . Whale-Skate Is land: Only East has a l a r g e r Black-footed Albat ross population a t French F r i g a t e Shoals (Table 3 2 ) . Ten yea r s ago, however, t h e Whale-Skate populat ion was t h e l a r g e r . If one goes f u r t h e r back, t h i s population was much lower and about t h e same a s the population of Eas t ; i n June 1923 when Whale and Skate were s t i l l separa te i s l ands , Wetmore (ms.) found only 120 young. By June 1963 the number of young was - ca . 400 and by June 1969 it had reached 550+ (POBSP, 1969). Although today ' s nes t ing population i s equal t o t h a t of t en years ago, the re appears t o be a sharp egg l o s s , with only about 37 percent f ledging. Kr id ler (pers . c o r r . ) suggests, however, t h a t h i s 1967 population f i g u r e "might be j u s t a l i t t l e high because these b i r d s were mked up with t h e f r i g a t e b i r d s and I was unable t o segregate t h e two i n the s h o r t t ime. . .over t h e i s l and . . . . ' I Rice and Kenyon (1962) could have over-counted in 1957 a s well , s ince one can see and d i s t i n g u i s h f l y i n g Great W i g a t e b i r d s in t h e i r photographs, but one cannot d i s t ingu i sh those on the ground from Black-footed Albat ross . The 1957 photo- graphs a l s o r evea l an absence of t h e two l a r g e masses of knee- high Chenopodium now growing. Many Black-footed Albatross which nes ted i n t h e a rea i n 1957 a r e p resen t ly unable t o do so due t o t h e t h i c k vegeta t ion . Possibly t h i s displacement has caused many a l b a t r o s s t o nes t i n unfavorable a reas where t h e i r n e s t s may be destroyed by wave ac t ion , e t c . Banding and Movements The POBSP has banded a t o t a l of 4,049 young--866 i n June 1963, 500 i n June 1966, 434 in May and June 1967, 742 in June 1968, and 1,507 in June 1969. No a d u l t s have been banded. S ix teen r e t u r n s have been recorded by POBSP personnel. A l l were banded a s l o c a l s i n June 1963 and were captured a s follows: June 1966 ( I ) , March 1967 ( l o ) , June 1967 (I) , and June 1969 ( 4 ) . Two o r i g i n a l l y banded a s young a t P e a r l and Hermes Reef have been captured a t French Fr iga te Shoals; 17 t h a t were banded on French Fr iga te a s l o c a l s have been captured elsewhere--2 a t Laysan Is land, 1 a t P e a r l and Hermes Reef, 2 a t Kure Ato l l , and 12 a t s ea (Appendix Tables 4a and 4b). Specimens WBSP: USNM 497920, unsexed skeleton, co l l ec ted 10 June 1963 - on Eas t by S ib ley and Amerson. Non-POBSP: USNM 300816, 9, c o l l e c t e d 22 June 1923 by Wetmore; AMNfi 526842, unsexed, co l l ec ted 5 June 1891 by Palmer. Table 28. Observations of Black-footed Albat ross a t East I s l and Fopulation Date of Survey EstFmate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1891 June 4-5 p l e n t i f u l Young present ; more p l e n t i f u l than on Tern ( ~ o t h s c h i l d , 1893-1900). 1915 Mar. 1923 June 22-23 1935 Nov. 11 1949 Spring Spring 400 Nesting (Munter, 1915). 10M 75 young, major i ty almost f ledged; a d u l t s few (Wetmore, ms.) . many Along cen te r of i s l and ( ~ e c . Group 80, U.S. N a t . Arch.). 6~ Few a d u l t s , many half-grown y'oung (USCG Kqtrs . Photo 30154912). 8 M Large downy chicks, few a d u l t s ( ~ e n r y , photo 1949). Table 28. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References F a l l loo+ Oct. 31 30 Dec. 19 200 Dec. 28 425 Apr. 13 15 0 June numerous June 7-11 450 July 2'7 0 Mar. 23 1,400-1,500 June 10-14, 575+ 16-21 r . 1 1 2,500 May26-31 550 June 9-13 Dec. 9 ? June 6-11, 1,800-t 14-16, 25 June 5-10, 2,kOoti. 21 100+ nests in l e s s than tha t many feet , confined t o one end of is land (Wilder, 1949). Nests with eggs (Richardson, 1954b, 1957). 170 nests, a e r i a l survey ice & Kenyon, 1962). No count of chicks possible; count taken from plane (WDFG, 1960a). Many young (HDFG Photo Rl-308). Mostly fledglings present (420), few adults (POBSP, 1963 ) . None reported (BSFW, 1964a). 661 adults, 547 chicks (BSFW, 1966a). 25+ adults, 550 young; fledging mid-June (POBSP, 1966a). 772 chicks, a l l stages; no eggs (BsFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). 50 adults, 500 young; young almost fledged by l a t e June (POBSP, 1967a). Lesser number nesting than Laysan Alba- t ro s s (BSN, 1967~) . 1,200t adults, 600t young; many young f ly ing by ear ly June (POBSP, 1968a). 1,600t adults, 800 young; young fledging l a t e June (POBSP, 1969). Table 29. Observations of Black-footed Albatross a t L i t t l e Gin Island Population Date of Surrey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 24 1953 Dec. 19 1957 Dec. 28 1963 June 9 1965 Aug. 25 1966 Mar. 23 1967 J.me 9 Dec. 9 1968 June 7 1969 June 7,21 160t 14 85 0 17 2 600 100 several hundred 109 375 150 young, several adul ts noted and a number of dead young (Wetmore, ms. ) . Nests with eggs (~ ichardson , 1954b; pers. comm. ) . 340 nests, a e r i a l survey ice & Kenyon, 1962). Fledglings (POBSP, 1963). Two dead loca ls (POBSP, 1965a). 78 adults, 252 chicks; low mortality ( B S ~ , 19668). 25 adults, 75 young; young very large (POBSP, 1967a) . Nesting; seen from helicopter (BsFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 86 adults, 23 young (POBSP, 1968a). 25 adults, 12$+ young; fledging l a t e June (POBSP, 1969). Table 30. Observations of Black-footed Albatross a t Tern Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1891 June 1-3 ? Number present, young half-fledged; on the sand above beach ( ~ o t h s c h i l d , 1893- 1900; Munro, 1941b). 1912 Dec. 19 ? Nesting; in small colonies along the shore (Bailey, 1956). 1923 June 24-28 10t 8 young almost fledged; adults few (Wetmore, ms.). 1953 Dec. 18 12 6 nests with eggs (Richardson, 1954b; pers. comm. ) . Table 30. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1954 Mar. 20 ? Nests present i n December destroyed dur- ing January by very high waves (Richard- son, 1954b). 1956 Feb. 11-21 few Presient, but not nesting; dancing observed (Svihla, 1957). 1957 Dec. 28 5 Aeria l survey, 2 nests ice & Kenyon, 1962). 1960 Apr. 13 0 1 pai r reported nesting e a r l i e r t ha t winter (HDFG, 19608). 1965 NOV. 5 1 F i r s t a r r i v a l on Tern Island; (Park, pers . corr . ) . Nov. 19 6 No nests (Park, pers. co r r . ) . 1966 Mar. 21 10 Chicks (BSFW, 1966a). 1967 Dec. 7 14 7 nests with eggs, mainly on south side of runway ( B S ~ , 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 1968 May 29-30 10 6 adults, 4 young (FQBsP, 1968a). June 11-14, 16-17, 19-20, 22, 23-27 1969 Feb. 22-24 6 4 adults, 2 young; a l l on west end (BSFW, 1969a). June 2-4, 12, 3 2 adults, 1 young (FQBSP, 1969). 25-26 Table 31. Observations of Black-footed Albatross a t Trig Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 6 50 50 young (Wetmore, ms.). 1953 Oct. 28 8 (Richardson, 1954a; pers. comm. ) . Dec. 19 200 Nests with eggs (~ichardson, 1954b; pers. comm.). Table 31. (continued) Population Date of SurTey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1954 Mar. 20 200-300 Adults and young (~ ichardson , 1954b) . 1957 Dec. 28 3 25 130 nests ; a e r i a l survey (Rice & Kenyon, 1962). 1963 June 14, 15 50 Mostly fledglings (39), few adul ts (POBSP, 1963 ) . June 10, 23 22 2 adul ts , 20 young; fledged l a t e June J U ~ Y 1, 3-4 (POBSP, 1966a) . 1967 Mar. 13 125 51 chicks, 38 adul ts (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). June 2, 8-9, 44 10 adults, 34 young; young fledging by 19-20 l a t e June (POBSP, 1967a). Dec. 9 large Nesting; seen from helicopter (BSFW, number 1967~ ) . 1968 June 6, 11, 90 60 adults, 30 young (POBSP, 1968a). 22, 24-25 1969 Feb. 22 168 112 adults, 56 young (BSFW, 1969a) June 3, 14, 240 160 adults, 80 young (POBSP, 1969). 23 -24 Table 2 . Observations of Black-footed Albatross a t Whale-Skate Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 26 90* 90 young (Wetmore, ms. ) . June 26 3@* 30 young (Wetmore, ins. ). 1953 0ct . 28 40-50* (~ ichardson , 1954a; pers . corr. ) Oct. 28 2P-U (Richardson, 1954a; pers. corr . ) . Dec. 19 40w Nests with eggs (Richardson, 1954b; pers. co r r . ) . Table 32. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References Dec. 19 OW* Mar. 20 500-600 Dec. 28 2,240 June 12-15 4 0 ~ Mar. 22 747 June10, 23- 325 29, July 1-3 June 2-7, 330 15-19 Dec. 9 800-1,000 June 6, 16, 9001- 17-25 Feb. 23 1,294 June 3, 16- 1,650c 20, 22 Nests with eggs (Richardson, 1954b; pers. corr. ). Adults and young (Richardson, 1954b) . 840 nests; a e r i a l survey (Rice & Kenyon, 1962). Mostly fledglings present (390), few adul ts (FOBSF, 1963). F i r s t f a l l a r r i v a l date 1965 (Park, pers. corr. ) . 219 adults, 528 chicks (BSFW, 1966a). 25 adults, 300 young; fledging l a t e June (POBSP, 1966a ) . 431 chicks (BsFW, 1967a; FOBSP, 1967b). 30 adults, 300 young; fledging l a t e June (FOBSP, 1967a). Adults nesting, seen from helicopter (BSW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 60w adults, 300c young (FOBSP, 1968a). 700-800 adults, 494 young (BSFW, 1969a). 1,low adults, 5501- young (POBSP, 1969). * Whale Island * Skate Island Table 33. Observations of Black-footed Albatross on other islands a t French Frigate Shoals Population Breeding Date of Survey Island Estimate Status, Remarks, and References 1902 May 28-29 FFS 7 Present (Fisher, 1903). 1917 NOT. 6 FFS numerous No other data (Tucker, 1917). Table 33. (continued) Population Breeding Date of Survey Island Estimate Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 22 Round 90 A l l young, no adul ts seen (Wetmore, ms.). 1953 Oct. 31 Round 20 Present (Richardson, pers. corr. ) . Dec. 19 G i n 300-400 Nests with eggs (Richardson, l954b; pers. corr . ) . 1957 Dec. 28 Gin 8 3 nests, a e r i a l survey (Rice & Kenyon, 1962). Dec. 28 Disap- 5 2 nests, a e r i a l survey (Rice & Kenyon, pearing 1962). Dec. 28 Round 30 12 nests, a e r i a l survey (Rice & Kenyon, 1962). LAYSAN ALBATROSS Diomedea immutabilis Status Abundant breeding species; present from mid-October t o l a t e July, a few s t ragglers into early August; absent during r e s t of year. Nests on the ground i n shallow scrapes usually placed i n vegetated portions of East, Tern, Trig and Whale-Skate Islands. Previously nested on Gin Island. Maximum POBSP population estimate 1,5501- i n June 19b8. Observations Laysan Albatross were f i r s t reported by Rothschild (1893-1900) and Munro (1941b), who v is i ted the a t o l l i n June 1891. Wetmore (ms.) made the f i r s t population census and observed almost-fledged young a t East, Trig, Whale and Skate Islands i n June 1923. The t o t a l nesting population was s l i g h t l y smaller in 1969 than in 1957; the population on some islands within the a t o l l increased while on others it decreased. Tables 34 t o 38 l i s t a l l known obser- vations by island. Annual Cycle The annual breeding cycle i s presented in Figure 57. In general, the cycle commences in October and ends i n l a t e July or early August. Birds a r r i v e i n mid-October and egg-laying commences about mid- November. Hatching occurs mid- and l a t e January. Young begin t o f ledge in l a t e June and e a r l y J u l y . A 1 1 young leave by e a r l y August. Adults s t a r t leaving in e a r l y June and s t ay a t sea dur- i n g August, September and the f i r s t ha l f of October. Usually t h e young f ledge s l i g h t l y l a t e r than Black-footed Albat ross young. Figure 57. Annual cycle of Laysan Albat ross ** = eggs present ; ++ = dependent young p resen t ; - = non-breeding b i r d s present Ecologica l Di s t r ibu t ion Breeding Dis t r ibu t ion : Laysan Albat ross present ly breed on Eas t , Tern, T r ig and Whale-Skate I s l ands . Previously they nested on in I s l and . East I s land: A t present more Laysan Albat ross a r e u t i l i z i n g Eas t I s l a n d than i n previous years a able 34) . I n 1915 Munter (1915) found 15 b i r d s nes t ing . Wetmore (ms.) found 100 n e s t s conta in ing almost f ledged young i n June 1923. L i t t l e i s known of t h e Laysan Albat ross on Eas t i n the 1930 's and 1940's . Richardson (1954b) found 200 a d u l t s w i t h n e s t s i n 1953, a year a f t e r t h e U.S. Coast Guard moved t o Tern Is land. I n 1957 Rice and Kenyon (1962) recorded 200 n e s t s and 500 a d u l t s . POBSP personnel v i s i t e d p e r i o d i c a l l y from 1963 t o 1969 and recorded Laysan Albat ross a s a major spec ies . Nests were s c a t t e r e d throughout the i n t e r i o r with the g r e a t ma jo r i ty a t t he e a s t end. The maximum recorded population was 1,100. Gin I s l and : Richardson (1954b, per . c o r r . ) reported two n e s t s with eggs i n 1953 (Table 38). None has been recorded in r ecen t yea r s . Tern Is land: Bailey (1956) recorded a few hundred nes t ing in 1912 a able 3 5 ) . Wetmore (ms.) d id not l i s t Laysan Albat ross dur ing 1923, nor do photographs taken by him and o thers on the Tanager Expedition r evea l t h i s spec ies . During June 1942 Tern I s l and was covered with c o r a l fill and enlarged, thus e l iminat ing a l l nes t ing s i t e s and possibly k i l l i n g any young on the i s l and . U.S. Navy photographs taken in A p r i l 1945 and March 1949 show none. During t h e 1950's a maximum of 28 n e s t s was observed. Since June 1963 populat ions have f luc tua ted with t h e h ighes t count being 112 young in March 1968. A l l f l e d g l i n g s were in the spa r se ly vegetated a reas along the runway, mostly on t h e south s i d e . Although t h e breeding success has var ied , t he breeding populat ion now i s a s high as , o r higher than, t h e pre-1942 per iod . Tr ig Is land: I n 1923 Wetmore (ms.) found only one young, poss ib ly a s a r e s u l t of a c t i v i t i e s of f ea the r poachers (Table 36). I n December 1953 Richardson (1954b, 1967, pe r s . Cory.) found 100 with n e s t s containing eggs, but by March 1954 only 15 t o 20 a d u l t s with young remained. Rice and Kenyon (1962) counted 100 n e s t s in 1957. A l l of these were loca ted i n t h e vegetated ( ~ e p t u r u s , ~ r i b u l u s ) a r e a on the western two-thirds of t h e i s l a n d . Recent f l edg l ing counts have va r i ed from 8 t o 24. Whale-Skate Is land: Over the years there has been 8. consider- a b l e v a r i a t i o n in t h e s i z e of t h e population a able 37). I n 1923, when the two i s l ands were separate: wetmore (ms.) found 25 young on Whale and only one on Skate. In 1953, with the i s l a n d s s t i l l separa te , Richardson (1954b and pe r s . co r r . ) observed 200 on Whale and 100 on Skate, both populat ions with n e s t s conta in ing eggs. When Rice and Kenyon (1962) i n December 1957 counted 260 nes t s , t h e two i s l ands were connected by a sandy s t r i p . Since 1963 June f l edg l ing populat ions have var ied from a low of 33 t o a high of 100. Laysan Albat ross p resen t ly nes t i n the i n t e r i o r in the a reas covered by Lepturus and Tribulus. They a r e s c a t t e r e d throughout but seem t o p re fe r the grassy e a s t por t ion . The g r e a t masses of Chenopodium now growing on t h e i s l a n d may l i m i t a v a i l a b l e nes t ing s i t e s . Banding and Movements Since June 1963 POBSP personnel have banded 1,342 young: 329 in June 1963, 198 i n June 1966, 103 in June 1967, 314 i n June 1968, and 398 i n June 1969. Nine banded a s young i n 1 9 ~ 3 were recaptured in March, May and June 1967; 12 were recaptured i n June 1969. Another 1963- banded b i r d (737-35537) was recovered in February 1966 by a Japanese f i s h i n g v e s s e l from Nakushima, Japan. The recovery l o c a t i o n and da te a r e unknown; t h e l e t t e r t e l l i n g Of the recovery was s e n t from Wlau, in the western Caroline I s l a n d s . One (597-88548) banded a s a l o c a l a t Sand Is land, Midway A t o l l , by R.F. Stockstad on 14 A p r i l 1961, was captured a s an a d u l t a t Tern I s l and on 22 A p r i l 1965. A bird (737-93378) banded by POBSP as an adul t , sex unknown, on Kure Atol l 10 February 1965, was captured a t East Island, French Frigate Shoals, on 19 June 1966. Specimens Non-POBSP: USNM 465210, 6, collected 23 June 1923 by Wetmore; AMNH 526866, 0 , collected 6 May 1891 by Palmer; AMNH 526867, 9, collected 2 June 1891 by Palmer. Table 34. Observations of Laysan Albatross a t East Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks and References 1915 Mar. 1923 June 22-24 1936 Oct. 25 1949 Spring Spring 1953 Dec. 19 1957 Dec. 28 1960 Apr. 13 1961 Mar. 4 1962 June 1963 June 7-11 1964 July 27 1966 Mar. 23 30 300 few 1 25+ 200 500 1 few ? a5 20 850-900 Nesting (Munter, 1915). 100 nests with young almost fledged (Wetmore, ms. ) . Adults (Navy Dept . Photo 80 G 410123). 1 adult (Henry, photo 1949). Adults with half-grown young (uSCG photo 30154912). Nests with eggs (Richardson, 1954b; pers. cor r . ) . 200 nests, a e r i a l survey (Rice and Kenyon, 1962). 1 seen in f l i g h t but others may have been concealed by vegetation; count taken from plane (HDFG, 1960a). ~ d u l t s with a few young ( I ~ G , 1961b) . Present (1mFG photo #~1-309) . Mostly fledglings (247), few adults (POBSP, 1963 ) . A l l immatures, unable t o f l y (BSFW, 1964a). 462 adul ts , 274 chicks; low mortality noted (BSFW, 1966a). Table 35. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 30 adults, 10 young; 23-25 young report- edly hatched (HDFG, 1961b) . 1962 June 11-12, 36 21-22 2 adults, 34 young counted (HDFG, 1962a; see a l so Beardsley, 1966). 1963 June 11 50 41 fledglings, few adults (POBSP, 1963). 3 young fledged and l e f t by mid-August (POBSP, 1965a). F i r s t a r r i v a l (Park, pers. corr . ) . F i r s t egg (Park, pers. corr . ). 5 nests with eggs (Parks, pers. corr . ) . 200 chicks, adul t s not counted; chicks large and downy ('BSFW, 1966a). June 8-10, 14- 101 16, 21-23, 29- July 1, 4-7 Ca. 25 adul ts , with 76 young fledging - ear ly ~ u l y (POBSP, 1966a). A u g . 11-15, 17- 1 18, 24 -26, 30-Sept 16 1 large l o c a l present on 11 August; apparently fledged on the 12th; none seen thereaf te r (FOBSP, 1966b). 1967 Mar. 11-14 200 Young (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). May 25-26,31- 50 June 2, 7-9, 13-15? 18, 20-22 Ca. 45 almost fledged young present; - only 5-10 adul ts present (POBSP, 1967a). Dec. 7-11 206+ 156 nests observed ( a l l w i t h eggs exceat 2). 120 on south side of runwav. A , , ", 34 on north s ide; 50 adul ts non-nesting (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 1968 Mar. 11-15 336+ 224 adul ts (plus SO+ additional walkers), 112 young (POBSP, 1968b). Table 35. (continued) population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1968 May 29- June 6, 11-14, 16- 17, 19-20, 22-27 1969 Feb. 22-24 Mar. 23 3 08 206 adul ts , 102 young (POBSP, 1968a) 105 70 adul ts , 35 young (BSFW, 1969a). 105 70 adults, 35 young (BSFW, 1969b). 111 74 adults, 37 young (POBSP, 1969) Table 36. Observations of Laysan Albatross a t Trig Island population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1923 June 26 1953 Dec. 19 1954 Mar. 20 1957 Dec. 28 1963 June 14, 15 1966 Mar. 22 June 10, 23, July 1, 3-4 1967 Mar. 13, 14 June 2, 8-9, 19-20 Dec. 9 3 100 15 -20 25 0 10 5m 29 30 12 large 1 young (Wetmore, ms.) Nests with eggs (~ ichardson , 1954b, 1957) Adults and young (Richardson, 1954b). 100 nests, a e r i a l survey ice & Kenyon, 1962). 8 fledglings 2 (? ) adul ts (POBSP, 1963). 44 large downy chicks, adul ts ? ? (BSFW, 1966a). Young fledging early July, 5 adults (POBSP, 1966a). 10 chicks, 7 adul ts (8SFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b ) . 2 adul ts , 10 young; young almost fledged (POBSP, 1967a) . Observed nesting from helicopter (BsFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ .number Table 36. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1968 June 6, 11, 48 32 adults, 16 young (FOBSP, 19688). 22, 24-25 1969 Feb. 22 42 28 adults, 14 young (BSFW, 1969a). June 3, 14, 5 1 34 adults, 17 young (POBSP, 1969). 23 -24 Table 37. Observations of Laysan Albatross a t Whale-Skate Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 26 June 26 1953 Dec. 19 Dec. 19 1954 Mar. 20 1957 Dec. 28 1966 Mar. 22 June 10, 23- 29, July 1-3 Aug. 15-17, Sept. 4 1967 Mar. 14 June 2-7, 15 -19 25 young (Wetmore, m s . ) . 1 young (wetmore, ms. ) . Nests wi&h eggs (Richardson, 1954b; pers. co r r . ) . Nests wiih eggs (Richardson, 1954b; pers. corr. ). Adults and young present (~ ichardson , 1954b) . 260 nests, a e r i a l survey (Rice & Kenyon, 1962). Mostly fledglings (33), few adul ts (POBSP, 1963 ) . 50 adults, 95 large chicks (BSFW, 1966a). 100 young fledging ear ly July (POBS?, 1966a). 2 large locals present on 16 August had l e f t by 4 September (FOBSP, 1966b). 70 chicks, 37 adul ts . (BSFW, 1967a; FOBSP, 1967b). 20 adults, 75 young; young almost fledged (POBSP, 1967a). 161 Table 37. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1967 Dec. 9 800-1,000 Adults nesting, helicopter survey (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 1968 June 6, 225t 150 a,dults, 75 young (FOBS?, 1968a). 16-25 1969 Feb. 23 U8 92 adul ts , 46 young (BSFW, 1969a). June 3, 210i l40t- adul ts ; TO? young (POBSP, 1969) 16-20, 22 * Whale Island ** Skate Island Table 38. Observations of Laysan Albatross on other islands a t French Frigate Shoals Population Breeding Date of Survey Island Estimate Status, Remarks, and References 1902 May 28-29 FFS ? Present ishe her, 1903). 1917 Nov. 6 FFS ? Numerous ( ~ u c k e r , 1917). 1953 Dec. 19 Gin 2 Nests with eggs (Richardson, 1954b; pers. corr . ) . NORTHERN FULMAR Fulmarus g l a c i a l i s rodgersii Status Accidental v i s i t o r ; one specimen record. A beach-dried mummy was found on Tern Island on 24 June 1923 by Grant and Wetmore (ms.; see a l so Clapp and Woodward, 1968). This bird probably died a t sea and washed ashore. This species has a l so been recorded from Oahu, Midway Atoll, and Kure Atol l . It annually migrates over the ocean surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, but does not normally occur on the islands in the area. Specimens Non-FOBS?: USNN 489327, collected on Tern, 25 June 196'7, by Wetmore. BONIN PE!CRF;L Status Pterodroma hypoleuca Relatively uncommon breeding species; present from ear ly September t o l a t e June; absent during r e s t of year. Nests only a t Tern Island; most abundant in the antenna f i e l d . Maximum POBSP population estimate 500-1,000 i n March 1967. Observations The Bonin Pe t re l was not recorded in the 19th century. Bailey's (1956) record i s the f i r s t ; he found them common in burrows on Tern Island in December 1912. Richardson (1954b) found one i n December 1953. In ear ly March 1361 Woodside and Kramer (IIDFG, 1961b) found only one pa i r although they examined 20 burrows. In recent years t h i s species has been found nesting i n f a i r numbers able 39). Annual Cycle Figure 58 presents the annual cycle. Adults are thought t o a r r ive in ear ly September; egg-laying possibly s t a r t s as ear ly as January. A l l young fledge by ear ly July. Eggs have been recorded as l a t e as March; large young have been present in la te .&y and June. Adults a r e absent from the a t o l l i n July and August. In l a t e March 1966 Kridler and Walker (BSFW, 1966a) observed adults, but noted no evidence of egg laying. On 6 September 1966 one adul t was caught, banded and released. This apparently was one of the f i r s t adul ts t o return fo r the new breeding season. In mid-March 1967, 500 t o 1,000 adul ts were act ively courting and digging burrows in the antenna f i e l d on the southeast side of the runway. No eggs were found in checking 25 burrows. By June 1967, only 3 adul ts and 3 almost-fledged young were found (POBSP, 1967a,b; BSFW, 1967a). The breeding cycle was similar i n 1968 and 1969. Figure 58. Annual cycle of Bonin Pe t re l * = eggs present; ++ = dependent young present; - = non-breeding birds present - Jan t+++++ May wk+x-%wk+*cxrxxkx Feb t+++++ Jun Mar +++I-+++++ Apr t+ J u l Nov Aug Dec Sep Oct Ecologica l Di s t r ibu t ion Bonin P e t r e l s nes t only on Tern I s l and andon ly one has been recorded on t h e o ther i s l ands i n t h e a t o l l . They d i g deep (51 f e e t ) curved nest-burrows in the sandy, grass-covered s o i l a long t h e southeast s i d e of the runway. The main colony i s i n the antenna f i e l d adjacent t o the USCG t ransmi t t e r bui ld ing; some burrows a r e s c a t t e r e d from the antenna f i e l d t o the nor theas t t i p of t h e i s l a n d . One dead a d u l t was found on East i n June 1968. Possibly t h i s population i s j u s t r e tu rn ing t o normal a f t e r the long disturbance of bui ld ing the i s l a n d in the 1940's and the g radua l bui ldup of proper s o i l and vegeta t ion s ince then . Banding and Movements Since June 1963 only 110 Bonin P e t r e l s have been banded. One a d u l t was banded i n September 1966, 100 were banded i n March 1967, and 9 young were banded i n June 1969. One of the March 1967 b i r d s was recaptured i n June 1967 and 2 o the r s were r e - captured i n March 1968. No i n t e r i s l a n d records e x i s t f o r t h i s spec ies t o French Fr iga te Shoals . One Bonin P e t r e l (712-55161), banded a s a n a d u l t a t Tern on 1 2 March 1967, was captured a t Kure A t o l l on 27 August 1968 by POBSP personnel . Specimens POBSP: USNM 544597, d, co l l ec ted 21 June 1967 on Tern - by Lewis. Table 39. Observations of Bonin P e t r e l a t Tern Is land Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1912 Dec. 19 - Common t n burrows (Bailey, 1956). 1953 Dec. 18 1 Dead, k i l l e d by a c a t (Richardson, l954b). 1961 Mar. 3, 5 2+ 1 of some 20 burrows examined contained a p a i r (HDFG, 1961b). 1966 Mar. 21-24 12 Adults only, no evidence of egg bear- ing (BSW, 1966a). Table 39. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1966 June 8-10, 14-1G 21- Aug. 11-15, I. 17-18, 24- 26, 30- Sept . 16 1967 Mar. 11-14 500-1,000 " - June 2, ?:9, 13-15, 18, 20-22 Dec. 7-11 18 1968 Mar. 11-15 200 May 29-30 14 t June 1-6, 11-1)+, 16- 1969 Feb. 22-24 50 June 2-4, 75 12, 25-26 2 "mummies" found under guywires i n antenna, f i e l d (POBSP, 1966a) . 1 a d u l t caught, banded and r e l eased on 6 Sept . (POBSP, 1966b). .Adults a c t i v e l y cour t ing and digging burrows (some 3 ' long )an0 eggs i n 25 burrows checked; colony loca ted on SE s ide of i s l a n d i n antenna f i e l d (POBSP, 196713; BSFW, 1967a). 3 a d u l t s , 3 young, young almost fledged by l a t e June; most o ld burrows empty (POBSP, 196'la). Adults only (no evidence of eggs in 10 indivi-duals handled) seen on n igbt of 7 t h between t h e two main antennas; none seen dur ing day (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . Adults with burrows: 5% empty, 45% conta in ing eggs, 5% conta in ing small downy young (POBSP, 1968b). 1-02 a d u l t s , 4+ ch icks (POBSP, 1968a). Adults djgging burrows a t n igh t only; OF 10 examined 1 contained an egg (BSFIW, 1969a). 50 adu l t s , 25 young (POBSP, 1969). MURPHY ' S PETREL 165 Pterodroma ultima S t a t u s S t r a g g l e r ; one specimen record . Observations Observed f l y i n g around and landing on eas t e rn end of Tern I s l and ; c o l l e c t e d by Harrington a t sunse t on 9 September 1966. This spec ie s has a l s o been recorded from Kure A t o l l (Gould and King, 1967; Clapp and Woodward, 1968), bu t it i s not normally found i n t h e Hawaiian I s l ands a rea . Specimens POBSP: USNM 497224, 0 , c o l l e c t e d on Tern, 9 September 1966, by F~ar r ing ton . HEXALD PETFBL Pterodroma arminjoniana he ra ld i ca S t a t u s S t r a g g l e r ; one specimen record. Observations Late i n t h e a f te rnoon of 14 March 1968 Clapp co l l ec t ed a Herald P e t r e l a s it flew about t h e a i r s t r i p on Tern Is land . This spec ies wanders occas ional ly i n t o t h e no r th c e n t r a l P a c i f i c ( ~ i n g , 196'7); only 3 specimens have been c o l l e c t e d a t sea in t h e a r e a . This c o n s t i t u t e s t h e northernmostspecimen record, 950 miles no r th of t h e previous record. Specimens w: USNM 543342, immature1 d, i n a c t i v e t e s t e s 5 x 2.5 mm. , 374 grams (of t h i s 59 grams were f a t ) ; c o l l e c t e d 14 March 1968 on Tern I s l and by Clapp. BULWER ' 3 PETREL Bulweria bu lwer i i S t a t u s Uncommon breeder; present from probably l a t e spr ing t o e a r l y f a l l ; absent during r e s t of t h e yea r . Nests i n shallow burrows Huber and Bridge (pe r s . comm.) thought t h e b i r d had r e c e n t l y f ledged s ince a number of crown f e a t h e r s looked a s i f they showed t h e remains of down f e a t h e r s . (sometimes abandoned Wedge-tailed Shearwater burrows) on Tern and Whale-Skate I s lands , and La Perouse Pinnacle. Previously nes ted on Eas t I s l and ; observed on T r i g I s l a n d . Maximum POBSP popula t ion 518 i n June 1969. Observations Rothschild (1893-19003 and Munro ( lg41a) recorded the f i r s t Bulwer's P e t r e l s i n 1891 ( see a l s o Munro, 1944). In 1923 Wetmore (ms.) observed low numbers on Tern I s l and and La Perouee Pinnacle . POBSP personnel next recorded Bulwer's P e t r e l s i n August 1965 and i n subsequent summers through 1.969. Numbers a r e s t i l l low a able 4 0 ) . Annual Cycle The probable annual cyc le i s presented in Figure 59. Due t o the small populat ion s i ze , t h i s spec ie s has presumably been overlooked by many observers wi th t h e r e s u l t t h a t t h e r e a r e t o o few observa t ions t o g e t a c l e a r p i c t u r e of t h e annual cyc le . Adul t s probably a r r i v e in mid-May, with egg l ay ing beginning i n mid-June. Young probably hatch dur ing l a t e Ju ly , with f l edg ing i n September. Figure 59. Annual cyc le of Bulwer's P e t r e l ** = eggs p resen t ; H = dependent young p r e s e n t ) - = non-breeding b i r d s present Jan Ecologica l D i s t r ibu t ion The Bulwer's P e t r e l has been recorded from Eas t , Tern, Tr ig , Whale-Skate I s l ands and La Perouse Pinnacle . Feb Eas t I s l and : Rothschild (1893-1900) and Munro (194la) recorded n e s t s , each with a s i n g l e egg, and p a i r s of b i r d s s i t t i n g beneath o ld t u r t l e s h e l l s on Eas t ( ? ) on 4 June 1891. With t h e exception of two seen i n June 1969, none has ,been recorded i n r ecen t y e a r s . Tern Is land: Wetmore (ms.) recorded a p a i r i n 1923 under a f l a t board i n a n e s t burrow conta in ing an egg. I n August 1965 POBSP personnel found two p a r t i a l wings and o the r f e a t h e r s , Mar Apr May x w k x x x w ~ x J u l Jun t+H++t+++++ Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e b i r d ( s ) had poss ib ly been k i l l e d by the f e r a l c a t . It was not u n t i l June 1966, a f t e r t h e c a t had died, t h a t a l i v e Bulwer's P e t r e l was observed. I n 1966 a p a i r was bel ieved t o be nes t ing under t h e Quonset h u t but t h e a r e a could not be reached because t h e s t r u c t u r e wae t o o low. During May and June 1967 and 1968 a d u l t s were seen cons tan t ly a t n ight near t h e bar racks . They seem a t t r a c t e d t o t h e l i g h t s and would even f l y o r wander i n t o t h e bu i ld ing i t s e l f . I n June 1969, 10 a d u l t s were recorded; one p a i r had a nes t conta in ing an egg under a p i l e of cement b locks . T r ig I s l a n d : A few were present on T r i g ( ? ) i n June 1891 according t o Munro (1941a). None, however, has been recorded s ince then. Whale-Skate I s l and : Bulwer's P e t r e l was f i r s t recorded by POBSP personnel i n August 1965 when s i x r o o s t i n g a d u l t s were ob- served. They were present only a t n igh t and under l a r g e - f o r t i a bushes o r dense Chenopcdium. They were observed i n t h i s a r e a again i n e a r l y June and e a r l y J u l y 1966, but no n e s t s were found u n t i l mid-August when a l a r g e ch ick was discovered i n an unused Wedge-tailed Shearwater burrow l o c a t e d under Chenopodium. I n 1967, 1968 and 1969 few a d u l t s were observed, a l l under Tournefor t ia . La Perouse Pinnacle: Wetmore (ms. ) l i s t e d Bulwer ' s P e t r e l s as common on h i 8 1923 v i s i t , bu t gave no i nd ica t ion a s t o breed- ing s t a t u s o r h a b i t a t . POBSP personnel i n June 1969 found an est imated 500 with n e s t s , each conta in ing a s i n g l e egg. Nests were on open rock ledges, i n rock crevices , o r i n c r ev ices under t h e hardened guano. Most nes t s were l i ned with small f ea the r s , probably from Bulwer 's P e t r e l s . Banding and Movements Since June 1963, POBSP personnel have banded 151 a d u l t s : 6 i n August 1965, 1 i n June 1966, 1 i n August 1966, 2 i n June 1968, and 141 i n June 1969. Seven of these have been recaptured a t French F r i g a t e Shoals . None has been recaptured on o ther i s l a n d s and none banded on o t h e r i s l ands has been recaptured a t French F r i g a t e Shoals . Specimens POBSP: USNM 495898, 0 , c o l l e c t e d 13 August 1965 on Whale- - Skate by Amerson and Huber. Non-POBSP: USNM 300806, ?, c o l l e c t e d 25 June 1923 by Wetmore; AMNiI 528377-80, d, d, 9 , 9, co l l ec t ed 5 June 1891 by Palmer; BPBM 789-90, d, c o l l e c t e d 5 June 1891 by Palmer; BPBM no number, egg, co l l ec t ed 1891 ( 1 ) by Munro. Table 40. Observations of Bulwer's P e t r e l a t French F r iga te Shoals Population Breeding Date of Survey I s l and Estimate S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 June 1-3 Trig? few Present (Munro, l 9 4 l a ) . June 4 Eas t? ? Nests with s i n g l e egg o r pa i red b i r d s s i t t i n g beneath o ld t u r t l e s h e l l s ( ~ o t h s c h i l d , 1893-1900; Munro, 1941a). FFS numerous On l a r g e s t i s l and (Munro, 1944). l 9 2 j June 24- Tern 2 1 p a i r with egg under a board 28 (wetmore, ms. ) . June 27 La Perouse common Presen t (Wetmore, ms . ) 1965 Aug. 4-5, Tern 0 2 p a r t i a l wings found (POBSP, 10-12, 17- 1965a). 23, 28-29, 31, Sept . 1-2 Aug. 11-17, Whale-Skate 6 29-Sept. 1 1966 June 8-10, Tern 1 14-16, 21- 23, 29-July 1, 4-7 Roosting a d u l t s only (POBSP, 1965a) . 1 seen f r equen t ly a t dusk near bar racks (POBSP, 1966a). June lO,23- Whale-Skate 3 Adul ts present n i g h t l y ; no nes t s 29, JULY 1- seen (POBSP, 1966a). 3 Aug. 11-15, Tern 2 Although no nes t was found, a 17-18, 24- p a i r was bel ieved t o n e s t under 26, 30- t h e Quonset hut (POBSP, 1966b). Sept . 16 Aug. 15-17, Whale-Skate 3 1 n e s t with a l a rge ch ick i n un- Sept . 4 used Wedge-tailed Shearwater burrow under Chenopodiwn (P~BSP , 1966b ) . 1967 May 25-26, Tern 1 Frequently seen a t n i g h t near bar- 31-3une 2, r acks (POBSP, 1967a). 7-9, 13-15, 18, 20-22 Table 40. (continued) Populat ion Breeding Date of Survey I s l a n d Est imate S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1967 J u n e 2 - 7 , Whale- 2 15 -19 Skate 1968 May 29-30, Tern 4 June 1-6, 11-14, 16- 17, 19-20, 22-27 June 6, 1.6,lT-25 1969 June 2-4, 12,25-26 June 3, 16-20,22 June 5-10, 21 June 6,13 SOOTY SHEARWATER S t a t u s Whale - 1 Skate Tern 10 Whale- 6 Skate E a s t 2 La Perouse 500 Accidenta l ; one specimen record. Observations Adul t s only, no n e s t s (POBSP, 1967a) . Adul t s only, cour t sh ip behavior obsemed (POBSP, 1968a). Adul t s only (WBSP, 1968a). Adul t s ; 1. egg (POBSP, 1.969). Adul t s ; no eggs (POBSP, 1969) ~ d u l t s (POBSP, 1969). Adul t s with n e s t s conta in ing s i n g l e eggs (POBSP, 1969). Puff inus p i s e u s Kleen and Amerson found a d r i e d mummy of a l a r g e shearwater, t e n t a t i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d a s a Sooty Shearwater, on t h e beach of Whale- Skate I s l and on 3 June 1969. If i d e n t i f i c a t i o n is c o r r e c t , t h i s i s a new spec ies and specimen record f o r t h e a t o l l . It has been recorded previous ly from Kure, Midway, Laysan and Oahu (Clapp and Woodward, 1968) and i s a common a t - s e a migrant i n t h e Hawaiian a r e a ( ~ i n g , 1967). Specimens POBSP: Mummy c o l l e c t e d 3 June 1969 on Whale-Skate I s land by - Kleen and Amerson; specimen l o s t . Ecologica l 17 1 D i s t r i b u t i o n The Wedge-tailed Shearwater p re sen t ly breeds on Eas t , Tern, T r ig and Whale-Skate I s lands , a s we l l a s on La Perouse Pinnacle. I n previous yea r s it has bred on L i t t l e Gin and Round I s l ands . Eas t I s l a n d : Eas t I s l and a able 41) i s today the prime breeding i s l a n d f o r Wedge-tailed Shearwaters . Rothschild (1893- 1900) recorded them a s p l e n t i f u l , s i t t i n g on t h e sand; and i n p a i r s . Munter (1915) observed LOO i n 1915 Wetmore (ms.) observed 1,750 p a i r s prepar ing t o breed i n 1923. A t dusk g r e a t numbers came i n from t h e sea and formed l i t t l e groups over t h e e n t i r e land su r face . Mating was observed and a few burrows con- t a ined eggs. Very l i t t l e i s known of t h i s s p e c i e s dur ing t h e nex t t h r e e decades. POBSP personnel f i r s t v i s i t e d Eas t I s l a n d i n June 1963. Then and on t h e nine subsequent summer-fall t r i p s the spec ies was q u i t e abundant. A maximum populat ion of 13,000 was est imated i n August 1965; t h e June population averaged 5,000. This spec ies bu i lds burrows over almost a l l t h e vegeta ted po r t ion of t h e i s l and except f o r t h e extreme west end. Many n e s t under t h e rubble (boards, metal sheet ing, e t c . ) l e f t on t h e i s l a n d by t h e U.S. Coast Guard when it moved t o Tern I s l and i n 1952. L i t t l e G i n I s l and : Wetmore (ms.) found 20 p a i r s i n June 1923 7 ~ a b l e 45). There has been no record s ince . Round I s l a n d : The Wedge-tailed Shearwater p re sen t ly does not n e s t on t h i s vege ta t ion - l e s s , sandy i s l e t . Wetmore (me.) found 50 p a i r s In June 1923 when vegeta t ion was p resen t able 45). It i s not known when the colony was forced t o leave, but a s l a t e a s 1957 t h e Black-footed Albat ross , which no longer n e s t s , nested on the i s l and i ice and Kenyon, 1962). Tern Is land: Rothschild (1893-1900) and Munro (1941b) f i r s t recorded t h i s spec ies i n 1891 able 42). I n 1923 Wetmore (ms.) recorded t h e maximum number (500). ever observed. Photographs (B.P. Bishop #9813, 9614) taken by Bryan dur ing t h e Tanager Ex- pedi t ion show n e s t burrows i n a s soc ia t ion with Lepturus, Tr ibulus and Boerhavia . During t h e 1940's t h e population was e l iminated by t h e con- s t r u c t i o n of t h e "new" i s l a n d . Nothing i s known of t h e i n i t i a l a t tempts t o r e e s t a b l i s h a colony a f t e r cons t ruc t ion was completed. Four Wedge-tails were recorded i n l a t e October t o e a r l y November 1953 and t h e fol lowing March 1 l i v e a d u l t and t h e remains of 15 o r more which had been k i l l e d by c a t s were seen. By 1960, when 100 burrows were found, numbers had increased g r e a t l y . A few burrows with eggs were found on a b r i e f daytime v i s i t i n June 1963 and 50 t o 300 on subsequent June v i s i t s . This epec ies p re sen t ly d igs n e s t burrows i n t h e grassy a r e a i n and e a s t of t h e antenna field, under the water tanks, and under the thick Pluchea along the north side of the runway. Although still not up to 1923 numbers, the population has in- creased drastically during Che last 1.5 years. The continued growth of bunch grass and other ground cover on both sides of the runway, as well as the absence of cats, should ensure a further increase in population size in the future. Tri Island: Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were first recorded by W g h ~ in 1923 (Table 43). Richardson (1954a, 1954b, pers. corr. ) observed only young in late October 1953 and adults in late mrch 1954. The maximum population (2,000) was recorded by POBSP personnel in June 1963. Wedge-tail? burrow in the Lepturus-covered west portion of the island. In June 1969 this portion was almost denuded of Lepturus, forcing many nesters to lay eggs on the surface; nesting success was probably low. Whale-Skate Island: Wetmore (ms.) first recorded this species in 1923 when Whale and Skate were separate islands sh able 44). The next observations were those of Richardson (1954a, 1954b) in October 1953 and March 1954; the birds had left and returned during his absence. POBSP personnel found them on all summer-fall visits. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters nest t, 28-29, 31-Sept. 2 1966 M a . 2 - 1 2 1 2 a d u l t s , 4 n e s t s with eggs under Pluchea (BSFW, 1966a ) . June 8-10, 100 5 n e s t s with eggs t o 25 very l a r g e chicks 14-16, (POBSP, 1966a) . 21-23, 29- J u l y 1, 4- 7 Aug. 11-15, 83 On 11 August 4 n e s t s with eggs, 25 with 17-18, 24- ch icks (5 < 10 days, 3 11-20 days, 17 > 21 26, 30- days ) ; 1 2 immatures f ledged by 16 September Sept . 16 (POBSP, 1966a) . Table 50. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1967 ~ a r . 11-14. 2-3 2 seen f l y i n g on i l t h , 3 seen f l y i n g on 12 th ; none seen on ground (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). May 25-26, 130 100 adu l t s , 30 young; f r e s h eggs (15) 31-June 2, t o f l edg l ings present (POBSP, 1967a). 7-9, 13-15, 18, 20-22 ~ e p t . 16 9 Feathered-out chicks (BSFW, 1967b). 1968 Mar. 11-15 30+ Adults, 6 n e s t s with eggs: 5 f r e sh , 1 moderately t o heav i ly incubated (POBSP, 1968b). May 29- 212+ + 144 a d u l t breeders , 20- non-breeders, June 6, 24 n e s t s with eggs, 48 n e s t s with young 11-14, 16- (POBSP, 1968a). 17, 19-20, 22-27 1969 Feb. 22-24 13 February 22: 3 a d u l t s on ground ( 1 i n - cubat ing an egg), none f l y i n g ; February 24: 10 adu l t s on ground ( 1 incubating) , 3 f l y i n g (BSFW, 1969a). Mar. 23 10 6 a d u l t s on eggs, 4 a d u l t s roos t ing (BsFW, 196% ) . June2-4 , 250c 200 breeders, 50 n e s t s with young; 50 12, 25-26 n e s t s with eggs (POBSP, 1969). Table 51. Observations of Red-tai led Tropicbird a t T r ig Is land Population Date of Survey Ectimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1963 June 14, 15 10 3 n e s t s with eggs (POBSP, 1963). 1 n e s t with egg and 1 with young (POBSP, 19658). 1966 Mar. 22 0 ' None noted (BSFW, 1966a). Table 51. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1966 June 10, 2 1 nest with fresh egg (POBSP, 1966a). 23, July 1, 3 -4 Aug. 13-14, 3 1 large young under Tournefortia bush Sept. 4, 12 (POBSP, 1966b). 1967 Mar. 13, 14 3 3 f ly ing around on both days, none on ground; none nesting (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). June 2, 8-9, 10 10 adul ts , 5 eggs, no young (POBSP, 196%). 19-20 1968 June 6, 11, 132 10 breeders, 22 non-breeders, 4 nests 2 24-25 with eggs, 1 nest with young (POBSP, 1968a). , 1969 Feb. 22 0 None recorded (BSFW, 1969a). June 3, 14, 17 10 breeders, 5 nests with young (POBSP, 23 -24 1969) . Table 52. Observations of Red-tailed Tropicbird a t Whale-Skate Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 26 iw 1 pair (Wetmore, ms . ) . 1963 June 12-15 4 1 dest with egg (POBSP, 1963). 1964 Sept. 27 10 1 ,immature (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1.964). 1965 Aug. 11-17, 20 5 nests with young only (POBSP, 1965a). 29-Sept. 1 1966 Mar. 22 2 1 adul t on nest with egg (BSFW, 1966a). June 10, 23- 23 1 nest with fresh eggs; 7 from hatchling 29, July 1-3 t o la rge young (POBSP, 1966a). Aw.15-17, 7 2 nests with eggs; 1 with medium-sized Sept. 4 chick under T'ournef o r t i a (POBSP, 1966b). Table 52. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1967 Mar. 14 4 4 f lying around; none on ground (POBSP, 1967b; BSFW, 1967a). June 2-7, 18 15 adults, 3 f resh eggs; 3 ,nests with 15-19 medium-sized young (POBSP, 1967a). Sept. 17 2 Large chicks under Tournefortia (BSFW, 1$7b). 1968 June 6, 3 22 24 breeders, 62 non-breeders, 6 nests 16, 17-25 with eggs, 6 nests with young (POBSP, 1968a). 1969 Feb. 23 0 Not recorded (BSFW, 1969a). June 3, 34 24 breeders, 2 nests with eggs, 10 nests 16-20, 22 with young (POBSP, 1969). * Skate Island Table 53. Observations of Red-tailed Tropicbird a t La Perouse Pinnacle Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 27 12 6 pa i r s (wetmore, m s . ) . 1961 Mar. 4 few Seen from launch on or near the rock (WFG, 1961b). 1966 Sept. 4 11+ 1 large loca l seen on ledge, 10 adul ts f lying over island (POBSP, 1966b). 1967 June 12 2 Flying around; 1 alighted on side of c l i f f , probably nesting (POBSP, 1967a). 1969 June 6, U 75+ 50" breeders, 25+ young (POBSP, 1969). WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD Phaethon l ep tu rus S t a t u s Uncommon v i s i t o r ; only seen twice in t h e summer. Possibly t h i s species n e s t s on La Perouse Pinnacle . Observations POBSP personnel observed one a d u l t White- tai led Tropicbird, a f i r s t record f o r t h e a t o l l , on 26 May 1967 a s it flew west over Tern I s l and . Another a d u l t was s ighted on 1 June 1967, again f l y i n g west over Tern. I n ea.ch ins t ance t h e b i rd was f l y i n g away from La Perouse Pinnacle. Ecologica l Di s t r ibu t ion Although the White- tai led Tropicbird has not been recorded a s breeding a t French Fr iga te Shoals, it may nes t on La Perouse Pinnacle, s ince i t s prefer red h a b i t a t is ho les o r recesses of c l i f f s . On t h e few v i s i t s t o La Perouse it may have been missed. I n the nor th c e n t r a l P a c i f i c it breeds pr imar i ly i n t h e Main Hawaiian I s l ands , nes t ing i n rocky c l i f f s ; it i s known t o have nes ted a t Midway A t o l l i n Casuarina, and elsewhere i n rubble. BLUE-FACEX BOOBY - Sula d a c t y l a t r a S t a t u s Common breeding species ; p resen t y e a r around but populat ion decreases i n f a l l and winter; breeding season begins l a t e winter and l a s t s u n t i l mid - fa l l . Nests on East , Gin, L i t t l e Gin, Round, Tr ig and Whale-Skate Is lands . Previously nested on La Perouse Pinnacle ( ? ) and Tern I s l and . Known t o r o o s t on D i ~ a p p e a r i n g I s l a n d and La Perouse Pinnacle. Maximum POBSP population es t imate 1,190 i n June 1969. Observations Blue-faced Boobies were f i r s t recorded in 1891 by Rothschild (1893-1900) and Mwro (1941b). The Tanager Expedition in 1923 observed numerous Blue-faced Boobies on seve ra l sand i s l ands , a s w e l l a s on La Perouse Pinnacle; during h i s 1953 and 1954 v i s i t s , Richardson (1954a, 1954b, and pers . c o r r . ) obsewed them on most of t h e sandy i s l ands . POBSP and BSFW personnel s ince June 1963 have recorded it a s nes t ing on Eas t , Gin, L i t t l e Gin, Round, Tr ig and Whale-Skate, a s we l l a s roos t ing on Disappearing I s l and and La Perouse Pinnacle. Annual Cycle The annual breeding cycle i s shown i n Figure 64. It i s found throughout t h e year , although during l a t e f a l l and e a r l y win te r the population i s low. Egg l ay ing probably commences in mid-January, with most eggs l a i d by l a t e March. Some eggs, however, a r e present a s l a t e a s mid-August. Some young hatch a s e a r l y a s mid-March; most probably hatch by mid-May. A few young have been known t o f ledge by l a t e June but most f ledge by mid-September; some f l edge a s l a t e a s October o r November. Figure 64. Annual cycle of Blue-faced Booby I I I I I I I I I I I J an 1 Feb !Mar \Apr 1 May 1 Jun ] J u l ]Aug ] Sep Oct 1 Nov 1 Dec ** = eggs present ; ++ = dependent young present ; - = non-breeding b i r d s present Ecologica l Di s t r ibu t ion The Blue-faced Booby probably has e i t h e r nested o r roosted on a l l i s l ands , including i s l e t s , a t French Fr iga te Shoals. It p resen t ly n e s t s on East , Gin, L i t t l e Gin, Round, Trig and Whale- Skate Is lands , and has been known t o nes t on Tern I s l and and poss ib ly on Disappearing Is land, as we l l a s La Perouse Pinnacle. It p re fe r s t o place i t s n e s t scrape on the sand of the upper beaches, but w i l l ne s t inland on open sandy a reas . No nes t m a t e r i a l i s u t i l i z e d . Disappearing Is land: The Blue-faced Booby probably uses Disappearing Is land only f o r roos t ing purposes because it i s so of ten awash (Table 60). I n 1963 when POBSP personnel found two roos t ing a d u l t s i n the daytime, t h e sandy i s l and was awash almost i t s e n t i r e length . A e r i a l photographs taken in 1957 by Rice and Kenyon (1962) reveal n ine Blue-faced Boobies. A t t h a t time the i s l a n d was much longer, h ighe r and wider than i n 1963. I n 1969 POBSP personnel observed 3 0 a d u l t s roos t ing; the i s l and was then q u i t e l a r g e and not awash. Eas t I s l and : I n the p a s t East I s land was t h e major breeding i s l and f o r the Blue-faced Booby (Table 54) . I n 1923 Wetmore (ms.) observed 150 pa i r s , a l l with l a r g e young, compared t o 110 p a i r s on Whale and Skate I s l ands . A s e a r l y as 1915, Munter (1915) had found t h i s species nes t ing along the shores. It disappeared a f t e r t h e U.S. Navy began t o u t i l i z e the i s l and i n 1935. U.S. Navy photographs (U.S. Nat. Archives RG 80 CF79793-9, ~410122-23) taken i n November 1935 and October 1936 show none, nor can any be seen i n a U.S. Coast Guard photograph (#30154912) taken in the spr ing of 1949. According t o Henry (pe r s . comm.), none nested the re during 1948 and 1949. A r e c e n t l y fledged Blue- faced Booby does, however, appear i n a 1949 photograph taken by Henry, who sa id it a r r ived from elsewhere and had not hatched on Eas t . Apparently b i r d s began reappearing in the e a r l y 1950 's a s Richardson (pe r s . c o r r . ) found 10 t o 20 in 1953. S i x can be discerned from the a e r i a l photographs taken in 1957 by Rice and Kenyon. POBSP personnel found roos t ing a d u l t s and subadults on t h e i r f i r s t v i s i t i n June 1963. The f i r s t n e s t i n g s ince 1923 was observed @ 1966 by BSFW personnel . Boobies used t h e i s l a n d i n increas ing numbers during t h e per iod of POBSP observat ions. Thus, t h e population i s on an upswing. The disturbance by m i l i t a r y personnel i n the 1930's and 1940 's seemed t o a f f e c t t h i s spec ies much more than some of the o t h e r s . The green sea t u r t l e may a f f e c t i t s breeding success here, e s p e c i a l l y i f b i r d s a r e l a t e n e s t e r s . Two n e s t s wi th eggs were destroyed i n June 1967 by t u r t l e s digging t h e i r own nes t s . Gin Is land: Blue-faced Boobies have only r ecen t ly been recorded us ing the i s l and a able 55) . Richardson (1954b, pers . c o r r . ) f i r s t recorded t h e spec ies i n 1953. A e r i a l photographs taken by Rice and Kenyon (1962) during December 1957 revealed p a i r s and s i n g l e s . POBSP and BSFW personnel found the species on a l l v i s i t s s ince 1963. Weather and seas undoubtedly have a b ig e f f e c t on the breeding success of Blue-faced Boobies h e r e . This sandy, un- vegeta ted i s l and i s cons tan t ly changed i n s i z e and shape from yea r t o year , and i n some cases from season t o season, by t h e a c t i o n of waves and cu r ren t s . A l l Blue-faced Boobies nes t i n t h e center--a shallow depressed a r e a 1002 f e e t i n diameter--of t h e i s l and . L i t t l e Gin Is land: Wetmore (ms . ) recorded a d u l t s and young i n lga a able 56). Numbers have f l u c t u a t e d but p resen t ly a r e h igher . L i t t l e Gin, having almost no vege ta t ion and being in an a r e a of cons tant wave and cu r ren t ac t ion , is, l i k e Gin Is land, a f f e c t e d by the weather and seas . This undoubtedly a f f e c t s the breeding success of the Blue-faced Boobies. This species has nested on t h e edge of the beach c r e s t (1963) but the majori ty n e s t s i n t h e cen te r po r t ion which i s about 20 f e e t above sea l e v e l . Round I s l and : Wetmore (ms.) i n 1923 found 30 p a i r s , a l l wi th l a r g e young (Table 57). PORSP personnel found 29 a c t i v e n e s t s i n 1963. Since* then, numbers have decreased sharply . The avifauna of Round I s l a n d , - l i k e t h a t of Gin and L i t t l e Gin Is lands , i s influenced by weather and ocean. Being q u i t e low (5-1- f e e t h igh) and sandy, Round i.s vulnerable t o wave ac t ion . Vegetation was present i n 1.923 bu.t i s no longer there , and only t h e Blue-faced Rooby,of the four b i r d species which nested the re then (two a s l a t e a s 1.957), n e s t s t h e r e now. Tern - Is land: Tern 1sl.and previous3.y was a breeding spot f o r the B l G e d Booby (Table 60), bu-t none now nee-ts. I n 1891 Rothschi:Ld (1893-1990) a.nd Munro (19kl.b) observed a number of boobies with n e s t s conta in ing young. Wetimore (ms.] found e i g h t p a i r s present i n 1923. Richardson ( l954a) observed two during h i s 1953 v i s i t . POBSP personnel have seen a d u l t s c lose of fshore on many occasions; on :L2 September 1966 seve ra l immatures were seen f l y i n g over t h e i s l a n d and one landed on the runway. Although the p resen t d is turbance by U.S. Coast Guard personnel i s minimal, t he Blue-faced Booby has, a s y e t , f a i l e d t o r e t u r n t o n e s t . Based on the record a t % s t , t h i s species probably w i l l no t r e t u r n unless the i s l and i s vacated. The breeding populat ion, however, i s cu r ren t ly abundant on o the r i s l ands i n t h e a t o l l , and even without the use of Tern t h i s species i s f l o u r i s h i n g b e t t e r than before . T r ig Is land: This i s another prominent breeding i s l and (Table 58). I n 1969 a maximum popula-tion of 230t was found, of which 70 p a i r s successfu l ly nested. Wetmore (ms.) had found only 20 nes t ing p a i r s i n lga . The populat ion has almost doubled s ince 1963 when POBSP personnel began making regu la r v i s i t s . A s on Whale-Skate, t h e major i ty of Blue-faced Boobies n e s t s on t h e upper beach and above the beach c r e s t on the lagoon s i d e . A few n e s t on t h e fl.8.t sandy e a s t port ion, and on -the l i t t l e open sandy ground t h t cou1.d be found i.n t h e i n t e r i o r of the i s l m d . Whale-Skate Is land: This i s now t h e major breeding i s l a n d f o r Blue-faced Boobies (Table 5 9 ) . I n June 1969 a. ma.ximum p o p u h t i o n of 650, of which 173 p a i r s were breeding, was encountered. Wetmore (ms.) f i rs t recorded t h i s species i n 1923 when he observed 70 nes t ing p a i r s on Whale and 40 p a i r s on Skate; it has been observed by every v i s i t o r s ince . The populat ion increased s l i g h t l y from 1963 t o 1969. The major i ty of n e s t s on t h e 1-agoon s i d e i s placed e i t h e r high on t h e beach o r j u s t above the beach c r e s t . Other n e s t s a r e s c a t t e r e d throughout t h e i n t e r i o r where they a r e in open a r e a s among t h e Tribulus and Lepturus. A few n e s t s a r e on the upper beach along the ocean s ide of the i s l and ; only a shallow n e s t scrape i s used. La Perouse Pinnacle: I n 1923 Wetmore (ms.) observed 20 p a i r s . None was seen subsequently u n t i l POBSP personnel observed 2 a d u l t s roos t ing on top of the Pinnacle, with 6 or 7 immatures f l y i n g around, i n 1966. I n 1967, 10 adu l t s were seen on the top, bu t t h e i r breeding s t a t u s could not be determined since no landing was made. A roos t ing a d u l t was p resen t i n 1969 but no evidence of n e s t s was found(Tab1e 60) Banding and Movements Since June 1963 POBSP personnel have banded 2,264, of which 2,179 have been recaptured l o c a l l y (Table 61) . Thir teen from o t h e r a t o l l s have been captured a t t h e Shoals: 6 from Johnston, 3 from Li s i ansk i , 1 from Laysan, 1 from Pear l and Hermes, 1 from Kure, and 1 from Wake. T h i r t y Blue-faced Boobies from French Fr iga te have been recaptured elsewhere: Johnston (14), Kure (5) ; Laysan ( 3 ) , P e a r l and Hermes ( 2 L i s i ansk i ( l ) , Kauai (I), Nihoa ( l ) , and a t - sea (3 ) . Addi t ional d e t a i l s on a l l t hese movements a r e given i n Appendix Tables 5a and 5b. POBSP: USNM 496009, 0, co l l ec ted 17 August 1965 on Whale- - Skate by Huber. Non-POBSP: USNM 300950, 9, c o l l e c t e d 23 June 1923 by Wetmore; AMNK 729298, 0, c o l l e c t e d 2 June 1891 by Palmer; BPBM 7019, egg, c o l l e c t e d i n 1891 ( ? ) by Munro. Table 54. Observations of Blue-faced Booby a t East I s land Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1915 Mar. 7 Present a long shores on edge of vegeta- t i o n ; n e s t s with f r e s h eggs t o well- grown young ( ~ u n t e r , 1915). 1923 June 22-23 450 150 p a i r s , a l l with l a rge young (Wetmore, ms.). 1953 Oct. 31 10-20 (Richardson, pers . c o r r . ) . Table 54. (continued) Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tue , Remarks, and References 1957 Dec. 28 1963 June 7-11 1964 ~ u l y 27' Sept . 27 1965 Aug. 5-10, 23 -28 1966 Mar. 23 June 10-14, 16-21 Aug. 18-24, 26-6-30 1967 Mar. 11-12 May 26-31, June 9-13 Sept . 17 1968 June 6-11, 14-16, 25 1969 June 5-10, 21 Aug. 22, 30 S ing le s and i n p a i r s , a e r i a l survey (Rice & Kenyon, 1957 photo) . Only roos t ing a d u l t s and subadul t s (POBSP, 1963 ) . Adul ts (BSFW, 1964a). None present (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). Roosting a d u l t s and subadul t s (POBSP, 1965a) . 1 n e s t with eggs (BSFW, 1966a). 2 n e s t s : 1 with eggs, 1 with small chick; 6-11 roos t ing b i r d s p resen t n i g h t l y (POBSP, 1966a). 2 l a r g e l o c a l s ; a s many a s 6 a d u l t s and 3 subadul t s roos t ing n i g h t l y (POBSP, 1966b). 13 a d u l t s and 2 subadul t s roos t ing a f t e r dark, no n e s t s (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 196713). 28 a d u l t s , 5 young, 2 eggs; f r e s h eggs t o 1 l a r g e downy chick; 2 a d d i t i o n a l n e s t s destroyed by t u r t l e s (POBSP, 1967a). Flying immatures on beach (BSFW, 1967b). 1 2 breeders , 30!: non-breeders, no eggs, 6 young (POBSP, 1968a). 22 breeders , 47+ non-breeders, 11 young (POBSP, 1969). 2 a d u l t s , 6 young (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) Table 55. Observations of Blue-faced Booby a t Gin Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1953 Dec. 19 1957 Dec. 28 1963 June 9 1965 Aug. 25 1966 Mar. 23 Sept. 13 1967 June 9 Dee. 9 1968 June 7 (Richardson, 1954b; pers. corr . ) . Singles and i n pairs, a e r i a l survey (Rice & Kenyon, 1957 photo). 3 nests with 1 egg, 12 young (POBSP, 1963). 10 nests with 1 egg, 19 young (POBSP, 1965a). 16 nes t s with eggs ( B S ~ , 1966a). (BSFW, 1966b). 50 adults, 18 young, 3 eggs; eggs t o la rge chicks (POBSP, 1967a). Adults, several immatures seen from he l i - copter (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 52 breeders, 20t non-breeders, 13 nests with eggs, 13 young (FOBSF, 1968a). 70 breeders, lo* non-breeders, 35 young (POBSP, 1969). Chicks; seen 30 August (BSFW, 196%). Table 56. Observations of Blue-faced Booby a t L i t t l e Gin Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1923 June 24 24 8 pa i r s with well-grown young, 1 dead (Wetmore, ms .) . 1953 Dee. 19 15-20 (~ ichardson , 195;4b; pers. corr . ) . 1957 Dec. 28 6 Singles and in pairs, a e r i a l survey ice & Kenyon, 1957 photo). 1963 June 9 12 2 nests with 1 egg, 2 with young (POBSP, 1963 ) . 1965 Aug. 25 55 5 young (POBSP, 1965a). Table 56. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1966 Mar. 23 8 4 nests with eggs (BSFW, 1966a). 1967 June 9 33 25 adul ts , 2 eggs, 8 young; eggs t o large chicks (POBSP, 1967a). 1968 June 7 26: 12 breeders, 10i non-breeders, 2 nests with eggs, 4 young (POBSP, 1968a). 1969 June 7, 21 331 14 breeders, l 2 t non-breeders, 7 young (POBSP, 1969) . Table 57. Observations of Blue-faced Booby a t Round Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 22 90 30 pairs , a l l with large young (Wetmore, ms.). 1953 Oct. 31 100 (~ ichardson , pers . corr . ) . 1957 Dec. 28 26 Singles and i n pa i r s ; a e r i a l survey i ice & Kenyon, 1957 photo). 1963 June 8 85 4 nests with eggs, 25 with young (POBSP, 1963 . 1965 Aug. 10, 23 47 7 nest l ings and 10 immatures, (POBSP, 1965a) . 1966 ~ u g . 26 28 24 adul ts with 4 large loca l s (POBSP, 1.96613). 1967 June 13 40 Adults only, 1 nest with 2 eggs; apparently high t i de s had destroyed a l l nests and birds were renesting (POBSP, 1967a ) . 1968 June 11, 25 35+ 12 breeders, 22+ non-breeders, 5 nests with eggs, 1 young (POBSP, 1968a). 1969 June 5 20: 20t adults , ? young; viewed from o f f - shore (POBSP, 1969). . Table 58. Observations of Blue-faced Booby a-t Tri.g Is land Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1923 June 26 1953 Oct. 28 Dec. 19 1954 Mar. 20 1957 Dee. 28 1963 June 14, 15 1964 Sept . 27 1966 Mar. 22 June 10, 118 23, J ~ Y 1, 3 -4 Aug. 13-14, 90 Sept . 4, 1 2 1967 Mar. 13, 14 50 June 2, 8- 215 9, 19-20 Dee. 9 12k 1968 June 6, 11, 208% 22, 24-25 20 p a i r s , a l l with well-grown young (Wetmore, ms. ) . (Richardson, l954a; pers . cor r . ) . (Richardson, 1954b; pers . c o r r . ) . Adults, many with eggs (Richardson, 195413). S ing les and in pa i r s , a e r i a l survey (Rice & Kenyon, 195'7 ~ h o t o ) . 4 n e s t s with eggs and 32 with young (POBSP, 1963) . 1 l o c a l and 21 imniaturee (BSFW, 196413; PoasP, 1964 ) . 1 2 n e s t s wj.-kh eggs, 21 with young (POBSP, 1965a). 21 n e s t s wLth eggs, no young (BSFW, 1966a). 38 young from small chicks t o f l edg l ings (POBSP, 1966a). 25 l a r g e l o c a l s and 5 f l y i n g immatures (POBSP, 1966b). 24 nes t s , 6 with 1 egg, 16 with 2 eggs, and 2 with 1 egg and 1 chick; a d u l t s on i s l and during day (BsFW, l967a; POBSP, 1967b ? . 150 a d u l t s , 2 egg=, 65 young; eggs t o l a rge - s i ze chiclrs (POBSP, 1967a). Seen from h e l i c o p t e r (BSliW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 122 breeders , 252 non-breeders, no eggs, 61 young (POBSP, i968a). Table 58. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1969 Feb. 22 74 37 nes ts , most with eggs, no young (BSFW, 1969a). June 3, 14, 230: 140 breeders, 20t non-breeders, few 23 -24 eggs, 70 young (POBSP, 1969). ~ u g . 23, 3 36 Seen 23 ~ u g u s t (BSW, 196%) Table 59. Observations of Blue-faced Booby a t Whale-Skate I s l and Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1923 June 26 June 26 1953 Oct. 28 Dec. 19 Dec. 19 1954 Mar. 20 1957 Dec. 28 1963 June 12- 15 17, Sept . 1 1966 Mar. 22 190-200 70 p a i r s , a l l with well-grown young (wetmore, m s . ) . 40 pa i r s , a l l with well-grown young (Wetmore, ms. ) . (Richaydson, 1954a; pe r s . c o r r . ). (Richardson, 1954b; pe r s . c o r r . ) . ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b; pers . c o r r . ) . Adults, many with eggs (Richardson, 1954b). S ingles and i n pa i r s , a e r i a l survey i ice & Kenyon, 1957 ~ h o t o ) . Nests with 5 eggs and 132 young (POBSP, 1963). 2 l o c a l s and 39 inmatures (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964) . Medium t o l a r g e young (89) (POBSP, 1965a) 71 n e s t s with eggs, 40-50 p a i r s with no n e s t s (BSFW, 1966a). Table 59. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1966 June 10, 467 8 nests with eggs, 67 with young a t a l l 23-29, stages (POBSP, 19662). Ju ly 1-3 A%. 13, 196 46 large loca ls and f lying immatures; 15-17, - ca. 150 roosting adults nightly (POBSP: Sept. 4 1966b). Sept. 13 few Few f ly ing immatures noted (BSFW, 1966b). 1967 Mar. 14 86+ 43 nests, 14 with 1 egg, 29 with 2 eggs; 53 birds on is land during day (POBSP, 1967b; Bsm, 1967a). ~ u n e 2-7, 610 475 adults, 5 eggs, 135 young; eggs t o 15-19 large downy chicks, 1 fledgling (POBSP, 19673) . Dec. 9 27 1 adul t , 10 chicks (1 dead) on beach, 17 immatures (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 1968 June 6, 559? 292 breeders 1252 non-breeders, 4 nests 16, 17-25 with eggs, 1 i 2 young (POBSP, 1968a). 1969 Feb . 23 23 2 116 nests containing eggs, no young seen (BSW, 1969a). June 3 , 650+ 346+ breeders, 130t non-breeders, few 16-20, eggs, 173 young (POBSP, 1969). 22 *Whale Island %Skate Island Table 60. Observations of Blue-faced Booby on other islands a t French Frigate Shoals Population Breeding Date of Survey Island Estimate Status , Remarks, and References 1891 June 1-3 Tern ? A number close t o beach with young of d i f fe ren t stages (Rothschild, 1893-1900; Munro, 1941b). Table 60. (continued) Population Breeding Date of Survey Island Estimate Status, Remarks, and References 1902 May 28-29 1912 Dec. 19 1923 June 24- 28 June 27 1953 Oct. 26- Nov. 2 1957 Dec. 28 1963 June 9 1964 Sept. 27 1966 A U ~ . 11- 15, 17- 18, 24- 26, 30- Sept. 16 Sept. 4 1967 June 12 1969 June 4 June 7 June l3 FFS ? Present ishe her, 1903) FFS 80 40 nests with fresh eggs (~ailey, 1956). Tern 16 8 pairs (Wetmore, ms. ) La Peronse 40 20 pairs (wetmore, ms. ). Tern 2 (~ichardson, 1954a). Disappear- 9 Singles and in pairs, aerial ing survey ice & Kenyon, 1957 photo). Disappear- 2 Roosting adults (POBSP, 1963). ing La Perouse 0 None present (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964) . Tern occa- Several immatures seen flying sional over island; 1 landed on runway 12 Sept . (POBSP, 1966a). La Perouse 9 2 adults roosting on top, with 6 or 7 immatures flying around (POBSP, 1966b). La Perouse 10 Adults only; on top; breeding status unknown (POBSP, 1967a). Shark 1 Roosting adult (POBSP, 1969). Disappear- 30 Roosting adults (POBSP, 1969). ing La Perouse 1 Roosting adult (POBSP, 1969). Table 61. Blue-faced Boobies banded a t French Frigate Shoals Date Nestlings Immature Subadult Adults Unknown Total 1963 June 205 0 7 516 0 7 28 196s A U ~ . 96 46 10 150 2 3 04 1966 June 0 1 5 102 0 108 July 0 2 0 93 0 95 A U ~ . o 0 0 18 1 19 1967 M ~ Y 0 0 8 17 o 25 June 217 0 8 123 0 348 1968 June 213 0 1 54 0 268 r969 June 296 11 9 53 0 369 TOTALS 1,027 60 48 1,126 3 2,264 RED-FOOTED BOOBY -- Sula sula Status Common breeding species; present throughout the year; breeds from mid-winter t o mid-fall with peak in spring and summer. .Nests on East, Trig and Whale-Skate Islands. Maximum POBSP population estimate 757 i n June 1967. Observations Rothschild (1893-1900) and Munro (1941b) f i r s t recorded the Red-footed Booby on East and Trig Islands i n 1891. I n 1902 Fisher (1903) observed it but mentioned no island. Wetmore (ms. ) found t h i s species i n small numbers a t East, Skate and Whale Islands, as well a s a t La Perouse Pinnacle in 1923. Very l i t t l e i s known of t h i s species from the mid-1920's u n t i l 1963 when POBBP personnel began v i s i t i n g the Shoals. Red-footed Boobies were observed then as we'll as i n subsequent years on East, Tern, Trig and Whale-Skate Islands, and on La Peaouse Pinnacle. Annual Cycle The annual breeding cycle i s presented i n Figure 65. Some Red-footed Boobies are present throughout the year. The populatipn i s h ighes t i n spring and summer and lowest i n f a l l and winter . This corresponds with t h e breeding cycle f o r it too i s predomi- n a t e l y i n the spr ing and summer. Some eggs a r e undoubtedly p resen t i n January a s small chicks occur i n l a t e February and March. Most eggs, however, a r e l a i d i n March and A p r i l with some remaining i n t o e a r l y J u l y ; some have even been recorded in October and December. Young begin t o ha tch i n l a t e March and most hatching i s completed by June. Most young f ledge by August but some f ledge a s e a r l y a s June and a s l a t e a s October. Locals have even been found a s l a t e a s December. Figure 65. Annual cycle of Red-footed Booby ** = eggs present ; ++ = dependent young present Ecologica l D i s t r i b u t i o n The Red-footed Booby n e s t s on East , Trig and Whale-Skate I s l ands . It i s known t o have nested, but p resen t ly only roos t s , on La Perouse Pinnacle and, infrequently, on Tern Is land. Poss ib ly t h i s species a l s o roos t s on the o ther i s l ands . Eas t I s land: Rothschild (1893-1900) found the Red-footed Booby nes t ing in June 1891 (Table 62) . The nes ts , each conta in ing an egg, were b u i l t of v ines about s i x inches above t h e ground, thus compensating f o r t h e l a c k of high bushes on which t o n e s t . I n 1923 Wetmore (ms.) found t h i s species only roos t ing . It i s not known what happened t o t h i s spec ies during t h e U.S. Navy and Coast Guard use of East I s land; however, none of t h e photographs examined revea l s any Red-footed Boobies. The U.S. Coast Guard l e f t East I s l a n d i n 1951. By 1953, Richardson (1954a, 1954b, pers . c o r r . ) found n e s t s containing eggs and young. I n 1961 Woodside and Kramer (HDFG, 1961b) found t h i s spec ies us ing deser ted bui ld ings and o the r rubble a s nes t ing s i t e s . On a l l POBSP v i s i t s , Red-footed Boobies were u t i l i z i n g rubble from t h e col lapsed buildings, t h e one l i v e and t h e one dead Tournefort ia bush, a s we l l a s the s c a t t e r e d Chenopodium bushes, f o r nes t ing . Although the nes t ing population has remained f a i r l y constant s ince 1963, t h e roos t ing non-breeding populat ion h a s decreased. This i s probably because bui ld ing rubble was burned i n August 1965 and major r o o s t i n g s i t e s were el iminated. Tern I s l and : Red-footed.Boobies have-been observed f l y i n g over on many occasions, and have been known t o roos t a able 65), but not t o nes t . T r i g I s l and : Munro (1941b) f i r s t observed t h e Red-footed Booby i n 1891 (Table 63). Richardson ( l954a, l954b, pers . c o r r . ) saw one i n October 1953 and i n March 1954 he found nes t ing b i r d s . I n 1963 POBSP personnel found t e n n e s t s i n t h e l a r g e Tournefort ia bush i n the c e n t e r of t h e i s l a n d . As Tournefor t ia bushes have increased i n number and s i z e , so have t h e number of nes t ing Red- f o o t s . I n 1969 POBSP personnel found 85 n e s t s , an e i g h t f o l d increase s ince 1963. The populat ion w i l l probably increase f u r t h e r a s s u i t a b l e vegeta t ion inc reases . Whale-Skate I s l and : Wetmore (ms.) observed t h i s spec ies on both Skate and Whale i n 1923 (Table 6 4 ) . Only 1 p a i r was present on Skate but 15 p a i r s were nes t ing on Whale. Nests were placed i n t h e tops of Low-growing Chenopodium. POBSP personnel a l s o found t h i s spec ie s nest,ing i n t h e t o p s of low-growing Chenopodium, a s we l l a s i n t h e higher-growing Tournefor t ia bushes s c a t t e r e d about t h e edge of t h e vegeta ted po r t ion of t h e i s l and . The Tourne- f o r t i a bushes have, a s on Tr ig I s land , m u l t i p l i e d s ince 1963. Thus, numbers of n e s t i n g Red-footed Boobies have a l s o increased. I n 1963 t h e r e was only 1 n e s t ; by 1968 a peak of 33 n e s t s was recorded with a decrease i n 1969 t o 18 n e s t s . The populat ion increased from 21 i n 1963 t o 160 i n 1969, probably due t o an in f lux of d i sp laced Eas t I s l a n d roos t ing b i r d s . La Perouse Pinnacle.: Wetmore (ms.) observed 30 p a i r s i n 1923 but d i d n o t give t h e i r s t a t u s (Table 6 5 ) . I n 1966 a few sub- a d u l t s and a d u l t s were seen f l y i n g around, and roos t ing on t o p of, t h i s rocky i s l a n d . Only one roos t ing a d u l t was seen on t o p i n 1969. This spec ie s does n o t p re sen t ly n e s t on t h e i s l a n d . ( I f it did, it would have t o b r ing n e s t i n g m a t e r i a l from Eas t o r another vegetated i s l a n d . ) It probably u t i l i z e s t h e t o p and ledges a s noc- t u r n a l r o o s t i n g s i t e s . Banding and Movements Since 1963 POBSP personnel have banded 2,070 Red-footed Boobies able 66) . The maximum POBSP popula t ion es t imate of 757 i n June 1967 i s c l o s e t o one-third of t h e t o t a l number banded. Thus, more Red-footed Boobies than a r e p r e s e n t a t any given time use t h e i s l a n d s . Of those, 1,039 have been recaptured on t h e a t o l l . An a d d i t i o n a l 141 have been captured t h a t were o r i g i n a l l y from o the r a t o l l s , i n d i c a t i n g t h a t over 11 percent were from elsewhere: Johnston (61), Laysan (Pb), Kure ( l k ) , L i s i a n s k i (14) , Oahu ( l o ) , Kauai ( 6 ) , Midway ( 6 ) , Wake ( b ) , and P e a r l and Hermes ( 2 ) . One- hundred-and-ten Red-footed Boobies from French F r i g a t e have been captured i n t h e no r th c e n t r a l P a c i f i c : Johnston (60) , Kure (19) , Laysan ( l 2 ) , L i s i a n s k i ( l o ) , P e a r l and Hermes ( 3 ) , Midway (2) , Wake (I), Oahu ( I ) , and a t - s e a ( 2 ) . D e t a i l s a r e given i n Appendix Tables 6a and 6b. Specimens POBSP: USNM 495794-5, 9 and d, c o l l e c t e d 24 and 26 August 1965 o n s t by Huber. Non-POBSP: USNM 300914, d, co l l ec ted 24 June 1923 by Wetmore; AMNH 729391, d, c o l l e c t e d 5 June 1891 by Palmer; BPBM 711, d, c o l l e c t e d 5 June 1891 by Palmer; BPBM 7020, egg, co l l ec ted i n 1891 ( '2) by Munro. Table 62. Observations of Red-footed Booby a t East I s l and Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 June 4-5 1923 June 22-Yj 1953 Oct. 31 Dec. 19 1957 Dec. 28 1961 Mar. 4 1962 June 1963 June '7-11 1964 ~ u l y 8 Sept . 27 Nest, with egg, b u i l t of v ines 2. 6 inches above ground (Rothschild, 1893- 1900). Roosting only (wetmore, ms . ) . Adults wi th nes t s containing eggs and young (Richardson, 1954a; p e r s . c o r r . ) . Nests with eggs and young (Richardson, 1954b; pe r s . c o r r . ) . Flying over t h e i s land, a e r i a l survey (Rice & Kenyon, 1957 photo) . Buildings and o ther rubble used a s nes t ing s i t e s (IDFG, 1 9 6 ~ b ) . Few on n e s t s placed on o ld bui ld ings , from photo (IDFG, # ~ 1 - 3 0 9 ) . 18 n e s t s with eggs, 11 with small young, 3 1 with l a r g e young; numerous roos t ing subadults (POBSP, 1963). 3 a d u l t s , 13 immatures (BSFW, 1964a). 2 n e s t s conta in ing 1 l o c a l and 1 immature (BSFW, 1.964b; POBSP, 1964). 1 nes t with eggs, 13 with young (POBSP, 1965a). Table 62. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1966 Mar. 23 June 10-14 16-21 1967 Mar. 11-12 May 26-31, June 9-13 Sept . 17 Dee. 9 1968 June 6-11, 14-16, 25 1969 June 5-10, 21 Aug. 22, 3 C 49 nes t s , most with eggs; 51 a d u l t s and 2 f l y i n g immatures seen (BSn', 1966a). 4 n e s t s with eggs, 46 with young; r o o s t - ing populati.on 38% a d u l t s and. 6% sub- a d u l t s (POBSP, 1966a). Nests with 15 nea r ly f ledged chicks and I. half-grown chick; roos t ing populat ion 2/3 subadult (POBSP, 1966b). Ca. 80 roos t ing b i r d s ; 17 nes t s , 2 with - eggs (POBSP, 1967b; BSIW, i967a) . 116 a d u l t s nes t ing , 45 young, 13 eggs; roos t ing popula t ion E. 234 ( a d u l t s and s u b a d d t s ) ; poss ib ly higher due t o n igh t ly change-over (POBSP, 1967.3). 5 a d u l t s , 1 immature, 8 chicks, i n Tournefort ia and s c a t t e r e d junk (BSFW, 196713 ) . Observed from h e l i c o p t e r (BsFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 128 breeders , LOO? non-breeders, 64 n e s t s with 14 eggs, and 50 chicks (POBSP, 1968a). 68 breeders , 67 non-breeders, 34 n e s t s with chicks (POBSE, 1969). ' 1 a d u l t , 9 young; seen 30 August (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 63. Observations of Red-footed Booby a t T r ig I s l and Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 June 1-3 ? Present , n e s t i n g (Munro, 1.941b). 1953 Oct. 28 1 (Richardson, 195ha; pers . co r r . ). 1954 Mar. 20 6 4 nes t s , 3 with eggs ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). Table 63. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1963 June 14, 15 40 1964 Sept . 27 1 0 1965 A%. 16$ 120 1 9 9 31. 1966 Mar. 22 34 June 10, 2 108 J u l y 1, 3-4 Aug. 13-14, 114 Sept. 4, (125) 1 2 1967 Mar. 13, 14 60 June 2, 8- 250 9, 19-20 1968 June 6, 11, 3321 2 24-25 1969 Feb. 22 55-1- Nests with 3 small and 7 i.arge young (POBSP, 1963). 2 jmmatures seen (BSFW, 196iib; POBSP, 1964 ) . Nests with 20 young i n Tournefort ia (POBSP, 1965a). 17 n e s t s with eggs, no young (BSFW, 1966a). 33 n e s t s with medium t o l a r g e downy chicks; some roos t ing b i rds (PDBSP, 19668). 14 n e s t s wi th 1.arge young; nocturnal roos t ing populat ion of a l l ages (POBSP, 1966b). 29 n e s t s (14 under cons t ruc t ion ) , 14 with eggs, 1 wi.th ha-tchling; 32 a d u l t s observed (POBSP, 1967b; BSN, 1967a). 106 n e s t i n g a d u l t s , 3 eggs, 50 young, eggs t o very l a r g e young (POBSP, 1967a). 1.56 breeders , 1002 non-breeders, n e s t s with 2 eggs a.nd 76 young (POBSP, 1968a) 52 breeders ; nes t s i n Tournefort ia: 2 empty, 2l with eggs, 3 with ha tch l ings 160 breeders , 100t non-breeders, 80 n e s t s with young, 5 n e s t s with eggs (POBSP, 1969) Table 64. Observations of Red-foo-ted Booby a t WhaLe-Skate 1s:Land Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding and References 1.923 June 26 30+'- 15 p a i r s , n e s t s placed i n tops of w- 1 . eggs t o near ly grown young (Wetmore, ms . ) . Table 64. (cont inued) Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breedins S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1 p a i r (We-tmore, ms. ) . 1923 June 26 a-x 1957 Dec. 28 5 Flyi.ng over i s l a n d , a e r i a l survey ice & Kenyon, 1957 photo) . 1963 June 12-15 21 I n e s t wLth eggs, 1 with l a r g e young (POBSP, 1963). 11 immature s (BSFW, 196kb ; POBSP, 1964) . 1964 Sept . 27 20 1965 Aug. 11-17, 65 29-Sept, 1 Nests with 15 young i n Tournefort ia (P~BSP, 1965a) . 1966 Mar. 22 40-50 10 n c s t s : 2 a c t i v e ( 1 with egg, 1 with chi.ck); 1.2 a d u l t s and 7 irnmaturee (BsFW, 1~966a) . June 10, 08 23-29> J u l y 1-3 2 n e s t s wi.th eggs, 13 from ha tch l ing t o f l e d g l i n g ; some roos t ing b i r d s n igh t ly ( ~ o n s p , 1966a) . AuQ;. 15-17, 00 ~ e p t . 4 ( 9 5 ) 5 n e s t s wi-th l a r g e young; nocturnal - " -. roos-ting popula t ion of mixed ages (POBSP, 1966b). 1 downy young; a number f u l l y fea thered (BSFW~ 1.966b). Sept . 1 3 severa l 1967 Mar. 14 28 14 n c s t s , 7 under cons t ruc t ion ( 6 with eggs, 1 xi- th h a t c h l i n g ) ; 22 a d u l t s ob- served (RSPW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). June 2-7, 1.1% 15-19 Sept . 17 6 28 a,duLts nes t ing , 2 eggs, 1 2 young; roos t ing popula t ion - ca . 72 (PoBSP, 1967a). 1 a d u l t , 2 half-grown young, 3 immatures i n Tournef o r t i a (BSFW, 1.967b ) . 1968 June 6, 1.4 I ~ ? 16 - 25 1969 Feb. 2:3 3 O+ 66 breeders , 50 non-breeders, 33 n e s t s wi.th 8 eggs and 25 chicks (POBSP, 1968a) 30 breeders, 15 n e s t s i n Chenopodiun: 4 newly bui . l t , 11 with eggs (BsFW, 1969a). Table 64. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1969 June 3 , 160+ 36 breeders, 67 non-breeders, 18 nests 16-20, with chicks (POBSP, 1969). 22 ~ u g . 24 12 (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . * Whale Island ** Skate Island Table 65. Observations of Red-footed Booby on other islands a t French Frigate Shoals Population Breeding Date of Survey Island Estimate Status , Remarks, and References 1902 May 28-29 FFS 7 Present ishe her, 1903). 1923 June 2'7 La Perouse 60 30 pa i r s (Wetmore, ms.). 1953 Dee. 18 Tern 1 (Richardson, 1954b). 1961 Mar. 3, 5 Tern 1 Flying over island (HDFG, 1961b) Sept. 2 Tern 1 Juvenile in the a i r around island; none nesting (udvardy and Warner, 1964). 1965 Nov. 19 Tern 1 Adult roosting in bush on east end of island (Park, pers. corr. ) . 1966 Aug. 11-15, Tern occa- Birds of a l l ages seen f lying 17-18, 24- s ional over the island (POBSP, 19668). 26, 30- Sept. 16 Sept. 4 La Perouse 6 4 subadults f lying around, 2 adul ts roosting on top (POBSP, 1966b). 1968. Mar. 11-15 Tern 1 Adult flew over on 11th; no others seen (POBSP, 1968b). Table 65. (continued) Population Breeding Date of Survey Island Estimate Status , Remarks, and References 1968 May 29- Tern 1 Subadult roosted on telephone June 6, pole in daytime (POBSP, 1968a). 11-14, 16-17, 19-20, 22-27 1969 June 3 Tern Subadult roosting in Casuarina (POBSP, 1969). June 13 La Perouse 1 Adult roosting on top (PORSP, 1969 ) . Table 66. Red-footed Boobies banded a t French Frigate Shoals Date Nestling Immature-Subadult Adult Total 1963 June 40 35 69 144 1965 Aug. 20 246 214 480 1966 June 62 164 13 3 359 July 48 14 62 124 ~ u g . 0 36 13 49 1967 M ~ Y 0 95 26 121 June 94 69 63 226 1968 June 13 2 112 37 281 1969 June 133 88 65 286 TOTALS 5 29 859 682 2,070 BROWN BOOBY - Sula leucogaster S t a t u s Uncommon breeding spec ie s ; probably present year around with peak numbers i n spr ing and summer. Nests on ledges of La Perouse Pinnac1.e. One n e s t known from Whale-Skate Is land Maximum POBSP population es t imate l30+ i n June 1969. Observatione Rothschi ld (1893-1900) and I W r o (1941b) f i r s t reported t h e Brown Booby i n 1891. Wetmore (ms.) found p a i r s a t La Perouse Pinnacl~e i n 1923. Richardson ( l954a, p e r s . c o r r . ) found 20 t o 30 Brown Boobies nes t ing on La Perouse Pinnacle i n 1953. POBSP personnel have recorded t h e Brown Booby nes t ing on La Perouse Pinnacle each year s ince 1963 and have observed it on Disappearing, East , L i t t l e G i n , Shark, T r ig and Whale-Skate I s l ands . Annual Cycle The annual breeding cycle i s shown i n Figure 66. Some b i r d s a r e probably present a l l year around, as they have been seen i n a l l months except November, January and February when no observat ions have been made. Populations probably inc rease i n March with egg l ay ing commencing i n A p r i l . Young s t a r t ha tching i.n l a t e May; most f ledge by ].ate summer. Eggs have been observed a s l a t e a s September and young a s l a t e a s December. The main breeding season, howe-~er , i s i n t h e spr ing and summer. Figure 66. Annual cycle of Brown Booby *r- = eggs p resen t ; i+ = dependent young p resen t ; - = non-breeding b i r d s present Ecologica l D i s t r i b u t i o n The Brown Booby n e s t s and r o o s t s almost exc lus ive ly on La Perouse Pinnacle. It has only once been known t o nes t on one of t h e low sandy i s l ands (Whale-Skate), a l though i t probably occa- s i o n a l l y roos t s on t h e o ther i s lknds i.n t h e a t o l l . Since t h i s spec ies i s known t o n e s t on both low sandy i s l a n d s and high rock i s l a n d s in o the r p a r t s of t h e n o r t h - western Hawaiian chain, it i s cur ious thak he re it shou1.d r e s t r i c t i t s e l f t o La Perouse. Si.ng1.e causa t ive f a c t o r s such a s cl imate, vege ta t ion and man's d is turbance seem t o be ru led o u t . Climate i s ru led out s ihce the re i s v i r t u a l l y no d i f - fe rence i n the c l imate of any of the i s i a n d s a t French F r iga te Shoals . (Wind, however, may be s t ronger on t h e h igher por t ions of La Perouse . ) There i s no vegeta t ion on La Perouse Pinnacle, but n e i t h e r i s t h e r e any on Gin o r Hound I s l a n d s ; t he re fo re , l a c k of vegeta t ion i s ru l ed ou t . Man c e r t a i n l y has a f f e c t e d t h e b i rd populat ions on Eas t and Tern island^ bu.t has not d i s - turbed Tr ig o r Whale-Skate I s l ands . There i s a l s o a p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t two Brown Booby subspecies e x i s t i n t h e Hawaiian Islands--one rock n e s t e r s , one low sandy- i s l and n e s t e r s . I f t h i s i s a f a c t , however, one wou1.d expect some of the "low n e s t e r s " t o r e g u l a r l y n e s t on t h e sandy i s l a n d s of t h i s a t o l l . Whale-Skate I s land: Although Hichardson (l954b, pers . c o r r . ) found one Brown Booby on Skate I s land i n 1953 we able 68), and POBSP personnel found it t o be an occas ional v i . s i t o r i n March and June 1967, it has only once been recorded nes t ing , i n September 1967 when K r i d l e r (RSEW, 1.967b) observed one on a ground nes t with one egg. None was seen nes t ing i n 1968 or 1969. La Perouse Pinnacle: The Brown Booby was f i r s t recorded i n 1891 (Table 67); however, no d e t a i . 1 ~ were given a s t o i t s h a b i t a t o r breeding s t a t u s (Hothschild, 1893-1.900). Since then, with one exception, it has been recorded a s breeding exc lus ive ly on the ledges and t o p of t h i s 1.22-foot-high rock. Other I s l ands : The Brown Booby has been known t o roos t o r f l y over East , Disappearing, 1,i:ttle Gin, Hound, Shark, Tern and Tr ig I s l ands (Table 6 8 ) . It probably v is i -ks t h e o t h e r i.slands and i s l e t s i n t h e a t o l l a s wel l . Banding and Movements Twenty-four Brown Boobies have been banded: 1 a d u l t i n June 1966, 2 a d u l t s i n June 1967, and. 2l young i.n June 1969. An a d u l t , wearing a f r e s h orange s treamer on i t s lef-l; l e g , indi-cat ing it was from Johnston Atoll., was s ighted on and f l y i n g around La Perouse Pinnacle on 1 2 June 1.967 by POBSP personnel. Specimens Non-POBSP: USNM 300878, 0 , c o l l e c t e d 22 June l9Yj by Wetmore. Table 67. Observations of Brown Booby a t La Perouse Pinnacle Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 June 3 1923 June 27 1953 Oct. 3 1 Dec. 19 1961 Mar. 4 1963 June 10 1964 Sept . 27 1965 Aug. 7 1966 Mar. 23 Sept . 4 1967 June 1 2 Dec. 9 ? 60 20-30 6 -8 ? 50 25 100 20 90 125+ seve ra l Present (Rothschil-d, 1893-1900). In p a i r s (Wetmore, ms.) . Nesting ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954a, pe r s . c o r r . ) . 1 l a r g e young ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). Some seen from launch on o r near t h e rock (KDFG, 1961b). young p resen t (POBSP, 1963). 7 immatures seen (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964) . 25 young (P~BSP , 1965a) . No landing made (BSFW, 1966a). Ca. 75 a d u l t s and 10-15 f l y i n g immaturea ~ O B S P , 1966b). 100 a d u l t s , 25 young; medium t o l a r g e n e s t l i n g s seen on ledges and on t o p of rocks (POBSP, 1967a) . Observed from h e l i c o p t e r (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 1969 June 6, 13 130+ 1OOt a d u l t s , LO n e s t s with eggs, 30 n e s t s with ha tch l ings t o f l e d g l i n g s (POBSP, 1969). Table 68. Observations of Brown Booby on o t h e r i s l ands a t French F r i g a t e Shoals Population Breeding Date of Survey I s l and Estimate S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 June 1-3 Tern ? Small f l o c k seen evening (Munro, 1941b ) . 1902 May 28-29 FFS ? Presen t (F isher , 1903). 1923 June 2 2 2 Eas t 2 Seen on 22nd (Wetmore, ms. ) . Table 68. (continued) Population Breeding Date of Survey I s l and Estimate S t a t u s , Rema,rlcs, and References 1 1 1 few - 1 - - -? - 1 2 2 1-2 3n sand s p i t nearby (Wetmore, n s . ) . 1923 June 24 Round (Richardson, 1.954b; p e r s . c o r r . ) . 1953 Dee. 19 1961 Sept . 2 1963 June 9 Skate Tern Disappear- ing L i t t l e Gin Flying over ( ~ d v a r d ~ , l96La). Roosting only (POBSP, 1963) 1 dead subadult found (POBSP, 19658). 1966 June l o - 14, 16- 21 Aug. 18- 24, 26- 30 East Occasional roos t ing b i rd , seen off shore (POBSP, 1966a). E a s t Few a d u l t s seen f l y i n g over (POBSP, 1966b). 1 f l y i n g along west end of i s l and dur ing af ternoon, none nesking, none roos t ing a f t e r dark (POBSP, 1967b; BSFW, :1.967a). 1967 Mar. 11-12 Eas t 1 f lew over, none nes t ing (POBSP, 196'7b; BSFW, 1967a). Mar. 13, 14 T r i g Mar. 14 Whal-e-Skate 1 flew over, none nes t ing (POBSP, 196'7b ; BSIW, 1967a.). May 26-31, Eas t June 9-U June 2-7, Whale-Skate 15 -19 Sept . 17 Whale-Skate Occasional ly roosted on nor th- west beach (POBSP, 1967a). Occasional b i r d roos t ing a t n ight (POBSP, 196'7a). 1 a d u l t observed with nes t con- t a i n i n g egg on ground in c e n t r a l p a r t of i s l and (BSFW, 1967b). 1968 June 6-11, Eas t 14-16, 25 Occasional v i s i t o r , adul-ts and subadul t s f l y i n g over (PODSP, 1968a). Table 68. (cont inued) Population Breeding Date of Survey I s l a n d -- Estimate S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1968 June 6, Tr ig 1-2 Occasional v i s i t o r (POBSP, 1968a). 11, 22? 24-25 June 6, Whale-Skate 1-2 Occasional v i s i t o r (POBSP, 19683). 16-25 1969 June 4 Shark I. Adul t 9 roos t ing (POBSP, 1969). June '7 Disappear- 1 Subadult 8 roos t ing (POBSP, 1969). ing GREAT FRIGATEBIRD Fregata m a S t a t u s Common breeding spec ies ; present year around with poss ib le populat ion decrease i n l a t e fa1.l and e a r l y winter ; occurs on most i s l ands i n t h e a t o l l . bu t n e s t s only a t Whale-Skate. Maximum POBSP popul.ation e s t ima te 1,4L3 i n June 1967. Observations The f i r s t record was made by Rothschi ld (1893-1900) and Munro (1941b) i n 189:i. Wetmore (ms.) found t h e Great F r iga teb i rd nes t ing on Skate and k a l e islamds, a s w e l l a s roos t ing on Eas t and Shark I s l ands duri-ng h i s 1923 v i s i t . Nothing i s known of i t s s t a t u s dur ing t h e 1930 ' s o r 1940 ' s and none could be seen i n any U.S. Navy and Coaet Guard photographs taken on East and Tern I s l ands during those yea r s . It nested i n 1.9514 on Whale-Skate (Richardson, l954b ) . POBSP personnel recorded the Great F r i g a t e b i r d from Disappear- ing, Eas t , L i t t l e Gin, Tern, Tr ig and Whale-Skate I s l ands and La Perouse Pinnacle . Annual Cycle The annual breeding cycle i s presented i n Figure 67. Some remain a l l year-round; numbers increase i.n l a t e winter and remain high un t i l l a t e f a l l . This h i& p o p ~ l . ~ t i o n coincides with breeding. Eggs may be l a i d a s e a r l y as l a t e February but most a r e l a i d during e a r l y March. Eggs may be present a s l a t e a s e a r l y June. Young ha tch beginning i n e a r l y May, with most hatched by e a r l y June. Fledging commences by mid-September but most, a l though capable of f l i g h t , s i t on o r around t h e i r n e s t s i t e s u n t i l l a t e f a l l ; some even remain u n t i l the fol lowing sp r ing . The number of a c t i v e June n e s t s i n 1923 was 60. The number of a c t i v e June n e s t s i n t h e 1960 ' s has ranged from l2lt t o 250. Figure 67. Annual. cyc le of Great F r iga teb i rd ** = eggs p resen t ; ++ = dependent young p resen t ; - = non-breeding b i r d s present Ecologica l D i s t r i b u t i o n The Great F r i g a t e b i r d n e s t s only on Whale-Skate I s l and . It r o o s t s on Disappearing, East , L i t t l e Gin, Shark, Tern and Tr ig I s l ands , and La Perouse Pinnacle. It has been recorded f l y i n g over dound I s l and ; i f enough time were spent on it and t h e o t h e r i s l e t s , one would probably observe t h e Grekt F r i g a t e b i r d on them. Eas t I s land: The Great F r iga teb i rd u t i l i z e s Eas-t i s l a n d only f o r roos t ing (Table 6 9 ) . I n 1.891 Rothschi ld (1.893-1900) recorded a few, a s d i d Wetmore (me.) i n 1923. This spec ies was not recorded dur ing t h e 1930's , 1940 ' s and 1950 ' s . POBSP and BSFW personnel have seen them i n numbers vary ing from 3 t o 375 s ince 1 9 6 3 The daytime roos t ing popula.tion v a r i e s , depending on season and weather. A t n i g h t t h e popu1.ati.on inc reases d r a s t i c a l l y due t o an in f lux of b i r d s which have been feeding a t sea dur ing t h e day. They u t i l i z e almost a l l possibl.e r a i s e d s i t e s . The rubble l e f t from t h e d e t e r i o r a t i n g U.S. Coast Guard bui ld ings i s most popular. I f a d d i t i o n a l Scaevola and Tournefor t ia were present , the roos t ing populat ion on East IsJ.and would be h igher . Only one p l a n t each of t hese two spec ies now grows on t h e i s l a n d . Tern i s l a n d : The Great F r iga teb i rd only roos t s he re (Table 70) . It was f i rs t recorded i n 1891 by Munro ( l g 4 l b ) , who observed it chasing Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. POBSP personnel have observed the spec ies f l y i n g over o r roos t ing on t h e i s l a n d on s e v e r a l occa- s ions . Favor i te day and n igh t roos t ing spo t s include a high post and some t a l l rubble on e i t h e r s ide of t h e runway a t t h e nor theas t end of the i s l and . Trig Is land: Great F r iga teb i rds use Tr ig f o r roos t ing only ( ~ d b l e 71) . Rj-chardson (1954a, l954b, p e r s . c o r r . ) recorded 250 t o 300 i n 1953; numbers s ince have v a r i e d from 0 t o 300. The roos t ing population has g r e a t l y increased s ince 1965. P r i o r t o 1966 t h e r e were only t h r e e l a r g e Tournefor t ia bushes, a l l on the mid- o r western port ion of the i s l and . By f a l l 1966 many a d d i t i o n a l Tournefort ia bushes had invaded the he re to fo re bare e a s t po r t ion and added much roos t ing space. Due t o t h i s , t he roos t ing populat ion rose sharply i n June 1967 but tapered of f i n 1968 and 1969, possibly because Red-footed Boobies nes t i n the same bushes. Whale-Skate Is land: This i s t he only i s l a n d on which nes t ing has been recorded (Table 7 2 ) . The f i rs t record was i n June 1923 when Wetmore (ms.) found 60 p a i r s with eggs o r young a t Whale Is land--then separated from Skate. He noted t h a t two had t u r r e t - l i k e n e s t s of s t i c k s b u i l t up t o a he igh t of nea r ly th ree f e e t . I n l a t e 1953 Richardson (l95ha, 195413, pers . c o r r . ) observed them on both l s l a n d s and i n March 1954- he found them nes t ing on both. Nests and eggs t o l a r g e young have been recorded on a l l June v i s i t s . This colony has always nested on very low vegeta t ion , bui ld ing l a r g e n e s t s of Tr ibulus stems. Within t h e l e s t 10+ years seve ra l Tournefort ia bushes have appeared. Some F r i g a t e s now nes t on these bushes, but the ma jo r i ty s t i l l nes t s on t h e low Chenopodium and Tr ibulus . Why t h i s species only n e s t s a t Whale-Skate Is land when the vegeta t ion and cl imate on the o ther i s l a n d s in t h e a t o l l a r e s i m i l a r i s not known. La Perouse Pinnacle: The Great F r iga teb i rd r o o s t s here ( T a b l e It was f i r s t recorded i n 1953 by Richardson (l954a, i954b, p e i s . c o r r . ) . POBSP personnel have recorded t h i s specie; roos t ing on a l l t h e i r v i s i t s . Other I s l ands : Small numbers have been recorded roos t ing a t Shark Is land, a t Round, a t Disappearing and L i t t l e Gin Is lands a able 74) . Possib1.y l a r g e r numbers roos t on these sandy i s l ands a t n igh t . Banding a.nd Movements Since June 1963 POBSP personnel have banded 2,259. Table 75 shows t h e age c l a s s e s by month and yea r . Of t h e t o t a l banded, 354 have been recaptured by the POBSP a t French F r i g a t e . Twenty-one from o the r i s l a n d s and a t o l l s have been captured on French Fr iga te ; 8 were from Johnston, 8 from Kure, 2 from Laysan, 1 from Lis ianski , 1 from Pea.rl and Hermes, and l from Wake. Twenty-three Great F r iga teb i rds from French Fr iga te have been captured on Johnston, 10 on Kure, 3 on Laysan, 1 on Eniwetok, and 1 i n t h e Phi l ippines (Appendix Tables 7a and 7 b ) . Spf cimens m: USNM 495805, 0, collected 17 August 1965 on Whale-Skate by Huber . Non-POBSP: USNM 300964-66, d, 9, 9, collected 26, 26 and 23 June 192'3 by Wetmore. Table 69. Observations of Great Frigatebird a t East Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1891 June 4-5 1923 June 22-23 1960 Apr. 13 1962 June 1963 June 7-11 1964 July 27 Sept. 27 1965 Aug. 5-10, 23-28 1966 Mar. 23 few 6 75 ? 50-100 155 3 25 0 30-35 (Rothschild, 1893-1900). 6 roosting on island; others passing during day (Wetmore, ms.). In f l i g h t over island; count taken from plane (HDFG, 1960a). 1 f lying over (HDFG photo #a -308) . Common roosting in evening, mostly i m - mature (POBSP, 1963). Roosting on poste, huts, e t c . (BSFW, 1964a). Roosting, midday (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964 ) . Roosting adul t s (70$) and subadults (3@), no nesting (POBSP, 1965a). Present a t night, no nesting (BSFW, 1966a ) . June 10-14, 100-250 Roosting population of 60"p adul ts and 16-21 4 6 eubadults (POBSP, 1.9668). Aug. 18-24, 75 Roosting population usually ca. 25, but 26 -3 0 75 present the night before a s t o r m ; most birds immature, ? - d r a t i o 3 : 1 (POBSP, 1966b). 1967 Mar. 11-12 45 Roosting population, most P and imma- tures (POBSP, 1967b; BSFW, 1967a). Table 69. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1967 May 26-31, 375 Roosting population of a l l ages (POBSP, June 9-13 1967a). Sept. 17 ."sot Soaring above island; no nests (BSliW, 1967b j . 1968 June 6-11, loo?: Iioosting population only (POBSP, 1968a) 14-16, 26 1969 June 5-10, 200 Roosting adul ts and subadults (POBSP, 21 1.969). Aug. 2 30 5 Adults; seen 30 August (~sliW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 70. Observations of Great Frigatebird a t Tern Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1891 June 1-3 1953 Oct. 26- NOV. 2 1956 Feb. 11-21 1960 Oct. 19 1961 Mar. 3, 5 1965 Nov. 2G 1966 June 8-10, 14-16, 21- 23, 29- Ju ly 1, 4 -7 Aug. 11-15, 17-18, 24- , 30- Sept. 16 ? 2 occa- s ional 1-2 1 2 1 occa- s iona l Present; chasing Wedge-tailed Shearwater ( ~ u n r o , 1941b ) . (Richardson, 1954a) Observed f l y ing over island on several occasions (Svihla, 1957). Flying over lagoon and island (HDFG, l960b). Flew over is land (HDFG, 1961b). Roosting immatures (Park, pers. corr . ) . 1 occasionally roosted a t northeast end (POBSP, 19663). A l l ages seen f ly ing over island (POBSP, 1.966b). Table 70. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1967 May 25-26, 1 1 a d u l t occas ional ly roosted during day 31-June 2, a t nor theas t end of i s l a n d (POBSP, 7-9, 13- 1967a) . 15, 18, 20-22 1968 May 29- occa- F ly ing over i s l and in f requen t ly (POBSP, june 6, 11- s i o n a l 1968a). 14, 16-17, 19-20, 22- 2.7 1969 June 2-4, 1-2 Flying over p e r i o d i c a l l y (POBSP, 1969). 11-15, 25- 26 Table 71. Observations of Great F r iga teb i rd a t T r ig Is land Population Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1953 Oct. 28 250-300 Dec. 19 4 -6 1957 Dec. 28 19 1963 June 14-15 40 1964 Sept . 2.7 - - 1965 Aug. 16, 12 29, 31 1966 ~ u n e 10, 25 23, July 1, 3 -4 AUg. 13-14, 200-300 Sept. 4, 1 2 1967 ~ a r . 13-14 1 (Richardson, 1954a, pe r s . c o r r . ) . (Richardson, 1954b, pe r s . c o r r . ) . Flying over i s l and , a e r i a l survey i ice & Kenyon, 1357 ~ h o t o ) . Roosting only (POBSP, 1963) 1 in a i r between Tr ig and Whale-Skate I s l and ; none on Tr ig (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). Diurnal roos t ing populat ion, no t nes t ing (POBSP, 1965a). Roosting population only (POBSP, 1966a). Roosting only; 4C$ irnmatures and subadults , 5% a d u l t 9 , 1C$ a d u l t d (POBSP, 1966b). Flew over (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). Table 71. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1967 June 2, 3 00 Roosting population only (POBSP, 1967a). 8-9, 19- 20 1968 June 6, 100: Roosting population only (POBSP, 1968a). 11, 22, 24-25 1969 June 3, 15 0 Roosting adul t s and subadults (POBSP, 14, 23- 1969). 24 Aug. 23, 27 17 seen 23 August (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 72. Observations of Great Frigatebird a t Whale-Skate Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1923 June 27 120* 60 pairs with eggs or young (Wetmore, ms.). 1953 Oct. 28 200-30@ (~ichardson , 1954a, pers . corr . ) . Oct. 28 40-6@* (Richardson, 1954a, pers . corr . ) . Dec. 19 15-2@ (Richardson, 1954b, pers. cor r . ) 1954 Mar. 20 130-150 Nests, many with eggs (~ ichardson , 1954b). 1957 Dec. 28 117 Flying over island, a e r i a l survey (Rice & Kenyon, 1957 photo). 1963 June 12-15 687 Nests with 34 eggs, 23 with small young, 164 with large young (POBSP, 1963). 1964 Sept. 27 700 22 nests with locals, 149 with immatures in Chenopodium (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). 1965 Aug. 11-17, '534 134 nests with medium t o large young in 29-Sept. 1 Chenopodium (POBSP, 1965a). 1966 Mar. 22 450 204 act ive nests , 9& with eggs (BSFW, 1966a). Table 72. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding St&tus, Remarks, and References 1966 June lo, 23-29, July 1-3 Aug. 15-17 Sept. 13 1967 Mar. 14 June 2-7 Sept. 17 1968 June 6, 16-25 1969 Feb. 23 June 3, 16-20, 2.2 Aug. 2k 10 nests with eggs, 125 from hatchlings t o fledglings (POBSP, 1966a). 201 large chicks (1/3 close t o fledging), 300 adul ts ; few roosted; ? - d r a t i o 3 : l (POBSP, 1966b). Adults f lying over island (BSFW, 1966b) 166 nests (59 new, 107 with 1 egg); 46 imrnatures s i t t i n g on old nests (BSN, 1967a ; POBSP, 1967b ), 290 adults nesting; 25 eggs; 120 young t o medium s i ze ; ca. 210 roosting popu- l a t i on (POBSP, 1 3 7 a ) . 85 adul ts ; no eggs; 81 chicks 2/3 t o 3 /4 grown; 3 immatures; nests in m- podium (BSFW, 1967b). 402 breeders, 200: non-breeders, 18 nests with eggs, and 183 with young (POBSP, 1968a ) . 6 adul t 9, 10 adul t d (6 with in- f l a t ed gular pouches); 5 nests with eggs; 250 immatures (BSFW, 1969a). 500 breeders, 250' non-breeders; nests with 25 eggs and 225 young (POBSP, 1969). * Whale Island ** Skate Island Table 73. Observations of Great Frigatebird a t La Perouse Pinnacle Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1953 Oct. 31 20-40 Not nesting (~ ichardson , 1954a, pers. corr . ) . Dec. 19 40-50 (~ ichardson , 1954b). 1961 Mar. 4 ? Seen on or near the rock from launch (HDFG, 1961b). 1964 Sept. 27 15 Roosting adul t s (BSFW, 1967b; POBSP, 1964 ) . 1965 Aug. 7 50 Breeding s t a t u s unknown (POBSP, 1965a). 1966 Mar. 23 75 -100 No landing (BSFW, 1966a). Sept. 4 100 Flying over or zoosting on the rock; no evidence of nesting (POBSP, 1966b). 1967 June 1969 June Table 74. 1 2 50 Appeared, t o be roosting only (POBSP, 1967a) . 6 , U 25 Roosting adul ts , no nesting (POBSP, 1969). Observations of Great Frigatebird on other islands a t French Fr igate Shoals Population Breeding Date of Survey Island Estimate Status , Remarks, and References 1902 May 28-29 FFS ? Present (Fisher, 1903). 1915 Mar. FFS 1 Seen hovering over ship while anchoring ( ~ u n t e r , 1915). 1923 June 25 Shark 1-2 Roosting only (Wetmore, ms . ) 1953 Oct. 31 Round few Overhead (Richardson, pers . corr . ) . 1963 June 9 Disappear- 1 Roosting (POBSP, 1963) . ing 1965 Aug. 25 L i t t l e Gin 1 Roosting adul t 9 (POBSP, 1965a). 1969 June 7 Disappear- 10 Roosting adul ts (POBSP, 1969). ing Table 75. Great Frigatebirdsbanded a t French Frigate Shoals Date Nestling Immature Subadult Adult Unknown Total 1963 June 1965 ~ u g . 1966 June Ju ly 1967 May June 1968 June 1969 June 0 0 100. 47 0 1 4 1 TOTALS 475 432 241 1,107 4 2,259 CATTLE EGRET Status Straggler; one specimen record. Observations Bubulcus i b i s - An adul t Cat t le Egret, which arrived a t Tern Island on 16 June 1967 (D.A. Brashear, pers. com.),was collected by Lewis on 20 June. When collected it was act ively feeding i n the Lepturus area jus t east of the main antenna f i e l d . I t s stomach was f i l l e d t o capacity with 15+ cr ickets and two grasshoppers. The Cat t le Egret was introduced t o a l l the Main Hawaiian Islands i n Ju ly and August 1959 when 105 individuals were released on various ranches ( ~ r e e s e , 1959; Udvardy, 1961b). The species has become well established in the Main Hawaiians. This record i s the f i r s t from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Specimens POBSP: USNM 497550, adul t 9 , ovary 12 x 6 m., la rges t ova - l m . , 303.5 gas., collected 20 June 1967 on Tern Island by Lewis. MALLARD Anas -platyrhynchos S t a t u s Occasional migrant; one s i g h t record. Observations Richardson (1954a) observed s i x i k l l a r d ducks on Tern I s l and during h i s 26 October t o 2 November 1953 v i s i t . This spec ies i s a l s o known from Laysan Island, Midway Ato l l , and the Main Hawaiian I s l ands (Munro, 1944; Bailey, 1956). GADWALL A x s t r e p e r a S t a t u s Accidental ; one s i g h t record. Observations Kr id ler (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) found a male Gadwall on the runway near t h e garbage dump a t Tern 1sl.and 7 December 1967. Although the b i r d was badly decomposed, the plumage was i n f a i r l y good condit ion, making i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c e r t a i n . This i s a new North- western Hawaiian I s l ands record. This species was recorded from Oahu and Molokai i n 1902 (Munro, 1944; Bryan, 1958) and Oahu i n 1967 (Anon., 196'7; Pyle, 1967) and in 1969 (Kaigler , 1969). PINTAIL Anas acu ta S ta tus Frequent migrant; a t leas- t fou r s i g h t records . Observations Richardson (1954a) observed one P i n t a i l duck on Tern Is land during h i s 26 October t o 2 November 1953 v i s i t , and found a long- dead female on h i s 18 December 1953 v i s i t t o Tern ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). POBSP personnel. and Kri.d!er (I~SJ'W~ 7966b) observed one immature o r a d u l t female P i n t a i l f l y i n g near Trig i s l a n d on 12 September 1966. It subsequently flew over the b a r r i e r reef and was not seen again . POBSP personnel found one ba t t e red carcass and a wing on 11 March 196'7 a t Tern Is land. Coast Guard personnel sa id t h a t 19 ducks, possibly P i n t a i l s , had a r r i v e d in e a r l y 1967 i n a f lock and a number had died shor t ly t h e r e a f t e r . This species has been repor ted from Midway, Laysan and Johnston A t o l l s , and t h e r e a r e many winter records from the Main Hawaiian I s l ands . DOMESTIC CHICKFN Gallus gallus S t a t u s Introduced; breed unknown; d id not e s t a b l i s h . Observations Henry (pe r s , c o r r . ) recorded 10 chickens on Eas t I s l a n d a t t h e U.S. Coast Guard LORAN S t a t i o n during September 1948. This i s a new record f o r French Fr iga te Shoals. RING-NECKEC PHEASANT Phasianus colchicus S ta tus Introduced; d i d not e s t a b l i s h . Observations Henry (pers . co rn . ) repor ted t h e introductj.on of a pheasant onto Eas t I s l and i n 1949. The b i r d l o s t i t s fea the r s , was sun- burned, and subsequently died. AM3RICAN COOT m i c a americana S t a t u s S t ragg le r ; one specimen record. Observations A dead coot was found 11 August 1965 by POBSP personnel on Tern Is land (Clapp and Woodward, 1968). The b i r d (dead f o r not over two days) was found i n low Tournefort ia and Pluchea on t h e n o r t h s ide of t h e runway over 100 f e e t from the beach, suggesting t h a t it had no t been washed up. The American Coot brkeds-on t h e - Main Hawaiian I s l a n d s ( ~ u n r o , 1944), but had not previous ly been recorded from the Northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands . POBSP: USNM 503194, a lcohol ic , adu l t , c o l l e c t e d 11 August -1965 on Tern I s l and by Amerson. GOLDEN PLOVER P l u v i a l i s dominica S t a t u s Common migrant; u sua l ly recorded a s s i n g l e s o r i n small f locks on t h e beaches. Most abundant during l a t e summer and f a l l ; a few b i r d s present throughout the yea r . POBSP maximum populat ion count 160 i n August 1965. Observations The Golden Plover was f i r s t recorded i n June 1891 by Munro (194lb), who found a few a t Tr ig I s l and in small f l o c k s . From then u n t i l t h e e a r l y 1950's t h e r e a r e only t h r e e records f o r t h e a t o l l . POBSP personnel on t e n v i s i t s from 1963 t o 1969 observed t h i s species on a l l i s l a n d s except a few small sandy i s l e t s . Tables 76 t o 80 summarize the da ta on Golden Plover f o r each i s l and a t French Fr iga te Shoals . Annual Cycle Golden Plovers a r e found throughout t h e year , even during t h e i r Northern Hemisphere summer breeding period. Observations a r e lacking f o r four months, but a v a i l a b l e d a t a i n d i c a t e a peak population i n l a t e summer and e a r l y f a l l . During t h i s migration the d a i l y populat ion may vary from day t o day due t o t h e a r r i v a l and departure of new b i r d s (Fig. 6 8 ) . Ecological D i s t r i b u t i o n The Golden Plover i s recorded from a l l major i s lands , includ- ing La Perouse Pinnacle, and most of the smal ler sand i s l e t s except Bare, Disappearing, Mullet, Near and Shark I s l a n d s . Although it i s commonly seen a s s ingles , o r i n small f locks , on t h e beaches, it i s occasional ly seen i n t h e vegetated a reas . On Tern I s l and it f r e - quents t h e runway, e spec ia l ly when r a i n puddles e x i s t . On La Perouse Pinnacle it has been observed on the c l i f f ledges a t var ious he ights . Ruddy Turnstone n ~ o l d e n Plover Figure 68. D a i l j shorebird populat ion f l u c t u a t i o n a t Tern I s l and , August - September 1966. Banding and Movement Four adul t Golden Plovers have been banded by POBSP personnel: 1 in June 1963, 2 i n August 1965, and 1 in August 1966. No inter- island movement has been noted. Table 76. Observations of Golden Plover a t East Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1923 June 22-23 20 - Ca. 20 seen (Wetmore, ms. ) . 1936 Oct. 25-?6 7 On beaches and inland (U.S. Navy Photo 80 G 410123 and 80 CF 79793-8). 1953 Oct. 31 few (~ ichardson , pers. corr . ) . Dec. 19 few (~ichardson, 195kb) . 1954 Mar. 20 few (~ ichardson , 1954b) 1963 June 7-11 10 Present d a i l y (POBSP, 1963 ) . 1964 Sept. 2'7 47 Actual count (POBSP, 1964). 1965 Aug. 5-10, 15 Present d a i l y (POBSP, 1965a). 23 -28 1966 Mar. 23 6 (BSFW, 1966a). June10-14, 5 Beaches and edge of vegetation (POBSP, 16-21 1966a). Aug. 18-24 2-12 Population fluctuated dai ly (POBSP, 1966b). Sept. U, 6 On beach (BSFW, 1966b). 26-30 1967 Mar. 11-12 11 Actual count on 11th (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b ) . May 26-31, 10 Frequented beaches and vegetated areas June 9-13 (POBSP, 1967a). Sept. 17 16 Actual count (BSFW, 1967b). Table 76. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1968 June 6-11, 5 ' On beaches (POBSP, 1968a) 14-16, 25 1969 June 7-10, 10 On beach (POBSP, 1969). 21 Aug. 2 , 30 3 seen 30 ~ u g u s t (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 77. Observations of Golden Plover a t Tern Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1923 June 24 3 3 passed i n northern f l i g h t ; few i n breeding plumage (Wetmore, ms. ) . 1953 Oct. 26- 14 Large accumulations of wings of birds Nov. 2 k i l l ed by 4-5 ca t s (Richardson, 195ka). Dec. 18 few (Richardson, 1954b). 1954 Mar. 20 few (Richardson, 1954b). 1958 May 26 few Not abundant ( ~ a r n e r , 1958). 1960 0ct . 19 25k 3 dead (HDIDFG, 1960b). 1961 Mar. 3, 5 10 ( ~ F G , 196lb). Sept. 2 12 On a i r s t r i p (Udvardy and Warner, 1964; HDFG, 1961a) . 1963 ~ u n e 11 30 On runway (POBSP, 1963). 1964 Sept. 27-28 15 Actual count (POBSP, 1964). 1965 Aug. 4-5, 5 0 Population increased during August (POBSP, 10-12, 17- 1965a). 23, 28-29, 31-Sept. 2 1966 Mar. 21-24 3 Table 77. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1966 June 8-10, 23 14-16> 21- 23, 29- J u l y 1, 4 -7 Aug. 11-15, 12-45 17-18, 24- 26, 30- 1967 Mar. 11-14 May 25-26, 31-June 2, 7-9, U-15, 18, 20-22 Sept . 16 Dec. 7-11 1968 Mar. 11-15 May 29- June 6, 11- 14, 16-17, 19-20, 22- a' 1969 Feb. 22-24 Mar. 23 June 2-4. Aug. 21- Sept . 6 Population s l i g h t l y increased l a t e June (POBSP, 1966a). Population increased i n September (POBSP, 1966b). Observed on runway and near bar racks on 11th (BSFW, 1967a; EOEiSP, 196713). Populat ion showed s l i g h t increase dur ing l a t e June (POBSP, 1967a). Actua l count (BSFW, 1967b). A l l i n winter plumage; along edges of a i r s t r i p ; a t r e a r ofmess h a l l feeding on food sc raps (POBSP, 1968b). Populat ion f l u c t u a t e d ; frequented run- way (POBSP, 1968a) . Actua l count (BSFW, 1969a Actua l count (BSFW, 19691, Frequented runway and lagoon beach (POBSP, 1969). Seen 26 August (BSFW, 19692). Table 78. Observations of Golden Plover a t T r i g I s l and Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Remarks and References June 1-3 few Oct. 28 - Mar. 20 few Sept . 27 3 June 10-23, 3 J u l y 1, 3-4 Aug. 13-14, p resen t Sept . 4, 1 2 Mar. 13-14 2 June 2, 8- 5 9, 19-20 June 6, 11, 3 22, 24-25 June 3, 14, 0 23 -24 I n small f l o c k s (Munro, l 9 4 l b ) . Not repor ted (Richardson, 1954a). Small numbers (Richardson, 1954b). Small numbers ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). Actua l count (POBSP, 1964). Mainly on beaches (POBSP, 1965a). Beaches and in land a r e a s (POBSP, 1966a). No a d d i t i o n a l d a t a (POBSP, 1966b). On beach 13 March (BSM, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). Beaches and vegeta ted a r e a s (POBSP, 1967a). On beach (POBSP, 1968a) . ~ o t p re sen t (POBSP, 1969). Seen 23 August (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 79. Observations of Golden Plover a t Whale-Skate I s l and Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Remarks and References 1953 Oct. 28 0 Not repor ted (Richardson, 1954a). ~ e c . 19 few Small numbers (Richardson, 1954b). 1954 Mar. 20 few Small numbers ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b) Table 79. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1963 3une 12-15 3-5 Presen t d a i l y (POBSP, 1963). 1964 Sep t . 27 3 Actua l count (POBSP, 1964). 1965 Aug. 17, 50 Mainly on beaches (POBSP, 1965a) 29-Sept. 1 1966 Mar. 22 14 (BSFW, 1966a) . June 10, 5 -10 Beaches and vegeta ted a r e a s (POBSP, 23-July 3 1966a). Aug. 15-17, present No a d d i t i o n a l d a t a (POBSP, 1966b). Sep t . 4 Sept . 13 present (BSFW, 1966b). 1967 Mar. 14 8 Foraging on beach (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b ) . June 2-7, 10 On beaches and vegeta ted a r e a s (POBSP, 15-19 ' 1967a ) . Sept . 17 9 Actua l count (BSFW, 1967b) 1968 June 6, 5 On beach wi th Ruddy Turnstone (POBSP, 16-25 1968a). 1969 Feb. 23 1 (BSFW, 1969a). June 3, 0 Not observed (POBSP, 1969). 16-20, 22 Table 80. Observations of Golden Plover on o t h e r i s l ands a t French F r i g a t e Shoals Population Date of Survey I s l and Estimate Remarks and References 1953 Oct. 31 Round few ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , pers . c o r r . ) . Oct. 3 1 La Perouse 6-12 On rocky ledges (Richardson, 1954a, pe r s . c o r r . ) . Dec. 19 Gin few ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). Table 80 , ccontinued) Population Date of Survey I s l a n d Estimate Remarks and References 1953 Dec. 19 1954 Mar. 20 Mar. 20 1965 Aug. 7 Aug. 25 Aw. 25 1966 Mar. 3 1967 June 9 June 9 June 12 L i t t l e Gin L i t t l e Gin Gin La Perouse L i t t l e Gin Gin G i n Gin L i t t l e Gin La Perouse SEMIPALMATED PLOVER S t a t u s few few few 5 1 0 5 - 1 2 2 Accidenta l ; one s i g h t record. Observations ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). (Richardson, 1954b). On both rocks (POBSP, 1965a). Ac tua l count (POBSP, 1965a). A c t u a l count (POBSP, 1965a). Not repor ted (BSFW, 1966a). On beach (POBSP, 1967a). On beach (POBSP, 1967a). On l i t t l e rock (POBSP, 1967a). Charadrius semipalmatus Kr id l e r (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) observed a Semipalmated Plover along t h e south beach a t t h e e a s t end of Tern I s l and on 7 December 1967. This i s a f i rs t record f o r t h i s spec ie s a t French F r iga te Shoals . A Semipalmated Plover was c o l l e c t e d a t Midway A t o l l on 2 6 August 1967 and another was seen on 30 A p r i l 1967 by POBSP personnel. Others have been seen i n t h e m i n Hawaiian I s l ands : Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii (Clapp and Woodward, 1968; Mull, 1969; and Donaghho, 1969). BRISTLE-THIGmD CURLEW Nmenius t a h i t i e n s i s S t a t u s Gammon migrant ; u sua l ly recorded a s s i n g l e s ; f r equen t s both beach and inland a r e a s . Most abundant i n summer. POBSP maximum count 5 i n August and September 1966. Observations Wetmore (ms.) i n June 1923 was the f i r s t t o record the Br is t le - th ighe .d Curlew. He observed 1 t o 2 on Tern Is land and 8 on Eas t I s l a n d . Thi r ty yea r s l a t e r Richardson (1954a, 195413, pe r s . c o r r . ) found a few during October, December and March. Although the re were seve ra l s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s i n the l a t e 1950's and e a r l y 1960's, none was observed. POBSP personnel recorded t h i s species on 8 of t h e i r 1 0 v i s i t s s ince June 1963. Tables 81 and 82 p resen t a l l ob- s e n a t i o n s made on the a t o l l . Annual Cycle This species , which breeds i n Alaska, has been recorded during e i g h t of t e n months of t h e year f o r which da ta a r e a v a i l a b l e . The population has always been low, with a maximum of 1 0 i n June 1923 ((wetmore, ms.). Most observat ions have been of s ing les , but during summer and f a l l mul t ip l e s igh t ings a r e common, e s p e c i a l l y on Tern I s l and . The population f l u c t u a t e s from day t o day, ind ica t ing the b i r d s move from i s l a n d t o i s l and i n t h e a t o l l . Ecological D i s t r i b u t i o n The Br is t le - th ighed Curlew p re fe r s Tern I s l and . I t a l s o f requents T r i g and Whale-Skate I s l ands , and, t o a l e s s e r ex ten t , Eas t . Brown Noddies on the l a t t e r i s l a n d s have been observed chasing curlews. This poss ib ly accounts f o r t h e curlews' pref- erence f o r Tern, where Brown Noddies no longer nes t . Most records were f o r vegetated a reas but on o c ~ a s i o n it has been seen on t h e Beaches. A t times t h e Br i s t l e - th ighed Curlew has been as soc ia t ed with Golden Plovers and Ruddy Turnstones. Specimens POBSP: USNM 495888, d, co l l ec ted 3 1 August 1965 on Whale- - Skate by Huber. on-POBSP: USNM 301044-46,?, d, d, c o l l e c t e d 22, 24 and 22 June 1923 by Wetmore. Table 81. Observations of Br is t le - th ighed Curlew a t T e r n T s l n n A Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and Referencee 1923 June 24-28 1-2 Seen d a i l y (Wetmore, ms.) . 1953 Oct. 26- 0 Not observed (Richardson, 1954a, pers . Nov. 2 corr . ) . Table 81. ( ~ o n t i n u e d ) Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1953 Dec. 18-19 1954 Mar. 20 1964 Sept. 8 1965 Aug. 4-5, 10-12, 17- 23, 28-29, 31-Sept. 2 1966 Mar. 21 June 8-10, 14-16, 21- 23, 29- Ju ly 1, 4-7 Aug. 11-15, 17-18, 24- 2 30- Sept. 16 1967 May 25-26, 31-June 2, 7-9, 13-15, 18, 20-22 1968 May 29- June 6, 11- 14, 16-1?, 19-20, 22- rl few few 0 4 1 2 1-5 3 3 1969 June 2-4, 11- 1 15, 25i26 Aug. 21- 1 Sept. 6 (Richardson, 1954b). (~ i cha rdson , 1954b). Not observed (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). Appeared mid-August JPOBSP, 1965a). (BSFW, 1966a). Seen per iodical ly (POBSP, 1966a). Population fluctuated from 0 t o 5 daily (POBSP, 1966b). Population constant (POBS?, 1967a). On runway and beaches (POBSP, 1968a). On runway (POBSP, 1969). Seen 26 ~ u g u s t (BSm, 19692) Table 82. Observations of Bristle-thighed Curlew on other islands a t French Frigate Shoals Population Date of Survey Island Estimate Remarks and References June 22-23 East ~ c t . 28 Whale Oct. 31 East Dec. 18-19 FFS Mar. 20 FFS June 12-15 Whale- Skate Sept. 27 FFS Aug. 16, Trig 29, 31 A . 11-17, Whale- 29-Sept. 1 Skate June 10, Whale- 23-29, Skate July 1-3 Aug. 18-24, East 26-30 Aug. 13-14 Trig Aug. 1 - 1 7 , Whale- Sept. 4 Skate Mar. 11-12 East Mar. 13, 14 Trig June 2, 8- Trig 9, 19-20 Sept. 17 Whale- Skate 8 1 2 few few 1 0 1 2 1 1 present present 1 1 1 3 (Richardson, 1954a, pers. corr. ) . 1 dying in tub of f resh water (Richardson, 1954a, pers . corr. ) . In small numbers on various is lands (Richardson, 1954b). In small numbers on various islands (Richardson, l954b j Seen on 15th (POBSP, 1963). Not observed (BSFW, 1964b; FOBSP, 1964 ) . Actual count (WBSP, 1965a). Seen i n vegetated areas (POBSP, 1966a). Seen twice, on 26th and 29th (POBSP, 1966b). No addi t ional data (POBSP, 1966b). No addi t ional data (POBSP, 1966b). On 12th (BSFW, 1967a; FOBSP, 196'7b). On 13th (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). Beaches only (POBSP, 1967a). Actual count (BsFW, 1967a). Table 82. (continued) Populat ion Date of Survey I s l and Est imate Remarks and Referencee 1967 Sept . 17 Eas t 1968 June 6, Whale-Skate 16-25 June 6, Tr ig 11, 22, 24-25 1969 Feb. 22 Tr ig Feb. 23 Whale-Skate June 6, Whale-Skate 16-25 June 6-11, Eas t 14-16, 25 Aug. 2 30 Eas t Aug. 24 Whale-Skate WANDERING TATTLER Actual count (BSFW, 196713). Inland and on beaches (POBSP, i968a) . Beach and in land a r e a s (POBSP, lg68a ) . Actual count (BSFW, 1969a) . (BSFW, 1969a). On beach (POBSP, 1969). Frequented beach a r e a (POBSP, 1969) . Seen 30 August ( B S ~ , 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Heteroscelus incanum S t a t u s Common migrant; u sua l ly recorded s ingly , but may be i n small f l o c k s of 2 t o 5 b i r d s o r a s soc ia t ed with Golden Plovers and/or Ruddy Turnstones. On a l l major i s l a n d s small numbers p resen t throughout the year ; s l i g h t i nc rease i n numbers during l a t e sum- mer. POBSP maximum count 15 i n 'August 1965. Observations The Wandering T a t t l e r was noted, probably on Tr ig I s l and , by Rothschild (1893-1900) and Munro (1941b) i n 1891. Small numbers were recorded over t h e yea r s on t h e four major sandy i s l a n d s . POBSP personnel recorded t h i s t a t t l e r on Eas t , Tern, T r ig and Whale-Skate I s l ands and on La Perouse Pinnacle between 1963 and 1969. Tables 83 t o 87 p resen t a l l observa t ions . Annual Cycle Small numbers a r e probably present throughout the year . Population es t imates ind ica te a s l i g h t population increase during t h e summer. The POBSP maximum count was 15 in August 1965; 12 were seen in June 1967. Ecological Di s t r ibu t ion The Wandering T a t t l e r is known from Disappearing, East , Tern, T r i g and Whale-Skate Is lands , and La Perouse Pinnacle. It possibly v i s i t s t he smal ler sandy i s l e t s but has not been recorded. This species f requents the beaches where it p r e f e r s the surf-washed l i t t o r a l zone. Occasionally it i s found on the upper beach c r e s t . On Tern I s l and it f requents the runway, while on La Perouse it occurs on t h e rocky ledges of the c l i f f s . This species may occur s ingly , i n small f locks ( 2 t o 5 ) , or in a s soc ia t ion with o ther shorebirds (mainly Golden Plover and Ruddy Turnetone). Banding and Movements One a d u l t Wandering T a t t l e r was banded by POBSP personnel in September 1966. No i n t e r i s l a n d movement involving t h e a t o l l i s known. NOn-POBSP: USNM 301022-23, 4, c o l l e c t e d 26 and 25 June 1923 by Wetmore. Table 83. Observations of Wandering T a t t l e r a t East I s land Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1923 June 22-23 1 (Wetmore, ms . ) . 1953 Oct. 3 1 - Not repor ted (Richardson, 1954a). Dec. 19 few (Richardson, 1954b). 1954 Mar. 20 few (Richardson, 1954b). 1963 June 7-11 1 Present d a i l y (POBSP, 1963). 1964 JULY 8 1 (BSFW, 1964a). s e p t . 8 1 (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). Table 83. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1965 Aug. 5-10, 2 Actual count (POBSP, 1965a). 23-28 1966 Mar. 23 1 (BSFW, 1966a). June 10-14, 1 Beaches only (POBSP, 1966a). 16-21 Aug. 18-24, 1-3 Population fluctuated from 1-3 da i ly 26-30 (POBSP, 1966b ) . Sept. 13 2 (BSFW, 19661,). 1967 May 26-31, 5 Frequented beaches (POBSP, 19678). June 9-13 Sept. 17 - Not reported (BSFW, 196713). 1968 June 6-11, 2 On beach (POBSP, 1968a). 14-16, 25 1969 June 5-10. 2 On beach (POBSP, 1969). 21 Table 84. Observations of Wandering Ta t t l e r a t Tern Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1953 Oct. 26- - Not reported (Richardson, 1954a). NOV. 2 Dec. 18-19 few (Richardson, 1954b). 1954 Mar. 20 few (~ ichardson , l954b). 1958 May 26 few Not abundant (Warner, 1958). 1960 Oct. 19 2-3 Seen on beaches (HDFG, 1960b). 1965 ~ u g . 4-5, 5 Present en t i r e period (POBSP, 1965a). . \ 10-12: 17-23> 28-29, 31-Sept. 2 244. Table 84. (continued) Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1966 June 8-10, 14-16, 21-23, 29-July 1, 4 -7 Aug. 11-15, 17-18, 24-26, 30- Sept. 16 1967 May 25 -26, 31-June 2, 7-9, 1'3- 15, 18,20- 22 Sept. 16-17 Dec. 7-11 1968 Mar. 11-15 May 29- June 6, 11- 14, 16-17, 19-20, 22- 27 1969 Feb. 22-24 Mar. 2'3 June 2-4. Population low a11 month (POBSP, 1966a). Population fluctuated from 1-4 da i ly (POBSP, 19661,). Population constant (POBSP, 1967a) . Not l i s t e d (BSFW, 196713). Present on 12th and 13th a t northern end (POBSP, 1968b). Observed on beach and runway (POBSP, 1968a). Not reported (BSFW, 1969a). Not reported (BSFW, 1969b). Observed on beach and runway (POBSP, 1969). Table 85. Observations of Wandering Ta t t l e r a t Trig Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1891 June 1-3 ? Present (Rothschild, 1893-1900; Munro, 1941b). 1953 Oct. 31 - Not reported (~ ichardson , 1954a). Table 85. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1953 Dec. 19 1954 Mar. 20 1964 Sept. 27 1965 Aug. 16, 29931 1966 Mar. 22 June 10, 2'3, J U ~ Y 1, 3 -4 A W . 13-14, Sept. 4, 12 1967 Mar. 13-14 June 2, 6- 9, 19-20 1968 June 6, 11, 22, 24-25 1969 Feb. 22 June 3, 14, 23-24 few few - 2 1 1 present 5 2 1 - 2 1 (Richardson, 1954b). (~ ichardson , 1954b). Not reported (BsFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). On beaches (POBSP, 1965a). (BSFW, 1966a). Beaches only (POBSP, 1966a). No addi t ional data (POBSP, 1966b) Actual count on 13th (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b ) . Beaches only (POBSP, 1967a). On beach (POBSP, 1968a). Not reported (BSFW, 1969a). On beach (POBSP, 1969). Seen 23 August (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 86. Observations of Wandering Ta t t l e r a t Whale-Skate Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1953 Oct. 28 - Not reported (~ i cha rdson , 1954a). D W . 19 few (~ ichardson , 1954b). 1954 Mar. 20 few (~ ichardson , 1954b). Table 86. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1963 June 12-15 1965 Aug. 11-17, 29-Sept. 1 1966 Mar. 22 June 10, 23-29, July 1-3 A%. 15-17, Sept. 4 Sept. 1'3 1967 Mar. 24 June 2-7, 15 -19 Sept. 17 1968 June 6, 16-25 1 - 5 1 2 present 1 2 2 - 3 - 2 Present each day (POBSP, 1963). Not reported (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). On beaches (POBSP, 1965a). ( B S ~ , 1966a). Beaches only (POBSP, 1966a). No addit ional data (POBSP, 1966b). (BSFW, 1966b). Actual count (BS~W, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). Beaches only (POBSP, 1967a). Not reported (BsFW, 1967b). On beach (POBSP, 1968a). None reported (BSFW, 1969a). On beach (POBSP, 1969). Table 87. Observations of Wandering Ta t t l e r on other islands a t French Frigate Shoals Population Date of Survey Island Est im. te Remarks and References 1923 June 3 La Perouse 2 (Wetmore, ms . ) . 1965 Aug. 7 La Perouee 1 On l i t t l e rock (POBSP, 1965a). 1969 June 6,13 ~a perouse 1 On ledge (POBSP, 1969). June 7 Disappearing 1 With Ruddy Turnstone (POBSP, 1969). RUDDY TURNSTONE Arenaria i n t e r p r e s S t a t u s Common migrant; u sua l ly recorded i n f l o c k s on t h e beaches. Most abundant i n sp r ing and during l a t e summer and f a l l ; a few b i r d s recorded during r e s t of t h e yea r . POBSP maximum population count 370 i n August 1965. Observations RothschiLd (1893-1900) and Munro (1941b) repor ted a few on Trig I s l and i n small f locks i n 1891. This species was seen i n small numbers on almost a l l i s lands by a l l subsequent v i s i t o r s . POBSP personnel found t h a t the number of Ruddy Turnstones v a r i e s considerably wi th in the year and a t s i m i l a r times i n d i f - f e r e n t years , but t h a t the re i s probably l i t t l e change i n the t o t a l number of b i r d s us ing t h e a t o l l (Tables 88 t o 9 2 ) . Annual Cycle The Ruddy Turnstone i s t h e most abundant shorebird on French F r i g a t e Shoals a t a l l seasons. Populat ion es t imates ind ica te a peak in September during the f a l l southward migrat ion and a poss ib le peak i n March during the spr ing northward migra- t i o n . During migrat ion the turnover of b i r d s from day t o day i s rapid . I n August 1965 the population increased a s t h e month progressed; however, i n August t o September 1966 the population d id not increase u n t i l September (Fig. 68 ) . F luc tua t ions i n number a r e most l i k e l y due t o b i r d s a r r i v i n g on and leaving t h e a t o l l , and not t o movement wi th in the a t o l l . A moderately-sized "summering" populat ion uses t h e a t o l l each year ; t h i s number i s f a i r l y cons tant . Ecological D i s t r i b u t i o n Ruddy Turnstones have been recorded on almost a11 i s l ands including La Perouse Pinnacle. They have not been found on small sandy i s l e t s such a s Bare, Mullet, Near and Shark I s l ands . 1923 June 22-23 1953 Oct. 31 Dec. 19 1954 Mar. 20 1963 June 7-11 1964 ~ u l y 8 Sept . 27 Ruddy Turnstones usua l ly a r e found i n small f locks , alone, o r associa ted with Golden Plovers . Although they p r e f e r sandy beaches, they v i s i t a l l p a r t s of the i s l a n d s . On Tern I s l and t h i s species is f requent ly seen on the runway, e s p e c i a l l y around f r e s h water puddles. On La Perouse Pinnacle they have been observed on t h e narrow ledges of the main rock, a s w e l l a s on t h e sur face of t h e smal ler rock. Banding and Movements Since June 1963, L? a d u l t s have been banded: June 1963 - 1, August 1965 - 7, August and September 1966 - 5 . Two of these were subsequently recaptured on t h e a t o l l . Eight a d u l t Ruddy Turnstones, a l l banded by POBSP personnel a t S t . George Is land, Alaska, have been captured a t French F r i g a t e Shoals. One was taken j u s t fou r days a f t e r being l a s t handled some 1,800 mi les .to the nor th . Appendix Table 8 g ives a d d i t i o n a l d a t a on these movements. Specimens POBSP: USNM 495908, o', c o l l e c t e d 31 August 1965 on Whale- - Skate by Huber (USFW band no. 712-06593 ) . Table 88. Observations of Ruddy Turnstone a t East I s l a n d Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1965 Aug. 5-10, 23-28 1966 Mar. 23 June 10-14, 16-21 30 few few few 10 17 130 25 9'4 3 (Wetmore, ms. ) . (Richardson, pers . c o r r . ) . (Richardson, 1954b). ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). Present each day (POBSP, 1.963). Actual count (BSFW, 1964a). Actual. count (BsFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). Mainly on beaches (P~BsP, 1965a). Actual count (BSFW, 1966a). Beaches only (POBSP, 1966a). Table 88. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and 'Ref erences 1966 ~ u g . 18-24, 44-94 Population fluctuated daily (POBSP, 26-30 l966b ) . Sept. U 43 On beach (BSFW, 196613) 1967 r . 11-12 48 Actual count on 11th (POBSP, 1967b; BSm, 1967a). May 26-31, 30 Frequented beaches (POBSP, 1967a). June 9-13 Sept. 17 93 Actual count (BSFW, 1967b). 1968 June 6-11, 8 On beach (POBSP, 1968a) 14-16, 25 1969 June 5-10, 5 On beach (POBSP, 1969). Aug. 22, 30 95 seen 30 ~ugust (BSFW, 1969~) Table 89. Observations of Ruddy Turnstone at Tern Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1923 June 24-28 1953 Oct. 26- Nov. 2 Dec. 18 1954 Mar. 20 1956 Feb. 11-21 1958 May 26 1960 act. 19 1 Seen daily (Wetmore, me.). 8 Present on runway and areas of sparse vegetation above the beaches (Richard- son, 1954a). few (Richardson, 1954b). few (Richardson, 1954b) 15 Frequented vicinity of mess hall (Svihla, 1957). few Not abundant (~arner, 1958). 100 Frequented area near main buildings (HDFG, 1960b). Table 89. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1961 Mar. 3,5 Sept. 2 1963 June 11 1964 Sept. 27-28 June 8-10, 14-16> 21- 23, 29- July 1, 4-7 Aug. 11-15, 15-72 17-18, 24- s, 30- Sept. 16 1967 Mar. 11-14 48 Sept. 16 3 Dec. 7-11 57 1968 Mar. 11-15 50 &Y 29- 12 June 6, 11-14, 16- (wFG, 1961b). On margin of island (HDFG, 1961a; Udvardy and Warner, 1964). On runway (POBSP, 1963). Actual count (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). Population increased during August (POBSP, 1965a). (BSFW, 1966a). Population low a l l month (POBSP, 1966a). Population increased i n September (POBSP, 1966b ) . On runway near barracks on 11th (POBSP, 19671,; BSm, 1967a). Population f a i r l y constant a l l month (POBSP, 1967a). I n f locks (up t o 17) on a i r s t r i p , around barracks, and on beaches (POBSP, 1968b). On runway, beaches and vegetated areas (POBSP, L968a). Table 89. (continued) Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References Mar. 23 Ac tua l count (BsFW, 1969b). June 2-4, 10 on runways (POBSP, 1969). 11-15. ~ u g . 21- 9 Seen 26 August (BSFW, 19692). Sept . 6 Table 90. Observations of Ruddy Turnstone a t Tr ig I s l and Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Remarks and References 1891 June 1-3 few In small f l o c k s ( ~ o t h s c h i l d , 1893- 1900; Munro, 1941b). 1953 Oct. 28 few ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954a, pers . c o r r . ) . Dec. 19 few (Richardson, 1954b). 1954 Mar. 20 few (Richardson, 1954b). 1964 Sept . 27 45 Ac tua l count (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). 1965 ~ u g . 16, 50 On beaches (POBSP, 1965a). 29, 3 1 1966 June lo, 5 Beaches only (POBSP, 1966a). 23, Ju ly 1, 3 -4 Aug. 13-14, present No a d d i t i o n a l d a t a (POBSP, 1966b). Sept . 4, 1 2 Sept . i 2 25 On beaches (BsFW, 1966b). 1967 Mar. 13-14 4 1 Ac tua l count on 13th (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b ) . June 2, 8- 5 Beaches only (POBSP, 1967a) . 9, 19-20 Table 90. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1967 ~ e p t . 17 102 (BSFW, 1967b). 1968 June 6, 5 On beach (POBSP, 19683). 11. 22. 1969 Feb. 22 12 (BSFW, 1969a). J u n e 3 , 1 4 , 5 On beaches and inland (POBSP, 1969). 23 -24 Aug. 23, 27 20 Seen 23 August (BSm, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 91. Observations of Ruddy Turnstone a t Whale-Skate Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1953 Oct. 28 Dec. 19 1954 Mar. 20 1963 June 12-15 1964 sept . 27 1965 Aug. 11-17, 29-Sept. 1 1966 Mar. 22 June 10, 23-29, July 1-3 AM. 15-17, Sept. 4 1967 Mar. 14 June 2-7, 15-29 few few few 15 -20 145 1-50 34 5-10 present 34 15 (~ ichardson , 1954a, pers . corr . ) . (Richardson, 1954b). (~ ichardson , 1954b). Present each day (POBSP, 1963). Actual count (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). Large flocks on beaches (POBSP, 1965a). (BSFW, 1966a). Beaches only (POBSP, 1966s). No addi t ional data (POBSP, 1966b). Actual count (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). Beaches only (POBSP, 1967a). Table 91. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1968 June 6, 1 3 On beaches (POBSP, 1968a). 16-25 1969 Feb. 23 10 (BSFW, 1969a). June 3 , 9 On beaches (POBSP, 1969). 16-20, Table 92. Observations of Ruddy Turnstone on o the r i s l a n d s a.t French F r i g a t e Shoals Populat ion Date of Survey I s l a n d Est imate Remarke and References 1923 June 22 1953 Oct. 31 Oct. 31 Dec. 19 Dec. 19 Dec. 19 1954 Mar. 20 Mar. 20 1964 Sept . 27 1965 Aug. 7 Aug. 25 Aug. 25 1966 Mar. 23 Sept . 4 Round 1 Round few La Perouse 4-8 Gin few L i t t l e Gin few La Perouse few L i t t l e Gin few Gin few La Perouse 1 LaPerouse 1 0 Gin 10 L i t t l e Gin 50 Gin 1 La Perouse present Col lec ted (Wetmore, ms . ) . (Richardson, pe r s . c o r r . ). ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , pere . c o r r . ) . (Richardson, 1954b). (Richardson, 1954b). ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). (Richardson, 1954b). ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). Actua l count (POBSP, 1964). On both rocks (POBSP, 1965a). On beaches (POBSP, 1965a). Large f locks (POBSP, 1965a). ( B S ~ , 1966a) . No a d d i t i o n a l da t a (POBSP, 1966b). Table 92. (cont inued) Population Date of Survey I s l a n d Estimate Remarks and References 1967 June 9 June 9 June 1 2 1968 June 7 1969 June 7, 2 1 June 7, 21 June 7 SANDERLING S t a t u s Gin L i t t l e Gin La Perouee Gin Gin L i t t l e Gin Disappear- i n g 5 On beach (POBSP, 1967a) . 5 On beach (POBSP, 1967a). 5 On l i t t l e rock (POBSP, 1967a) 3 On beach (POBSP, 1968a). 1 On beach (POBSP, 1969). 1 On beach (POBSP, 1969). 1 On beach (POBSP, 1969) Crocethia a l b a - Common migrant ; u sua l ly found along t h e beaches a s s ing le s , o r i n a s s o c i a t i o n with o t h e r shorebi rds . A few b i r d s recorded dur ing a l l months ( t e n ) f o r which da ta a r e a v a i l a b l e ; s l i g h t population increase i n spr ing and f a l l . POBSP maximum population count 9 in March 1967. Observations The f i r s t record was made by Wetmore (ms.) who c o l l e c t e d one on 25 June 1923 a t Tern I s l and . T h i r t y yea r s e lapsed before it was next recorded by Richardeon (1954a, 1954b, p e r s . co r r . ) , who found it on East , Round and Tern I s l ands i n October 1953. Svih la (1957) saw one i n mid-February 1956 and Woodside (IIDFG, 1960b, 1961a) found Sanderl ings in October 1.960 and September 1961 ( see a l s o Udvardy and Warner, 1964). Sanderlinge have been recorded on e i g h t of the t e n POBSP v i s i t s s ince June 1963. BSFW personnel have a l s o recorded them on most of t h e i r 1964 t o 1969 v i s i t s . Tables 93 and 94 present a l l observat ions of t h i s spec ie s a t French F r i g a t e Shoals . Annual Cycle This Northern Iiemisphere circumpolar breeder i s recorded on t h e a t o l l during a l l t e n months f o r which da ta a r e a v a i l a b l e . Most observat ions a r e of s i n g l e s o r of l e s s than fou r b i rds , but during f a l l 1953 and spr ing 1967 up t o 9 i n a f l o c k were seen. The population on any i s l a n d f l u c t u a t e s d a i l y ; a l though some ind iv idua l s seem t o p r e f e r c e r t a i n i s l ands , they may v i s i t o the r nearby i s l ands i n t h e a t o l l . Ecological D i s t r i b u t i m The Sanderl ing has been recorded from Disappearing, Eas t , Round, Tern, T r ig and Whale-Skate I s l a n d s and, i n time, it probably w i l l be recorded from a l l i s l a n d s i n the a t o l l . It f requents t h e beaches, but on Tern I s l and it a l s o i n h a b i t s t h e runway, e s p e c i a l l y around r a i n puddles . It occurs s ing ly , i n small f locks , o r assoc ia ted with o the r shorebirds (mainly Ruddy Turnstone and Golden Plover, and sometimes Wandering T a t t l e r ) . m: USNM 543437, 0 , c o l l e c t e d 20 June 1967 on Tr ig by Lewis. Non-POBSP: USNM 301031, d, c o l l e c t e d 25 ,June 1923 on Tern by Wetrnore. Table 93. Observations of Sander l ing a t Tern I s l and Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1923 June 24-28 1 Col l ec t ed on 25th; a lone on beach (Wetmore, ms . ) . 1953 Oct. 26- 10 ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954a). NOV. 2 Dec. 18-19 - Not r epor t ed ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). 1954 Mar. 20 - Not repor ted (Richardson, 1954b). 1956 Feb. 11-21 1 Only 1 observed (Svih la , 1957) 1960 0 c t . 19 2 On south beach (HDFG, 1960b). 1961 Sept . 2 1 Presen t on margin of i s l a n d (HDFG, 1961a; Udvardy and Warner, 1964). Table 93. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Remarks and References 1966 Mar. 21 June 8-10, 14-16, 21- 23, 29- Ju ly 1, 4-7 A u g . 11-15, 17-18, 24- g, 30- Sept. 16 May 25- June 2, 7-9, 13- 15, 18, 20-22 Sept. 16 Dec. 7-11 1968 Mar. 11-15 &Y 29- June 6, 11-14, 16- 17, 19-20> 22-27 1969 Feb. 22-24 Mar. 23 June 2-4, 11-15, 25 -26 Appeared l a t e August (POBSP, 1965a). Observed on runway and beaches (BOBSP, 1966a) . Population fluctuated from 0-3 da i ly (POBSP, 1966b). 6 seen on runway feeding 11 March; 9 on runway and beaches 14 March (BSFW, 1967a ; POBSP, 1967b) . Population constant during period (P~BSE, 1967a). (BSFW, 1967b). Observed on 7 t h (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . On southeast beach (POBSP, 1968b). On runway and beach, often with Ruddy Turnstones (POBSP, 1968a). (BSFW, 1969a). Actual count (BSFW, 1969b). Present on 12th (POBSP, 1969). Table 94. Observations of Sanderling on other islands at French Frigate Shoals Population Date of Survey Island Estimate Remarks and References 1953 Oct. 31 East few (Richardson, pers . corr. ) . Oct. 31 Round few (Richardson, pers . corr. ) . Dec. 18-19 FFS - Not reported (Richardson, 1954b). 1954 Mar. 20 FFS 1 Not reported (Richardson, 1954b). 1963 June 12-15 Whale-Skate 3 Seen 13th-15th (POBSP, 1,963) 1966 Mar. 22 Whale-Skate 1 (BSFW, 1966a). Aug. 15-17, Whale- present No additional data (PoBSP, 1966b). Sept. 4 Skate Sept. 13 Whale-Skate 1 (BSFW, 1966b). 1,967 ~ a r . 4 Whale-Skate 3 On beach (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b ) . Mar. 11-12 East 1 ~bserveh briefly on 11th; alighted for a few seconds before flying northeast (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, l96'i'b . Mar. 13-14 Trig 3 Observed along beach (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). May 26-31 East 3. Frequented beaches (POBSP, 1967a). June 9-13 June 2-7, Whale-Skate 1 Beaches only (POBSP, 1967a) 15 -19 June 2, Trig 1 Beaches only (POBSP, 1967a) 8-9,1920 Sept. 1'7 Whale-Skate 3 Observed (BSFW, 1967b). 1968 June 6, Whale-Skate 3 On beaches (POBSP, 1968a). 16-25 June 6, Trig 1 On beaches (POBSP, 1968a). 11, 22, 24 -25 1969 June 7 Disappear- 1 On beach (POBSP, 1969) ing RING-BILLEE GULL delawarensis Status Straggler; one s ight record. Observations Hackman (POBSP, 1967b) and Kridler (BSFW, 1967a) observed a Ring-billed Gull in f i r s t winter plumage f lying around Trig Island and on the beach of Whale-Skate Island on 13 and 14 March 1967. Attempts t o co l l ec t it fa i led . This i s a new sight record for French Frigate Shoals. This species had pre- viously been recorded from Kure Ato l l and Pearl and Hermes Reef (Clapp and Woodward, 1968), a s well as from the Main Hawaiian Islands (Munro, 1944). WESTERN GULL - Larus occidentalis Status Straggler; one sight record. Observations Richardson (1954a) observed one Western Gull a t Tern Island between 26 October and 2 November 1953 (see a l so Udvardy, 1961b). No other records ex i s t f o r t he Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Although t h i s species was introduced several times t o Hawaii ( ~ o n o l u l u and Hilo), it never became established (Caum, 1933). GLRUCOUS -WINGED GULL - Lams glaucescens Status I r regular winter v i s i t o r ; two records. Observations A Glaucous-winged Gull i n f u l l adul t plumage was observed repeatedly on the lagoon south of Tern Island and west of Trig Island on 19 and 20 March 1954 by Richardson (1954b). It l a t e r accompanied the USCGC Buttonwood south of the a t o l l fo r two days. An immature Glaucous-winged G u l l , f i r s t observed 6 June 1968, was collected ll June 1968 by Amerson a t Trig Island. A t one point the bird, which was i n very worn plumage, was harassed by several Brown Noddies and an adul t female Great Frigatebird t o such an extent t ha t it was forced t o land on the water near the island. This i s a new specimen record for French Frigate Shoals. The Glaucous-winged Gull h a s been co l l ec ted on most of the Main Hawaiian I s l ands , where it i s a frequent v i s i t o r . Clapp and Woodward (1968) l i s t a l l known records f o r t h e Northwestern Hawaiian I s l a n d s ; S ib ley and McFarlane (1968) d i scuss i t s d i s t r i b u t i o n i n the c e n t r a l Pac i f i c . Specimens POBSP: USNM 544979, immature, co l l ec ted 11 June 1968 on - Trig I s l and by Arnerson. FRANKLIN'S GULL Larus pipixcan - S t a t u s S t ragg le r ; one specimen record . Observations The dr ied carcass of a F r a n k l i n ' s Gull was found by Amerson a t Tern Is land on 4 August 1965 (Clapp and Woodward, 1968; S ib ley and McFarlane, 1968). It was on the nor th s ide of the runway under t h i c k Pluchea, ind ica t ing t h a t it had not washed up on the beach. The g u l l had been molt ing i n t o a d u l t plumage when it died. Only four o ther records e x i s t f o r t h e Hawaiian Is lands : a specimen from Maui, two s i g h t records from Oahu, and an a d u l t taken two mi les off Kauai (King, 1959; Clapp and Woodward, 1968). The only o ther record from the c e n t r a l P a c i f i c i s from the Line Is lands (Sib ley and McFarlane, 1968). Specimens POBSP: USNM 496203, d r i ed carcass , co l l ec ted 4 August 1965 - on Tern I s l and by Amerson. SOOTY TERN S t a t u s Sterna f u s c a t a Abundant breeding species ; present usua l ly from mid-February through e a r l y October; absent during remainder of year . Nests on the ground, c h i e f l y i n a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h Tribulus, a t Eas t , Tr ig and Whale-Skate I s l ands . Previously nested on Tern I s l and , and poss ib ly on La Perouse Pinnacle. Maximum POBSP observat ions 250,000+ i n May and June 1967. Observations The Sooty Tern i s p resen t ly the most abundant spec ies . It was f i rs t repor ted during 1891 by Rothschild (1893-1900) and Munro (1941b), who reported thousand8 nes t ing a t Tern I s l and . Rothschild a l s o implied t h e i r presence on East I s l and . F i she r (1903) gave no est imate of numbers i n l a t e May 1902. I n 1915 Munter (1915) repor ted a smal l nes t ing colony, probably a t Eas t I s l and . Wetmore (ms, ) i n l a t e June 1923 repor ted many Sooty Terns on eggs, and young, a t Tern, Trig, Skate and Whale Is lands , and a few f l y i n g over East I s land. Very l i t t l e i s known about the populat ion between 192'3 and the mid-1950's. HDFG, BSFW, and POBSP personnel recorded the Sooty Tern i n increased numbers from the raajor i s l ands during the 1960 's . Annual Cycle Figure 69 i l l u s t r a t e s t h e Sooty Tern breeding period determined by observat ions and by in t e rpo la t ion of known i n - cubation and f l edg ing d a t e s . The a t o l l i s deser ted from mid- f a l l t o l a t e winter . Adults begin t o a r r i v e during e a r l y February ( ~ v i h l a , l957), with egg-laying commencing in l a t e February o r e a r l y March. Peak egg-laying i s during l a t e A p r i l and e a r l y May, with some eggs through e a r l y July. Hatching probably commences i n e a r l y A p r i l , with the peak in l a t e May and e a r l y June. Peak populat ions occur during l a t e spr ing and e a r l y summer. Most chicks f ledge during l a t e J u l y and August, with a few s t r a g g l e r s remaining i n t o e a r l y October. The major i ty of a d u l t s and immatures gene ra l ly leaves by e a r l y September. Figure 69. Annual cycle of Sooty Tern ** = eggs present ; +t = dependent young present ; - = non-breeding b i r d s present Ecologica l Di s t r ibu t ion Although Sooty Terns have been seen over a l l i s l ands a t French Fr iga te Shoals, breeding has occurred only on Eas t , Tern, Tr ig and Whale-Skate Is lands , and poss ib ly on La Perouse Pinnacle. Eas t Is land: East i s t h e major breeding i s l a n d f o r Sooty Terns a t French Fr iga te Shoals a able 95) . Their presence i n June 1891 was implied by Rothschild (1893-1900). F i she r (1903) i n l a t e May 1902, Munter (1915) during March 1915, and Wetmore (ms.) i n June 1923 each observed only a few. A low-level a e r i a l photograph taken 28 A p r i l 1933 p r i o r t o d is turbance of t h e i s l a n d by m i l i t a r y personnel shows no Sooty Terns. I n November 1935 and October 1936 a f t e r t h e " t en t c i t y " was b u i l t , U.S. Navy Depart- ment photographs (#CF 79793-8-10 and # 8 0 ~ 410122-410123, U.S. Nat. Archives, R.G. 80) reveal other seabird species nes t ing on the i s land but not Sooty Terns. In 1944 the U.S. Coast Guard es tabl ished a LORAN Trans- mi t t ing S t a t i o n and erected e i g h t Quonset huts on the west and s i x antenna poles on the e a s t por t ions . A photograph (Henry, pers . comm.) taken i n the spr ing of 1949 shows 1,000+ Sooty Terns with nes t s containing eggs i n the Lepturus and Tribulus on the e a s t port ion i n s p i t e of t h i s disturbance. I n 1952 the Coast Guard moved the LORAN Sta t ion t o Tern Is land and the Quonset huts, antenna poles, e t c . , were l e f t . During March 1961 Woodside and Kramer (HDFG, 1961b) found two colonies nest ing-- one southeast of the antenna pole area, and the other in the building a rea . I n June 1962 thousands were on, and f l y i n g over, the i s land (HDFG photographs, R1-308 and 309). In June 1963 POBSP personnel found 30,000 t o 40,000 Sooty Terns which covered most of t h e vegetated pa r t of the i s land. Since then, the colony has s t e a d i l y increased i n s i z e but suc- cess fu l breeding occurred only i n 1967 and 1968. Tern Island: Sooty Terns present ly do not breed here because of the U.S. Coast Guard a c t i v i t i e s a able 96). I n 1891 Munro (1941b) found them nes t ing on bare sand. Wetmore's photographs taken in 1923 show la rge numbers nes t ing on bare and over most of the i s land and i n associa t ion with Boerhavia and Lepturus. When the U.S. Navy s t a r t e d const ruct ion of the present-day i s l and i n mid-June 1942, the i s land was "populated by t ens of thousands of t e rns" (Woodbury, 1946). The colony was dispersed when the o r i g i n a l i s land was e n t i r e l y covered by dredging operat ions. U n t i l 1952, nothing i s known of attempts, if any, by Sooty Terns t o recolonize the i s l and . Photographs taken September 1943, A p r i l 1945 and March 1949 show none. During the spring of 1952, however, the re were many nes t s with eggs on the runway (Hawkins and Ensrud, pers. comm. ). During 1952 and 1953 Pr ice (pers . c o r r . ) r epor t s t h a t 'birds "covered the i s land; it was impossible t o walk without d is turbing them." Apparently the Coast Guard took a c t i o n and by l a t e May 1958 Warner (1958) noted only the few old-looking carcasses. Since then, Sooty Terns have been known t o a l i g h t only on a few occasions; t h e r e s t of the time they f l y overhead going t o and from t h e i r breeding colonies on other i s l ands within the a t o l l . Tr ig Is land: Small numbers usual ly breed here (Table 97) . Wetmore (ms.) reported 2,000 p a i r s i n 1923. WBSP personnel found Sooties nest ing during the breeding season each year except 1969. When nes t ing they u t i l i z e the Boerhavia and Lepturus area j u s t west of the large Tournefortia bush, a s well as the Boerhavia and Tribulus a r e a on the west t i p of the i s land. Whale-Skate Island: Sooty Terns presently breed in small numbers a able 98). In 1923 Wetmore (ms.) reported nesting on both Skate and Whale Islands, then separate. Richardson (1954b) found none i n 1954. Only 200 were nesting, with eggs and young, among Tribulus and Lepturus when POBSP personnel v i s i t ed in 1963. Nineteen sixty-seven and 1968 were the only r ea l ly successful nesting years from then through 1969. From 1965 t o 1968 there were two d i s t i nc t Sooty Tern colonies on Whale-Skate Island, each seemingly located a t the center of the or ig ina l islands. Other Islands: Sooty Terns f l y over and possibly a l i gh t on the other islands. A swir l of 1,000 birds was reported by Kridler (BSFW, 1967a) over La Perouse Pinnacle on 15 March 1967, but, since it was seen from a distance, it may well have been of Gray-backed Terns. One adul t Sooty Tern was recorded a t La Perouse by POBSP i n June 1969. Banding and Movements The POBSP banded 37,895 Sooty Terns (Table 99). Returns t o French Frigate t o t a l 2,400. In addition, 48 Sooty Terns banded a t other central Pac i f ic l o c a l i t i e s have been captured a t French Frigate Shoals: 35 from Johnston, 5 each from Laysan and Midway, and 1 each from Lisianski, Oahu and Palmyra. Twenty-one Sooty Terns banded a t French Frigate have been cap- tured a t other islands and a t o l l s : 14 a t Johnston, 3 a t Laysan, 2 a t Lisianski, and 1 each a t Midway and Wake. Additional data on these inter is land birds a r e given i n Appendix Tables 9a and 9. Specimens =: USNM 495874-75, unsexed, collected 23 August 1965 on East by Huber; USNM 495876-80, d, collected 27 August 1965 on East by Huber and Amerson; USNM 497938-40, unsexed, collected 10 June 1963 on East by Sibley; USNM 542922-24, d, 9, d, collected 31 May 1967 on East by Lewis. Non-POBSP: USNM 300587-89, d, 8, ?, collected 26 June 1923 by Wetmore; USNM 300590-91, 9, d, collected 25 June 1923 by Wetmore; USNM 300592-94, 0 , 9, d, collected 26 June 1923 by Wetmore; USNM 300595-98, 9, d, 9, 9, collected 25 June 1923 by Wetmore; AMNH 746719, d, col lected 2 June 1891 by Palmer; AMNH 746720-21, 9, d, collected 2 June 1891 by Palmer; BPBM 780, no data; BPBM 7017, egg, col lected June 1891 by Munro. Table 95. Observations of Sooty Tern a t East Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks and References 1891 June 4-5 ? Presence implied (Rothschild, 1893-1900). 1902 May ? Swarmed over i s l e t ishe her, 1903). 1915 Mar. 350 Nests with eggs (Munter, 1915). 1923 June 22-23 few Pass occasionally (Wetmore, ms.) . 1949 Spring 1, OOO+ 1961 Mar. 4 several thousand ~ 9 6 2 June thousands Sept. 2'7 3 1966 Mar. 23 40,000 June 10-14, 50,500 16-21 Many nests with eggs ( ~ e n r y , 1949 photo). 2 colonies (southeast shore-antenna pole area, building a rea) ; eggs present, no young (HDFG, 196lb). On and f lying over (HDFG Photos R1-308 and 309). Covered a l l of island; nests with 1,000's of eggs; young (100's) a t a l l stages (POBSP, 1963). 20,000 nests, young 2,000, some f lying (BSFW, 1964s). Immatures, 2 with broken wings (POBSP, 1964; BSW, 1964b). Only E. 100 chicks present, majority of adul t population roosting a t night (POBSP, 1965a). Ca. 19,000 nests, a l l with eggs; S. 5-6 nests per sq. yard (BSFW, 1966a). Nests with 500 eggs and 500 with chicks of a l l ages scat tered through colony (POBSP, 1966a). 100 chicks from hatchlings t o fledglings, a l so E. 25 f lying immatures; adul t roosting population doubled a t night (POBSP, 1966b). Breeding cycle jus t s ta r t ing , only g. 5,000 eggs present (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b ) . Table 95. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate 1967 May 26-31, 250,000 June 9-13 Sept. 17 16 1968 June 6-11 120,000 1969 June 5-10, 210,000 21 Aug. 2 30 300 Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 200,000 adul ts , 50,000 young, 10,000 eggs; f resh eggs t o fledglings (POBSP, 1967a). 8 adults, 8 f lying immatures (BSFW, 1967b ) . 42,000i breeders, 58 0002 non-breeders, 4' 20,000?: young, 1,000- nests with eggs; most young fledged by l a t e June (POBSP, 1968a). 200.000 adults. 100 nests with enns, -- , 1,000 young hatchlings t o fledglings (POBSP, 1969). Adults; seen 30 August (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 96. Observations of Sooty Tern a t Tern Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1891 June 1-3 thousands 1923 June 24-28 7,000 1942 June 14 thousands 1952 Spring numerous 1954 Mar. 20 1,000- 1,500 1956 Feb. 11-21 most numerous Nesting on bare sand; eggs and young of a l l stages present, some fledglings (Rothschild, 1893-1900; Munro, 1941b). 3,500 pairs ; 1,000-1,500 dead young on beach of Trig on 26 June thought t o have washed from Tern (wetmore, ms. ) . "Populated by tens of thousands of terns " (Woodbury, 1946). Many nests with eggs on runway (Hawkine, Ensrud, pers . corr . ) . High c i rc l ing flocks form over island in l a t e afternoon and evening; none on ground (Richardson, 1954b). Appeared every evening jus t before or a f t e r sunset over shallow lagoon; d i s - appeared about 0300 each morning (Svihla, 1957). Table 96. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1958 thy 26 few "Old-looking carcasses remained of the once p r o l i f i c colony ... r e l i c t s undoubt- edly of the successful campaign t o f r ighten or drive t h i s species from the is land " ( ~ a r n e r , 1958). 1961 Mar. 3, 5 3 Flew over (HDFG, 1961b). Sept. 2 1 Present in the a i r around island (~dva rdy and Warner, 1964). 1965 Aug. 4-5, occa- Observed over island and offshore (POBSP, 10-12, 17- s ional 1965a) . 23, 28-29, 31-Sept. 2 1966 Mar. 23 10 Flying overhead (BSFW, 1966a) June 8-10, occa- Observed f ly ing over island and offshore 4 6 , 2 - s ional (POBSP, 1966a). 23, 29 Aug. 1, 4- occa- 7 - 5 , s ional 17-18, 24- , 30- Sept. 16 1967 m y 25-26, occa- 31-June 2, s ional 7-9, U-15, 18, 20-22 1968 Mar. 11-15 2+ m y 29- occa- June 6, 11- sional 14, 16-17, 19-20, 22-27 1969 June 2-4, occa- 11-15, 25- s ional 26 Adults f ly ing over (POBSP, 1966b). Flying over island and offshore (POBSP, 1967a ) . Adults flew over island each day except 11th (POBSP, 1968b). Individual or small f lock flew over island (POBSP, 1968a). Adults f ly ing over (POBSP, 1969). Table 97. Observations of Sooty Tern a t Trig Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 26 4,000 1954 Mar. 20 1,500- 2,000 1966 Mar. 22 700 June 10, 1,500 23, July 1, 3 -4 Aug. 13-14, occa- Sept. 4, 12 s ional June 2, 8- 2,200 9, 19-20 1968 June 6, 11, 2,500 2 24-25 1969 Feb. 22 250: June 3, 14, occa- 23 -24 s ional 2,000 pairs , most on f resh eggs; tee June 24-26, Table 96 (Wetmore, ms . ) . Many on ground, no eggs (~ ichardson , 1954b) . Nests with eggs and young (POBSP, 1963). Adults c i r c l i ng or f ly ing over island only (POBSP, 1965a). Adults on ground, no nests (BSFW, 1966a). A l l adults , roosting only (POBSP, 1966a). Adults f ly ing over (POBSP, 1966b) No eggs on U t h , 15 f r e sh eggs on 14th; colony on west end (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967%). 1,500 adul ts , no eggs; 700 young, young almost fledged (POBSP, 1967a). 1,000t non-breeders, no eggs, 500i almost fledged young (POBSP, 1968a). Flying overhead, none seen on 23rd (BSFW, 1969a). Adults f ly ing over, no evidence of pre- vious colony (POBSP, 1969). Table 98. Observations of Sooty Tern a t Whale-Skate Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 26 250+* 125 pairs with eggs and young (Wetmore, ms.). June 26 1 , 6 0 ~ 800 pa i r s (Wetmore, ms. ) . Table 98. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References *. ' 1954 Mar. 20 0 None (~ ichardson , 1954b). 1963 June 12-15 200 Nests with eggs and young (POBSP, 1963). 1964 Sept. 2'7 3 Adults only (POBSP, 1964; BSFW, 1964b). 1965 Aug. 11-17, 2,000 10 young fledged by l a t e August (POBSP, 29-sept. 1 1965a) . 1966 Mar. 22 200 Most on ground, 1 egg found (BSFW, 1966a). June 10, 5,000 Nests with 20 eggs and 5 chicks; egg 23-29, laying increased l a t e June (POBSP, 1966a). July 1-3 Aug. 15-18, 3,000 15 chicks (10-21 days old), r e s t roosting ~ e p t . 4 +. 2 6 adul t s jus t east of cen t ra l portion (POBSP, 1966b). 1967 Mar. 14 150 No eggs, but birds were re luctant t o f l y and acted a s if ready t o lay; colony on north end (POBSP, 1967b; BSFW, 1967a). June 2-7, 4,200 3,000 adults, 100 eggs, 1,200 young a l l 15 -19 ages (POBSP, 1967a). Sept. 17 2 Adults overhead (BSFW, 196713). 1968 June 6, 5,500 + 1,4002 breeders, 3,600- non-breeders, 16-25 2002 nests with eggs, 500i young (some f ledgl ings) (POBSP, 1968a). 1969 Feb. 23 25 0 t Adults f lying overhead; possibly same birds over Trig on 22nd (BSFW, 1969a). June 3, 2,200 2,000 adults, few eggs, 200 young (POBSP, 16-20, 22 1969) . * Whale Island ** Skate Island Table 99. Sooty Tern banded a t French Frigate Shoals Date Adults Young Totals 1963 June 1,000 100 1,100 Aug . -Sept . 8,345 47 8,392 1968 May-June 100 5,300 5,400 Totals 25,948 11,947 37,895 GRAY-BACKED TERN Sterna lunata Status Uncommon breeding species; present during winter, spring and summer; usually absent during f a l l . Nests during spring and summer on East, Trig and Whale-Skate Islands, and on La Perouse Pinnacle; occasionally seen on other islands within the a t o l l . POBSP maximum population estimate 1,789* in June 1969. Observations Gray-backed Terns f i r s t were recorded by Fisher (1903) i n 1902. Wetmore (ms.) recorded t h i s species with young from Skate and Whale Islands (then separate) i n 1923. Nothing i s known of i t s s ta tus during the 1930's and 1940ts, but presumably it occurred a t l e a s t on the uninhabited islands. Although Richardson (1954a7 1954b) v i s i t ed a l l islands in 1953, he found Gray-backed Terns only once--at La Perouse Pinnacle in December. POBSP per- sonnel found t h i s species nesting a t East, Trig and Whale-Skate Islands, and La Perouse Pinnacle. It has a lso been observed roosting on, or f lying over, Disappearing and Tern Islands. Annual Cycle Gray-backed Terns a t French Frigate Shoals have a spring- summer breeding cycle ( ~ i g . 70) . Adults probably re turn in ear ly or mid-December a f t e r being absent during most of the f a l l . No observat ions have been made during January and the February 1969 v i s i t produced no record of t h i s species ; however, s i n g l e eggs were found twice i n March, so t h e species probably occurs i n February. Eggs have been observed a s l a t e a s e a r l y J u l y . Peak egg laying probably occurs i n A p r i l o r e a r l y May. Hatching begins by l a t e Apr i l , a s f l edg l ings have been ob- served i n e a r l y June. Most young f ledge by l a t e J u l y and August bu t some not u n t i l September. Figure 70. Annual cycle of Gray-backed Tern ** = eggs present ; u = dependent young p resen t ; - = non-breeding b i r d s present The population cycle a l s o coincides with the breeding cyc le . No a d u l t s and few immatures a r e present i n t h e f a l l . Adults r e - t u r n by mid-December and by March have nwnbered from 11 t o 104. The population peak usual ly occurs i n June, with numbers from 150 t o 1,789+ known. The population decreases i n August and only immatures remain i n t o l a t e September. Ecologica l Di s t r ibu t ion Although the Gray-backed Tern i s an uncommon breeding species , it nonetheless can usual ly be seen on t h e major i s l ands i n t h e a t o l l . Small numbers breed on th ree is lands--East , T r ig and Whale- Skate--and La Perouse. I n add i t ion , t h i s speciee has been known t o r o o s t on o r f l y over Disappearing and Tern Is lands . It b u i l d s no nes t , l a y s i t s s ingle egg on t h e bare ground, and, depending on the i s l and , usual ly nes t s i n a s soc ia t ion with Lepturus, Chenopodium, Tournefort ia , and sometimes Tr ibulus . Eas t I s land: POBSP personnel recorded the f i r s t Gray-backed Terns i n June 1963 (Table 1 0 0 ) . They were near the lagoon on the north midpoint of the i s l and near the o ld water tank. On suc- ceeding v i s i t s one t o four a d u l t s o r f l edg l ings were observed. Tr ig Is land: Richardson (1954b) observed Gray-backed Terns on n e s t s with eggs during h i s March 1954 v i s i t able 101) . POBSP personnel annually observed 15 t o 35 b i r d s and n e s t s on the lagoon s ide of t h e i s l a n d i n a s soc ia t ion with Lepturus. Whale-Skate Is land: I n 1923 Wetmore ( m s . ) found Gray-backed Terns nes t ing on Skate and Whale I s l ands , then separa te (Table 102) . Since 1963 POBSP and BSFW personnel observed up t o 400 a d u l t s and young. In 1963 b i r d s were found on t h e west end of the is land, with n e s t s in the Chenopodium-Lepturus a rea ; roos t ing occurred on the upper beach a r e a . I n June 1966 n e s t s were placed a t the west end ( i n a s soc ia t ion with Lepturus and Chenopodium) and toward the cen te r of t h e e a s t h a l f ( i n associa t ion with Chenopodium). As numbers of b i r d s increased in 1967, n e s t s and b i r d s were found s c a t t e r e d about the i s l and in small groups. Bi rds nested i n a s soc ia t ion with Lepturus, Chenopodium and Tournefort ia . Many nea t s were a c t u a l l y placed we l l under t h i c k vegetat ion; A t n igh t a d u l t s and f l edg l ings - roosted i n the nes t ing a reas o r on t h e ad jo in ing beach-areas. La Perouse Pinnacle: Gray-backed Terns were f i r s t recorded in December 1953 by Richardson (196413). POBSP personnel f i r s t observed it i n 1963; upon sca l ing the rock in June 1969, 1,500 birds, including 5002 nes ts , were found on t o p and on ledges (Table 103). Other I s lands : Although Gray-backed Terns probably f l y over o r roos t on o the r i s lands , they have only been recorded on Disappearing and Tern (Table 104). Banding and Movements Since June 1963, 389 have been banded: 23 a d u l t s in June 1963; 5 adu l t s , 15 n e s t l i n g s i n August 1965; 3 adu l t s , 42 nes t - l i n g s in June 1966; 5 n e s t l i n g s in August-September 1966; 103 adu l t s , 9 1 n e s t l i n g s i n June 1967; 3 a d u l t s , 9 n e s t l i n g s in June 1968; and 5 adu l t s , 85 n e s t l i n g s in June 1969. Three r e t u r n s have been taken on the a t o l l ; no i n t e r i s l a n d movement i s known. POBSP: USNM 495886, d, c o l l e c t e d 17 August 1965 on Whale- - Skate by Huber; USNM 543032-34, 9, 9, d, c o l l e c t e d 6 June 1967 on Whale-Skate by Lewis. Non-POBSP: USNM 300642-44, 0 , c o l l e c t e d 26 June 1923 by Wetmore. Table 100. Observations of Gray-backed Tern on East I s l and Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1963 June 7-11 6 1 f ledg l ing (POBSP, 1963). 1965 Aug. 5-10, 3 1 p a i r with a chick which f ledged during 23-28 e a r l y August (POBSP, 1965a) . 1966 Mar. 23 1 1 seen, no n e s t s found (BSFW, 19668). Table 100. (continued) Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1966 June 10-14, 1 1 f ledg l ing , no a d u l t s seen (POBSP, 16-21 1966a) . Aug. 18-24, occa- Adul t s seen f l y i n g over (POBSP, 1966b). 26 -3 0 s i o n a l 1967 Mar. 11-12 4 Adul t s observed dur ing af te rnoon (POBSP, 196713; BSFW, 1967a). May 26-31, 2 Adul t s flew low over i s l and d a i l y (POBSP, June 9-13 1967a). 1968 June 6-11, occa- Adul t s flew low over i s l a n d (POBSP: 14-16, 25 s i o n a l 1968a) . 1969 June 5-10, 2 Adults occas ional ly flew over (POBSP, 21 1969) . Table 101. Observations of Gray-backed Tern a t T r i g Is land Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1954 Mar. 20 24-30 8 n e s t s with eggs (Richardson, 1954b). 1966 June 10, 21 6 young from chicks t o f l e d g l i n g s 23, Ju ly 1, (POBSP, 1966a). 3 -4 Aug. 13-14, occa- ~ d u l t s f l y i n g over (POBSP, 1966b) Sept . 4 ,12 s i o n a l 1967 Mar. 13,14 15 No n e s t s observed (BSFW, 196'7a; POBSP, l967b) . June 2, 20 15 a d u l t s ; 3 n e s t s wi th eggs, 5 wi th 8-9, 19-20 ha tch l ings t o f l e d g l i n g s (POBSP, 1967a). 1968 June 6, 11, 19: 6 breeders , 10' non-breeders, no eggs, 22, 24-25 3 young ( a l l f ledged by 24th) (POBSP, 196th ) . 1969 Feb. 22 - Not repor ted (BSFW, 1969a) . June 3, 14, 35 20 breeders , 5 non-breeders; no eggs; 23 -24 10 young (POBSP, 1969). Table 102. Observations of Gray-backed Tern a t Whale-Skate Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1923 June 26 45* June 26 45** 1963 June 12-15 100 1965 Aug. 11-17, 44 29-Sept. 1 1966 Mar. 22 10 June 10, 235 23-29> July 1-3 Aug. 15-17, 25 Sept. 4 June 2-7, 400 15-19 1968 June 3, 16- 135t 20, 22 1969 Feb. 23 - June 3, 16- 2502 20, 22 15 pairs , with young full-grown or fledged (Wetmore, ms. ) . 15 pairs , with young full-grown or fledged (wetmore, ms. ) . 10-15 nests with eggs (POBSP, 1963). Immature (BsFW, l964b ; POBSP, 1964) . A l l 14 young fledged by l a t e August (POBSP, 1965a). 1 nest with egg (BsFW, ,1966a). Nests with 15 eggs and 35 young from hatchlings t o f ledglings (POBSP, 1966a). 15 adul ts , 10 immatures (POBSP, 1966b). Scattered over island in groups of 2- 10; only 1 egg found (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b) . 300 adul ts , 20 eggs, 100 young; eggs t o f ledgl ings; scattered over island in small groups (POBSP, 1967a). 60 breeders, 50r non-breeders, 5 eggs, 25 young (some f ly ing) ; a l l nests among Chenopodium bushes (POBSP, 1968a). Not reported (BSFW, 1969a). + 120 breeders, 80- non-breeders, 10 eggs, 50 young (some fledged); nests under Chenopodium (POBSP, 1969). (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . * Whale Island * Skate Island Table 103. Observations of Gray-backed Tern a t La Perouse Pinnacle Populat ion Date of Survey Est lmate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1953 Dec. 19 2-4 ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). 1963 June 10 5 0 Nesting? (POBS~, 1963) 1965 AW. 7 5 O+ Breeding s t a t u s not determined; probably n e s t i n g (POBSP, 1965a). 1967 June 12 350+ 300 a d u l i s ; ? eggs; SO+ young; colony l aca ted on nor th ledge (POBSP, 196'7a). 1969 ~ u n e 6, 1 ,500t 1,000 a?ul.ts, 500 n e s t s wi th young and 13 a few eggs (POBSP, 1969). Table 104. Observations of Gray-backed Tern on o t h e r i s l a n d s a t French F r iga te Shoals Popula Lion Breeding Date of Survey I s l and Est imate S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1902 May 28-29 FFS ? Present (F i she r , 1903). 1963 June 9 Disappear- 4 ~ o o s t i n g (POBSP, 1963) ing 1966 Aug. 11-15, Tern occa- Adult f l y i n g over (POBSP, 1966b). 17-18, 24- e i o n a l 26, 30- Sept . 16 1967 May 25-26, Tern 2 AdulLs f r e q u e n t l y f lew low over 31-June 2, i s l and i n v i c i n i t y of docks 7-9, 13-15, (POBSP, 196'7a). 18, 20-22 1968 May 29- Tern occa- Adult flew low over no r th po r t ion June 6, 11- s i o n a l (POBSP, 1968a). 14, 16-Y7, 19-20. 22- BLUE-GR4Y NODDY Procels terna ceru lea S ta tus Uncommon breeding species ; may be present year-round, but has only been recorded during spr ing and summer. Nests on ledges and i n holes on La Perouse Pinnacle during spr ing and summer. POBSP maximum populat ion count 6 i n June 1967. Observations Rothschild (1893-1900) saw a p a i r of odd t e rns , probably the Blue-gray Noddy, a t La Perouse i n 1891 (Table 105). F i she r (1903) observed t h i s species i n May 1902. He subsequently c o l - l e c t e d specimens a t Necker I s l and from which he described the Hawaiian race . Wetmore (ms.) observed 20 on La Perouse Pinnacle in June 1923. This species was not seen again u n t i l POBSP personnel saw one a d u l t f l y low over Tern I s l and on 2 June 1967. Others were subsequently observed by POBSP personnel a t La Perouse i n June 1967 and 1969. Five a d u l t s and one recently-f ledged ind iv idua l were seen on t h e nor th f ace of the t a l l rock i n 1967; they were roos t ing on, 2:: d f ly ing about, t he small ledges and holes i n t h e lower por t ion (10 t o 15 f e e t above sea l e v e l ) of the rock. Annual Cycle Very l i t t l e i s known about t h e annual breeding cycle of the Blue-gray Noddy a t French F r i g a t e Shoals. F isher (1903) thought t h i s species undoub-cedly nested t h e r e . Wetmore (ms.) d id not mention breeding. POBSP personnel observed a newly f ledged b i r d on La Perouse Pinnacle on 12 June 1967; t h i s f l e d g l i n g probably hatched i n mid-April and the egg was probably l a i d in mid-March. The assumed annual breeding cycle i s shown in Figure 71. Nothing i s known of t h e annual population cycle of the Blue- gray Noddy. It has not , however, been observed on t h e a t o l l during f a l l and winter . Figure 71. Probable' annual cycle of Blue-gray Noddy ** = eggs present ; ++ = dependent young p resen t ; - = non-breeding b i r d s present - J a n Feb. - Mar ****BHC*w ++++ Apr t+++++ May -- Jul t++ Jun Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Specimens POBSP: USNM 503638, unsexed, c o l l e c t e d 12 June 1967 on La Perouse by Amerson. Non-POBSP: USNM 300431-33, 9, co l l ec ted 2'7 June 1923 by Wetmore. Table 105. Observations of Blue-gray Noddy a t La Perouee Pinnacle Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1891 June 3 2 Seen (Rothschild, 1893-1900). 1902 May 28 ? Undoubtedly nes t ing on the t a l l rock (Fisher , 1903). 1923 June 27 20 (Wetmore, ms. ) . 1953 Dec. 19 - Not repor ted ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). 1966 Sept . 4 0 Not observed (POBSP, 1966b). 1967 June 12 6 5 adu l t s , 1 r e c e n t l y fledged young (POBSP, 1967a). 1969 June 6,13 1 Adult on ledge on 6 t h (POBSP, 1969). BROWN NODDY A= s t o l i d u s S t a t u s Common breeding spec ies ; present throughout the year , but lower numbers in autumn and winter months; breeding season may a l s o extend throughout t h e year , but peak season i s March through September. Nests a t East , L i t t l e Gin, Tr ig and Whale-Skate Is lands , and La Perouse Pinnacle; previously nested a t Round and Tern I s l a n d s . Roosts on o ther i s l a n d s . Maximum POBSP population 10,182 during June 1967. Observations Rothachild (1893-1900) recorded a few Brown Noddies on h i s 1891 v i s i t but d id not give i s l and names. I n June 1923 Wetmore (ms.) recorded l a r g e numbers nes t ing on East, L i t t l e Gin, Round, Tern, Trig and Whale-Skate I s l ands , a s we l l a s on La Perouse Pinnacle. POBSP personnel recorded t h e Brown Noddy on a l l v i s i t s from 1963 t o 1969. Annual Cycle The annual breeding cycle i s shown i n Figure 72 . Eggs and young a r e known from almost a l l months. Although a few n e s t s with eggs and young a r e known from mid-December, most b i r d s begin t o l a y by e a r l y March. Laying usual ly continues i n t o June, then decreases by August and September. I n 1966, however, egg production decreased t o 16 eggs i n June and then increased t o 450 eggs i n August and September. Although a few young have been recorded i n December and March, most hatch by June. Most f ledge by August and September, but some remain longer . The population cycle fol lows a somewhat s i m i l a r p a t t e r n f o r t h e Brown Noddy i s p re sen t throughout t h e yea r . A low period e x i s t s during t h e f a l l months with an inc rease dur ing l a t e winter and e a r l y spr ing . The peak populat ion i s reached by e a r l y summer. Figure 72. Annual cyc le of Brown Noddy ** = eggs p resen t ; ++ = dependent young p resen t ; - = non-breeding b i r d s present Ecologica l D i s t r ibu t ion The Brown Noddy has been recorded on almost a l l t h e i s l a n d s . Tt now n e s t s on East , L i t t l e Gin, T r ig and Whale-Skate I s l ands , and La Perouse Pinnacle, and previous ly nested on Round and Tern I s l a n d s . Nests a r e placed d i r e c t l y on t h e ground in open sandy a reas o r i n a s soc ia t ion with Boerhavia and Tr ibulus . Eas t I s land: Although more Brown Noddies a r e u s u a l l y recorded from here (Table 106) than from o the r i s l ands , Eas t has a smal le r nes t ing populat ion than Whale-Skate. Rothschi ld (1893-1900) r e - corded Brown Noddies on h i s 1891 v i s i t . He d i d not l i s t t h e i s l a n d s on which he saw t h i s spec ie s but probably observed it on Eas t s ince the favored anchorage i s nearby. I n 1923 Wetmore (me. ) observed 400 p a i r s , some with eggs ha tching . None can be seen i n photographs taken during t h e 1930 ' s and 1940's when m i l i t a r y per - sonnel occupied the i s l a n d . However, t h i s spec ies probably nes ted a s o t h e r spec ies nested success fu l ly . I n October 1953, two yea r s a f t e r t h e U.S. Coast Guard moved t o Tern Is land , Richardson (1954a, per s . c o r r . ) observed a few overhead and found s e v e r a l hundred dead, mostly f u l l y grown young; two months l a t e r he (1954b, pe r s . c o r r . ) found n e s t s conta in ing both eggs and young. POBSP personnel observed Brown Noddies on a l l nine t r i p e . Populations ranged from 300-350 i n March t o 5,300 i n June t o 1,000 i n August. The Brown Noddy nes te i n two l a r g e colonies- - one on each end of t h i s east-west o r i en ted is land--as we l l a s along the periphery of t h e lagoon s ide . Loosely cons t ruc ted n e s t s of dead grass , stems, f e a t h e r s and s h e l l s a r e s i t u a t e d on t h e ground and/or i n associa- t ion with Boerhavia and TribuLus. L i t t l e Gin Is land: Only few, a remnant of a once much l a r g e r breeding population, now nes t (Table 107) . Wetmore (m:: . ) observed 125 p a i r s with eggs (one ha tching) . Richardson ( p e r s . c o r r . ) observed none i n mid-December 1953. POBSP personnel have v i s i t e d t h i s sandy i e l e t f i v e t imes; n e s t s were found dur ing two out of t h r e e June v i s i t s . Round Is land: Wetmore (me.) found 150 p a i r s i n 1923 nes t ing i n as-th Boerhavia able 112). The i s l a n d i s apparent ly lower than i n 1923; h igh t i d e dur ing bad weather washes ac ross it and, a s a r e s u l t , t h e r e i s n e i t h e r vege ta t ion nor n e s t i n g except by t h e Blue-faced Booby. Tern Is land: Brown Noddies previous ly nes ted on Tern (Table 108) but, due t o i t s use by m i l i t a r y personnel s ince t h e e a r l y 19401s, none has nested r e c e n t l y . Wetmore (me .) found 500 p a i r s i n June 1923, a considerably smaller number than i n 1891. POBSP personnel recorded t h i e spec ie s inf requent ly on t e n v i s L t s t o Tern. An occas ional b i r d f l i e s over t h e i s l a n d or j u s t offshore on almost any day during s p r i n g and summer. Roosting b i r d s a r e p e r i o d i c a l l y observed a t n i g h t . T r ig I s land: Wetmore (ins.) observed 150 p a i r s in 1923 (Table 109) . Richardson (1954a, 1954b, and pe r s . c o r r . ) found only small numbere dur ing h i s t h r e e 1953-1954 v i s i t s . POBSP per- sonnel found t h i s spec ie s nes t ing , with eggs and young, each yea r s ince 1963. Brown Noddies n e s t only i n the vegetated por t ion , mainly i n a l a r g e colony on t h e open ground o r i n low Boerhavia and Tr ibulus loca ted a t t h e i s l a n d ' s west end c r e s t . Other n e s t s a r e s c a t t e r e d throughout t h e i n t e r i o r . Eggs a r e placed on t h e ground and nes t s , if anv. a r e loose lv cons t ruc ted of dead g ras s stems. s h e l l s . e t c . ", - - Many b i rds r o o s t i n t h e Tournefort ia and Chenopodium bushes, a ? we l l a s on t h e sandy beaches. Whale-Skate Is land: Whale-Skate i s t h e prime i s l a n d f o r nes t ing Brown Noddies (Table 110) . Wetmore (ms.) recorded 500 p a i r s on the then-separated i s l a n d s i n 1923. POBSP personnel observed them on a l l v i s i t s from 1963 t o 1969. Recent popula- t i o n s range from 0 i n February 1969 t o 5,125 i n August 1965 The Brown Noddy n e s t s throughout Whale-Skate i n small colonies loca ted i n patches of Boerhavia and Tribulus o r on t h e open ground. Eggs a r e l a i d e i t h e r on the bare ground, o r on a loose ly constructed nes t of g ras s stems, e t c . When roos t ing , they p r e f e r Tournefort ia t o Chenopodiwn; they a l s o use the sandy beaches. La Perouse Pinnacle: Wetmore (ms.) s ighted 800 p a i r s i n l a ( b e 1 1 1 ) Richardson (1954b, pe r s . c o r r . ) observed a few nes t ing in l a t e October but saw oniy th ree i n mid-December. I n 1963 POBSP personnel found 2,000-5,000, many with young. Since then t h e species has been recorded on s i x o r poss ib ly seven v i s i t s . Brown Noddies nes t on t h e many narrow ledges on a l l s i d e s and on the top . They use only f e a t h e r s and b i t s of seaweed on t h i s vegeta t ion- less , i s o l a t e d rock. Other I s lands : The Brown Noddy has been recorded roos t ing on a l l o the r i s l a n d s (Table 112). Banding and Movements Since June 1923, 5,548 Brown No~ddies have been banded. Table 113 p resen t s these age-c lass groups by month and yea r . Locally, 670 have been recaptured. I n addi t ion , 10 from other c e n t r a l P a c i f i c l o c a l i t i e s have been captured: 9 from Johnston and 1 from Necker. Seven b i r d s banded a t French F r i g a t e have been captured elsewhere: 4 a t Johnston, 1 a t Lis ianski , 1 a t Cape Lambert, New Guinea, and 1 a t sea . Appendix Tables 10a and 10b give complete d e t a i l s on Brown Noddies moving t o and from French Fr iga te Shoals. Specimens m: USNM 495902, 8, c o l l e c t e d 17 August 1965 on Whale- Skate by Huber; USNM 495903-04, ?, co l l ec ted 24 August 1965 on Eas t by Huber; USNM 497612-14, d, 9, d, c o l l e c t e d 3 1 May 1967 on East by Lewis; USNM 497931-34, unsexed, co l l ec ted 10 June 1963 on Eas t by Sib ley . Non-POBSP: USNM 300522-23, d, co l l ec ted 23 June 1923 by Wetmore; USNM 300524, 9, c o l l e c t e d 24 June 1923 by Wetmore; USNM 300526-27, 9, collected 26 and 25 June 1923 by Wetmore: USNM 300528-31, d, collected 26, 26, 26, and 23 June 1923 by Wetrnore; USNM 300659, 9, collected 22 June 1923 by Wetmore; USNM 300391- 93, 9, d, 9 , collected 23, 26, and 23 June 1923 by Wetmore; AMNH 747502 and 7475&, 9, collected 5 .June 1891 by Palmer; AMNH 747503 and 747505-06, 9, unsexed, unsexed, collected 2 June 1891 by Palmer; BPBM 793, 9, collected 5 June 1891 by Palmer; BPBM, egg, collected i n 1891 ( ? ) by Munro. Table 106. Observations of Brown Noddy a t East Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1891 June 4-5 1915 Mar. 1923 June 22-23 1953 Oct. 31 Dec. 19 Sept. 27 1965 Aug. 5-10, 23 - 28 1966 Mar. 2'3 June 10-14, 16-21 A u g . 18-24, 26-30 ? 600 800+ few 8-10 600- 1,100 1,000- 1,100 3 00 1,262 300-350 5,025 1,000 Nesting, young much smaller than those on Tern (Rothschild, 1893-1900). Nests with eggs only (Munter, 1915). 400 pairs, some eggs hatching (Wktmore, ms.). A few overhead; several hundred dead, mostly full-grown young (~ ichardson , 1954a; pers. corr . ) . Nests with eggs and young (Richardson, 1954b, pers. co r r . ) . 200 nests with eggs, 100 with young (POBSP, 1963). 300 nests, with eggs t o almost grown young (BSFW, 1964a). Mostly locals , counted 25-30 eggs (BsFW, 1964b ; POBSP, 1964) . 200 nests with eggs, egg laying continu- ing, 62 young (POBSP, 1965a). 122 nests, 2 new, 6 with chicks ( 2 fledg- l ings) , r e s t with eggs (BSFW, 1966a). 3 nests with eggs, 25 with chicks; mostly roosting adults, some courtship (POBSP, 1966a). 400 nests counted 25 August; 200 with chicks l e s s than 10 days, 25 chicks 10- 21 days, 5 over 21 days; remainder with eggs (POBSP, 1966b). Table 106. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1967 Mar. 11-12 390 45 nests, a l l but 7 with eggs; roosting population 300 (BSW, 1967a; POBSP, 196'7b ) . May 26-31, 5,300 5,000 adults , 200 eggs, 300 young; f resh June 9-13 eggs t o f ledglings, courtship (POBSP, 1967a) . Sept. 17 1,017 900 adults , 118 nests with eggs, 117 small downy chicks; nests placed among Boerhavia and Tribulus ( B S ~ , 1967b). Dec. 9 present A number observed (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 1968 June 6-11, 1,100i 600t breeders, 400t non-breeders, 2002 14-16, 25 eggs, lO0t young; f resh eggs t o fledg- l ings (POBSP, 1968a). 1969 ~ u n e 5-10, 2,050: 2,000? adults , few eggs, 50 young 21. (POBSP, 1969). Table 107. Observations of Brown Noddy a t L i t t l e Gin Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 24 25 0 125 pa i r s with eggs, 1 newly hatched young (Wetmore, m s . ) . 1953 Dec. 19 - Not seen (~ ichardson , pers. corr . ) . 1963 June 9 5't 5 nests l*iith egg, I+ with young (POBSP, 1963 ) . 1965 Aug. 25 100 Roosting only (POBSP, 1965a). 1966 Mar. 23 7 1 65 adul ts with 11 nests (6 with chicks) (ssliw, 1966a). 1967 June 9 27 25 young, no eggs, 2 young; small colony (POBSP, 1967a). 1968 June 7 20 Roosting adul ts (POBSP, 1968a). 1969 June 7, 21 0 Not observed (POBSP, 1969). Dec. 18 - Table 108. Observations of Brown Noddy a t Tern Island Population Date of Survey EstiUIate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1891 June 1-3 thousands Nests ( s l i g h t depressions i n grass bunches) with eggs and young of a l l stages ( ~ u n r o , 1941b). 1923 June 24-28 1,000 500 pa i r s (Wetmore, m s . ) . Not reported (Richardson, 1954b). 1966 Mar. 21-24 1 June 8-10, occa- 14-16, 21- s ional 2'3, 29- Ju ly 1, 4-7 Aug. 11-15, occa- 17-18, 24- s ional 26, 30- Sept. 16 Dec. 7 3 1968 My 29- occa- June 6, 11- sional 14, 16-17, 19-20, 22-27 1969 June 2-4, occa- 11-15, 25- s ional 26 1 seen f ly ing over lagoon; none on the island (HDFG, 1960b). Occasionally v i s i t ed island during day (POBSP, 1965a). Several observed f ly ing over island and offshore (POBSP, 1966a). Adult roosted night ly; no nesting (POBSP, 1966b ) . Dead (BSFW, 1967b ) . Roosting on Tournefortia (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . Adults flew over island (POBSP, 1968a). Flying over (POBSP, 1969). Table 109. Observations of Brown Noddy a t Trig Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1923 June 26 3 00 1953 Oct. 28 20 - 25 Dec. 19 1 1954 Mar. 20 20-30 1963 June 14,15 1,000 1965 Aug. 16, 210 29, 31 1966 Mar. 22 443 June 10,23 502 July 1, 3-4 Aug. U-14, 125 Sept. 4,12 1967 Mar. 13-14 175 June 2, 8- 600 9, 19-20 Dec. 9 300-400 1968 June 6,11, 4502 22, 24-25 1969 Feb. 22 0 June 3,14, 250* 23 -24 Aug. 23,27 220 150 pairs (Wetmore, ms . ) . (Richardson, 1954a, pers . cor r . ) . (~ ichardson , pers . corr . ) . (Richardson, 1954b). Many nests with eggs and young (POBSP, 1963 1. Nests with 100 chicks (POBSP, 1.964; BSFW, 1964b). Majority roosting only; 10 nests with young only (POBSP, 1965a). 220 nests, a l l with eggs except 3 with chicks (BsFW, 1966a). 3 nests with eggs, 2 with small chicks (POBSP, 19668). O f 50 nests on U August, 5@ had chicks l e s s than 10 days old, 5@ had eggs (POBSP, 1966b). 37 nests with eggs (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b ) . 500 adul ts , 75 eggs, 100 young; eggs t o f ledglings (POBSP, 1967a). Observed from helicopter (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . + l O O i breeders, 3002 non-breeders, 50- eggs, 50+ small young (POBSP, 1968a). None observed (BSFW, 1969a). 200 adults , few eggs, 50t young (POBSP, 1969) . Seen 23 ~ u g u s t (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 110. Observations of Brown Noddy a t Whale-Skate Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1923 June 26 60@ June 26 40W* 1953 Oct. 28 200-300x Oct. 28 10-20** Dec. 19 - 1954 Mar. 20 300-400 1963 June 12-15 3,500 1964 Sept. 27 400 1965 Aug. 11-17, 5,125 29-Sept. 1 1966 Mar. 22 1,300 June 10, 4,010 23-29, July 1-3 Aug. 15-17, 3,000 Sept. 4 1967 Mar. 14 1,235 June 2-7, 3,650 15 -19 Sept. 17 581 300 pa i r s (Wetmore, m e . ) . 200 pa i r s (Wetmore, ms.) (Richardson, 1954a; pers. corr . ) . (Richardson, 1954a; pers . corr . ) . Not recorded (Richardson, pers. corr .) . 800 nests with eggs, 500 with young (POBSP, 1963). 20 nests with eggs, 11 with small chicks (POBSP, 1964 ; BSFW, 1964b ) . 50 nests with eggs, 125 with young; majority roosting only (POBSP, ~ 9 6 5 a ) . 650 nests , a l l with eggs except 5 with chicks ( 2 almost fledged) (BSFW, 1966a). 10 nests with eggs, 2 with young; mostly roosting adul ts on beach, some courtship (POBSP, 1966a). 500 nests 16 August ( 5 6 small chicks, 50$ eggs); nocturnal roosting population 2,000, of which 5% were immatures (POBSP, 1966b). 117 nests with eggs, 1 with 2/3rds grown chick; ca . 1,000 adul ts roosting on beach in large groups (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 196711). 3,000 adul ts , 200 eggs, 650 young; f resh eggs t o f ledglings (POBSP, 1967s). 563 adul ts , 126 eggs, 18 small downy chicks; nests sca$tered throughout island, most in cen t ra l portion (BSFW, 1967b ) . * Whale Island ** Skate Island Table 110. (continued) Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1968 June 6, 16 - 25 1969 Feb. 23 June 3, 16-20,22 Aug. 24 1,500- Flew o f f i s l and on approach of h e l i c o p t e r 2,000 (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 3, loot 800i breeders , 2,2002 non-breeders, 300t eggs, l0Oi young; f r e s h eggs t o f ledg- l i n g s (POBSP, 1968a) . 0 None observed (BSFW, 1969a) . 3,500: 3,000 a d u l t s , 500 small t o f l e d g l i n g young, few eggs (POBSP, 1969). 85 0 With eggs (BSFW, 19692). Table 111. Observations of Brown Noddy a t La Perouse Pinnacle Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Sta tue , Remarks, and References 1923 June 27 1953 Oct. 3 1 Dec. 19 1963 June 10 1964 Sept . 27' 1965 Aug. 7 1966 Mar. 23 Sept . 4 1967 June 12 Dec. 9 800 p a i r s (Wetmore, m s . ). Nesting ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , pe r s . c o r r . ). (BsFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964) Breeding s t a t u s not determined (POBSP, 1965a) . No landing made (BSFV, 1966a) . Some chicks seen, but populat ion composi- t i o n not obta inable (POBSP, 1966b). 500 a d u l t s , 100+ young, eggs?; small young t o f ledgl ing8 (POBSP, 1967a) . E i t h e r t h i s spec ie s o r Black Noddy seen from he l i cop te r (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 2,0001 a d u l t s , few eggs, 5001 young; n e s t s placed on ledges and on t o p (POBSP, 1969). Table 112. Observations of Brown Noddy on o the r i s l ands a t French F r iga te Shoals Populat ion Breeding Date of Survey I s l and Est imate S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1902 May 28-29 FFS ? Present ishe her, 1903). 1923 June 22 Bare few Roosting only (wetmore, ms. ) . June 22 Round 300 150 p a i r s , nes t ing (Wetmore, m s . ) . June 25 Shark few Roosting only (Wetmore, ms.) . 1963 June 9 Disappear- 50 Roosting (POBSP, 1963). ing June 9 Gin 4 0 Roosting (POBSP, 1963) 1965 Aug. 10,23 Mullet few Roosting only (POBSP, 1 9 6 j a ) . Aug. 25 Gin 25 Roos t i n e only (POBSP, 1965a) . 1967 May 26-31, Near, Bare few Few b i r d s roosted on these two June 9-13 i s l e t s dur ing low t i d e (POBSP, 1967s) . June 9 Gin 5 Roosting on beach (POBSP, 1967a). 1968 June 7 Gin 1 0 Roosting a d u l t s (POBSP, 1968a). June 11,25 Round 10 Roosting a d u l t s (POBSP, 19683). 1969 June 7 , 2 1 Gin 0 Not observed (POBSP, 1969). June 7 Disappear- 5 Roosting a d u l t s (POBSP, 1969). i ng Table 113. Brown Noddy banded a t French F r i g a t e Shoals Date Nes t l ings Subadults Adults T o t a l 1963 ~ u n e 25 1 o 500 751 1964 Sept . 26 0 0 26 1965 Aug. 84 302 864 1,250 1966 June 0 1 4 498 512 Sept . 0 0 409 409 1967 3une 1,000 0 1,500 2,500 1968 June 98 0 2 100 Tota ls 1,'69 3 16 337'73 5,548 B U C K NODDY A= t e n u i r o s t r i s S ta tus Common spec ies but uncommon breeder; present throughout the year , with low population dur ing autumn and win te r . Nests only on La Perouse Pinnacle; r o o s t s on most o the r i s l ands , e s p e c i a l l y Tr ig and Whale-Skate. Maximum POBSP population est imate 11,000 i n August 1965. Observations The f i r s t record was made by Wetmore (ms.), who observed 150 p a i r s a t La Perouse Pinnacle i n 1923. Although he v i s i t e d a l l t he i s l ands i n t h e a t o l l , he found t h i s species on only two other i s l ands . Richardson (1954a, 19$4b, and pe r s . c o r r . ) . observed nes t ing during h i s 1953 v i s i t s t o La Perouse Pinnacle; he d i d not observe t h i s species on o the r i s l ands he v i s i t e d . During the f irst POBSP v i s i t , t he Black Noddy was not seen a t La Perouse and was observed roos t ing i n small numbers only. on L i t t l e Gin and Whale-Skate I s l ands . On subsequent t r i p s l a r g e numbers were found a t La Perouse Pinnacle, T r ig and Whale-Skate Is lands , and small numbers a t Disappearing, Eas t , Gin, L i t t l e Gin, Mullet, Round and Tern I s l ands . Annual Cycle Very l i t t l e i s known about t h e breeding cycle he re . Wetmore (ms.) recorded nothing about eggs o r young. Richardson (1954a, 1954b, and pe r s . c o r r . ) found t h i s species n e s t i n g i n October and December. Nests with eggs and young were found a t La Perouse i n June 1969. None has been known t o nes t on any of the sandy i s lands , but l a r g e numbers of a d u l t s and subadults roosted on Tr ig and Whale-Skate I s l ands during the summer and e a r l y f a l l . Apparently t h e Black Noddy n e s t s on La Perouse Pinnacle during the summer, l a t e f a l l and e a r l y winter . The s i z e of t h i s breeding populat ion i s not known a s no winter observat ions have been made on the Pinnacle s ince December 1953. The l a r g e summer roos t ing population on T r i g and Whale-Skate I s l a n d s i s possibly t h e f a l l -win te r populat ion which nes t s a t La Perouse Pinnacle. Banding d a t a have shown, however, t h a t some of these b i r d s a r e from other i s l ands ( see Banding and ~ o v e m e n t s ) . Figure 73 shows t h e probable breeding cycle of the Black Noddy on French Fr iga te Shoals. Figure 73. Annual cyc le of Black Noddy *x = eggs p resen t ; ++ = young p resen t ; - = roos t ing a d u l t s p re sen t Jan Ecologica l D i s t r i b u t i o n The Black Noddy n e s t s only on rocky La Perouse Pinnacle. Large numbers r o o s t on T r i g and Whale-Skate I s l ands , a r ecen t development thought t o be due wholly t o t h e increase in Cheno- podium and Tournefor t ia which provide increased r o o s t i n g ~ s . Small numbers a l s o r o o s t on almost a l l t h e o the r i s l a n d s . t i f t + k t + t + + + t f + Feb Eas t I s land: POBSP personnel recorded the f i r s t Black Noddy i n 1965 able 114) . Since then, only a few have been seen r o o s t - ing o r f l y i n g over . The l a r g e amount of rubble i s appa ren t ly unsui tab le h a b i t a t f o r t h e Black Noddy. Another d e t e r r e n t may be t h e l a r g e number of roos t ing Red-footed Boobies and Great F r iga teb i rds . When t h e bui ld ings d e t e r i o r a t e f u r t h e r and Tournefor t ia and Chenopodium spread, t h e Black Noddy may u t i l i z e Eas t I s l and . Mar Tern I s l and : POBSP personnel f i r s t recorded t h e Black Noddy i n August 1965; one occas ional ly roosted a t n i g h t i n t h e Casuarina t r e e s i n f r o n t of t h e Coast Guard barracks (Table 115). On sub- sequent v i s i t s POBSP personnel a l s o observed a d u l t s roos t ing a t n ight i n t h e few Casuarina t r e e s . If t h e t r e e s continue t o increase i n s i z e and number, t h e Black Noddy populat ion may i n - c rease and may even nes t , a s on Midway A t o l l . T r ig I s land: Numbers have increased d ramat i ca l ly s ince POBSP personnel ' s f i r s t record of t e n roos t ing i n n igh t i n 1965 (Table 116). In 1966, 25 were seen; were observed roos t ing n i g h t l y . Only a few were present dur ing t h e day. The increased roos t ing s i t e s provided by t h e spread of Tournefort ia probably accounts f o r the l a r g e r roos t ing numbers. Whale-Skate I s l and : None had been recorded before POBSP pe r sonne l ' s 1963 v i s i t a able 117) . In 1965, lO.000 were observed Apr . . Eoosting noc tu rna l ly on ' chenopod ik and ~ o u r n e f o r t i a . Since then, numbers i n June have va r i ed from 3,000 t o 8,000. A dec l ine from the peak i n 1966 coincided with increased numbers on T r i g I s l a n d . *XXX f+t-+ I May I J u n An increase i n Chenopodium and Tournefort ia may eventua l ly induce t h i s spec ie s t o n e s t he re . J u l - ~-*-*-&++e+++!+***** Aug Nov ++u+ Dec Sep - Oct La Perouse Pinnacle: Wetmore (ms.) f i r s t recorded p a i r s i n 1923, bu t gave no o t h e r da t a w able 118). Richardson (1954a, 1954b, pers . c o r r . ) observed n e s t i n g i n October and December 1953; nes t s were on t h e va r ious rock ledges of t h e c l i f f . POBSP personnel observed n e s t i n g only i n June 1969. Bi rds r o o s t on t h e ledges and can be seen f l y i n g about t h e rock. I n June 1967 most o f t h e r o o s t i n g populat ion was on t h e small rock south of the main p innacle . Nests a r e cons t ruc ted of f e a t h e r s , seaweed and guano. Other I s lands : Wetmose (ms.) found a few roos t ing on Shark Is land and saw a f l o c k pass Round I s l and i n 1923 (Table 119). From 1963 through 1969 POBSP personnel recorded from 1 t o 25 roos t ing on Disappearing, Gin, L i t t l e Gin, Mullet and Round Is lands . Banding and Movements Since 1963 POBSP personnel have banded 4,788 a d u l t o r sub- a d u l t Black Noddies, a l l except t h r e e on Whale-Skate: 2,358 i n August 1965, 581 i n June 1966; 345 i n August and September 1966; 500 i n May and June 1967; 371 i n May and June 1968; and 633 i n June 1969. Of these , 367 have been recaptured on t h e a t o l l . I n addi- t i o n , 17 b i rds banded on o t h e r a t o l l s have been captured: 5 from L i s i ansk i , 3 each from Johnston, P e a r l and Hermes, and Laysan, and 1 each from Gardner Pinnacles , Midway and Kure. Seventeen banded a t French F r i g a t e have been captured elsewhere: 6 a t Laysan, 5 a t Johnston, 3 a t K u r e , 2 a t L ie i ansk i , and 1 a t P e a r l and Hermes. D e t a i l s a r e given i n Appendix Tables l l a and 11b. Specimens Non-POBSP: USNM 300461-63, 0, d, d, c o l l e c t e d 25, 25, and 22 June 1923 by Wetmore; AMW 747656, unsexed, c o l l e c t e d 2 June 1891 by P a h e r . Table 114. Observations of Black Noddy a t Eas t I s l a n d Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1953 Oct. 3 1 - Not repor ted (Richardson, 1954a; pers c o r r . ) . Dec. 19 - Not repor ted (Richardson, 1954b; pers . c o r r . ) . 1964 Sept. 27 0 Not seen (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). Table 1.14. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1965 Aug. 5-10, 5 Occasional roos t ing b i r d (POBSP, 1965a) . 23 -28 1966 Mar.. 23 ? Presen t only a t n igh t (BSFW, 1966a) . Aug. 18-24, few Roosting on o ld p i e r d a i l y (POBSP, 26-30 1966b). 1967 May 26-31, 1-5 Occasional daytime v i s i t o r (POBSP, June 9-13 1967a) . 1968 June 6-11, few Occasional v i s i t o r ; none a t n igh t 14 -16,25 (POBSP, 1968a) . 1969 June 5-10, 1 Occasional v i s i t o r (POBSP, 1969). 21 Aug. 22,30 15 Seen 30 August (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 115. Observations of Black Noddy a t Tern I s l a n d Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1965 Aug. 4-5, 5 1 occas ional ly roos ted i n Casuarina 10-12, 17- (POBSP, 1965a). 23, 28-29, Nov. 21 2 (Park, pe r s . c o r r . ) . 1966 June 8-10, 1 Roosted n i g h t l y i n Casuarina (WBSP, 14-16, 21- 1966a ) . 23, 29- J a y 1, 4 -7 Aug. 11-15, few Occasional a d u l t s roosted a t n igh t 17-18, 24- (POBSP, 1966b). 26, 30- Sept . 16 290 Table 115. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1967 May 25-26, 1 31-June 2. Adult roosted nightly in Caswrina t r e e (POBSP, 1967~4). Dec. 7-11 1 Roosting i n Casuarina a t night (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 1968 Mar. 11-15 0 None observed (POBSP, 1968b). May 29- few 1 roosted nightly i n Casuarina t r e e June 6, 11- in f ron t of barracks oOBSP,968a) . 14, 16-17, 19-20, 22- 3 1969 Feb. 22-24 0 ~ o t pr.esent (BsFW, 1969a). Mar. 23 8 Not present (BSFW, 1969b). June 2-4, few Flying over occasionally (POBSP, 1969). 11-15, 25- 26 Table 116. Observations of Black Noddy a t Trig Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1953 Oct. 28 - Not reported (~ ichardson , 1954a; pers. corr . ) . Dec. 19 - Not reported (Richardson, per. corr . ) . 1954 Mar. 20 - Not reported (Richardson, 1954b) 1964 Sept. 27 0 Not present (BSFW, 1967b; POBSP, 1964) 1965 ~ u g . 16, 10 Roosting only, in Chenopodium (POBSP, 29, 31 1965a ) . 1966 June 10,23, 25 Roosting only (POBSP, 1966a). Ju ly 1, 3-4 Aug. U-14, few Roosting in the Taurnefortia (POBSP, Sept. 4,12 1966b ) . Table 116. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breedi .ng Status , Remarks, and References 1967 Mar. 13-14 0 Not observed (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). June 2, 8- 3,000 Night roosting population of adul ts and 9, 19-20 subadults (POBSP, 1967a). 1968 June 6, 1, O O O ~ Roosting primarily in Tournefortia 11, 22, (POBSP, 1968a). 24-25 1969 Feb. 21-23 0 Not observed (BSFW, 19698). June 3, 5002 Roosting only (POBSP, 1969). 14, 23-24 Aug. 2 3 , g 12 seen 23 August (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 117. Observations of Black Noddy a t Whale-Skate Island Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1953 Dec. 19 - 1963 June 12-15 300 June 10, 8,000 23-29, July 1-3 Aw. 15-17, 2,000 Sept. 4 June 2-7, 5,000 15-19 Not reported (Richardson, 1954b; pers. c o r r . ) . Nocturnal roosting population (POBSP, 1963 ) . Roosting population of adult and sub- adul t birds (POBSP, 1965a). Present only a t night (BSFW, 1966a). Roosting population of adul ts and sub- adul t s (POBSP, 1966a). Roosting in Cheno odium, 1% immatures (POBSP, 1 9 6 6 . e S i t t i n g on several Tournefortia bushes; no nest found (BSFW, 1967a; POBSP, 1967b). Roosting population of adul ts and sub- adul ts ; bulk present during night only (POBSP, 1967a). 292 Table 117. (continued) Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1967 Sept . 17 270-280 Roosting on beach with Brown Noddy (BSFW, 1967b). 1968 June 6, 5,000'T Roosting p r imar i ly i n Cheno odium; 16-25 some i n Tournefor t ia (POBSP, ------a 19 a ) . 1969 Feb. 23 0 Not observed (BSFW, 1969a). June 3 , 3,000k Roosting populat ion (POBSP, 1969). 16-20,22 A U ~ . 24 640 (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 118. Observations of Black Noddy a t La Perouse Pinnacle Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1923 June 27 1953 Oct. 31 Dec. 19 1963 June 7-11 1965 Aug. 7 1966 Mar. 23 Sept . 4 1967 June 1 2 Dec. 9 1969 Feb. 24 June 6,13 150 p a i r s (Wetmore, ms. ) . Nesting (Richardson, 1954a; pers . c m r . ) . Nests with eggs ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , 1954b). ( POBSP, 1963 ) . Breeding s t a t u s not determined (POBSP, 1965a). Not observed (BSFW, 1966a). Roosting o r f l y i n g about t h e rock (POBSP, 1966b). Roosting i n daytime, mainly on small rock (POBSP, 1967a). E i t h e r t h i s spec ie s o r Brown Noddy seen from a i r (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . Poss ib ly t h i s spec ie s observed from plane (BSFW, 1969a) . 2,000 a d u l t s , few eggs, 300 young (POBSP, 1969). Table 119. Observations of Black Noddy on o the r i s l a n d s a t French F r iga te Shoals Populat ion Breeding Date of Survey I s l and Est imate S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1923 June 25 Shark few Roosting only (Wetmore, ms. ) . June 22 Raund occa- Flock of 1 2 passed (Wetmore, ins. ) . s i o n a l 1963 ~ u n e 9 L i t t l e Gin 5 Roosting (POBSP, 1963). 1965 Aug. 10,23 Round 3 Roosting only (POBSP, 1965a) A . 0 2 Mullet few Roosting only (POBSP, 1965a) . Aug. 25 L i t t l e Gin 25 Roosting only (POBSP, 1965a) ~ u g . 25 Gin 5 Roosting only (POBSP, 1965a) . 1967 June 9 Gin 1 Flying over (POBSP, 1967a). June 9 L i t t l e Gin 5 Roosting on beach dur ing day (POBSP, 1967a). 1968 June 7 L i t t l e Gin few Roosting (POBSP, 1968a). June l l , 2 5 Round few Roosting (POBSP, 1968a) 1969 June 7 ,21 Gin 0 Not observed (POBSP, 1969). June 7-21 L i t t l e Gin 0 Not observed; 100 r o o s t i n g on sandbar e a s t of i s l a n d (POBSP, 1969) . June 7 Disappear- 15 Roosting only (POBSP, 1969). i ng WHITE TERN Gygis a lba S t a t u s Uncommon breeding spec ies ; present throughout the year wi th h ighes t numbers i n t h e summer. Nests on La Perouse Pinnacle and Tern I s l and ; occas ional b i r d seen on o r over t h e o the r i s l a n d s . POBSP maximum populat ion es t imate 3,7001- i n August 1965. Observations Munro (1941b) found the White Tern on La Perouse Pinnacle and t h e sandy i s l ands during h i s 1891 v i s i t . Wetmore (me . ) recorded p a i r s on La Perouse Pinnacle i n 1923. POBSP personnel recorded nes t ing on La Perouse and t h e i r presence on Tern i n 1963. Since 1965 they have been recorded nes t ing on Tern. They have occas ional ly been seen over , and roos t ing on, East , T r i g and Whale-Skate. Annual Cycle The annual breeding cycle i s shown i n Figure 74. Birds a r e present throughout t h e yea r . White Terns have mainly a spring-summer cycle, with a few eggs poss ib l e a s e a r l y a s mid- December. The populat ion cyc le co inc ides with t h a t of t h e breeding cycle . Numbers a r e low during f a l l and winter and gradual ly increase during spr ing . By e a r l y summer t h e populat ion has reached a h igh of 3,700+ and has been a s low a s 400 t o 600. Numbers sharp ly decrease a f t e r t h e young f l edge . Poss ib ly t h e Tern I s l and populat ion i s an overflow from t h e La Perouse populat ion. I n genera l , t h e Tern I s l a n d cycle appears t o be s l i g h t l y l a t e r than t h a t of La Perouse (eggs a s l a t e a s August). Figure 74. Annual cyc le of White Tern -XC*X*X.X C*YXYXH)CYMMCXYXX H+ + +++i++tttt-+ t *tt+++ +I- +++++ + . Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun J u l Aug 1 Sep Oct Nov Dec ** = eggs p resen t ; ++ = dependent young p resen t ; - = non-breeding b i r d s present Ecological D i s t r i b u t i o n The White Tern i s common on Tern I s l and and La ~ e r o u s e Pinnacle, t h e only two i s l a n d s on which it n e s t s . It i s r a r e on t h e o the r i s l a n d s i n t h e a t o l l , but occas iona l ly v i s i t s ( f l i e s over, r a r e l y r o o s t s on) them i n small numbers. Tern Is land: Wetmore (ms.) may have seen White Terns over Tern I s l and i n 1923. While on La Perouse he s t a t e d t h a t "occa- s i o n a l p a i r s o r l i t t l e fl-ocks pass t h e o t h e r i s l a n d s en rou te t o some feeding ground a t sea ." They were seen i n 1956 and 1961; i n 1962 and 1963 they were observed i n t he Casuarina t r e e s , but no n e s t s were recorded (Table 120) . During August 1965 POBSP personnel observed many a d u l t s f l y i n g about and roos t ing , and 2 n e s t l i n g s i n t he Casuarina t r ees - - the f i r s t breeding record f o r Tern I s l and . Nests were present a s e a r l y a s mid- March 1968. White Terns nested a l s o i n Tournefor t ia near the bar- racks, on var ious cement and wooden pos ts , and on l a rge c o r a l rocks along the north s ide of t h e runway. They a l s o roosted by day i n these var ious h a b i t a t s , but i n the evening they usual ly prefer red the Casuarina t r e e s . La Perouse Pinnacle: Munro (1941b) f i r s t repor ted t h i s species i n 1891 a able 121) . He gave no d e t a i l s of h a b i t a t o r breeding s t a t u s . Wetmore (ms.) observed "pa i r s , " thus implying breeding. Richardson (1954a, 1954b, and pe r s . c o r r . ) found t h e White Tern nes t ing i n October and December 1953. POBSP personnel have observed it nes t ing on the c l i f f s . Eggs a r e placed d i r e c t l y on narrow ledges and i n c revices on both faces of the main rock. Most n e s t s a r e placed we l l up on t h e c l i f f s , none lower than 20 t o 30 f e e t above the ocean. Other I s l ands : White Terns probably v i s i t , o r a t l e a s t f l y over, a l l t he o ther i s l ands . They have been recorded occasional ly a t East , Tr ig and Whale-Skate (Table 122). Banding and Movements Since June 1963, 164 have been banded: 62 adu l t s , 1 n e s t - l i n g i n August 1965; 19 a d u l t s i n June 1966; 57 a d u l t s i n August and September 1966; 1 a d u l t i n June 1967; 4 n e s t l i n g s in June 1968; and 4 a d u l t s , 16 nes t l ings in June 1969. A l l , except two which were banded on East and seven on La Perouse, were banded on Tern I s l and . Only seven r e t u r n s have been taken. An a d u l t (712-01525), banded 4 August 1965 a t Tern Is land, was recovered dead on 14 February 1967 by POBSP personnel a t Johnston Is land, Johnston Atol l--a d i s t ance of 561 mi les . An orange-streamered a d u l t (642-01276), banded 29 May 1965 a t Johnston Is land, Johnston A t o l l , was c o l l e c t e d a t Tern Is land on 6 J u l y 1966. This b i r d had been seen about the i s l a n d f o r seve ra l days p r i o r t o being c o l l e c t e d . Specimens m: USNM 497581, 0 , c o l l e c t e d 21 June 1967 on Tern by Lewis. Non-POBSP: USNM 300394-95, 0 , d, c o l l e c t e d 27 June 1923 by Wetmore. Table 120. Observations of White Tern a t Tern I s l and Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1953 Oct. 26- 2 Sept . 2 1956 Feb. 11-21 6 1961 Sept . 2 1 1962 June 11-12, 6 21-22 1965 Aug. 4-5, 200 1 0 - 2 17- 23, 28-29, 1966 Mar. 21 23 June 8-10, 54 14-16, 21- 23, 29- Ju ly 1,4-7 AM. 11-15, 55 17-18, 24- 26, 30- Sept . 16 1967 Mar. 11-14 15 May 25-26, 81 31-June 2, 7-9, 13-15, 18, 20-22 Dec. 7 16 Flew over i s l and 1 day (Svihla, 1957). Present i n air around i s l and (Udvardy and Warner, 1964) . "hovering about and Landing i n the ironwood t r e e s near t h e Meee H a l l . . . no eggs" (HDFG, 1962a). I n Casuarina t r e e s (POBSP, 1963). 2 young; a d u l t s roos t ing i n Casuarina (POBSP, 1965a). I n Casuarina, repor ted t o have a r r i v e d t h e previous week (BSFW, 1966a). Nests with 4 young ( 2 eggs hatched l a t e ~ u n e ) ; population roos t s in Casuarina (POBSP, 1966a). 1 nes t with 2-week ch ick 14 September; a d u l t s r o o s t p r imar i ly i n Casuarina {POBSP, 1966b). Present around Coast Guard barracks (POBSP, 1967b 3 BSFW, 1967a). 75 adu l t s , 6 young, 3 eggs; f r e s h eggs t o f l edg l ings (POBSP, 1967a). I n Casuarina near headquarters (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) Roosting populat ion; 2 nes ts , each with a s ing le s l i g h t l y incubated egg (POBSP, 1968b ) . Table 120. (continued) Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1968 May 29- 1122 20 breeders , 85 non-breeders, 7 young, June 6, 3 eggs (POBSP, 1968a). 11-14, 16- 17, 19-20, 22-27 1969 Feb. 22-24 U Roosting a d u l t s (BSFW, 1969a) . Mar. 23 4 2 a d u l t s s i t t i n g on eggs (BSFW, 1969b). June 2-4, 802 50 roos t ing a d u l t s , 25 breeders , 10 11-15, 25- young, 2 eggs (POBSP, 1969). 26 Aug. 21- 32 1 egg; seen 26 August (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Sept . 6 Table 121. Observations of White Tern a t La Perouse Pinnacle Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 June 1-4 192'3 June 27 1953 Oct. 31 Dec. 19 1963 June 10 1964 s e p t . 8 1965 A w . 7 1966 Mar. 23 Sept . 4 P resen t (Munro, 1941b). 300 p a i r s (Wetmore, m s .) Nesting on rocky ledges (Richardson, 1954a, pers . c o r r . ) . Nests with eggs and young (Richardson, 1954b) . Many young p resen t ; n e ~ t s placed on c l i f f s (POBSP, 1963). (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). 500+ young (POBSP, 19658). No landing made (BSFW, 1966a) Adul t s f l y i n g around 07 roos t ing on rocks; no eggs o r young seen but not a l l rock could be seen from ocean l e v e l (POBSP, 1966b). Table 121. (continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , RemarKs, and References 1967 June 1 2 3,500 3,000 a d u l t s , 50Ot young, eggs present ; eggs t o l a r g e n e s t l i n g s seen from r a f t (POBSP, 1967a). 1969 Feb. 24 ? Flying about; seen from a i rp lane (BSFW, 196%) . June 6,13 3,500 3,000 a d u l t s , 500 n e s t s with eggs t o almost fledged young (POBSP, 1969). Table 122. Observations of White Tern on o the r i s l ands a t French Fr iga te Shoals Population Date of Survey I s l and Estimate Remarks and References 1891 June 1-4 FFS 1902 Msy 28-29 FFS 1923 June 22-23 Eas t 1965 Aug. 5-10, Eas t 23 -28 Aug. 11-17, Whale- 29-Sept. 1 Skate 1966 June 10-14, East 16-21 June 10, Whale- 23-29, Skate J u l y 1-3 Aug. 18-24, East 26 -3 o Aug. 13-14, Tr ig Sept. 4,12 ? On sandy i s l ands ( ~ u n r o , 1941b) ? Present ishe her, 1903). occa- Pass by i s l and (Wetmore, ms.) . s i ona l 2 Occasional roos t ing b i r d ; usua l ly only seen f l y i n g over i s l and (POBSP, l965a) . 2-5 Occasional roos t ing b i r d ; usua l ly only seen f l y i n g over i s l and (POBSP, 1965a). 1-3 Occasional v i s i t o r (POBSP, 1966a) 1-3 Observed f l y i n g over i s l and occa- s i o n a l l y (POBSP, 1966.3,). occa- Flying over (POBSP, 1966b). s i ona l occa- Flying over (POBSP, i966b). s i o n a l Table 122. (continued) Population Date of Survey Island Estimate Remarks and References 1966 Aug. 15-17, Whale- Sept. 4 Skate 1967 May 26-31, East June 5-13 June 2-7, Whale- 15-19 Skate June 2, Trig 8-9, 19- 20 1968 June 6, Trig 11, 22, 24-25 June 6, Whale- 16 - 25 Skate June 6-11, East 14 -16,25 1969 June 5-10, East 21 NIHOA FINCH occa- s ional 1-5 2 2 occa- sional occa- e ional occa- sional 2 Flying over (POBSP, 1566b). Occasional daytime visitor (POBSP, 1967a). Occasional visitor; sometimee roosting on old barge located offshore (POBSP, 1967a). Occasional visitor (POBSP, 1967a). Adult visitor (POBSP, 1968a). Addt visitor (POBSP, 1568a). Adat visitor (POBSP, 1968a) Adults occasionally flew over (POBSP, 1965) . lsittarostra cantans ultima Status Introduced; spring-summer breeder; eight remained in September 1969. Observations On 11 March 1967 Kridler (BSFW, 1967a), accompanied by a member of the POBSP, released 27 banded Nihoa Finches (6 OW, 20 99, and 1 unsexed immature) at Tern Island a able 123) and 10 Nihoa Finches (4 W , 6 99) at East Island. All, with the exception of one male on Tern, began foraging for seeds of Casuarina, Cheno- podium, Tribulus and Lepturus. A bad wind and rain storm occurred t h a t n igh t . On 12 March only two females were seen on East Is land; none has been seen s ince . Two b i r d s were found dead on Tern, poss ib ly k i l l e d by t h e storm. One had f a l l e n i n t o a bucket of water and another had apparent ly s t ruck a window. On .l3 March on Tern a male and a fema,le were observed foraging near the mess h a l l , and on 14 March nine were seen feeding under the Casuarina. From 25 May t o 22 June 1967, 25 were est imated t o be on Tern I s l and . They were observed i n p a i r s o r small groups foraging i n almost a l l a reas of t h e i s l and . They seemed hard- pressed f o r food and water, f o r they moved about cons tan t ly i n search of food, and f requent ly re turned t o two l a rge water- f i l l e d 55-gallon drums a t t he end of t h e Commanding Of f i ce r ' s t r a i l e r . Coast Guard personnel repor ted t h a t seve ra l drowned in these b a r r e l s . There was no p o s i t i v e evidence of breeding although the b i r d s f requent ly appeared i n p a i r s and were o f t en heard s inging. One was seen on 2 June 1967 on Whale-Skate (POBSP, 1967a) being chased by a female Great F r iga teb i rd ; it escaped i n t o a Tournefort ia bush. By September only 5 remained (BSFW, 1967b); only 3 could be found i n December (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . From 11 t o 15 March 1968, 3 f inches were observed on Tern Is land. On t h e 14th a nes t was found about 2 1/2 f e e t above t h e ground i n a p i l e of unused concrete blocks; it %as ins ide one of the blocks, some 14 t o 16 inches deep. The sprawling, loose 9 x 5 inch n e s t was composed of twigs, g ras s and s t r i p s of paper (1/8 inch x 18 inches) . I n June 1968 t h r e e banded and two un- banded fincheswere observed a t Tern. The two unbanded b i r d s were i n immature plumage and followed t h e o the r s around t h e i s l and . I n March 1969 Krid ler (BSFW, 1969b) found 6 f inches, includ- ing 1 unbanded nes t ing female; i n June POBSP personnel observed 7 f inches and a nes t , and i n August-September Kr id le r (BSFW, 19690) found a t o t a l of 8 b i r d s . Since t h e i n i t i a l r e l ease , none has been banded. Lack of food and t h e abrupt change i n h a b i t a t from a high rocky i s l a n d t o a low sandy i s l a n d may have caused the reduct ion in numbers of t h e o r i g i n a l l y r e l eased group. The few remaining b i rds have adapted t o t h e i r new environment and have bred f o r two years . Perhaps the re i s enough food on Tern t o support a small population of Nihoa Finches. These Finch d a t a a r e being f i r t h e r analyzed by BSFW personnel. 301 Table 123. Observations of Nihoa Finches a t Tern I s l and Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1967 ~ a r . 11 27 Introduced from Nihoa I s l a n d by BSFW (BSFW, 1967a). May 25- ~ a . 2 5 (POBSP, 1967a). June 22 Sept . 16 5 (BSFW, 1967b). Dec. 7 3 1 male, 2 females (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) . 1968 Mar. 11-15 3 Nest i n unused concre te blocks (POBSP, 1968b). June 5 3 banded, 2 unbanded and i n immature plumage (POBSP, 1968a) . 1969 ~ a r . 23 6 1 unbanded nes t ing female (BSFW, 1969b). June 7 1 male; 1 n e s t i n concrete blocks (FOBSP, 1969) . Aug. 21- 8 1 banded, 2 unbanded (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Sept . 6 SHORT-EARED OWL A& flarnmeus S t a t u s Occasional v i s i t o r ; two s i g h t records. Observations Kr id l e r (BSFW, 1 9 6 7 ~ ) observed a Short-eared Owl, a new record f o r French F r i g a t e Shoals , a t Tern I s l and on 7 December 1967. He f lushed t h i s owl f q u r d i f f e r e n t t imes. Coast Guard personnel repor ted see ing an owl, probably the same b i rd , i n e a r l y 1968 (POBSP, 1968b). The na t ive Short-eared O w l ( A s flammeus sandwichensis) occurs i n t h e Main Hawaiian I s l a n d s . The b i r d ( o r b i r d s ) ob- served a t French F r i g a t e Shoals was probably of ' t h i s race . There a r e s e v e r a l s i g h t records f o r Midway and Kure A t o l l s . The meas- urements of t h e one specimen c o l l e c t e d a t Kure were c lose t o those of A. f . flammeus (Bailey, 1956; Kenyon and Rice, 1957; Udvardy, i 9 6 i b ; and Clapp and Woodward, 1968). Mimus po lyg lo t tos MOCKINGBIRD S t a t u s S t ragg le r ; a t l e a s t f o u r b i r d s have been recorded. Observations Woodside (HDFG, 1960b) made the f i rst observation of Mockingbirds on 19 October 1960; he saw a t l e a s t two near t h e bu i ld ings and vegetated a r e a south of t h e runway on Tern I s l and . Only one Mockingbird was s ighted a t Tern on a subsequent v i s i t by Woodside and Kramer (HDFG, 1961b) 3 t o 5 March 1961. On 4 August 1965 POBSP personnel saw two Mockingbirds in the Tournefort ia and Pluchea along the edges of the runway on Tern. On 18 August 1965 one of these , i n juvenal plumage and with f u l l y grown f l i g h t f ea the r s , was co l l ec ted (Clapp and Woodward, 1968). None was seen on subsequent POBSP v i s i t s . Kr id le r saw none on BSFW v i s i t s although he was informed by Coast Guard personnel t h a t a b i r d similar t o a Mockingbird was seen on 6 December 1967, the day before he a r r i v e d . He was unable t o f i n d it i n s p i t e of a thorough search of Tern I s l and . Mockingbirds were f i r s t introduced i n t o t h e Main Hawaiian I s l ands i n 1928 (Munro, 1944) and a r e now es t ab l i shed t h e r e (Udvardy, 1961b) . Specimens POBSP: USNM 495887, juvenal d, c o l l e c t e d 18 August -1965 on Tern Is land by Huber. MAMMALS Beside human occupants, seven mammalian species occur a t French F r i g a t e Shoals. Two porpoises--the Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Tursiops t runcatus , and the Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin, S t e n e l l a rose ivent r i s - -are v i s i t o r s t o t h e a t o l l ' s lagoon waters . A whale species i s considered an acc iden ta l . The Hawaiian Monk Seal , Monechus schauinslandi , i s a r e s i d e n t breeder on most of the i s l ands . Three species have been introduced: t h e Domestic Dog, Canis f a m i l i a r i s , t he House C a t , F e l i s ca tus , and t h e Pig. Sus scrofa, but only the former survives, a t Tern Is land. - Despite t h e presence of m i l i t a r y f a c i l i t i e s s ince 1942, no r a t s o r mice have been recorded. This i s extremely un- usual , f o r most m i l i t a r y es tab l i shments i n t h e c e n t r a l P a c i f i c ( e .g. Johnston, Midway) a r e overrun by introduced roden t s . HAWAIIAN SPINNER DOLPHIN S t e n e l l a r o s e i v e n t r i s S t a t u s V i s i t o r ; known from one s i g h t record . Observations POBSP personnel s ighted two porpoises, t e n t a t i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d by Amerson a s S t e n e l l a r o s e i v e n t r i s , between Eas t I s l and and La Perouse Pinnacle and two between Disappearing and L i t t l e Gin I s l ands on 7 June 1969 (POBSP, 1969). POBSP personnel saw two un iden t i f i ed porpoises i n t h e lagoon between Tern and Whale I s l ands on 17 August 1965 (POBSP, 1965a). As many a s 10 porpoises were seer. by t h e crew of t h e USCGC Ironwood a s it l a y anchored between La Perouse and Tern on 13 Septem- (POBSP, 1966b). POFI r e p o r t s a l s o conta in s igh t ings of u n i d e n t i f i e d porpoises . Ten were s ighted on Zj January 1950 from the USFW F/V Hugh M. Smith (POFI, 1950a, 1950b); t h e same s h i p a t t r a c t e d 30 t o 40 porpoises on 8 and 11 May 1951 (POFI, 1951). Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins a r e uncommon v i s i t o r s t o t h e Hawaiian I s l ands (Brownell, pe r s . comm.). This i s a new s i g h t record f o r French F r i g a t e Shoals . BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN Tursiops t runca tus S t a t u s V i s i t o r ; known from two s i g h t records . Observations Rice (1960b) observed a s i n g l e Bottle-nosed Dolphin ahead of h i s s h i p ' s bow 10 km. south of La Perouse Pinnacle 26 May 1958. I n June 1958 he saw t h r e e gray dolphins with long snouts on the open ocean about 100 km. southeas t of French F r i g a t e ; he noted t h a t these could have a l s o been Bottle-nosed Dolphins. On t h e morning of 25 May 1967 POBSP personnel observed seve ra l porpoises which DeLong i d e n t i f i e d a s Bottle-nosed Dolphins outs ide t h e nor th reef a s t h e i r s h i p approached Tern I s l a n d . None was seen ins ide the lagoon (POBSP, 1967a). This spec ies r e g u l a r l y occurs i n shallow waters of t h e Northwestern Hawaiian I s l a n d s (Tomich, 1969).. WHALE spec ies Cetacea sp . S t a t u s Accidenta l ; known from one record. Observations Wetmore (ms. ) recorded t h e "skeleton of a small whale.. . c a s t up on t h e beach" a t the i s l a n d he subsequently named Whale I s l and on 26 June 1923. HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL Monachus schauins landi S t a t u s Common re s iden t breeder ; p re sen t year-round on a l l i s l a n d s . Maximum recen t population es t imate 171 i n August and September 1967. Observations Sea l s were f i r s t recorded on 4 January 1859 by men of t h e USS Fenimore Cooper who obtained a s e a l sk in on one of t h e a t o l l ' s sandepi.tsr(U.s. Nat. Archives, Old. M i l . H i s t . , Log of USS Feni- - more Cooper f o r 1859). Shor t ly t h e r e a f t e r t h e crew of t h e Gambia - took s e a l from the a t o l l (Elschner , 1915). The Gambia r e v i s i t e d the shoals i n l a t e A p r i l o r e a r l y May 1859 and noted it abounded i n s e a l s ( ~ r o o k s , 1860). Sea l s were a l s o present i n f a l l 1886 ( ~ a r r e l l , 1928). There was a notable absence of s e a l records from t h e a t o l l from then on. The A* d id not r e p o r t any i n 1882 ( ~ o r n e l l , 1934) and even t h e Tanager Expedition recorded none i n June 192'3 (Wetmore, me.). N o . s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s were made during t h e 1930 ' s and 1940 ' s . A POFI (1950a,b) survey i n January 1950 recorded one s e a l on L i t t l e Gin I s l and ; s i x were seen on Gin and L i t t l e Gin i n June 1950 (POFI, 1 9 5 0 ~ ) . Using these s igh t ings , Brock (Bailey, 1952) I The Fenimore Cooper l a t e r wrecked i n Japan (Brooke, 1955) and i t i s assumed t h a t a11 s c i e n t i f i c specimens were l o s t . estimated an a t o l l popul.ation of 12. Two of t h e f i v e s e a l s s ighted by POFI (1951) personnel i n May 1951 were captured a l i v e f o r zoos. Detai1.s a r e scant , bu t f i v e more s e a l s were taken (most by p lane) f o r zoos i n A p r i l and A q u s t 1955, September 1956, and J u l y 1957. However, only two had survived by' e a r l y 1958 e en yon and Rice, 1959). During t h e 1950 ' s POFI personnel found increas ing numbers a t French F r i g a t e . WFG, BSFW, and POBSP personnel recorded s e a l s each year during t h e 1960 ' s . A l l s e a l observa t ions a t French F r i g a t e Shoals a r e presented i n Tables 124 t o 131. Knnual Cycle Hawaiian Monk Sea l s a r e found year-round. Populat ion es t imates s ince Kenyon and R i c e ' s (1959) 1957 es t ima te of 35 and R ice ' s (1960a) 1958 count of 39 a d u l t s and subadul t s and 4 pups have gradual ly increased . In June 1963 POBSP (1963) personneL est imated 5 5 i inc luding a few pups; i n June 1969 POBSP (1969) personnel est imated 99 a d u l t s and subadul t s and 13 pups; and i n August and September 1969 BSW ( 1 9 6 9 ~ ) per- sonnel found 150 a d u l t s and subadul t s and 21 pups. The average population from 1963 t o 1969 was 75 s e a l s ; March counts averaged 59, June 85, and August and September 75. Pups have been born from a s e a r l y a s February, a r e usua l ly more common i n May and June, and norrnally a r e weaned by August and September. Ecological D i s t r i b u t i o n Hawaiian Monk S e a l s have been observed on a l l i s l a n d s and i s l e t s . Adult females with pups have been recorded from almost a l l t h e i s l a n d s . Sea l s move f r equen t ly from i s l and t o i s l and within t h e a t o l l . East I s land: One s e a l was seen i n February 1956 by Svih la (1957) able 12k) . POFI, HDFG, BSFW, and POBSP personnel have recorded them s ince ; t h e i s l a n d ' s s e a l populat ion ranks t h i r d among t h e a t o l l ' s 13 i s l ands . Sea ls haul out on a1.1 beaches, but p r e f e r t h e nor th and nor theas t lagoon beaches and t h e e n t i r e southwest beach. The l a t t e r i s f requented by females with pups. A few a d u l t s make t h e i r way onto t h e edges of t h e vegetated a r e a . G i n I s l and : POFI personnel f i r s t recorded s e a l s i n June 1950 and continued t o do so throughout the 1950 ' s and e a r l y 1960 ' s su able 125) . POBSP and BSFW personnel have observed them e i g h t t imes s ince 1963. S e a l s normally u t i l i z e t h e leeward r a t h e r than t h e windward beaches; some hau l up above t h e beach c r e s t . Pups 'bere seen on four occasions. L i t t l e Gin I s l and : Sea l s were f irst noted by POFI personnel i n J a n u a p 1950 (Table 126) . Since then POFI. BSFW. and POBSP - - personnel have recorded them 13 times. Pups were seen t h r e e t imes. Sea l s p re fe r t o h a u l out on t h e leeward southwest beach; some l i e above the beach c r e s t . Round Is land: Svih la (1957) f i r s t found s e a l s i n February 1956 able 127). POFI, BSFW, and POBSP personnel have recorded them 10 times s ince . Fups have been observed on s i x occasions. Seals may be found over a l l por t ions of t h i s small sandy i s l and . Tern Is land: No s e a l s were recorded p r i o r t o February 1956 when Svihla (1957) noted four (Table 128). Surely e a r l y v i s i t o r s observed and c o l l e c t e d s e a l s here , bu t t h e i r records were e i t h e r l o s t o r concealed. Since 1942 the almost continuous presence of humans and dogs has f r ightened the s e a l s from hauling out on t h e beaches; however, they frequent the adjacent waters and hau l ou t on seve ra l sec t ions of t h e shee t p i l i n g s surrounding var ious por- t i o n s of the i s l and . No pups a r e known t o have been born on the i s l and (Kenyon, in prep.) . Since the f i r s t record, t h e r e have been an a d d i t i o n a l n ine . Seven of these have occurred s ince 1963 and were made by BSFW and POBSP personnel . Tr ig Is land: Richardson (1954b) f i r s t noted s e a l s i n March 1954 (Table 129). POFI personnel observed them from 1956 t o 1961. POBSP and BSFW personnel recorded them 14 times between 1963 and 1969. An average of two pups has been seen per survey. During t h e 1.960's T r i g ' s s e a l pc,ulat ion ranked second among the i s l ands . Sea l s a r e commonly found on a l l beaches, but p r e f e r the protected north cove beach a r e a . A few make t h e i r way over the beach c r e s t and even i n t o t h e vegetated a r e a s . Whale-Skate Is land: I n 1953 Richardson (1954a) f i r s t observed a s e a l on Skate I s l a n d (Table 130) . Svih la (1957) ~ , - . , found them on both Skate and Whale ~ s l a n a s ' i n 1956. POFI (1956a,b) personnel recorded them i n Apr i l an? again in June 1956. WBSP and BSFW personnel observed s e a l s on 15 surveys s ince 1963. During these surveys the Whale-Skate s e a l population has remained the h ighes t i n t h e a t o l l w i t h an average populat ion of 28 s e a l s . An average of f o u r pups was seen per survey. Seals u t i l i z e a l l beaches, but p r e f e r the s loping nor theas t beach. Some hau l ou t above t h e beach c r e s t and l i e in t h e vege- t a t e d a reas . Other I s l ands : Sea ls have been recorded from Bare ( 3 t imes) , Disappearing ( 4 ) , Mullet (7 ) , Near (2 ) and Shark (8 ) I s l ands , a s we l l a s La Perouse Pinnacle (5 ) (Table 131). Pups a r e known only from Mullet ( 1 t ime), Shark (3 ) and La Perouse ( 1 ) . Sea l s , i n small numbers, have a l s o been ob- served on t h e var ious nameless sand i s l e t s t h a t occas ional ly appear i n t h e lagoon. Tagging and Movements Since 1965 BSFW and POBSP personnel have tagged a t l e a s t 160 s e a l s a t French F r iga te Shoals . Many have been recaptured on t h e Shoals . One s e a l o r i g i n a l l y tagged a t Laysan I s l and has been captured a t T r ig I s l and . These s e a l da ta a r e being analyzed by BSFW personnel. Table 124. Observations of Hawaiian Monk Sea l s a t Eas t I s l a n d Population Date of V i s i t Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1956 Feb. 21 Apr. 11 1957 Dec. 28 Apr. 24 May 11 1961 Feb. 9 Feb. 18 Mar. 4 J u l y 13 1963 June 7-11 1964 J u l y 27 Sept . 27 1965 Aug 5-10, 23-28 A e r i a l count (Svihla , 1957). 1 a d u l t 9 ; 1 pup (POFI, 1956a) A e r i a l count (Rice & Kenyon photograph). 3 a d u l t s ; 1 pup (POFI, 1961a). 13 a d u l t s ; 1 year l ing ; 1 pup (HDFG, 1961b). Uncommon (POBSP, 1963). 2 a d u l t 9 ; 2 pups; 5 unc la s s i f i ed (BSFW, 1964 a) . 4 a d u l t s : 2 d , 2 9 , 2 &known; 2 sub- adu l t s : I d, 1 4, 1 d pup (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). 2-15 a d u l t s d a i l y ; 1 pup (POBSP, 1965a). Table 124. (continued) Populat ion Date of V i s i t Est imate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References June 10-14, 16-21 Aug. 18-24? 26-30 Sept . 13-14 1967 Mar. 11-12 May 26-31 Sept . 17 1968 June 6-11, 14-16, 25 1969 Mar. 22 June 5-10, 21 5 a d u l t s : 4 0, 1 unknown; 1 d subadult ; 3 pups: l 3, 2 unknown (BSFW, 1966a). 2-5 a d u l t s d a i l y ; 2-10 eubadults d a i l y ; 1 pup (POBSP, i966a ) . 4-7 a d u l t s d a i l y ; 1 -2 yea r l ings d a i l y ; 1 nursing pup (POBSP, 1966b). 7 adu l t s : 5 d, 2 0; 2 pups (BSW, 1966b). 7 0 a d u l t s ; 2 subadults : 1 d, 1 ? ; 1 d yea r l ing (BSFW, 1967b). Data not a v a i l a b l e . 4 pups (USCG v i a BSFW, l969b). Adults , subadul t s , and pups (POBSP, 1969). 4-5 a d u l t s ; 4-9 subadul t s ; 2-6 pups (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 125. Observations of Hawaiian Monk Sea l s a t Gin 1el.and Populat ion Date of Visit Est imate - R r e e d i . n g . u a , Remarks, and References 1950 June 19 2 "Sea lion^" (POFI, Lc)SOc). 1951 May 8 3 Unclassif i.ed (1'0~1, 1951) 1956 Apr. 11 1 Adult (POFI, 1956a) . Table 125. (continued) Population Date of V i s i t Estimate Breeding S t a t u e , Remarks, and References 1956 June 4 1957 Apr. 25 May 1 2 Dec. 28 1961 Feb. 18 1963 June 9 1965 Aug. 25 1966 Mar. 23 Sept . 14 1967 June 9 1968 June 7 1969 June 7, 21 Aug. 30 6 7 3 8 9X present 3 1 5 4 5-25 present 16 4 a d u l t s , 2 pups (BOFI, 1956b). 6 on G i n ; 1 on nearby i s l e t (POFI, 195'7) 2 a d u l t s , 1 young (POIT, 1.957). 3 o t h e r s on nearby sandsp i t ; count ice and Kenyon phoi;ograph). 8 a d u l t s ; 1 pup (POFI, 1961a). (POBSP, 1963) . ~ d u l t s (POBSP, 1965a). Unclass i f ied (BSW, 1966a). 3 a d u l t s : 2 d, 1 9 ; l P subadult ; 1 9 pup (BSW, 1966b). I. a d u l t ; 3 subadults (POBSP, 1.967a). (POBSP, 1.968a). (POBSP, 1969). '7 a d u l t s ; 6 subadu1:Ls; 3 pups ( I ~ s F ~ , 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . * Includes L i t t l e G i n I s l and Tab1.e 126. Observations of 1Iawaii.an Monk Sea1.s a t L i t t l e Gin I s l and Population Date of V i s i t Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1950 Jan . 19 1 "Sea l i o n " (POFI, 195Oa, b) . June 19 4 (POFI, 1 9 5 0 ~ ) . 1951 May 8 2 Unc1assj.fied (POFI, 1951). Table 126. (continued) Population Date of V i s i t Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1956 Apr. 11 June 4 1957 Apr. 25 Dec. 28 1961 Feb. 18 1963 June 9 1965 Aug. 25 1966 k r . 23 1967 June 9 1968 June 7 2 8 3 4 9X- present 5 9 6 5-25 present ~ d u l t s (POFI, 1956a). 6 adul t s ; 2 pups (POFI, 1956b). (POFI, 1957 ) . Aerial count (Rice and Kenyon photograph). 8 sdu l t s ; 1 pup (POFI. 1961a). (POBSP, 1963 ) . Adults (POBSP, 1965a). 6 adul ts : 3 d, 3 9, 1 O yearling; 2 pups (BSFW, 1966a). 2 adul ts ; 4 subadults (POBSP, 1967a). - (POBSP, 1968a). (POBSP, 1969). * Includes Gin Island Table 127. Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals a t Round Island Population Date of V i s i t Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1956 Feb. 21 2 Aeria l count (Svihla, 1957). Apr. 11 4 3 adul ts ; 1 pup (POFI, 1956a). 1957 Dec. 28 4 3 adul ts , 1 pup; a e r i a l count (Rice and Kenyon photograph). 1959 July 21 5 2 9 adul ts ; 1 subadult; 2 pups (POFI, 1959). 1963 June 8 present (POBSP, 1963). Table 127. (continued) Population Date of Vis i t Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1965 ~ u g . 10, 7 6 adul ts ; 1 pup (POBSP, 1965a). 23 1966 A U ~ . 26 2 ~ d u l t s (POBSP, 1966b). 1967 June 13 6 3 9 adul t s ; 3 pups (POBSP, 1967a). 1968 June 11, few (POBSP, 1968a). 25 1969 June 5 present (POBSP, 1969). Aw. 25 8* 5 adul ts ; 2 subadults; 1 pup (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . * Includes Mullet Island Table 128. Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals a t Tern Island Population Date of Vis i t Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1956 Feb. 11-21 4 (Svihla, 1957). 1965 Aug. 4-5, E! Adults ( ~ B S P , 1965a). 10-12, 17- 1966 June 8-10, 4 1 adul t , 3 subadults (POBSP, 1966a). 14-16, 21- 23, 29- July 1, 4 -7 Aug. - 5 , 1 Yearling seen on 26th (POBSP, 1966b). 17-18, 24- Table 128. (continued) Population Date of V i s i t Estimate Breeding Status, Remarks, and References 1968 Mar. 11-15 May 29- June 6, 11-14,16- 17, 19-20, 22-27 1969 June 2-4, 3 1 adul t ; 2 subadults (POBSP, 1967a). 1 ~ d u l t (POBSP, 1968b). few (POBSP, 1968s). 2 1 adul t ; 1 yearling (POBSP, 1969). Table 129. Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals a t Trig Island Population Date of Vis i t Estimate Breeding Status , Remarks, and References 1954 Mar. 20 1956 Feb . 21 Apr. 11 June 5 1957 Dec. 28 May 10 1959 July 21 1961 Feb. 18 1963 June 14,15 1964 Sept. 27 On beach; 1 a yearl ing (Richardson, 195413). Aeria l survey; a l so 4 on nearby i s l e t ( ~ v i h l a , 1957). (POFI, 1956a). Adult (POFI, 1956b). Aeria l count (Rice & Kenyon photograph). (POFI, 1957). 6 adul ts ; 2 subadults (POFI, 1959). 6 adul ts ; 1 pup (POFI, 1961a). Several with young (POBSP, 1963). Adults: 5 d, 5 9, 1 unknown (BSFW, 1964b ; POBSP, 1964 ) . Table 129. (continued) Populat ion Date of V i s i t Estimate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1966 Mar. 22 June 10-23, J u l y 1, 3 -4 Aug. U-14, Sept . 4,12 Sept . 1 2 1967 Mar. 13-14 June 2, 8- 9, 19-20 Sept . 17 1968 June 6,11, 22, 24-25 1969 Feb. 22 June 3,14, 23 -24 2-10 a d u l t s ; 1 pup (POBSP, 1965a) . 10 a d u l t s : 2 d, 7 0, 1 unknown; 1 9 yea r l ing ; 3 pups: 1 d, 2 unknown (BSFW, 1966a). 2-3 a d u l t s d a i l y ; 2-7 subadul t s d a i l y ; 1 pup (POBSP, 1966a). 12-13 a d u l t s ; 2-3 subadults , 1 weaned pup (POBSP, 1966b). 11 a d u l t s : 3 d, 8 0; 6 subadul t s : 1 d, 2 0, 3 unknown; 3 yea r l ings : l c f , 2 unknown (BSFW, 196613). 1'3 a d u l t s : 1 d, 1 2 0; 3 subadults : 2 d, 1 0; 7 pups: 2 d, 4 0, 1 unknown (BSFV!, 1967a). 10 t a d u l t s ; subadulte; 1 pup (FOBSP, 19673). 18 a d u l t s : 2 d, 7 0, 9 unknown; 4 subadults ; 1 pup (BSFW, 1967b). 1 pup; 14 u n c l a s s i f i e d ( B ~ F W , 1969a) 2'7 a d u l t s and subadul t s ; 2 pups (POBSP, 1969 ) . 6-12 a d u l t s ; 3-7 subadul t s ; 2 pups; 8 unc la s s i f i ed (BSFW, 1969,). Table 130. Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals a t Whale-Skate I s l and Populat ion Date of V i s i t Est imate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1953 Oct. 28 I** Large 7-8 foo t s e a l s l eep ing on beach ( ~ i c h a r d s o n , l954a) . Table 130. (continued) Population Date of V i s i t Est imate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1956 Feb. 2 1 Feb. 21 Apr. 11 Apr. 11 June 5 1.957 Dec. 28 May 10 1959 J u l y 21 1961 Feb. 18 1963 June 12-15 1964 s e p t . 1966 Mar. 22 June 10, 23-July 3 Aug. 15-17, Sept . 4 Sept . 13 A e r i a l survey (Svih la , 1957). A e r i a l survey (Svih la , 1957). (POFI, 1956a). 7 a d u l t s ; 4 pups: 3 l i v e , 1 dead (POFI, 1956b). A e r i a l count ice and Kenyon photograph) 16 a d u l t s : 15 l i v e , 1 dead; 2 pups (POFI, 1961a). 17 a d u l t s : 8 d, 2 9, 6 unknown; 6 sub- a d u l t s : I d , 2 ?, 3 unknown; 1 pup (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964). 2-15 a d u l t s d a i l y ; 2 pups (POBSP, 1965a). 16 a d u l t s : 6 d, 7 9, 3 unknown; 4 sub- a d u l t s : 1 d, 2 9, 1 unknown; 5 pups: 2 d, 3 unknown (BSFW, 1964a). 2-10 a d u l t s d a i l y ; 2-10 subadul t s d a i l y ; 1 pup (POBSP, i966a) . 8-21 a d u l t s ; 8-9 y e a r l i n g s ; 3 weaned pups (POBSP, 1966b). 8 a d u l t s : 5 d , 1 9 , 2 unknown; 6 sub- a d u l t s : 4 d , 2 9 ; 9 pups: 2 6 , 2 9 , 5 unknown (BSFW, 196613). * Whale I s l and * Skate I s l a n d Table 130. (continued) Populat ion Date of Vis i t Est imate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1967 Mar. 14 ~ u n e 2-7, 15-19 Sept. 17 1968 June 6, 16-25 1969 Feb. 23 Mar. 22 June 3, 16-20,22 ~ u g . 24 7 a d u l t s : 6 0 , 1 unknown; 4 d subadul t s ; 5 pups ( B S ~ , 196%). 152 a d u l t s ; lo* subadul t s ; 2 pups ( POBSP, 1967a) . 15 a d u l t s : 6 d, 4 0 , 5 unknown; 6 sub- a d u l t s : I d, 1 9, 4 unknown; 2 year - l i n g s : 1 ?, 1 unknown (BSFW, 1967b). ( POBSP, 1968a). 1 pup; 47 unc la s s i f i ed (BSFW, 1969a) . 2 pups (USCG v i a BSFW, 1969b). 26 a d u l t s and subadul t s ; 10 pups (POBSP, 1969). 9 a d u l t s ; U subadulte; 8 pups; 2 un- c l a s s i f i e d (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 131. Observations of Hawaiian Monk Sea l s on o t h e r i s l ands a t French F r i g a t e Shoals Populat ion Breeding Date of V i s i t I s l a n d Estimate S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1956 Feb. 21 Mullet 3 A e r i a l count (Svih la , 1957). June 5 Mullet 6 4 a d u l t s ; 2 pups (POFI, 1956b). 1957 May 10 Shark 1 ( POFI, 1957 ) . May 11 Bare 1 (POFI, 1957). Dec. 28 Shark 9 A e r i a l count ice and Kenyon photograph). Dec. 28 Disappear- 4 A e r i a l count (Rice and Kenyon i n g photograph). 1959 J u l y 19 Shark 9 (LTSCG v i a POFI, 1959). Table U1. (continued) Population Breeding Date of Vis i t Island Estimate Status, Remarks, and References 1959 July 21 Mullet 1 ~ d u l t (POFI, 1959). 1961 Apr. 22 Shark 11 10 adul ts and subadults; 1 pup (POFI, 1 9 6 l b ) . July 14 Shark 8 4 adul ts ; 4 pupe (POFI, 1 9 6 1 ~ ) . 1963 June 8 Bare present (POBSP, 1963) ~ u n e 8 Mullet present (POBSP, 1963). June 8 Near present (POBSP, 1963). June 9 Disappear- present (POBSP, 1963) ing June 11 Shark present (POBSP, 1963). 1964 Sept. 28 La ~ e r o u s e 1 Unclassified (BSFW, 1964b; POBSP, 1964 ) . 1965 Aug. 10 Mullet 1 Adult (POBSP, 1965a). 1966 Sept. 5 La ~ e r o u s e L Adult (POBSP, 1966b) 1967 June 9 Bare 1 Adult (POBSP, 1967a). June 9 Near 1 Adult (POBSP, 1967a). 1968 June 25 Mullet few (POBSP, 196th) . 1969 May 30 La Perouse 1 Around base of pinnacles (BSFW, 196%). June 4 Shark 9 Adults and subadults (POBSP, 1969). June 5 Mullet present (POBSP, 1969). June 6,13 La Perouse 1 Unclassified (POBSP, 1969). June 7 Disappear- present (POBSP, 1969). ing Sept. 1 La Perouse 2 1 adul t ; 1 pup (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Table 131. (continued) Population Breeding Date of V i s i t I s l and Estimate S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1969 Sept . 2 Shark 19 LO a d u l t s ; 5 eubadults; 1 pup; 3 u n c l a s s i f i e d (BSFW, 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . Sept . 4 Disappear- 37 Unclass i f ied (FAA v ia BSM, ing 1 9 6 9 ~ ) . DOMESTIC DOG Canie f a m i l i a r i s S ta tus Introduced; pe r iod ic breeder ; kept a s pe t s year-round on Tern I s l and . Maximum recent population 11 i n June 1968. Observations I n 1861 when t h e s loop Travis v i s i t e d t h e a t o l l , i t e crew found a f e r a l dog presumably l e f t by t h e Gambia i n 1859 ( ~ a b a g h , pers . co r r . ; Amerson, i n p rep . ) . When the Tern Is land Naval A i r F a c i l i t y s t a r t e d opera t ions i n 1942 and 1943, dogs were again introduced. The S t a t i o n had a pet fox t e r r i e r i n e a r l y 1944 (Dabagh, pe r s . c o r r . ) . A t t h e East I s land USCG L O W Sta t ion , completed i n J u l y 1944, dogs were kept a t l e a s t a s e a r l y a s October 1947 (Clinard, pers . c o r r . ) . On 1 September 1948 Henry (pe r s . co r r . ) found t h r e e . Richardson (1954b) noted dogs on Tern I s l and on 18 December 1953. During February 1956 Svihla (1957) observed two pet dogs the re . Robbins (HDFG, rg60a) a l s o recorded two dogs i n A p r i l 1960, a s d id Woodside (HDFG, 1960b) i n October 1960. Woodside and Kramer (KDFG, 1961b) noted two i n March 1961. They a l l r e - ported t h a t the dogs occas ional ly molested Tern I s l a n d ' s s e a l s and b i rds ; they discouraged s e a l s from coming on t h e i s l and , ran a f t e r t h e a lba t rosses , and dug up the shearwater and p e t r e l burrows. POBSP and BSFW personnel recorded t h r e e German Shepherds, a male dog and two bi tches , on Tern I s l and i n June 1963. I n June 1967 one of t h e b i t ches gave b i r t h t o e i g h t puppies; a l l pups were subsequently shipped t o Honolulu. These dogs chase b i r d s only occas ional ly and apparent ly do them l i t t l e harm; t h e i r chasing of s e a l s hauled out on Tern ' s beaches, however, has probably been a major f a c t o r i n s e a l s not pupping on the i s l a n d . The th ree dogs a r e never taken t o the o ther i s l ands and, thus, do not g r e a t l y a f f e c t t h e b i rd , t u r t l e , and s e a l populat ions on the a t o l l . HOUSE CAT F e l i s ca tus -- Sta tus Introduced; l a s t present i n 1966. Observations Henry (pers . comm.) recorded the f i r s t House Cat on East I s land on 1 September 1948. Richardson (1954a) noted four o r f i v e "well-fed house ca t s " which had supposedly " k i l l e d hundreds of Golden Plover" on h i s October 1953 Tern I s l and v i s i t . Svihla (1957) recorded "two house c a t s ( s a i d t o be of the same sex) which fed t o a c e r t a i n ex ten t on the b i rds" during h i s February 1956 v i s i t . m e Tern I s l and c a t s were not observed by Robbins (HDFG, 1960a) i n A p r i l 1960, Woodside (KDFG, 1960b) i n October 1960, o r Woodside and Kramer (KDFG, 1961b) i n March 1961. POBSP and BSFW personnel saw none i n 1963 and 1964. Ear ly i n 1965 a f e r a l ca t , poss ib ly one of t h e e a r l i e r two pets , appeared on Tern. The c a t s l ipped i n t o t h e barracks l a t e a t n igh t and s t o l e food from the g a l l e y f o r seve ra l months (Krauss, 1965) before being caught and tamed by L t . ( j g ) George E. Archer, Jr. Archer kept the huge yellow male i n h i s t r a i l e r but it died shor t ly a f t e r POBSP personnel departed t h e a t o l l i n June 1966. The Hawaiian I s l ands National Wi ld l i f e Refuge r u l e s now p r o h i b i t c a t s on t h e a t o l l . PIG Sus sc ro fa - Sta tus Unsuccessful in t roduc t ion . Observations Some pigs were l e f t , on what i s probably today East I s land, on 29 A p r i l 1867 by the crew of the USS Lackawanna who had gone t o the Shoals t o rescue t h e crew of the wrecked bark Daniel Wood (U.S. Nat. Archives, Hydrographic O f f . Corresp., Reynolds t o Jenkins l e t t e r , R.G. 37, 272.7). Five years l a t e r t h e Kamehameha 1 v i s i t e d t h e a t o l l . The crew "saw ... two l a r g e hogs on a sand s p i t , a q u a r t e r of a mile in circumference. They have been the re s ince A p r i l 1867. There i s no f r e s h water . . .and very l i t t l e vege ta t ion . A s soon a s t h e boat landed, t h e hogs took t o t h e water and swam off t o some rocks j u s t awash, and seemed per- f e c t l y a t home i n t h e water" (The Friend,Oct. 1872, 81: 2-3). - The p i g s were never observed again . SUMMARY French F r i g a t e Shoals, i n t h e Northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands , has been t h e scene of many shipwrecks, t h e s i t e of a U.S. Naval A i r F a c i l i t y during World War 11, and a l i t t le-known commercial f i s h i n g a r e a f o r Hawaiians throughout t h e y e a r s . Today t h e a t o l l i s p a r t of t h e Hawaiian I s l ands Nat ional Wild l i fe Refuge, with a U.S. Coast Guard LOXAN S t a t i o n on one of i t s 1.3 i s l ands . Personnel of t h e P a c i f i c Ocean B io log ica l Survey Program (POBSP), Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n , Washington, D.C., made 11 bio- l o g i c a l survey t r i p s t o the a t o l l from June, 1963, t o June, 1969. Data from these v i s i t s , a s we l l a s from v i s i t s by Bureau of Spor t F i she r i e s and Wi ld l i f e (BSFW) personnel, Hawaiian Divis ion of Fish and Game personnel, P a c i f i c Ocean F i s h e r i e s Inves t iga t ions personnel, and from a l l previous ly published l i t e r a t u r e a r e sum- marized and d iscussed . Emphasis i s placed on the vascu la r f l o r a and the v e r t e b r a t e t e r r e s t r i a l fauna. I n a l l , 40 spec les of vascu la r p l an t s , represent ing 24 fami l ies , have been observed o r c o l l e c t e d from e i g h t i s l a n d s . Two spec ies of r e p t i l e s , both breeders , a r e known. Since 1963, POBSP and BSFW personnel tagged 288 green sea t u r t l e s ; 16 of these were recaptured on the a t o l l , and four were captured e l s e - where i n the Hawaiian I s l ands . I n add i t ion , two tagged elsewhere were captured on the a t o l l . Of t h e 44 spec ie s of b i r d s recorded, 18 spec ies a r e r ee iden t breeding seabi rds , 5 a r e r egu la r migrant shorebirds, and 2 1 a r e vagrant , a c c i d e n t a l , o r introduced. I n a l l , 85 specimens of 22 speciee were known p r i o r t a the f i r s t POBSP survey. POBSP personnel c o l l e c t e d 55 specimens of 26 spec ies , 11 of which r ep resen t new specimen records f o r t h e a t o l l ; an a d d i t i o n a l 8 spec les r ep resen t new s l g h t records . Birds t o t a l i n g 67,027, of 19 spec ies , were banded with U.S. Fish and Wi ld l i f e bands by POBSP personnel ; 7,958 of these ( 6 s p e c ~ e s ) were recaptured on t h e a t o l l , and 246 (12 spec ie s ) were captured a t o t h e r P a c i f i c l o c a l i - t i e s . I n addition, 280 b i rds of 1 2 spec ie s from o the r P a c i f i c l o c a l ~ t i e s were captured on t h e a t o l l . Beside human occupants, seven mammalian spec iee occur. Since 1965, POBSP and BSFW per- sonnel tagged 160 Hawaiian monk s e a l s ; many recaptures a r e known, and one tagged elsewhere was captured . French Fr iga te Shoals of fers a unique opportunity t o t e r r e s - t r i a l and marine b i o l o g i s t s : t he re a r e few places where i s o l a t e d undisturbed i s l ands and waters teeming with w i l d l i f e occur so c lose t o an isl.and with por t , a i r ~ o r t , and lodging f a c i l i t i e s . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Acknowledgment i s f i r s t and foremost made t o Eugene Kr id ler , Refuge Manager, Hawaiian I s l ands National Wi ld l i f e Refuge, Kailua, Oahu, and Michio Takata, Direc tor , Hawaiian Division of F i sh and Game, f o r g ran t ing permission f o r me and o ther POBSP personnel t o v i s i t French Fr iga te Shoals and f o r pro- v id ing unpublished f i e l d notes and prel iminary r e p o r t s of U.S. F i sh and Wi ld l i f e Service and S t a t e of Hawaii survey t r i p s t o the a t o l l . I would a l s o l i k e t o thank the U.S. Coast Guard and t h e U.S. Navy f o r f u l l cooperation and a s s i s t a n c e i n gathering both f i e l a and h i s t o r i c a l da ta . It i s d i f f i c u l t t o give adequate acknowledgment t o a l l t he indiv iduals who helped me gather h i s t o r i c a l d a t a . Those who deserve s p e c i a l acknowledgment include: Louis Agard, Jr. , Honolulu, Nawaii; Dean C . A l l a rd and Kathy Lloyd, Classifi.ed Operat ional Archives, Naval HisLory Division,. Washington, 4 . C . ; E.H. Bryan, Jr., P a c i f i c S c i e n t i f i c Inlormation Center, Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii; Jean Dabagh, ~ a w a i i ' S t a t e Archives, Honolulu, Hawaii; C.W. Hymes, Federa l Records Center, Suit land, Maryland; Bob Krauss, Honolulu Adver t i ser , Honolulu, Hawaii; Cmdr. John L. Linnon, 14th Coast Guard D i s t r i c t Office, Honolulu, Hawaii; I. Pearlman, Federal Records Center, U.S. National Archives, Washington, D . C . ; Harry Schwartz, Modern Mi l i t a ry His tory Division, U.S. National Archives, Washington, D . C . ; Mrs. C O W . Thomas, Records and Directory, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D . C . 3 Les l i e W. Walker, Command Historian, Naval F a c i l i t i e s , Engineering Command, U,S. Naval Construction Ba t t a l ion Center, Port Hueneme, Ca l i fo rn ia ; and Alexander Wetmore, Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n , Washington, D.C. Spec ia l thanks a r e extended t o t h e many pas t commanding o f f i c e r s and e n l i s t e d men of the French F r i g a t e Shoals Coast Guard LORAN S t a t i o n who have cont r ibuted both a s s i s t a n c e and information, e s p e c i a l l y L t . ( j g . ) George E. Archer, Lt . ( j g . ) Robert G. Bates, For res t Clinard, Jr. , L t . ( j g . ) Calvin W . Dail , Jr., Cmdr. Norman P. Ensrud, Lcdr. Robert T. Getman, Cmdr. Thomas E . Hawkins ( r e t . ) , Lcdr. Walter 0. Henry ( r e t . ) , L t . ( j g . ) Henry J. Kofron, SWO-4 Charles W . Pr ice , L t . ( j g . ) Jack E. Rader, Jr . ; Lcdr. Theodore D. Dabagh ( r e t . ) , pas t commanding o f f i c e r of the Tern I s l and Naval A i r F a c i l i t y ; and Chief Ronald R . Amerson, USN. 1 am deeply indebted -to t h e fol.lo~!ing POUSP personnel who have contrihu-bed t o t h i s ximuscript : Roger B. Clapp, Robert R . *. Flee t , C . Dou&i:: ii:?,clrrnari, .'Iir?~an P.. I-larrington, the l a t e Lawrence N. Iiuber, Vernon L. Kleer, 1'. J:irnes l,e.:ris, Char:Les R . Long, . . Je f f rey I?. ICordoi::E, Robert; W. o n and k'rec: C . SiNe?) who spent Long hours c o l l e c t i n g fie:l.d d a t a ; Aiine Ikenan Poulson who c u e - f u l l y d r a f t e d the maps and char t s ; Mae 13. E s t e r l i n e who gave e d i t o r i a l advice on ea r ly d r a f t s of t h e manuscript; Jane P. Church who gave e d i t o r i a l advice on t h e f i n a l species accounts, worked wi th various d r a f t versions of t h e manuscript, checked occasional references, and proofread t h e en-tire f i n a l manuscript; and Ph i l ip S. Iiumphrey who encouraged and supervised t h e e n t i r e PORSP f i e l d and rrr:it?.ng e:Cf o r t . I a l s o wish t o extend my -i;lianks to Robert I,. Brownell POBSP; Roger B. Clapp, POBSP; William E . Duellman, Universi-ty of Kansas; F. Raymond Fosberg, Sxiithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n ; Robert S. Hoffmann, Universi ty of Kansas; Eugene Kridl.er, BSPW; Robert L. Pyle, POBSP; Ph i l ip C . Shelton, POBSP; 'nd George E. Watson, Smithsonian I n s t i - t u t i o n , f o r c r i t i c a l l y reading various sec t ions of the manuscript. The camem copy was typed. by Barbara B . Anderson wi th funding through a con t rac t with t h e Bureau of Sport F i she r i e s and Wi ld l i f e , Department of i n t e r i o r ( con t rac t number 14-16-008-596, February 3, 1971). LITERATURE CITETJ Agassiz, A . and H.L. Clark. 1907.' Preliminary report on the Echinodermata collected, in 1902, among the Hawaiian Islands, by the U.S. Fish Commission Steamer %Albatrossn i n charge of Commander Chauncey Thomas, USN, Commanding. Mus. Comp. Zool., Ham., Bull. 50: 229-259. ---- 1907-1912. Hawaiian and other Pacif ic Echinodermata. Mus. Comp. Zool., Ham., Mem. 34: 1-383. A i r Weather Service [MATS] Climatic Center, USAF. French Frigate Shoals, Hawaii. USCG. Summaries December 1950- December 1962. Asheville, North Carolina. Alexander, W.B. - e t - a l . 1965. The families and genera of pe t re l s and the i r names. Ib i s 107: 401-405. American Ornithologists' Union. 1957. Checklist of North American birds . 5 th ed. Lord Baltimore Press, Baltimore. Amerson, A.B., Jr. 1968. Tick d is t r ibu t ion in the Central Pacific as influenced by seabird movement. J. Med. Ent. 5: 332-339. ---- In prep. French Frigate Shoals, a his tory: 1786-1970. Amerson, A.B., Jr. and K.C. Emerson. 1971. Records of Mal- lophaga from Pacific birds . Atol l Res. Bull. 146: 1-30. Anonymous. 1949. Man made island: how French Frigate Shoals came t o be bu i l t . Civi l Engineer Corps Bull. 3: 213-215. ---- 1951. Hawaiian monk seal , marine r a r i t y . Zoonouz Z k ( 7 ) : 3. ---- 1953. Insect reqords from French Frigate Shoals. Haw. Ent. Soc. Proc. 1 : 13. ---- 1967. Excerpts from the minutes of the general meeting of the Hawaii Audubon Society, ~ e b r u a ' r ~ 20, 1967. Elepaio : 107. Bailey, A.M. 1952. The Hawaiian monk sea l . Denver Mus. Nat. Hist., Mus. Pict . 7: 1-30. ---- 1956. ~ i r d s of Midway and Laysan Islands. Denver Mus. Nat. Hist . , Mus. Pict . 2 1-UO. . Beardsley, J . W . 1966. Insects and other t e r r e s t r i a l arthropods from the leeward Hawaiian Islands. Pac. Sci . 19: 157-185. Beech, K. 1946a. French Frigate Shoals, million do l la r wartime baby, i s orphan. Honolulu S ta r Bull. 2 Oct., 4: 1. ---- 1946b. Building of French Frigate a i rpor t fan tas t ic achievement. Honolulu S t a r Bull. 2 Oct., 9: 1. ---- 1 9 4 6 ~ . Secrecy and speed were keynotes of French Frigate Shoals a i r f i e l d job. Honolulu S ta r Bull. 4 Oct., 10: 1. ---- 1946d. French Frigate. Honolulu Star Bull. 5 Oct ., 9: 1. ---- 1946e. French Frigate. Honolulu S ta r Bull. 7 Oct., 10: 1. Berger, A.J. 1970. The leeward islands. Oceans 3 ( l ) : 22-33. Bock, W . J . 1958. A generic review of the plovers (Charadri- inae, Aves). Mus. Comp. Zool. Bull. 118: 27-97. Bragg, E.H. and J.R. Cronk. ( m s . ) . U.S. Coast Guard LORAN Transmitting Station, French Frigate Shoals [description by Bragg in 1955, brought up t o date by Cronk i n 19581. 14th Coast Guard Di s t r i c t . 5 pp. Breese, Paul L. 1959. Information on c a t t l e egret ; a b i rd new t o Hawaii. Elepaio 20: 33-34. Brooke, G.M., Jr. 1955. John Mercer Brooke, naval s c i e n t i s t . Ph.D. thesis , Univ. North Carolina, Chapel H i l l . Vol. 1, v i i and 440 pp. ; Vol. 2, 441-928. Brooks, N.C. 1860. Islands and reefs west-north-west of the Sandwich Islands, Pacif ic . Naut. Mag. 29: 499-504. Bryan, E.H., Jr. 1958. Checklist and summary of Hawaiian birds . Books about Hawaii. Honolulu, Hawaii. 28 pp. Bryan, E.H., Jr. - e t - a l . 1926. Insects of Hawaii, Johnston Island and Wake Island. B.P. Bishop Mus. Bull. 31: 1-94. BSFW--Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dept. of In te r ior , Kailua, Hawaii. [unpublished reports]: 1964a. Kridler, E . Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, July 25-27, 1964. 8 pp. 1964b. ----- Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, September 16 through 27, 1964. 30 pp. 1965. ----- Hawaiian I s l ands National W i l d l i f e Refuge, March 11-23, 1965. 20 pp. 1966a. ----- Prel iminary report--French F r i g a t e Shoals, Hawaiian I s l ands Nat ional Wild l i fe Refuge, Hawaii, March 21-24, 1966. 8 pp. 1966b. ----- Hawaiian I s l a n d s National W i l d l i f e Refuge trip--September 8-28, 1966. 34 pp. 1967a. ----- French F r i g a t e Shoals t r i p r epor t , March 1967. 1967b. ----- Hawaiian I s l a n d s National Wild l i fe Refuge, September 10 through October 4, 196'7. 14 pp. 1 9 6 7 ~ . ----- Hawaiian I s l a n d s National Wi ld l i f e Refuge, prel iminary t r i p report--December 7 through 18, 1967. 13 pp. 1969a. ----- Prel iminary r epor t , French F r i g a t e Shoals, February 22-24, 1969. 4 pp. l969b. ----- Hawaiian I s l ands National Wild l i fe Refuge sp r ing t r i p , March 19 - A p r i l 6, 1969. 32 pp. 1969~ . ----- Hawaiian I s l ands National Wi ld l i f e Refuge, f i e l d t r i p r e p o r t . August 19 - September 23, 1969. 32 pp. 1969d. Olsen, D.L. I-Iawaiian I s l a n d s National Wi ld l i f e Refuge f i e l d t r i p May 28 - June 11, 1969. 18 pp. Buchwach, B. 1946a. French F r i g a t e - - a i r f i e l d . Honolulu Adv. 2 Oct., 1: 1, 6: 4 . ---- 1946b. French F r i g a t e - - a i r f i e l d used by f i s h i n g indus t ry Honolulu Adv. 4 Oct., 7: 5 . Carr, Archie. 1964; Transoceanic migra t ions of the green t u r t l e . BioScience 14 : 49-52. Caum, E.L. 1933. The exo t i c b i r d s of Hawaii. B.P. Bishop Mus. Occ. Papers lO(9) : 1-55. Christophersen, E . and E.L. Caum. 1931. Vascular p l a n t s of t h e Leeward I s l ands , Hawaii. B.P. Bishop Mus. Bu l l . 81: 1-41. Clapp, R.B. 1968. Three unusual shorebi rds from Midway A t o l l , P a c i f i c Ocean. Elepaio 28: 76-77. Clapp, R.B. and P.W. Woodward. 1968. New records of b i r d s from t h e Hawaiian Leeward I s l a n d s . U.S. Nat. Mus. Proc. 124(3640) : 1-39. Clark, A.H. 1949. Ophiuroidea of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s . B.P. Bishop Mue. Bu l l . 195: 1-133. Clark, H.L. 1925. Echinoderms o the r than sea s t a r s . Edmondson - e t - a l . , 1925. B.P. Bishop Mus. B u l l . 27: 89-111. Dal l , W.H., P. Bartsch and H.A. Rehder. 1938. A manual of t h e r ecen t and f o s s i l pelecypod mollusks of t h e Hawaiian I s l ands . B.P. Bishop Mus. Bu l l . 153: 1-233. Dater , H.M., R.L. Golden, R.W. J u l y and A.O. Van Wyen. (ms.). A i r Task Organization i n t h e P a c i f i c Ocean Areas Land- Based A i r c r a f t , 26: S e c t . 4: 1-50. I n U.S. Naval Administrat ion i n World War 11. ~ e ~ u 5 Chief of Naval Operations ( A i r ) . U.S. Navy, Washington. Delacour, J . 1954. The waterfowl of t h e world. Vol. 1. Country L i f e Ltd. , London. ---- 1959. The waterfowl of t h e world. Vol. 3. Country L i fe Ltd. , London. Donaghho, W.R. 1969. F i e l d no te s from Walter R . Donaghho. Maui observa t ions . Elepaio 30: 37. Eckles, H.H. 1949. F ishery explora t ion i n t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s (August t o October 1948, by t h e v e s s e l Oregon of t h e P a c i f i c Explorat ion Company). U.S. F ish and Wildl. Serv., Com. Fish . Rev. l l ( 6 ) : 1-9. Edmondson, C.H. 1925. Crustacea. I n Edmondson g g. , 1925 B.P. Bishop Mus. Bu l l . 27: 3-62', Elschner, C . 1915. The Leeward I s l ands of t h e Hawaiian Group. Honolulu Adver t i ser , Honolulu. 68 pp. Emory, K.P. 1928. Archeology of Nihoa and Necker I s l ands . B.P. Bishop Mus. Bu l l . 53: 1-124. F a r r e l l , A . [ed . ] . 1928. John Cameron's odyssey. The Macmillan Co., New York. 461 pp. Federa l Record Center, San Francisco [Unpublished 14th Navy D i s t r i c t records and correspondence]. Federa l Record Center, S u i t l a n d [Maryland]. [Unpublished 14th Coast Guard D i s t r i c t correspondence and summary r e p o r t s . French F r i g a t e Shoals LORAN Transmit t ing S t a t i o n Log Books, 1948-19681. Fisher, W.K. 1903. A new Procelsterna from the Leeward Islands, Hawaiian Group. U.S. Nat. Mus. Proc. 26: 559-563. ---- 1906. Birds of Laysan and the Leeward Islands. Bull U.S. Fish. Corn. for 1903, 23: 769-807. ---- 1925. Sea stars. & Edmondson g. , 1925. B.P. Bishop Mus. Bull. 27: 63-88. Force, R.W. 1965. Annual report of the director for 1963. B.P. Bishop Mus. Press. Honolulu. 81 pp. Fowler, H.W. 193. Fishes of the tropical Central Pacific. B.P. Bishop Mus. Bull 38: 1-32. Fowler, H.W. and S.C. Ball. 1925. Fishes of Hawaii, Johnston Island, and Wake Island. B.P. Bishop MUE. Bull. 26: 1-31. French Hydrographic Office. 1797. Chart of Necker Island...and of the Basse des fregates Francaises or French Frigate Shoal ... Map No. 556. Friend, The. Loss of the bark Daniel. Wood. May 1867, 37: 1-3. - ---- Cruise of the Kamehameha V and discovery of the wreck of - the German brig Wanderer. Oct. 1872, 81: 2-3. Gilbert, C.K. 1905. The deep-sea fishes. In U.S. Fish. Comm. Bull. for 1903, Pt. 11. iii-xi and 575-713. Gosline, W.A. and V.E. Brock. 1965. Handbook of Hawaiian fishes. Honolulu. Univ. of Hawaii Press. 372 pp. Gould, P.3. and W.B. King. 1967. Records of four species of Pterodroma from the Central Pacific Ocean. Auk 84: 591-594. Gregory, H.E. 1929. Report of the director for 1928. B.P. Bishop Mus. Bull. 65: 1-58. Grimes J. (ms.). Aviation in the fleet exercises, 1911-1939. In United States Naval Administration in World War 11, : 1-23 Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air). U.S. Navy, . Washington. Hardy, D.E. 1952. Notes and exhibitions; Latrodectus geometricus Koch. Haw. Ent. Soc. Proc. 14: 369. ---- 1964. Insects of Hawaii. Vol. 11. Diptera: Brachycera I1 - Cyclorrhapha 1. Honolulu. Univ. of Hawaii Press. vii and 458 pp. Hartman, 0. 1966. Polychaetous annel ids of t h e Hawaiian I s l ands . B.P. Bishop Mus. Occ. Papers 23: 163-252. Hartman, 0. and G. Schroder. 1965. Zur Kenntnis der e u l i t o r a l e n Polychaetenfauna von Hawaii, Palmyra und Samoa. Abh. u. Verh. Naturn iss . Vereins Hamburg, N.F. 9: 81-161. HDFG--Hawaiian Divis ion of F ish and Game, S t a t e of Hawaii, Honolulu. [unpublished r epor t s ] : 1960a. Robbins, C.S. Report on Eas t I s l and , French F r iga te Shoals ; p ro tec t ion of nes t ing b i r d s on m i l i t a r y bases i n t h e Leeward I s l a n d s . 5 pp. 1960b. Woodside, D.H. A r e p o r t on a b r i e f v i s i t t o Tern Is land , French F r i g a t e Shoals on October 19, 1960. 3 pp. 1961a. ----- Report on t r i p t o Laysan I s l and , September 1961. 3 1 pp. 196111. Woodside, D.H. and R.J. Kramer. A r e p o r t on a survey t r i p t o t h e Hawaiian I s l ands Nat ional Wi ld l i f e Refuge, March 1961. 32 pp. 1962a. Kramer, R.J. and J . W . Beardsley. A r e p o r t on a survey t r i p , and an entomological r epor t , t o Hawaiian I s l ands National W i l d l i f e Refuge, June 1962. 21 pp. 1962b. Marshall , D.B. Report of Hawaiian I s l a n d s National Wild l i fe Refuge inspec t ion t r i p , June 6 through 26, 1962. ~ P P . Hawaiian Gazette. Schooner Mat t ie E. - D y e r wrecked. 3 Mar. 1896, 3: 1-3. Hawaiian S t a t e Archives, Honolulu [unpublished l e t t e r s , docu- ments and r epor t s ] : King-Dole correspondence, 1895. French F r iga te Shoals, #1871. Hendrickson, J.R. 1969. Report on Hawaiian marine t u x t l e populat ions. I n Proceedings of t h e working meeting of marine t u r t l e G e c i a l i s t s organized by IUCN, Morges, Switzerland 10-13 March 1969. I n t . U. Conserv. Natur . Res., Pub. New Ser . , Suppl. Pap. No. 20: 89-95. Holly, M . 1935. Polychaeta from Hawaii. B.P. Bishop Mus. Bu l l . 129: 1-33. Honolulu Advertiser [previously Pacific Commercial Advertiser]: Freights. 24 Mar. 1859, 2: 1. The return on Sunday l a s t of the schooner Kamehameha IV. - 31 Mar. 1859, 2: 1. Loss of the American whale ship "South Seaman." 31 Mar. 1859, 2: 3 . Port of Honolulu, H . I . : departures. 25 May 1867, 2: 1. Local comercial . 29 June 1867, 2: 1. Port of Honolulu, H.I.: a r r i v a l s . 29 June 1877, 2: 2. Turtle eggs. 29 June 1867, 3: 5. A shipwrecked crew. 2 Mar. 1896, 1: 5-6, 2: 1-2. Navy plans t r i p t o Johnston. ll Nov. 1935, 1: 6. Planes return from Johnston. 14 Nov. 1935, 5: 3. 35 planes return from French Frigate. 18 Nov. 1935, 1: 4 . Honolulu S ta r Bulletin: Hawaii party rescues shipwrecked crew; reaches isolated shoal as schooner, a f i r e , pounds t o pieces. 30 Oct. 1917, 1: 6-7; 2: 1-2. Hornell, J . 1934. Log of the schooner Ada on a f ishing cruise - i n the North Pacific, 1882. Mariner's Mirror 20: 426-437. Ikehara, 1.1. 1953. Live-bait f ishing for tuna in the Central Pacific. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Spec. Sci . Rep.: Fisheries 107: 1-20. Jacot, A.P. 1934. Some Hawaiian Oribatoidea (Acarina) . B.P. Bishop Mus. Bull. 121: 1-99. June, F.C. and J . W . Reintjes. 1953. Common tuna-bait f i shes of the Central Pacific. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Res. Rep. 34: 1-54. KaigLer, C.G. 1969. Waipio dump. Elepaio 29: 73. Kenyon,' K.W. In prep. Man versus the monk sea l . Kenyon, K.W. and D.W. Rice. 1957. Bird observat ions a t Midway A t o l l . E lepaio 18: 2-4. ---- 1959. L i f e h i s t o r y of the Hawaiian monk s e a l . Pac. S c i . 13: 215-252. King, J.E. 1956. The monk s e a l s (genus Monachus). B r i t Mus. (Nat. H i s t . ) Zool. Bu l l . 3: 201-256. ---- 1959. Frankl in g u l l i n t h e Cen t ra l P a c i f i c . Condor 61: 226. King, W .B. 1967. Prel iminary Smithsonian i d e n t i f i c a t i o n manual. Seabirds of t h e t r o p i c a l P a c i f i c Ocean. Smith- sonian I n s t i t u t i o n , Washington. Kohls, G.M. 1966. A new sea b i r d t i c k , Ixodes amersoni, from Phoenix I s l a n d . Jou r . Med. Ent . 3: 38;40. Kohls, G.M. and C.M. C l i f fo rd . 1967. The male and l a r v a of Ixodes laysanens is Wileon with notes on r e a r i n g (Acarina, Ixodidae) . J. Med. Ent . 4 : 83-86. Krauss, B. 1965. c o a s t Guard seeking s t r a y c a t . Honolulu Adv. 19 Feb., B-1: 6 . lamoureux, C.H. 1961. Botanica l observat ions on leeward Hawaiian a t o l l s . A t o l l Res. Bul l . 79: 1-10. ---- 1964. The leeward Hawaiian i s l ands . Haw. Bot. Soc. Newsl. 3 ( 2 ) : 7-11. La Perouse, comte de, Jean Francois de Galaup. 1799. A voyage round t h e world, performed i n t h e yea r s 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788 by t h e Boussole and Astrolabe, under the command of J.F.G. de l a Perouse. T r , by L.A. Milet-Mureau. G.G. and J. Robinson, J. Edwards, and T. Payne, London. Vol. 1. 539 pp. Laycock, G. 1970a. The Hawaiian i s l a n d s of b i r d s . Audubon Mag. 72 (1): 44-61. ---- 1970b. Haunted sands of Laysan. Audubon Mag. 72 ( 2 ) : 42-49. Layton, E.T. 1953. Rendezvous i n reverse . U.S. Naval I n s t . Proc. 75: 478-485. Lopes, H. de Souza. 1938. On t h e genus Goniophyto Townsend, 1927, with d e s c r i p t i o n of a new spec ies from Hawaii. B.P. Bishop Mus. Occ. Papers 14: 193-197. Lord, W . 1967. Inc red ib le v i c t o r y . Harper and Row, New York. 331 PP. Maa, T.C. 1962. Notes on the Hippoboscidae (Diptera). Pac. Ins . 4: 583-614. ---- 1968. Records of Hippoboscidae ( ~ i p t e r a ) from the Central Pacific. J. Med. Ent. 5: 325-328. Morris, P.C. 1934. How the Terr i tory of Hawaii grew and what domaLn it covers. Haw. His t . Soc. 42nd Ann. Rep. fo r 1933: 13-39. Moynihan, M. 1957. Notes on the sea birds of Sand Island of the Johnston Island group. Elepaio 18: 35-37. Mull, W.P. 1969. Field notes from M r . and Mrs. William P. Mull: Waipio Peninsula. Elepaio 30: 45. Munro, G.C. 1 9 l a . Birds of Hawaii and adventures i n bird study; an ocean cruise . Elepaio 2: 56-58. ---- 1941b. Birds of Hawaii and adventures in bird study; an ocean cruise. Elepaio 2: 63-64. ---- 1944. Birds of Hawaii. Tongg Publ. Co., Honolulu. 189 pp. Munter, W.H. 1915. Report of destruction of bird l i f e on Laysan Island, Pacific Ocean. Ann. Rep. Coast Guard fo r 1915 : 130-140. Nutting, C.C. 1908. Descriptions of the Alcyonaria col- lected by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries Steamer Albatross i n the v i c in i t y of the Hawaiian Islands in 1902. U.S. Nat. Mus. Proc. 1624: 543-601. Pacif ic Commercial Advertiser (see Honolulu Advert iser) , Palmer, H.S. 1927. Geology of Kaula, Nihoa, Necker, and Gardner Islands, and French Fr igate Shoals. B.P. Bishop MUS. Bull. 35: 1-35. Paradise of the Zlacific. Wreck of a French ship. 8 Nov. 1903, 8: 2; 9: 1. Parsons, James J . 1962. The green t u r t l e and man. Univ. of Florida Press, Gainesville. 126 pp. Pearcy, G.E. 1959. Hawaii's t e r r i t o r i a l sea. Prof. Geog. 11(6): 2-6. Peters, J.L. 1931. Check-list of bi rds of the world. vol. I Harv. Univ. Press, Cambridge, Mass. ---- 1934. Check-list of birds of the world. Vol. 11. Harv. Univ . press, Cambridge, Mass. ---- 1937. Check-l is t of b i r d s of t h e world. Vol. 111. Harv. Univ. Press ,Cambridge, Mass. Pietschmann, V . 1938. Hawaiian shore f i s h e s . B.P. Bishop us. ~ ~ 1 1 . 156: 1-55. P i l sb ry , H.A. 1927. L i t t o r a l barnac les of t h e Hawaiian I s l ands and Japan. Acad. Nat. S c i . P h i l a . Proc. 79: 305-317. POBSP--Pacific Ocean B io log ica l Survey Program, Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n , Washington, D . C . [unpublished r epor t s ] : 1963. S ib ley , F.C. P a c i f i c P ro jec t f i e l d t r ip--June 1963. [Leeward Survey No. 21. 9 pp. 1964. F lee t , R. Leeward I s l ands survey No. 5, 'September 1964. 15 pp. 1965a. Amerson, A.B., Jr. French F r i g a t e Shoals t r i p r epor t , August 1965. [Leeward Survey No. 101. 48 pp. 1965b. Banko, W . T r ip r epor t , Hawaiian Leeward I s l ands survey. [Leeward Survey No. 81. March 11-23, 1965. 11 PP. 19668. Amerson, A.B., J r . French F r i g a t e Shoals t r i p r epor t , June 1966. [Leeward Survey No. 121. 32 pp. 19661,. Harr ington, B.A. French F r i g a t e Shoals t r i p r epor t , August-September 1966; Leeward survey No. 15. 30 pp. 1967a. Amerson, A.B., J r . Leeward I s l and survey No. 20, French F r iga te Shoals, May-June 1967. 26 pp. 1967b. Hackman, C.D. p re l iminary r e p o r t of Leeward I s l and survey No. 18, March 6 t o March 27, 1967. 1 2 pp. 1968a. Amerson, A.B., J r . Leeward I s l a n d s survey No. 23, French F r i g a t e Shoals, May-June 1968. 19 pp. 1968b. Clapp, R.B. Prel iminary r epor t Tern I s l and French F r iga te Shoals, LS #22, 11-15 March 1968. 9 pp. 1969. Amerson, A.B., Jr. Leeward I s l ands survey No. 24, French F r i g a t e Shoals, June 1969. POFI--Pacific Ocean F i s h e r i e s Inves t iga t ions , Bureau of Commer- c i a l F i s h e r i e s , Honolulu [unpublished notes and r epor t s ] : 195Oa. Notes from FWS M/V Hugh M . Smith, c r u i s e 11, 19 January - 9 February l95Ob. FWS M/V g. Smith, report on cruise no. 11, 16 January - 2 March. 1 9 5 0 ~ . Narrative report; Hugh M. Smith, cruise V, 16 June - 6 August. 1951. Narrative report; Hugh M. Smith, cruise I X ; 5 May - 2 July. 1955. Cruise report; FWS M/V - John g. Manning, cruise 25, 2 May - 7 June. 1956a. Cruise report; FWS M/V John R. Manning, cruise 30, 15 March - 20 April . 1956b. Cruise report; FWS M/V John R. Manning, cruise 31; 19 May - 22 June. 1957. Narrative report: Hugh M. Smith, cruise 39, 19 April - 30 May. 1959. Extract from narrat ive report; Charles - H. Gilbert , cruise 45, 6 July - 3 September. 196la. Notes from FWSM/V Charles g. Gilbert, cruise 51, 9 - 19 February. 1961b. Notes from FWS M/V Charles - H. Gilbert, cruise 52, 8 -5 April . 1961~ . Notes from FWS M/V Charles - H. Gilbert, cruise 53, 13 -14 1966. Notes from FWS M/V Charles H . - Gilbert , cruise 91, 12 - 15 May. Polynesian. More guano. 5 Mar. 185% 2: 3. Pyle, L. 1967. Field notes: observations of waterfowl a t Kahuku, Oahu. Elepaio 28: 6. Quaile, J.E. 1947. French Frigate Shoals. M i l . Eng. 39: 383. Rice, D.W. 1960a. Population dynamics of the Hawaiian monk sea l . J. Mammal. 41: 376-385. ---- 1960b. Distribution of the bottle-nosed dolphin in the leeward Hawaiian Islands. J . Mammal. 41: 407-408. Rice, D.W. and K.W. Kenyon. 1962. Breeding dis t r ibut ion, his tory and populations of North Pacif ic albatrosses. Auk 79: 365-386. Richardson, F. 1954a. Notes on the b i r d s of French F r i g a t e Shoal. P a r t I: General account of v i s i t of October 1953. Elepaio 14: 61-63. ---- 1954b. Notes on t h e b i rds of French F r i g a t e Shoal . P a r t 11. General accounts of v i s i t s of December 1953 and March 1954. Elepaio 14: 73-75. ---- 1957. The breeding cycles of Hawaiian seab i rds . B.P. Bishop Mus. Bul l . 218: 1-41. Ricket t s , R.M. (ms. ) . His to ry of Naval A i r F a c i l i t y , French F r iga te Shoals . 1945. U.S. Navy C l a s s i f i e d Operat ional Archives. 2 pp. Rothschild, W . 1893-1900. The avifauna of Laysan and the neighboring i s l a n d s . R.H. Por te r , London. 320 pp. Schi lder , F.A. 1933. Cypraeacea from Hawaii. B.P. Bishop Mus. Occ. Pap. lO(3) : 1-22. Schindler , 0. 1932. Sexual ly mature l a r v a l Hemirhampidae from the Hawaiian I s l a n d s . B.P. Bishop Mus. Bu l l . 97: 1-28. Shelton, P.C. I n prep. The n a t u r a l h i s t o r y of Johnston A t o l l , Cen t ra l P a c i f i c Ocean. Shibuya, T. (me.). Submarine opera t ions i n second phase opera t ions , P a r t I: A p r i l - August 1942. Japanese Mono- graph No. 110, 1952. 19 pp. General Headquarters, Far East Command, M i l i t a r y His tory Sect ion, Japanese Research Division, U.S. Navy C l a s s i f i e d Opera t ional Archives, Washington. S ib ley , F.C. and R.W. McFarlane. 1968. Gulls i n t h e Central P a c i f i c . Pac. S c i . 22: 314-321. Smith, O.R. and M.B. Schaefer . 1949. F ishery explora t ion i n the Western P a c i f i c (January t o June 1948, by v e s s e l s of the P a c i f i c Explorat ion Company). U.S. F ish and Wildl . Serv., Comm. Fish . Rev. l l ( 3 ) : 1-18. Snyder, 3.0. lg&. A catalogue of the shore f i s h e s c o l l e c t e d by t h e steamer Alba t ros s about the Hawaiian I s l a n d s i n 1902. I n Bul l . U.S. F ish Comm, f o r 1902. Vol. XXII. 5~ -538- Standen, R.S. 1967. An explanatory d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e sand i s l a n d s of Kure, Midway, and P e a r l and Hermes A t o l l s : Hawaiian I s l ands . MA t h e s i s , C a l i f . S t a t e Co l l . , Los Angele s . 93 pp . Strasberg , D.W. 1956. Notes on the blenniod f i s h e s of Hawaii with desc r ip t ions of two new spec ie s . Pac. S c i . 10: 241-267. Suman, T.W. 1964. Sp ide r s of t h e Hawaiian I s l ands : c a t a l o g and bibl iography. Pac. I n s . 6: 665-687. Svih la , A . 1957. Observations on French F r iga te Shoals, February 1956. A t o l l Res. Bul l . 51: 1-2. ---- 1959. Notes on t h e Hawaiian monk s e a l . J . Mammal. 40: 226-229. Swezey, O.H. 1915. I n s e c t s from French F r i g a t e Shoals . Haw. Ent. Soc. Proc. 3: 98-99. ---- 1920. Some new Hawaiian Lepidoptera. Haw. Ent . Soc. Proc. 4: 376-386. Taylor, W.R. 1964. The genus Turbinar ia i n e a s t e r n seas . J. Linn. Soc. ( ~ o t . ) 58: 471-487. Tomich, P.Q. 1969. Mammals of Hawaii. A synopsis and nota- t i o n a l bibl iography. B.P. Bishop Mus. Spec. Pub. 57: 1-238. Tsuda, R.T. 1966. Marine ben th ic a lgae from t h e leeward .Hawaiian group. A t o l l Res. Bul l . 115: 1-13. Tucker, R.L. 1917. T r ip of t h e motor v e s s e l "J.A. Cumins" from Honolulu t o French F r i g a t e Shoal, Nov. 1917. B.P. Bishop Mus. P a c i f i c Pamphlet 414. 5 pp. Udvardy, M.D.F. 1961a. The Harold J . Coolidge expedi t ion t o Laysan Is land , 1961. Elepaio 22: 43-47. ---- l 9 6 l b . Addit ions t o t h e check l i s t of Hawaiian b i r d s . Elepaio 21: 83-90. Udvardy, M.D.F. and R.E. Warner. 1964. Observations on t h e b i rds of French F r i g a t e Shoals and Kure A t o l l . A t o l l Res. B u l l . 103: 1-3. U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Archives, Rockvil le , Maryland. K.T. Adams f i l e . U.S. Coast Guard. 1946. Coast Guard cons t ruc t ion detachments i n the P a c i f i c t h e a t r e . I n The Coast Guard a t war LORAN IV. 2: 1 - 2 0 , Pub. ~ n f . a i v . , Washington. U.S. Coast Guard records . 14 th D i s t r i c t , f i l e s , and photographs, Honolulu. ---- Headquarters, f i l e s and photographs, Washington. U.S. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau. 1950. Clima- t o l o g i c a l da ta , Hawaii 46: 86-95 and maps. U.S. Department of S t a t e . 1965. United S t a t e s and out ly ing a r e a s . Geog. Bu l l . 5: 1-15. U.S. National Archives, Washington [unpublished l e t t e r s , documents, and r epor t s ] : Record Group 24. U.S. Navy personnel records and s h i p s ' l o g s . Record Group 26. U.S. Coast Guard. Record Group 27. U.S. Weather Bureau. Record Group 37. U.S. Hydrographic Office. Record Group 45. U.S. naval records and l i b r a r y , naval records c o l l e c t i o n . Record Group 48. U.S. Department of I n t e r i o r . Record Group 80. U.S. Department of Navy, gene ra l records and correspondence. U.S. Naval Construct ion B a t t a l i o n Center . H i s to ry Divis ion . P o r t Hueneme, C a l i f o r n i a [unpublished r e p o r t and map]: 99th Naval Construct ion B a t t a l i o n summary r epor t , 1942- 1944. U.S. Navy, C l a s s i f i e d Opera t ional Archives. Navy Yard, Washington [unpublished]: Correspondence, 14th Naval D i s t r i c t , 1942. War Diary, 14 th Naval D i s t r i c t , 1941-1946. Vaughan, T.W. 1907. Recent Madreporia of t h e Hawaiian I s l ands and Laysan. U.S. Nat. Mus. Bu l l . 59: i x and 222 pp. Walker, F.D. 1909. Log of Kaalokai; being a desc r ip t ion of small i s l ands , shoals and r e e f s l y i n g W.N.W. of the Hawaiian group proper. Hawaiian Gazet te Co., Ltd., Honolulu. 64 pp. Warner, R. 1958. Wi ld l i f e of Laysan I s l a n d . Elepaio 19: 8-10, 20-23. Washington, H.S. and M.G. Keyes. 1926. Petrology of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s : V. The leeward i s l a n d s . Amer J . S c i . , 5 t h s e r . 12: 336-352. Watson, G.E., 111. 1966. Srnithsonian i d e n t i f i c a t i o n manual: seabi rds of t h e t r o p i c a l A t l a n t i c Ocean. Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n , Washington, Wetmore, A . 1925. Bird l i f e among l ava rock and c o r a l sand. Nat. Geogr. Mag. 48: 77-108. ---- (ms . ) . Fie ld notes, 1923. Srnithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n , Washington. Wheeler, W.M. 1934. Revised l i s t of Hawaiian a n t s . B.P. Bishop Mus. Occ. Pap. 10: 3-18. Wilder, H . 1949. The Black-footed Albat ross . Elepaio 10: 3-4. Woodbury, D.O. 1946. Bui lders f o r b a t t l e ; how the P a c i f i c naval a i r bases were cons t ruc ted . E.P. Dutton and Co., New York. 415 pp. Zimmerman, E.C. 1948a. I n s e c t s of Hawaii. Vol. 2 . Apterygota t o Thysanoptera. Univ. of Hawaii Press , Honolulu. v i i i and 475 pp. ---- 1948b. I n s e c t s of Hawaii. Vol. 3. Heteroptera. Univ. of Hawaii Press , Honolulu. v and 255 pp. ---- 1 9 4 8 ~ . Insec t s of Hawaii. Vol. 5. Homoptera: S terno- rhyncha. Univ. of Hawaii Press , Honolulu. v i i and 462 pp. ---- 1958a. I n s e c t s of Hawaii. Vol. 7 . Macrolepidoptera. Univ. of Hawaii Press , Honolulu. i x and 542 pp. ---- 1958b. I n s e c t s of Hawaii. Vol. 8. Lepidoptera: Pyra- lo idea . Univ. of Hawaii Press , Honolulu. i x and 456 pp. Appendix Table 1. Date of V i s i t 1859 3-7 J a n . Mar. May o r Apr. 1891 30 May- 5 June 1902 28-29 May l 9 l O 28 Jan . Aug. or Sept . 1912 19 Dec. S c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s t o French F r iga te Shoals, 1859-1969 *' Vessel Personnel USS Fenimore Cooper Gambia Gambia Kaalokai USS Albat ross USRC The t i s USRC Thet i s USRC T h e t i s L t . John Mercer Brooke, John Kern and Fenimore Cooper personnel N.C. Brooks N.C. Brooks Rothschi ld Expedition: George C . Munro, Henry C . Palmer Alba t ros s Expedition: Charles H . G i lbe r t , Walter K. F isher , John 0. Snyder 60 W.V.E. Jacobs and T h e t i s p e r - sonnel CO W.V.E. Jacobs and The t i s per - sonnel Haw. Gov. Walter F. Frear , D.T. Fullaway, A.C. Lindsay; BBS: Alfred M. Bai ley, Cmdr. G.R. Sa l i sbury , William S. Wallace, George W i l l e t t ** Symbols and abbrevia t ions : BBS - Bureau of Bio logica l Survey; BPBM - B.P. Bishop Museum; BSFW - Bureau of Spor t F i she r i e s and Wi ld l i f e ; C C - Claremont College; FAA - Federa l Avia t ionAdminls t ra t ion; HU - Hamburg Univers i ty ; HDFG - Hawaiian Divis ion of F i s h and Game; HSPA - Hawaii Sugar P l a n t e r s ' Associa t ion; HSB - Honolulu S t a r Bul- l e t i n ; HZ - Honolulu Zoo; NAS - Nat ional Audubon Socie ty ; NBC - National Broadcasting Company; 01 - Oceanographic I n s t i t u t e ; POBSP - P a c i f i c Ocean B io log ica l Survey Program; POFZ - P a c i f i c Ocean F i s h e r i e s Inves t iga t ion ; UA - Univers i ty of Arizona; UBC - Univers i ty of B r i t i s h Columbia; UC - Univers i ty of C a l i f o r n i a ; UF - Univers i ty of F lo r ida ; UH - Univers i ty of Hawaii; USCG - U.S. Coast Guard; USDA - U.S. Department of Agr i cu l tu re ; USFW - U.S. F ish and Wi ld l i f e Se rv ice ; USN - U.S. Navy; UW - Univers i ty of Washington; W - Vienna Univers i ty ; *Biologist-in-charge . 338 Appendix Table 1. (continued) Date of V i s i t Vessel Personnel 1914 2.5 Aug . - 30 Sept ., 10 0ct .- 4 Nov. 9 Sept . 1915 20-21 Mar. 1916 28 Jan. 1918 4-5 Sept. 1919 24 Sept. 1923 22-28 June 1924 8 May 1928 4-5 Mar. 11-19 May, 5-23 Juul, 3-21 Aug., 8-29 Sept. 1931 5-10 Feb. 4 Oct. 1932 22-25 June USS Rainbow USRC The t i s USRC Thetis USRC The t i s USS Hermes I USS Tanager USS Pelican Schooner Lanikai USCGSS Guide - USCGSS Pioneer USRC I t a s c a USCGSS Pioneer uss &uail Lt. Cmdr. F.J. Horne and Rainbow personnel The t i s personnel Capt. Joseph H. Brown, Lt . W.H. Munter and The t i s personnel Capt. Joseph H. Brown, Lt . W.H. Munter and Thet is personnel L t . J.T. Diggs and Hermes per- sonnel David T. Fullaway Tanager Expedition: William G. Anderson, Edwin H. Bryan, Jr., Edward L. Cam, Er l ing Christo- phersen, Chapman Grant, George Higgs, C .S. Sudd, H.S. Palmer, Er ic L. Schlemmer, Di t lev Thaanum, Alexander Wetmore* L t . Doile Greenwell, G e r r i t t P. Wilder William G. Anderson; VU: Victor Pietsckmann Lt . Cmdr. Thomas J . Maher (May only) ; L t . K.T. Adams, V.M. Gib- bons, F.B. Quinn and Guide survey personnel Capt. O.W. Swainson and sounding pa r ty Capt. J. Pine and inspection pa r ty Sounding team USN a e r i a l reconnaissance survey pa r ty 339 Appendix Table 1. (continued) Date of V i s i t Vessel Personnel USRC I t a s c a Capt. J.S. Baylis and inspect ion p a r t y 1934 2 0 , Z June USRC I t a s c a USCGC Reliance Inspect ion pa r ty 1936 4-6 Mar. Boatswain B.L. Bassham; BBS: A.D. Trempe 1948 21 Jan. - 1 Feb. 14-19 Aug. 1950 19-26 Jan . USFW M/V Oregon M . 3 . Schaefer; POFI: O.R. Smith USFW M/V Oregon POFI: Howard H. Eckles POFI: M.B. Schaefer USFW M/V m M. Smith - - 19 May USFW M/V Renry 0 'Malley POFI personnel 19-21 June 1951 8-10 May 1952 25 J u l y 1953 26 0 c t . - 2 Nov. 18-19 Dec. 1954 20 Mar. 1.955 5-6 May 1956 11-21 Feb. 9-11 Apr . 3-6 June USFW M/V m M. Smith - - USFW M/V g. Smith USCG plane POFI: Ole J . Heggen POFI: Ralph Johnson UH: C.R. Joyce F/V Osprey UW: Frank Richardson; USDA: Ivan Rainwater USCGC: Button- wood - UW: Frank Richardson USCGC Button- wood - UW: Frank Richardson USFW M/V - J . R . - Manning POFI personnel BPBM: Arthur Svih la USCG plane USFW M/V 5.R. Manning POFI: Herbert S. Shippen, Danie l Yamashita* USFW M/v J.E. Manning POFI: E.C. Jones*, T.S. Hida Appendix Table 1. (continued) Date of V i s i t 1956 3 Aug. Vessel USCG plane Personnel UF7: Archie F. Carr; 1 other zoo log i s t 1957 31 Jan . USCG plane USFW: Vernon Brock; HZ: Paul Breeze 23-26 Apr., 10-13 May 28 Dec. USFW M/v h s k 3. Smith - USN plane 1'01"I pc rs onn c :I. USIW: Karl W . Kenyon, Dale W . Rice ( a e r i a l photographic survey only .y) 1959 21-22 J u l y USFW M/V Charles H. G i l b e r t - USCG plane USCG plane USCG plane POFT: W i l l iam Tanaka 19 A U ~ . 1960 U Apr. 19 oc t . KIT: Hubert Casper USFW: Chandler S. Robbins IIDFG: Joseph S. Medeiros, David EI. Woodside 1961 9, 18-19 Feb . USFW M/V Charles H . G i l b e r t - USCGC Planet ree 3-5 Mar. I1DFG: Raymond J. Kramer, R. Rodgers, David H. Woodside 8, 21-25 Apr . USFW M/V Charles H. G i l b e r t - FOFI personnel 2 Sept . Coolidge Expedit ion: A George .I 3 . . 1 E&t~ard C. J e s t e s , C . i i ; : 1 : A. Si;arke.f 13eo-pcii.d; 'J&C: . >.<:,,<; (,<, r ." ;~,"p " Udvardy; UC: Williaro Usinger; UH: Martin J. Vi.tousek; M)FG: Ronald L. Walker; UC: Richard E. Warner; HDFG: David Woodside 1962 11-12, 21- 22 June USS county HSPA: Jack $4. Beardsley ; IIDFG: Raymond J . Kramer; USW: David 8. Mamba11 3'1 1 Appendix Table 1. (continued) Date of V i s i t Vessel Personnel 1963 7-15 June 27-28 Sept . 1965 16 Mar. 4 Aug.- 2 Sep t . 1966 21-24 Mar. 1 2 - U , 1 6 ( ? ) May 8 June- 7 Ju ly 11 Aug.- 16 Sept . 12-15 Sep t . 1967 11-14 Mar. 25 May- 22 June USFW M/V Charles H . G i l b e r t - USS Tawakoni USFW M/V Charles H. G i lbe r t - USCGC Basswood and USCG plane USCGC Blaclrhaw USNS Shearwater and USCG plane USCGC Button- @ USFW M/V Charles H . G i l b e r t - USNS Shearwater and USCG plane USCG plane USCGC Ironwood USCGC Basswood USN l i g h t t u g s POFI personnel POBSP: A . Biniori Amerson, Jr. , Fred C . Sib1ey-X BSFW: Eugene K r i d l e r ; POFI personnel BSbW: Eugene Kridler*; HDFG: Ronald L . Wal.ker; UH: John Beardsley; POBSP: Robert R . F l e e t , Charles R . Long BSFW: Eugene Kridler*, Chandler S. Robbins; HDFG: Ronald L . Walker; POBSP: Winston E. Banko POBSP: A . Binion Amerson, Jri: Lawrence N . Huber BSFW: Eugene Kridler*; Uii: kndrew 3. Berger;HDFG: Nelson Rice, Ronald I,. Walker POFI personnel POBSP: A . Binion Amerson, Jr.*, J e f f r e y P. Tordoff POBSP: Brian A . Earrington*, Robert $1. Tuxson BSIiW: Kar l W . Xenyon, Eugene Kridler*; CC: Sherwin C a r l q u i s t ; HSB: Warren S. Ro l l BSW: Eugene Kri.dl.er*; HDFG: Ernes t F. Kosa.ka; UH: John Maciolek, Richard Wass; POBSP: C . Douglas Hackman POBSP: A . Binion h e r s o n , Jr.*, T. James Lewis (25 May only: Robert L . DeLong, David I,. Burck- h a l t e r , Dennis L. S tade l , F. C h r i s t i a n Thompson, Robert W . Tuxson) 342 Appendix Table 1. (continued) Date of V i s i t Vessel Personnel 1967 16-19 Sept . 7-11 Dec. 1968 11-15 Mar. 29 May- 27 June 6-27 June 23 Mar. 2-26 June 21 Aug . - 7 Sept . USCGC Button- wood - USCG plane USCGC Ironwood USCG plane USCG plane FAA plane USCGC Button- wood - FAA plane USCGC Button- wood - BSFW: Robert Ballou, Eugene Kridler*, John L. Sincock; HDFG: Ronald L. Walker BSFW: Eugene Kr id l e r BSFW: Kar l W . Kenyon, Eugene K r i d l e e , John L. Sincock; HDFG: Ernes t F. Kosaka; POBSP: Roger B. clap^ POBSP: A. Binion Amerson, Jr.*; USN: Ronald R . Amerson BSFW: Eugene Kridler*; HDFG: Ernes t F. Kosaka; 01: John R. Hendrickson BSFW: Eugene Kridler"; NBC t e l e - v i s i o n camera crew BSFW: Kar l W . Kenyon, Eugene K r i d l e f l , David L. Olsen, John L. Sincock; NAS: George Laycock BSFW: David L. Olsen*, John L. S in- cock; HDFG: Ernes t F. Kosaka; UH: Karl Bathen, Tom Clark, Ronald Kent, James McVay, William P a t z e r t , Douglas Yen PUBSP: A . Binion Amerson, Jr.*, Vernon M. Kleen BSFW: Eugene Kridler*, David L. Olsen, John L. Sincock; UH: George Losey, John Maciolek Appendix Table 2. Publ ica t ions and manuscripts on s c i e n t i f i c c o l - l e c t i o n s and s t u d i e s on French F r i g a t e Shoals* COELENTERATA Vaughan, 1907 L i s t e 2 c o r a l spec ies Nutting, 1908 Pi l sbry , 1927 Schi lder , 1933 Records 4 c o r a l spec ies c o l l e c t e d i n 1904 by Albat ross Expedition MOLLUSCA L i s t s 1 barnacle spec ie s from Tanager c o l l e c t i o n Reports 14 spec ies of Cypraeacea c o l l e c t e d by Pietschmann i n March 1928 Dall , Bartsch and Rehder, 1938 L i s t s 7 mollusk spec ies c o l l e c t e d by Albat ross Expedition Agassiz and Clark, 1907 Agassiz and Clark, 1907-12 Clark, 1925 Fisher , 1925 Clark, 1949 Holly, 1935 Records 4 echinoderms from Alba t ros s c o l l e c t i o n of 1902 L i s t s 1 sea urchin and 4 echinoderms Reports 7 sea urchin spec ie s and 2 sea cucumber spec ie s from Tanager c o l l e c t i o n Reports 2 s t a r f i s h spec ie s from Tanager c o l l e c t i o n L i s t s 11 b r i t t l e s t a r s (Ophiuroidea) c o l l e c t e d by Albat ross and Tanager Expedit ions; a l s o l i s t s 5 previous ly repor ted ANNEL IDA * Authors a r e i n chronological order L i s t s 5 Polychaeta from Pietschmann's 1928 c o l l e c t i o n Hartman and Schroder, 1965 Hartman, 1966 344 Appendix Table 2. (cont inued) ANNELIDA ( c o n t . ) Describes a new polychaete Summarizes e a r l i e r polychaetous anne l ids ; l i s t s 8 spec ie s ARTHROPODA 1. Crustacea Edmondson i n Edmondson g a l . , 1 9 2 T - 2. Arachnida Jaco t , 1934 Hardy, 1952 Anon., 1953 Suman, 1964 Beardsley, 1966 Kohls, 1966 Kohls and Cl i f ford , 1967 Amerson, 1968 Swezey, 191.5 Swezey, 1920 Bryan - e t - - > a 1 1926 Reports 48 spec ie s of decapode, in- cluding 2 new spec ies , and 1 copepod spec ie s from Tanager c o l l e c t i o n Describes 1 o r i b a t i d mite from 1923 Tanager c o l l e c t i o n Reports f irst r eco rd of Black-widow Spider Reports t h a t C . R . Joyce found t i c k s b i t i n g humans on Tern L i s t s 1 spider L i s t s 4 sp ide r s Records an Ixodes spec ie s co l l ec t ed by POBSP Describes male and l a rvae of Ixodes spec ie s c o l l e c t e d by POBSP Reports d i s t r i b u t i o n of t i c k s c o l - l e c t e d by POBSP Records 7 i n s e c t spec ie s c o l l e c t e d by Kerr i n 1914 Describes new Lepidoptera spec ies c o l - l e c t e d by Kerr i n 1914 Reports s. 26 i n s e c t s from Tanager c o l l e c t i o n Appendix Table 2. (cont inued) Wheeler, 1934 Lopes, 1938 Zimmerman, 1948a Z h e r m a n , 1948b Zimmerman, 1948~ Zimmerman, 1958a Z h e r m a n , 1958b Maa, 1962 Hardy, 1964 Beardsley, 1966 Maa, 1968 Amerson and Emerson, 1971 1. Pisces Snyder, 19& Gi lbe r t , 1905 Fowler and Ba l l , 1925 Fowler, 1927 INSECTA (cont . ) Reports new l i s t i n g of 3 a n t spec ie s from former pub l i ca t ion Provides d e s c r i p t i o n of new sarcophagid f l y spec ie s from Tanager Expedit ion c o l - l e c t i o n L i s t s 2 Orthoptera and 2 Dermoptera L i s t s 3 Hemiptera L i s t s 2 Homoptera L i s t s 3 Macrolepidoptera L i s t s 1 Lepidoptera Reports 2 Hippoboscidae spec ie s c o l - l e c t e d September 1919 and from 1923 Tanager c o l l e c t i o n L i s t s 1 Diptera L i s t s 46 i n s e c t spec ies Records Hippoboscidae from POBSP c o l l e c t i o n s Records Mallophaga from POBSP c o l - l e c t i o n s CHORDATA Records 2 f i s h spec ie s c o l l e c t e d by Alba t ros s Expedit ion L i s t s 5 deep-sea f i s h e s from v i c i n i t y by Albat ross Expedition Reports 53 f i s h spec ies from 1923 Tanager Expedition c o l l e c t i o n L i s t s 4 f i s h spec ies c o l l e c t e d by Tanager Expedition 346 Appendix Table 2. (cont inued) CHOEiDATA (con t . ) Gregory, 1929 Mentions Pietschmann's t r i p Schindler , 1932 Discusses hemirhampids c o l l e c t e d i n 1928 Pietschmann, 1938 Reports f i s h e s co l l ec t ed in 1927 o r 19 28 Ikehara, 1953 Reports on POFI v i s i t s June and Re in t j e s , 1953 L i s t s t una -ba i t f i s h e s from POFI da ta S t rasberg , 1956 Gosline and Brock, 1965 2. R e p t i l i a Walker, 1909 Wetmore, ms. Hornell , 1934 Munro, 1941a POFI (1948-1966) mss. Svihla , 1957 Parsons, 1962 Carr, 1964 Hendrickson, 1969 Laycock, 1970b 3 . Mammalia Brooks, 1860' Elschner, 1915 Wetmore, m s . Records 3 blenniod f i s h spec ie s Inc ludes f i s h from e a r l i e r records Records t u r t l e s present i n 1891 L i s t s t u r t l e s seen i n 1923 Reports t u r t l e s s laughtered i n 1882 Reports t u r t l e s present i n 1891 Cons i s t s of t r i p r e p o r t s l i s t i n g t u r t l e observa t ions ~ i s t s t u r t l e s eeen i n 1956 Records occurrence of t u r t l e s Records v i s i t i n 1956 Presents population es t imate and movement da t a from POBSP Notes presence of t u r t l e s Notes presence of s e a l s in 1859 L i s t s s e a l s i n 1859 Reports whale ske le ton on beach i n 1923 Appendix Table 2. (continued) 3. Mammalia ( con t . ) F a r r e l l , 1928 POFI (1948-1966) mss. Anon., 1951 Bailey, 1952 Richardson, 1954a Richardson, 1954b King, 1956 Svih la , 1957 Kenyon and Rice, 1959 Svihla , 1959 Rice, 1960a Rice, 1960b Krauss, 1965 Tomich, 1969 Laycock, 1970b 4 . Aves Rothschild, 1893-1900 Fisher , 1903 Fisher , 1906 Records s e a l s i n 1886 Inc ludes t r i p r e p o r t s l i s t i n g sea l counts Reports 1s t Hawaiian Monk S e a l t o be kept i n zoo Reports 1951 s e a l populat ion P resen t s s e a l records from October 1953 Presen t s s e a l records from December 1953 and March 1954 Summarizes s e a l information Reports dogs, c a t s and s e a l s dur ing 1.956 Reports 1956 and 1957 s e a l observa t ions by POFI personnel Reports 1956 observat ions on s e a l s Reports r e e u l t s of 1957 and 1958 s e a l survey Reports observat ion of Tursiops Reports c a t on Tern Reports c a t , s e a l and porpoise Notes presence of t u r t l e s Notes b i r d s of the a t o l l from 1891 Records new spec ies seen on 1902 Alba t ros s Expedition Observes 1 2 spec ies on 1902 Alba t ros s Expedition Appendix Table 2. (continued) 4 . Aves (cont .) Wetmore, ms. Kornell, 1934 Munro, 1941a Munro, 1 9 l b Munro, 1 9 4 POPI (1948-1966) mss . Wilder, 1949 Richardson, 1954a Richardson, 1954b Richardson, 1957 Svihla, 1957 Warner, 1958 HDFG (1960-1961) mss. Udvardy, 1961b Rice and Kenyon, 1962 POBSP (1963-1969) mss . Udvardy and Warner, 1964 Gould and King, 1967 Clapp and Woodward, 1968 L i s t s bi rd species observed in 1923 Records taking of a lbatross down in 1882 L i s t s b i rds seen i n 1891 L i s t s b i rds seen in 1891 L i s t s bi rds from a t o l l Consists of t r i p reports l i s t i n g birds observed Reports both albatrosses Reports 17 species seen October 1953 Reports 15 species seen December 1953 and March 1954 L i s t s b i rds t h a t breed and/or occur Reports seeing 7 species during February 1956 Notes Sooty Tern carcasses Includes s ix t r i p reports of Refuge surveys Notes 6 species in September 1961 Reports 1957-1958 population of a lbatrosses Includes 11 t r i p reports from is land surveys Includes 12 t r i p reports of Refuge surveys Notes 6 species in September 1961 Reports 1 accidental species from POBSP data L i s t s 11 species, including 7 new records from POBSP data Appendix Table 2. (continued) 4. Aves (cont . ) Sibley and McFarlane, 1968 Lis t s 2 gul ls from POBSP data Berger, 1970 Notes 12 species on various islands in 1966 Laycock, 1970a Notes presence of birds 1. Vascular plants Christophersen and Cam, 1931 Reports 6 plant species from 1923 Tanager Expedition Lamoureux, 1961 Lamoureux, 1964 Force, 1965 2. Algae Taylor, 1964 Tsuda, 1966 Presents h i s to r i ca l review of a t o l l ' s plants; records 22 species in September 1961 Presents h i s to r i ca l review of a t o l l ' s plants Mentions t r i p by Lamoureux and de- pos i t b f 23 herbarium specimens Reports 1 algae species col lected 18 December 1936 Reports 9 marine benthic algae species collected July 1924 and September 1964, and l i s t s an e a r l i e r record of another species GEOPHYSICAL Washington and Keyes, 1926 Analyzes La Perouse rock from 1923 Tanager collection Palmer, l9Zi Observes geology of the a t o l l from 1923 observations Appendix Table 3 . Annotated l i s t of vascular p l a n t s from French Fr iga te Shoals found i n t h e herbarium of t h e United S t a t e s National Museum (USNM), t h e Bernice P. Bishop Museum (BPBM), and the Universi ty of Hawaii (UH) Gramineae *Cenchrus echinatus L. Specimens only from Tern; known from Eas t and Tr ig . Lamoureux 1661 (BPBM); Long 2506 (UH). *C nodon dactylon (L. ) Pe r s . Specimens only from Tern. Lamoureux % (BPBM); Long (Uli). *Eleusine indica ( L . ) Gaertn. Specimens only from Tern. Lamoureux -( Svihla (BPBM) ; Long 2512 (UH) . Eragros t i s whitneyi Fosb. Specimens only from Tern. Long 2504 (UH). Leuturus repens w or st.) R . B r . Specimens from East , Tern, Trig and Whale-Skate; known from L i t t l e Gin and Round. Cam 88 (BPBM); Lamoureux 1668, 1674 (BPBM) ; Rainwater (BPBM) ; Svihla (BPBM) ; Amerson 1, 2 (USNM); Long 2465-68, 2479-80, 2490-91, 2502, 2513 (UHif). *Setaria v e r t i c e l l a t a ( L . ) Beauv. Specimens from Tern and Tr ig . Lamoureux 1669, 1670 (BPBM); Rainwater (BPBM); Sv ih la (BPBM); Long 2469, 2476, 2499 (uH); and Amerson 3, 4 (uSNM). Cyperaceae Fimbr is ty l i s cymosa R. Br. Specimen only from Tern. Long 2511 (UH). Palmae *% nuci fera L. Sprouted nu t s planted on East and Tern i n 1923 by Tanager Expedition personnel (wetmore, ms.); unsuccessful in t roduct ion . Reintroduced s ince 1942; known from East and Tern. No specimen records. *Livistona a u s t r a l i s Mort. Seed planted on Eas t by Tanager Expedition personnel i n 1923 (wetmore, m s . ) ; unsuccessful in t roduct ion . No specimen records. *Pr i tchardia gaudichaudii Hbd. Seed p lanted on Eas t i n 1923 by Tanager Expedition personnel (wetmore, ms . ) ; unsuccessful i n t r o - duct ion. No specimen records . * Presumably exo t i c Appendix Table 3. (continued) Palrnae (cont . ) "Pr i tchard ia pac i f i ca Wendl. Seed planted on Eas t and Tern i n 1923 by Tanager Expedition personnel (Wetmore. m s . ) : unsuccessfu l . , , i n t roduc t ion . No specimen reco rds . Moraceae *Fieus sp. Specimen only from Tern. Lamoureux 1659 (BPBM). - Casuarinaceae *Casuarina e q u i s e t i f o l i a L. Seed p lanted on Eas t and Tern i n 1923 by Tanager Expedition personnel (Wetmore, ms.); unsuccessful i n t roduc t ion . Reintroduced on Tern s ince 1942; specimens only from Tern. Lamoureux 1651 (BPBM) . Chenopodiaceae * A t r i l e x mue l l e r i Benth. Specimens only from Tern. Lamoureux *(-ainwater (BPBM) . Chenopodium oahuensis (Meyen) Ael len . Specimens from East , Tern, T r ig and Whale-Skate. Cam 89 (BPBM) ; Long 2470, 2472, 2482, 2492 (UH) ; Amerson 5, 6 (USNM) . *Sal icorn ia v i r g i n i c a L. Specimen known only from Tern. Herbst Polygonaceae *Cocoloba uv i f e ra (L.) Jacq . Specimens only from Tern. Sv ih la (BPBM); Lamoureux 1660 (BPBM). Nyctaginaceae Boerhavia repens L. Specimens from Eaet, Tern, T r i g and Whale-Skate; known from L i t t l e Gin, Round and Shark. Cam 86, 87 (BPBM); Judd 9 (BPBM); Lamoureux 1671, 1675 (BPBM); Rainwater (BPBM); Svih la (BPBM); Long 2464, 2471, 2474, 2477, 2493, 2494, 2508 (UH); and Amerson 7, 8 (usNM). Portulacaceae Por tu laca lutes Sol . Specimens from Eas t , Tern, T r ig and Whale-Skate; known from Gin, L i t t l e Gin and Round. Cam 90 (BPBM); Lamoureux 1667 (BPBM) ; Rainwater (BPBM) ; Svihla (BPBM) ; Long 2473, 2483, 24.495 (UH); and Amerson 9, 10 (usNM). Appendix Table 3. (continued) Portulacaceae (cont . ) Portulaca oleracea L. Specimens only from Tern. Lamoureux 1666 ~ ) ; ( u H ) ; Rainwater (BPBM) . Cruciferae *Corona us di