ATOLL RESEARCH BULLETIN NO. 207 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF NIHOA ISLAND, NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS by Roger B. Clapp, Eugene Kridler and Robert R. Fleet Issued by THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION with the assistance of The United States Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D. C., U S A . May 1977 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ............................................... ii LIST OF TABLES .................................................... i y LIST OF APPENDIX TABLES ........................................... v INTRODUCTION ...................................................... 1 DESCRIPTION ....................................................... GEOLOGY 3 ........................................................... HISTORY 9 ........................................................... 1 4 VEGETATION ........................................................ 26 TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATES ........................................... 38 ............... S p e c i e s Accoun t s ..................... B i r d s .... Diomedea nigripes Diomedea h u t a b i l i s . .... BuZweria bulwerii ... Puffinus pacificus Puffinus na t i v i ta t i s . . Oceanodroma t r i s trami .............................. 60 Phaethon aethereus mesonauta ....................... 6 1 Phaethon mbricauda ................................ 62 SuZa dactylatra .................................... 6 5 ................................... SuZa Zeucogaster 69 SuZa suta .......................................... 72 Fregata minor ...................................... 78 Anas acuta ......................................... 8 1 Pluvialis dominica ................................. 82 Numenius tahi t iensis ............................... 8 3 Heteroscelus incanus ............................... 8 4 Arenaria interpres ................................ 86 ................................... Lams argentatus 8 8 Sterna Zunata ...................................... 8 8 ..................................... Sterna fuscata 9 2 Procelstema cerulea ............................... 9 6 Anpus stolidus ..................................... 1 0 1 Anous tenuirostris ................................. 1 0 5 ......................................... Gygis alba 1 0 7 .................................. Mimus polyglottos 1 1 0 Acrocephalus famiZiaris kingi ...................... 1 1 0 Psittarostra cantans ultima ........................ 113 ................................................ Mammals 119 Monachs schauinslandi ............................. 119 R e p t i l e s ................................................ 1 2 0 LepidodactyZus Zugubris ............................ 1 2 0 CheZonia mydas ..................................... 1 2 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................... 1 2 2 LITERMURE CITED .................................................. 1 2 4 APPENDIX TABLES ................................................... 1 3 4 LIST OF FIGURES The Hawaiian Is lands . Facing 1 Map of Nihoa Is land . 4 Aer i a l photograph of Nihoa I s l and showing prominent f e a t u r e s of t h e i s l and . 5 Looking a t Nihoa I s l and from t h e south , December 1912. 6 Viewing Mi l l e r Peak from t h e r i d g e west of Middle Valley. The d o t s i n the r i g h t foreground a r e nes t ing Red-footed Boobies. 6 Viewing Tanager Peak from t h e top of Middle Valley. Note dense Chenopodiwn on s lopes and dry Sida i n l e f t foreground. 7 Low po in t along t h e n o r t h r i m between M i l l e r ' s and Tanager Peaks. 7 Tanager Peak a s seen from t h e a i r . Note s teepness of no r th c l i f f s g M i l l e r ' s Peak a s seen from t h e nor theas tern r i m of t h e i s l a n d , September 1964. 8 The s t e e p west c l i f of Nihoa I s l and . 10 Western po r t ion of i s l and showing sandy beach i n westernmost cove. M i l l e r ' s Peak and M i l l e r ' s Valley a r e t o the r i g h t . I n t h e cen te r is Pinnacle Peak and West Palm Valley. To t h e extreme l e f t i s Dog's Head Peak. J u s t t o t h e west of Dog's Head Peak i s t h e s m a l l l o West Valley. Best landing a rea i s i n t h e r i g h t foreground. Note t h e e x t e n t of rock t e r r a c e along t h e edge of t h e i s l and . Camp i s on a reasonably l e v e l spot near t h e base of M i l l e r ' s Valley. 11 Three of t h e many d ikes c u t t i n g t h e western c l i f f s . 11 Looking nor th down t h e "Devil 's S l i d e ." 1 4 Native s t r u c t u r e on t h e no r theas t corner of M i l l e r ' s P l a t eau . 15 Remains of anc ient house t e r r a c e i n East Palm Valley, August 1968. Vegetat ion i s c h i e f l y Chenopodium shrubs with some Sida. 2 7 Middle Valley, August 1968; vege ta t ive cover--typical of t h e s i d e s of t h e val leys--consis ts p r imar i ly of 2 t o 3 foo t t a l l Sida and Chenopodiwn shrubs. 2 7 Low scrambling Euphorbia shrubs around rock outcroppings along nor thern c l i f f s , August 1968. I n t h e foreground a r e Chenopodium - and SoZanwn s h r i b s . . 30 iii Small grove of Pritchardia remota a t base of c l i f f i n upper East Palm Valley, August 1968. 30 Grove of Pritchardia ( r i g h t foreground) i n West Palm Valley, 10 June 1962. 34 PortuZaca vizzosa p lan t growing from crack i n f ace of s tone ledge , August 1968. 34 Euphorbia ceZastroides, August 1968. A v a r i e t y with the same h a b i t grbwing i n a somewhat s imi l a r environment a t Kaena Po in t , Oahu, was i n flower a t t h i s time but was l e a f l e s s . The SoZanm nezsoni f lowers on Nihoa i n August 1968 had a white c o r o l l a and purple an the r s ; those of Moomi Beach, Molokai, have l i g h t b lue p e t e l s . Blue-faced Booby a t n e s t on rocky outcropping. White-phase plumage morph of t h e Red-footed Booby, 8 March 1968. Dark-phase plumage morph of t h e Red-footed Booby, 8 March 1968. Nesting Great F r iga teb i rd wi th downy young i n Ju ly 1966. Br is t le - th ighed Curlew foraging among t h e rocks i n lower Mi l l e r Valley, 8 March 1968. Sooty Tern incubat ing egg i n lower p a r t of Middle Valley, 9 March 1968. Blue-gray Noddy chick a t nes t s i t e i n niche i n rock wa l l , 9 March 1968. Brown Noddy a t nes t with egg, March 1967. Nihoa Finch on rocky outcropping, 16 September 1972. LIST O F TABLES Recent surveys of Nihoa I s l and by t h e POBSP and BSFW. The avifauna of Nihoa Is land . Per iods of peak egg-laying on t h r e e northwestern Hawaiian Is lands . Observations of Black-footed Albat ross on Nihoa Is land . Observations of Laysan Albat ross on Nihoa I s l and . Observations of Bulwer's P e t r e l s on Nihoa I s l and . Bulwer's P e t r e l specimens from Nihoa I s l a n d . Observations of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on Nihoa Is land . Wedge-tailed Shearwater specimens from Nihoa Is land . Observations of Christmas Shearwaters on Nihoa Is land . Observations of Red-tailed Tropicbi rds on Nihoa I s l and . Observations of Blue-faced Boobies on Nihoa I s l and . Observations of Brown Boobies on Nihoa I s l and . Observations of Red-footed Boobies on Nihoa Is land . Observations of Great F r iga teb i rds on Nihoa Is land . Observations of Golden Plovers on Nihoa I s l and . Observations of Wandering T a t t l e r s on Nihoa I s l and . Observations of Ruddy Turnstones on Nihoa I s l and . Observations of Gray-backed Terns on Nihoa Is land . Observations of Sooty Terns on Nihoa I s l and . Observations of Blue-gray Noddies on Nihoa Is land . Blue-gray Noddy specimens from Nihoa I s l and . Observations of Brown Noddies on Nihoa Is land . Observations of Black Noddies on Nihoa I s l and . Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1953 21-22 Dec. 1954 18 Mar. 1961 2 Mar. 9-16 Dec. 1962 1 0 June 1963 5-6 June 1964 6-7 Mar. 25 J u l y 23-24 Sept. 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 July- 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 13-14 Sept . 1968 7-9 Mar. 24-27 Aug. 1969 21 Mar. 1970 15 Aug. 1971 18-19 Aug. 0 40-60 ? 0 I, common" ? ? very common ? 18,000 20,000- 8 , 31,000 5 (seen) '"any thousands l e s s than 50 many thousands 875 20,000- 25,000 ? Only p a r t of i s l and surveyed (Rich- ardson, pers . comm.). ? (Richardson, pers . comm.). Not noted of fshore (Woodside and Kramer , m s . ) . (Kramer, ms.). On eggs (Kramer and Beardsley, ms.). Thousands seen of fshore (POBSP). Court ing behavior observed (BSFW, POBSP) . Severa l n e s t s wfth eggs found (BSFW). Ca. 2,000 downy n e s t l i n g s present (BSFW, POBSP) . No eggs o r young seen (BSFW, POBSP). Ca. 10,000 n e s t s p re sen t , almost a l l wi th incubated eggs. One ca. 3 week old n e s t l i n g observed (BSFW, POBSP) . Apparently vanguard of breeding popula t ion (BSFW, POBSP) . Small and l a r g e downy chicks (BSFW). No evidence of breeding. Only 2 ind iv idua l s a c t u a l l y noted (BSFW, POBSP) . So many c a l l i n g i n e a r l y dawn hours t h a t combined sound made a low steady r o a r (BSFW). Nesting had evident ly begun (BSFW). (BSFW) . A t l e a s t 2,000 b i r d s were present (BSFW) . Color-Phases Dark, l i g h t , and in termedia te plumaged morphs have a l l been seen on t h e i s l and . No q u a n t i t a t i v e da ta e x i s t on t h e occurrence of t h e d i f f e r e n t co lo r phases but one POBSP observer est imated t h a t 95 percent of t h e b i r d s were l ight-phase morphs. Wetmore (ms.) s a w gray-breasted b i r d s occas ional ly , but t h e g r e a t ma jo r i ty was white- breas ted . Banding The BSFW and POBSP banded 288 a d u l t s on r e c e n t v i s i t s : 3 i n March 1964 and 85 i n March 1965 by the BSFW, and 200 by t h e POBSP i n Ju ly and August 1966. None has been recaptured . Specimens We have found r eco rds of 8 s tudy sk ins from Nihoa (Table 9). The USNM houses i n a d d i t i o n an embryo a l coho l i c (USNM 289301) c o l l e c t e d by Wetmore on 14 June 1923. Tabl r 8 . Observations of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on Nihoa I s l and Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 26-27 May ? Presence noted from o f f shore (Munro, 1941a: 49) . 1902 1-3 June ? A number f lew aboard. Stomachs contained t h e "hard p a r t s of small cephalopods (squid , octopus, and t h e l i k e ) " (F isher , 1903: 792). 5-9 Aug. ? Presence noted (Fisher , 1903: 779). 1915 18 Mar. 11 very None found n e s t i n g (Munter, 1915: common"* 131). A l t e r n a t e es t imate by Brown (50,000) (ms.). 1923 24-26 May ? Thousands seen c i r c l i n g sh ip (Wetmore, ms .) . 11-16 June 30,000* Birds laying. Many f r e s h eggs (Wetmore, ms.) . 1936 3 Mar. ? 25 b i r d s , found under clumps of g r a s s and rock, had r e d c e l l u l o i d bands placed on t h e i r l e g s (Trempe, ms.). 1940 7-15 Aug. ?* "Breeding was i n i t s e a r l y s t ages , both eggs and small young being ob- served" (Vanderbilt and de Schauensee, 1941: 9 ) . absent during remainder of year . Most nes t ing occurs from June through November. Nests i n burrows, on t h e su r face of t h e ground under t h i c k vege ta t ion , and i n c a v i t i e s and c r e v i c e s i n rock f a l l s and ledges . Well d i s t r i b u t e d over e n t i r e i s l and . Populat ions The few numerical e s t ima tes (Table 8) suggest t h a t maximal populat ions a r e on t h e order of t e n s of thousands r a t h e r than hundreds of thousands. I n August and September many thousands a r e p resen t ; a t dawn t h e s teady chorus of c a l l i n g r e s u l t s i n a d u l l roa r t h a t , a t lower e l e v a t i o n s , i s muffled only by t h e s u r f . Annual Cycle March observat ions suggest t h a t t hese shearwaters r e t u r n t o Nihoa i n g rea t numbers wi th in a very shor t period. I n 1964, 1967, and 1968 only a few b i r d s were present i n e a r l y March, while i n 1915 and 1965 thousands were present by t h e middle of t h e month. Rich- a rdson ' s lower mid-March e s t ima te does not f i t t h i s p a t t e r n . However, he d id not spend t h e n i g h t on t h e i s l and and a s a r e s u l t poss ib ly d id n o t s ee many b i r d s t h a t may have come t o t h e i s l and t o r o o s t a t n i g h t . The nes t ing cyc le appears t o be s imi l a r t o t h a t found on Laysan and o ther northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands . Most egg l ay ing ev iden t ly occurs i n June al though a few eggs may be l a i d i n May. A few young ha tch i n J u l y but by f a r t h e g rea t e r proport ion hatch i n August. It seems l i k e l y t h a t most f l edge wi th in 5 t o 5 112 months261 a f t e r t h e peak of lay ing . Thus, a few poss ib l e f ledge a s e a r l y a s l a t e October and a s l a t e a s e a r l y December wi th t h e peak being i n November. No surveys were made on t h e i s l and dur ing the presumed f l edg ing period. Kramer observed none i n mid-December 1961 (Table 8 ) . Breeding Habi ta t Nests have been found i n a wide v a r i e t y of s i t u a t i o n s on t h e s lopes of t h e i s l and . A small propor t ion of t h e populat ion d i g s burrows i n t h e ground but few such burrows a r e poss ib l e because of t h e shallow s o i l cover and rocky na tu re of t h e i s l and . Wetmore (ms.) noted a number of burrows a s much a s 3 or 4 f e e t long but most were only deep enough t o provide s h e l t e r . A much l a r g e r propor t ion n e s t i n n a t u r a l c a v i t i e s i n t h e rocks and on rock ledges pro tec ted by overhanging rock. Many o the r s n e s t on t h e su r face , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n a r e a s covered by dense vege ta t ion such a s Chenopodiwn o r Sida. - 261 Based on t h e range of f ledging per iods (99-111 days) obtained i n a small sample (n = 10) on Kure A t o l l (Woodward, 1972: 125) and on an est imated 52 t o 54 day incubat ion period (Woodward, pe r s . comm.). 53 Table 6. (Continued) Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1971 18-19 Aug. 4,000 Half-grown young seen (BSFW). 15 Sept. ? Nearly fully-grown young were common (BSFW) . 1972 16 Sept. ? A t l e a s t 300 a d u l t s seen during day (BSFW) . 1973 3 1 J u l y ? A t l e a s t 400 a d u l t s seen during day (BSFW) . * I n t h e i r r e p o r t Kramer and Beardsley noted t h a t "Bonin Pe t r e l s " were common and on eggs. Since no o t h e r observer has found t h a t spec ie s on Nihoa, and, s ince Kramer and Beardsley d i d not mention t h e presence of Bulwer's P e t r e l , we assume t h a t "Bonin Pe t r e l " was a Zapsus cazimis f o r Bulwer's P e t r e l . Marshall (1964: 160), i n a popular account of t h e v i s i t , a l s o i n d i c a t e s , we t h i n k er - roneously, t h a t Boliin P e t r e l s were p resen t . ** Most abundant spec ie s on i s l a n d . Table 7. Bulwer's P e t r e l Specimens from Nihoa I s l and . ? ? Museum Museum and Museum Date Museum Males Nos. Females Nos. yg. Nos. Collected Col lec tor USNM 2 300799, 530875 PAS 3 146160, 146168- 6 9 USNM * Collected of fshore . WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER S t a t u s 3 June Nutting 1902 11-15 June Wetmore 1923 Aug. 1940 Vanderbi l t 1 493022* 1 493023" 6 June POBSP 1963 Puffinus pacificus Abundant breeder ; maximum recen t e s t ima te : 20,000 t o 31,000. Present from March through a t l e a s t mid-November; most b i r d s probably Table 6. (Continued) Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1954 18 Mar. 0 Only p a r t of i s l and surveyed (Rich- ardson, pe r s . corn . ) . 1961 2 Mar. ? Not noted from o f f shore (Woodside and Kramer, ms.) . 9-16 Dec. 0 1962 1 0 June common* 1963 5-6 June ? 1964 6-7 Mar. 10 (Kramer , m s . ) . On eggs (Kramer and Beardsley, ms.). Thousands seen o f f shore (POBSP) One photographed by Kr id ler (BSFW, POBSP) . Many n e s t s found. Only eggs and newly hatched young seen (BSFW). 25 J u l y very abundant 23-24 Sept. 1 ,500 Nearly f u l l grown young and ca.25 dead f l e d g l i n g s seen (BSFW, POBSP). 1966 28 July- 250,000** 1 Aug . (225,000) Mostly on heavi ly incubated eggs o r wi th c a . 1 week old n e s t l i n g s (BSFW, POBSP). A l t e rna te es t imate by Berger (1972: 33). 1967 8-9 Mar. ? Heard c a l l i n g i n burrows (BSFW, POBSP); s ee t e x t . 13-14 Sept. ? A number of a d u l t s and half-feathered young seen but most young ev iden t ly departed from i s l a n d (BSFW). None seen on i s l a n d but a few small p e t r e l s seen of fshore may have been t h i s spec ie s (BSFW, POBSP). 1968 7-9 Mar. O? 24-27 Aug. thousands Hundreds of a d u l t s seen during day with numbers increas ing t o thousands a t n i g h t . Several downy chicks found (BSFW) . (BSFW) 1970 15 Aug. 75,000- 100,000 Burrows examined contained p a i r s and small downy chicks. Much c a l l i n g by a d u l t s (BSFW) . Although d e t a i l e d d a t a on t h e n e s t i n g cyc le a r e scanty, those a v a i l a b l e suggest t h a t t hese p e t r e l s have much t h e same cyc le on Nihoa a s on Laysan and o the r northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands . Most b i r d s probably do not a r r i v e a t Nihoa u n t i l A p r i l and eggs probably a r e n o t l a i d u n t i l a month o r so l a t e r . Only eggs were found on two June v i s i t s , and only eggs and newly hatched young were found on t h e two v i s i t s i n l a t e J u l y and e a r l y August. Only young were found from mid-August through mid-September but i t seems l i k e l y t h a t a few l a t e f l edg ing b i r d s may be present a s l a t e a s October. We t e n t a t i v e l y assume t h a t t h e ha tching peak occurs i n J u l y and e a r l y August and t h a t most young f l edge about l a t e September. Breeding Hab i t a t - Severa l observers noted t h a t t h i s s p e c i e s was found throughout t h e i s l a n d but few described t h e n e s t s i t e s . Nests were found under rocks, i n small ho le s i n t h e rocks , and p a r t i c u l a r l y i n c rev ices i n rock ledges . A few n e s t s were a l s o found i n shallow depressions under dense vegeta t ion . Banding The POBSP and BSFW banded 808 a d u l t s on r ecen t v i s i t s : 8 by the BSFW i n September 1964 and 800 by t h e POBSP i n Ju ly and August 1966. None has been recaptured. Specimens Ten Bulwer's P e t r e l specimens have been co l l ec t ed on Nihoa (Table 7 ) . Table 6. Observations of Bulwer's P e t r e l s on Nihoa Is land Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1902 1-3 June ? Abundant o f f shore . "Birds had been feeding on f i s h eggs? and ctenophores o r comb-jelly" (F isher , 1903: 795). 5-9 Aug. ? Presence noted from offshore (F isher , 1903: 779). 1923 11-16 June abundant Incubat ing eggs. No n e s t s with young found (Wetmore, ms.). 1940 7-15 Aug. extremely " No eggs were found, a l l n e s t s ex- common amined conta in ing downy, black young" (Vanderbi l t and de Schauensee, 1941: 9 ) . 1953 21-22 Dec. 0 Only p a r t of i s l and surveyed (Rich- ardson, p e r s . comm.). Table 5 . (Continued) Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1970 15 Aug. 0 (BSFW) . 1971 18-19 Aug. 0 (BSFW) . 15 Sept . 0 (BSFW) . 1972 16 Sept. 0 (BSFW) . 1973 3 1 J u l y 40** 20 n e a r l y f ledging young counted (BSFW). * Probable number of breeding b i r d s u t i l i z i n g i s l and . ** Figure r ep resen t s a minimum es t ima te of numbers of b i r d s t h a t bred on the i s l and . + A e r i a l observat ions only. BULWER'S PETREL BuZweria buZwerii S t a t u s Abundant breeder; maximum recen t es t imate : 250,000. Present from March through September or October; probably absent t h e r e s t of the year . Breeds from a t l e a s t June through September. Nests under rocks, i n holes or c rev ices i n rock ledges or occas ional ly i n shal low depressions under dense vegeta t ion . Populat ions None of t h e numerical e s t ima tes (Table 6) is very accura te because of t h e d i f f i c u l t y of censusing populat ions of t h i s very numerous p e t r e l . Clear ly , however, many thousands a r e present during Ju ly and August. Annual Cycle March 1964 and 1965 observa t ions suggest t h a t Bulwer's P e t r e l s begin t o r e t u r n t o Nihoa i n March bu t none was observed on a number of o t h e r March v i s i t s . It seems l i k e l y t h a t t h e i r repor ted "absence" i n a number of cases may have been t h e r e s u l t of simply overlooking small numbers t h a t were present . Desc r ip t ions of a b i rd c a l l heard i n March 1967 suggest t h a t Sooty Storm P e t r e l s r a t h e r than Bulwer's P e t r e l s were heard on t h a t v i s i t . Table 5. (Continued) Populat ion Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 3 Mar. 7-15 Aug. 21-22 Dec. 18 Mar. 28 Dec. 9-16 Dec. 5-6 June 6-7 Mar. 25 J u l y 23-24 Sept . 8-9 Mar. 28 July- 1 Aug. 8-9 Mar. 13-14 Sept. 7-9 Mar. 24-27 Aug. 21 Mar. ? 0 6-8 0 ca . 1,ooot ca. 30 ? 38 0 0 ? 0 1 0 10" 0 7 Evidently n e s t i n g (Trempe, m s .) . (Vanderbilt and de Schauensee, 1941: 8 ) . Breeding i n small numbers (Richardson, 1957: 16; p e r s . corn.) . Only p a r t of i s l and surveyed (Rich- ardson, p e r s . corn . ) . " ~ e s t i n g " (Rice and Kenyon, 1962: 377). "No eggs. Much bachelor dancing" (Kr amer , m s . ) . None noted of fshore (POBSP). Only a d u l t s seen. 1 seen on empty n e s t (BSFW, POBSP). (BSFW) . (BSPW, POBSP) . One seen from offshore ; Mi l l e r Plateau not censused (BSFW, POBSP). (BSFW, POBSP) . No young seen; Mi l l e r P la teau not censused (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW) . 4 young banded on Mi l l e r P la teau . 6 a d u l t s seen on Tanager Peak; no young found t h e r e (BSFW, POBSP). (BSFW) . Counted. M i l l e r P la teau a rea not v i s i t e d (BSFW). Breeding Habi ta t Only Munter (1915: 132) and Kr id le r have given any ind ica t ion of where n e s t s were found. Munter found a half-grown young about 500 f e e t up one of t h e s lopes , and in.March 1968 Kr id le r banded four ch icks within t h e Black-footed Albat ross colony on Mi l l e r P la teau . Other Areas of Occurrence Other observers repor ted pre-breeding o r non-breeding b i r d s from seve ra l a r e a s . I n December 1961, Kramer noted t h a t a l l Laysan Albat ross were on Mi l l e r P la teau . I n March 1964, BSFW personnel saw most Laysan Albat ross on Mi l l e r P la teau , but a few were a s much a s a hundred f e e t down t h e south s lope of M i l l e r ' s Peak. I n March 1965 Kr id le r noted t h a t most were on t h e high r idge between M i l l e r ' s and Tanager Peaks; i n March 1968 t h e s e a l b a t r o s s were seen only on Mi l l e r P la teau and Tanager Peak. Banding Ten Laysan Albat ross were banded by t h e BSFW on recen t v i s i t r , : 6 a d u l t s i n March 1964 and 4 young i n March 1968. No r e t u r n s have been obtained f o r t h e s e b i rds . Table 5. Observations of Laysan ~ l b a & - o s s on Nihoa I s l and Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1891 26-27 May ? Presence noted from o f f shore (Munro, 1941a: 49). 1902 1-3 June ? Only 1 or 2 seen some mi le s west of i s l a n d (Fisher , 1903: 778). 5-9 Aug. ? None seen from off shore (F isher , 1903: 779). 1915 18 Mar. ca. 50 A t l e a s t 1 half-grown young seen (100) (Munter, 1915: 132). A l t e rna te e s t i m a t e by Brown (ms.). 1916 12 Feb. ? Nesting on Mi l l e r P la teau . About a s abundant a s Black-footed Albat ross ; 2 p a i r s seen "near t h e top of t h e middle peak" (Munter, ms.) . 1923 5 Apr. ? 14 June 1 Many seen i n s h i p ' s wake o f f shore (Wetmore, ms.) . 1 a d u l t seen with Black-footed Albat ross (Wetmore, ms.). Table 4 . (Continued) Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Breedinp S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1972 16 Sept. 0 (BSFW) . 1973 31 J u l y 0 (BSFW) . * Number of breeding b i r d s u t i l i z i n g i s land . + Aer ia l observa t ions only. LAYSAN ALBATROSS Diornedea i m t a b i l i s S t a t u s Rare breeder; maximum recent breeding popula t ion es t imate : 40. ~ r e s e , . t from a t l e a s t December ( see footnote 25 i n t h e Black-footed Albat ross spec ie s account) through May o r June, but may not breed i n a l l years . Nests on t h e ground, p r imar i ly i n t h e Miller P la t eau area. Populat ions - Laysan Albat ross apparent ly were never common on Nihoa (see Table 5 ) . The only l a r g e estimate--1,000 b i r d s i n December 1957 (Kenyon and Rice, 1962: 377)--is c e r t a i n l y erroneous i n view of the numbers recorded on o the r surveys. Evidently Kenyon and Rice con- fused t h i s spec ie s wi th e i t h e r Red-footed o r Blue-faced Boobies when they made t h e i r a e r i a l count, a p o s s i b i l i t y they themselves suggested. D i rec t evidence of breeding has been noted only i n March 1915, December 1953, March 1968, and J u l y 1973. The l a c k of n e s t s on t h e t h r e e o ther March v i s i t s i n d i c a t e s t h a t during some yea r s Laysan Albat ross n e s t unsuccessfu l ly , i f a t a l l . No more than 40 b i r d s a r e known t o have nested i n any one year but i t i s poss ib l e t h a t a few more may have i n i t i a t e d n e s t s . Rice and Kenyon's e s t ima te of numbers breeding i n 1956-1957 is much l a r g e r but i s erroneous (see Table 5 ) . Annual Cycle The da ta a r e i n s u f f i c i e n t t o document adequately t h e per iods of a r r i v a l , l ay ing , hatching, 'and f ledging . Ex i s t ing d a t a do not i n d i c a t e t h a t Laysan Albat ross on'N4hoa have a cyc le any d i f f e r e n t from t h a t on o the r northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands . Table 4. (Continued) Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1961 2 Mar. 9-16 Dec. 1962 1 0 June 1963 5-6 June 1964 6-7 Mar. 25 J u l y 23-24 Sept. 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 July- 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 13-14 Sept . 1968 7-9 Mar. 24-27 Aug. 1969 21 Mar. 1970 15 Aug. 1971 18-19 A u ~ , 15 Sept. Not noted from offshore (Woodside and Kramer , m s . ) . %ny incubat ing eggs (Kramer, ms.). Only 5 young seen, downy on head but capable of f l i g h t (Kramer and Beardsley, ms.) . One seen off shore (POBSP) . 50 young banded, about 10-15 more present (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW) . (BSFW, POBSP) . 35 young banded. Poss ib ly 5 o r 10 more present (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW, POBSP) . 5 b i r d s seen about sh ip ; breeding a r e a on Mi l l e r P la teau not censused (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW) . 60 young banded on Mi l l e r P la teau . 1 or 2 more may have been present (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW) . None observed, but primary nes t ing a r e a on Mi l l e r Peak not v i s i t e d (BSFW). (BSFW) . (BSFW) . (BSFW) . Banding The BSFW banded 186 Black-footed Albat ross on r ecen t v i s i t s t o Nihoa: 50 young i n March 1964, 35 young and 41 a d u l t s i n March 1965, and 60 young i n March 1968. None has been recaptured . Specimens Only one Black-footed Albat ross , a male (USNM 300832), has been co l l ec t ed on Nihoa. It was co l l ec t ed by Wetmore on 12 June 1923. Table 4. Observations of Black-footed PJba t ros s on Nihoa Is land Populat ion Date of Survey - Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 26-27 May 1902 1-3 June 5-9 Aug. 1915 18 Mar. 1916 12 Feb. 1923 5 Apr. 11-16 June 1936 3 Mar. 1940 7-15 Aug. 1953 21-22 Dec. 1954 18 Mar. 1957 28 Dec. Presence noted from o f f shore (Munro, 1941a: 49) . A number seen some mi le s west of i s l a n d (F i she r , 1903: 7 7 8 ) . None seen from offshore (F isher , 1903: 779). Young were s t i l l i n "pin f ea the r s " [probably means b i r d s were s t i l l downy] (Munter, 1915: 132). A l t e rna te es t imate by Brown (ms.). Nesting on Mi l l e r P la teau . About a s abundant a s Laysan Albat ross (Munter, ms.) . Seen off shore (Wetmore, m s .) . Only 3 a d u l t s seen but 60 wel l grown young found, some with wings f u l l y feathered (Wetmore, ms.) . Evidently n e s t i n g (Trempe, m s .) . (Vanderbilt and de Schauensee, 1941: 8) . Only p a r t of i s l and surveyed (Rich- ardson, p e r s . comm.). Only p a r t of i s l and surveyed (Rich- ardson, p e r s . comm.) . An est imated 50 n e s t s present (Rice and Kenyon, 1962: 377). BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS S ta tus Diomedea nigripes Uncomon breeder ; maximum recen t breeding populat ion es t imate : 120 t o 130. Present and breeding from a t l e a s t ~ e c e m b e r g through June; probably absent from Ju ly through a t l e a s t t h e middle of October.: . . Nests on t h e ground i n t h e Mi l l e r P la t eau a r e a . Populat ions Est imates from t h e 1915 survey (Table 4) a r e so l a rge i n com- parison t o a l l o t h e r s t h a t we be l i eve they a r e probably erroneous. Wetmore's 1923 es t imate , and a l l bu t one o f , t h e more r ecen t e s t ima tes t h a t have incorporated c a r e f u l observa t ions of t h e Mi l l e r P la teau a r e a , have c o n s i s t e n t l y indica ted a breeding populat ion of about 1 0 0 t o 130 b i rds . Reports from a number of March v i s i t s i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e number of young p resen t may vary considerably. This may i n d i c a t e e i t h e r t h a t t h e number of breeding b i r d s v a r i e s from year t o year or t ha t ' m o r t a l i t y may be considerably g rea t e r i n s o m e yea r s . No evidenca of mor t a l i t y was found i n Ju ly 1964, July-August 1966 and August 1968 so i t seems more l i k e l y t h a t t h e former hypothesis i s c o r r e c t . Annual Cycle The scant da t a i n d i c a t e t h a t b i r d s l a y a t l e a s t by e a r l y December and t h a t a l l young ha tch by e a r l y March. Young apparent ly f l edge by mid-July s i n c e none has been seen at t h e end of t h a t month or l a t e r . Breeding Habi ta t A l l observers who noted t h e l o c a t i o n of Black-footed Albatross n e s t s s t a t e d o r i nd ica t ed t h a t t h i s spec ie s was confined t o a r e a s of l i t t l e vege ta t ion on Miller Pla teau , no r th and northwest of M i l l e r ' s Peak. Munter (1915: 132) described an a rea which was l i k e l y Mi l le r Plateau. He noted t h a t t h e colony was loca ted on "a p l a t eau seve ra l a c r e s i n extent . . .near t h e h ighes t p a r t of t h e is land." S imi lar ly , Wetmore (ms.) noted t h a t t h e colony was "on a small f l a t below t h e p innacle po in t of M i l l e r ' s Peak a t a po in t about 850 f e e t above t h e sea." The Mi l l e r P la teau a rea was t h e only one where these b i r d s were found n e s t i n g i n December 1961 and March 1964, 1965, and 1968. - 25' These a l b a t r o s s almost c e r t a i n l y r e t u r n e a r l i e r than December, judging from observa t ions on o the r northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands , but d i r e c t observa t ional evidence is unavai lab le f o r t h e l a t e f a l l and e a r l y winter on Nihoa. Table 3. Periods of peak egg-laying on t h r e e northwestern Hawaiian I s l a n d s w Y - V p e c i e s Nihoa I s l and Laysan Is land* Kure Atoll** a : - Wedge-tailed Shearwater - Christmas Shearwater Red-tailed Tropicbird Blue-faced Booby Brown Booby Red-footed Booby Great Fr i g a t e b i r d Gray-backed Tern Sooty Tern Brown Noddy White Tern Probably June May o r June Mid- o r l a t e A p r i l March and A p r i l February February and March La te February t o March Variable--from February t o June Late February and e a r l y March Variable--usually June o r J u l y I n s u f f i c i e n t d a t a '. 4.. June Late A p r i l t o mid-May Late A p r i l t o e a r l y June La te March t o mid-April May (?) A p r i l o r May March Mid- t o l a t e A p r i l Mid-May t o mid-June Mid-May t o e a r l y June Late A p r i l t o l a t e May Late June t o e a r l y J u l y Ear ly or. mid-May May t o mid-June Variable--February t o A p r i l May t o June Variable--mid-March t o e a r l y June A p r i l Mid-April t o mid-May May t o June Late A p r i l t o e a r l y May * Data from Ely and Clapp, 1973. ** Data from Woodward, 1972. Table 2. (Continued) Maximum Estimate s ince 1960 and Taxa Current S t a t u s when recorded Sterna fuscata Abundant breeder Sooty Tern Proce Z s t e m cemczea Common breeder Blue-gray Noddy Anous stozidus Abundant breeder Brown Noddy Anous tenuirostris Common breeder Black Noddy Gygis aZba White Tern ORDER PASSERIFORMES FAMILY SYLVIIDAE Common breeder AcrocephaZus famiziaris kingi Common endemic Nihoa Mi l l e rb i rd breeder FAMILY DREPANIDIDAE Psit tatrostm cantans uZtima Abundant endemic Nihoa Finch breeder FAMILY MIMIDAE Mimus poZygZott~s Vagrant Mockingbird * Recorded once i n 1923. 100,000; March 1965 2,500; July-August 1966 20,000; July-August 1966 severa l o r low thousands; March 1967, September 1971 3,000; August 1971 625; September 1967 6,686; August 1968 1; August 1971 Table 2 . (Cont inued) Maximum E s t i m a t e s i n c e 1960 and Taxa Cur ren t S t a t u s when recorded FAMILY SULIDAE SuZa dactyZatra Blue-faced Booby Su Za Zeucogaster Brown Booby SuZa suZa Red-footed Booby FAMILY FREGATIDAE Fregata minor G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d ORDER ANSERIFORMES FAMILY ANATIDAE Anus acuta P i n t a i l ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES FAMILY CHARADRIIDAE PZuviaZis dominica Golden P l o v e r FAMILY SCOLOPACIDAE Nwnenius tahi t iensis B r i s t l e - t h i g h e d Curlew HeterosceZus incanus Wandering T a t t l e r Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turns tone FAMILY LARIDAE Lmus argentatus H e r r i n g G u l l Sterna Zunata Gray-backed Tern Common b r e e d e r Common b r e e d e r Common b r e e d e r Abundant b r e e d e r Vagrant 350; March 1968 225; March 1968 3,500; March 1965 10,000; March 1964 2; September 1971 Uncommon m i g r a n t 50; March 1965 Uncommon m i g r a n t Uncommon m i g r a n t Common m i g r a n t Vagrant Abundant b r e e d e r 5; September 1972 2; September 1972 200; March 1968 1; March 1965 10,000; March 1967 Comparison (Table 3) of peak egg lay ing periods on Nihoa with those on Laysan, a more wes ter ly i s l a n d i n t h e leeward chain , and wi th those on Kure A t o l l , westernmost of t h e northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands , r e v e a l s t h a t some spec ie s show d i s t i n c t geographical va r i a - t i o n i n t h e i r reproduct ive cyc les . I n genera l , peak lay ing per iods on Laysan and Kure a r e i n rough accord but i t appears t h a t on Nihoa a t l e a s t f i v e spec ies breed e a r l i e r than on t h e out ly ing i s l a n d s . A t p resent we have no adequate explanat ion f o r t h e s e d i f f e rences i n breeding regimes. Table 2 . The avifauna of Nihoa Is land . Maximum Est imate s ince 1960 and Taxa Current S ta tus when recorded ORDER PROCELLARIIFORMES FAMILY DIOMEDEIDAE Diomedea nigripes Black-footed Albatross Diomedea immutabilis Laysan Albat ross FAMILY PROCELLARIIDAE BuZweria bulwerii Bulwer's P e t r e l Puffinus pacificus Wedge-tailed Shear- water Puffinus n a t i v i t a t i s Christmas Shearwater FAMILY HYDROBATIDAE Oceanodroma tr is trami Sooty Storm P e t r e l ORDER PELECANIFORMES FAMILY PHAETHONTIDAE Phaethon aethereus mesonauta Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda Red-tailed Tropicbird ~dcommon breeder Rare breeder Abundant breeder Abundant breeder Common breeder Uncertain; almost c e r t a i n l y breeds i n a t l e a s t small numbers Vagrant Common breeder 120-130; March 1964 40; Ju ly 1973 250,000; July-August 1966 20,000-31,000; July-August 1966 800; March 1965 150; March 1965 375-625; July-August 1966 r ep resen t the maximum number of f l y i n g b i r d s present during any one survey. Such es t imates inc lude breeding and non-breeding a d u l t s , sub- a d u l t s , and f l y i n g immatures but do not inc lude dependent non-flying young. The s e c t i o n e n t i t l e d Populat ions d i scusses numerical e s t ima tes i n p a r t a t tempting t o discover whether t h e r e have been any h i s t o r i c a l changes i n populat ion l e v e l s and i n p a r t t o analyze seasonal popula- t i o n changes. Most populat ion numbers were based on v i s u a l e s t ima tes supplemented by n e s t counts and banding d a t a . For t h e two endemic subspecies of b i r d s , the Nihoa Mi l l e rb i rd and Nihoa Finch, recent e s t ima tes were usua l ly based on randomly chosen t r a n s e c t censuses. I n t h e s e t r a n s e c t s , usua l ly 16.5 f e e t wide and 200 t o 250 f e e t long, a l l b i r d s of e i t h e r spec ie s seen were counted. Usually about 50 t r a n s e c t s were covered and a t o t a l a r ea of about 4 t o 5 a c r e s was sampled. Standard devia t ion was ca l cu la t ed from t h e r e s u l t s of t h e t r a n s e c t counts t o ob ta in 95 percent confidence l e v e l s . The s e c t i o n e n t i t l e d Annual Cycle con ta ins an at tempt, based on a l l a v a i l a b l e d a t a , t o determine t h e reproduct ive cyc les and, where poss ib l e , t o p inpoin t peaks of breeding a c t i v i t y . The sec t ion headed Breeding Habitat s p e c i f i e s a r e a s o r h a b i t a t s which seem p a r t i c u l a r l y favored by t h e spec ie s under d iscuss ion . The s e c t i o n headed Banding summarizes a l l known bandings by t h e POBSP and BSFW and t h e sec t ion headed Specimens l i s ts the l o c a t i o n s of a l l specimens from Nihoa of which we a r e aware. The specimens c i t e d a r e deposi ted i n t h e American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), Bernice P. Bishop Museum (BPBM), Los Angeles County Museum (LACM), Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ), Phi lade lphia Academy of Natura l Sciences (PAS), S t a t e Univers i ty of Iowa (SUI), and United S t a t e s National Museum of Natural History (USNM). These two l a t t e r s e c t i o n s a r e omit ted i f w e have no r eco rds i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e spec ie s has ever been banded or co l l ec t ed on Nihoa. Bi rds - I n a l l , 27 spec ies of b i r d s have been recorded from Nihoa Is land (Table 2 ) . Eighteen of these a r e seab i rds , a l l but one of which ( t h e vagrant Red-billed Tropicbird) breed on Nihoa. The remaining avifauna c o n s i s t s of four migrant shorebi rds , t h r e e vagran t s ( t h e Herring Gull , P i n t a i l , and Mockingbird) and two endemic passe r ines , t h e Nihoa Finch and t h e Nihoa Mi l l e rb i rd . Most spec ie s e x h i b i t a d i s t i n c t annual breeding cycle but i n some spec ie s a t l e a s t a few ind iv idua l s can be found breeding i n every month of t h e yea r . It seems l i k e l y t h a t t h e b i r d s of Nihoa, l i k e those on o the r northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands more in t ens ive ly s tud ied , vary i n i t i a t i o n of nes t ing by up t o seve ra l weeks from year t o year . This c e r t a i n l y appears t o be t h e case f o r t h e Gray-backed Terns and Sooty Terns on Nihoa and may wel l apply t o o the r spec ies a s we l l . Among t h e remaining t axa , e i g h t a r e r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e Hawaiian I s l ands : Eragrostis variabiZis Sesbania tomentosa Panicwn torridwn Euphorbia celastroides Rwnex giganteus S o l a m neZsoni Chenopodiwn oahuense PortuZaca viZZosa Seven t axa a r e n a t i v e t o Hawaii, bu t a r e d i s t r i b u t e d widely throughout t h e Pac i f i c : Boerhavia repens Portulaca Zutea TribuZus cistoides Sida faZZax Ipomoea indica Ipomoea pes-caprae Heliotropiwn massavicwn The remaining taxa a r e not n a t i v e t o Nihoa, t o Hawaii o r t h e P a c i f i c : Cenchrus echinatus 241 PortuZaca oZeracea v a r . hiZZebrandianus Setaria verticiZZatu PaspaZwn sp . Tetragonia tetragonioiodes To summarize: of t h e 25 taxa of vascular p l a n t s known from Nihoa, 20 a r e na t ive t o t h e Hawaiian archipelago; of t h e 13 t axa endemic t o t h e Hawaiian archipe lago, 5 a r e r e s t r i c t e d t o Nihoa. TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATES 9 e c i e s Accounts Common names of seabi rds fo l low King (1967) i n t h e fol lowing spec ie s accounts. Taxonomic order fol lows t h a t of p e t e r ' s (1931, 1934) Checkl i s t of Bi rds of t h e World, volumes I and 11, wi th t h e exception of t h e P roce l l a r i i fo rmes which fo l low Alexander e t aZ. (1965), the Charadri idae and Scolopacidae which fol low J e h l (1968), and t h e Sulidae which fol low t h e A.O.U. Checklis t (1957). The s c i e n t i f i c name of t h e Wandering T a t t l e r has been modified t o follow t h e l a t e s t supplement t o t h e A.O.U. Checkl i s t (A.O.U., 1973). The spec ie s accounts which fo l low a r e s e t f o r t h i n a s tandard format which is used throughout except i n those ins tances (e .g. , accounts of vagrants) where i t s u s e would be inappropr ia te . The sec t ion headed S t a t u s g ives t h e maximum recen t populat ion es t imate , d e l i m i t s per iods of occurrence and breeding, and b r i e f l y i n d i c a t e s a r e a s of t h e i s l and used f o r nes t ing . The maximum recen t es t imate i s t h e maximum es t imate obtained s i n c e 1960. These es t imates , a s well a s those o the r s l i s t e d i n t h e t a b l e s of observat ions a r e meant t o - 24' Var ie ty na t ive t o Hawaii. 3 k Figure 2 2 . I Euphorbia ce las t ro ides , August 1968. A v a r i e t y with t h e same h a b i t growing i n a somewhat s imi l a r environment a t Kaena Po in t , Oahu, was i n flower a t t h i s time but was l e a f l e s s . Photograph by Der ra l Herbst. Figure 23. The SoZanwn neZsoni f lowers on Nihoa i n August 1968 had a white c o r o l l a and purple an the r s ; those of Moomi Beach, Molokai, have l i g h t b lue p e t e l s . meters . A l i t t o r a l spec ie s cosmopolitan i n t h e t r o p i c s and sub- t r o p i c s . I ts l a r g e , buoyant seeds were doubt less c a r r i e d t o t h e i s l and by ocean cu r ren t s and deposi ted at t h e mouth of West Palm Valley--an a rea t o which s e v e r a l s t r and spec ie s have been r e s t r i c t e d . Boraginaceae Bryan 4 (BPBM) , Caum 77 (BPBM) , Christophersen 6 (BPBM) , Long 2436 (UH), Yen 1008 (BPBM). Collected from t h e sand beach a t t h e base of West Palm Valley and t h e immediately ad jacent a rea i n 1923, 1924, and 1964. I n September 1964, 27 p l a n t s were counted mainly on t h e s lopes above t h e beach. Solanaceae Solanwn neZsoni Dunal S. neZsoni var . cawnii ? . B r a S . nelsoni var . acwninatwn F.Br. Bryan 3 (BPBM), Caum 68, 84 (BPBM), Judd 6, 7, 8 (BPBM), Kramer and Swedberg 5, 12 (BPBM), Long 2424, 2434, 2339 (UH), Herbst 1210 (UH), Yen 1018 (BPBM). Found commonly over t h e i s l and (Fig. 23). SoZanwn nigrwn L. v a r . nihoense F. B r . Caum 62 (BPBM). Two p l a n t s were seen i n 1923 "one on t h e edge of the southern c l i f f , about t h e middle of t h e i s l a n d , and t h e o ther i n t h e pocket of a stream bed j u s t above t h e sand beach" (Christophersen and Caum, 1931: 6-7). Not repor ted subsequently. Cucurbitaceae Sicyos nihoaensis St . John Christophersen and Dranga 9 (BPBM), Kramer and Swedberg 4 (BPBM), Beardsley s .n. (BPBM), Yen 1006 (BPBM). This spec ie s , pre- v ious ly i d e n t i f i e d a s Sicyos pachycarpus H. and A. , has r e c e n t l y been described a s a new spec ies by S t . John (1970). It was found only below Tanager Peak i n 1924. Several pa tches found j u s t below and south of t h e h ighes t P r i t c h a r d i a s i n West Palm Valley i n 1961. In 1962 found i n t h e HIRAN camp a r e a on M i l l e r P la teau . P lan t A f f i n i t i e s Of t h e 25 taxa known from Nihoa, fou r spec ies and one v a r i e t y a r e endemic t o t h e i s land: Pritchardia remota Schiedea verticiZZata Amaranthus bromii Solanwn nigrwn var . nihoense Sicyos nihoanensis Leguminosae Sesbania tomentosa H. and A. Bryan 5 (BPBM), Caum 63 (BPBM), Judd 3 (BPBM), Chris tophersen 4 (BPBM), Kramer and Swedberg 2 (BPBM), Long 2409, 2428 (UH), Yen 1016 (BPBM). A s i n 1923-1924, Sesbania i s now d i s t r i b u t e d widely over t h e i s l and . Found f lowering i n December 1961 and June 1962. Zygophyllaceae Tribulus c i s to ides L. Bryan 2a (BPBM), Caum 78 (BPBM), Long 2420 (UH). I n 1923 "observed only a t t h e f o o t of t h e r idge leading up t o M i l l e r ' s Peak, j u s t above t h e c l i f f " (Christophersen and Caum, 1931: 6 ) . I n 1962 found i n flower a t t h e bottom of West Palm Valley (Kramer and Beardsley, ms.). Last c o l l e c t e d i n September 1964 when i t was found on t h e south s i d e of t h e c l i f f s on t h e upper s lopes . Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia ceZastroides Boiss Bryan 6 (BPBM) , Caum 64 (BPBM) , Judd 5 (BPBM) , Kramer and Swedberg 10 (BPBM), Long 2405, 2430 (UH), Yen 1014 (BPBM). Common on t h e edge of t h e c l i f f s i n 1923-1924 and on recent v i s i t s (Fig. 22) Malvaceae Sida fal lax Walp. Caum 69 (BPBM) , Bryan l a (BPBM), Judd 4 (BPBM), Kramer and Swedberg 8, 11 (BPBM), Long 2421, 2429, 2437 (UH), Yen 1004 (BPBM). Common over e n t i r e i s l and . Convolvulaceae Ipomoea indica (Burm.) Merr. I . insu lar i s (Choisy) Steud. I . congesta R. B r . Caum 83 (BPBM), Christophersen 1 (BPBM), Kramer and Swedberg 9 (BPBM) , Long 2427 (UH), Yen 1017 (BPBM) . I n 1923-1924 "observed i n t h e gorge j u s t below M i l l e r s Peak, a t t h e base of t h e p innacle on t h e west c l i f f , and above t h e sand beach" (Christophersen and Caum, 1931: 6 ) . Seen i n t h e former a rea i n 1961. Ipomoea pes-caprae (L. ) Sw. Yen 1007 (BPBM). Collected from stony south f a c e ad jacent t o t h e e a s t s lope of t h e mouth of West Palm Valley; e l eva t ion about 35 Figure 20. Grove of Pritchardia ( r i g h t foreground) i n West Palm Valley, 10 June 1962. BSFW photograph by David B. Marshall . F igure 21. PortuZaca viZZosa p lan t growing from crack i n f ace of s tone ledge, August 1968. Photograph by Derra l Herbst. minutely rugous seeds." Egler (1938: 265)--after s tudying l i v i n g p l a n t s of P. viZZosa from Koko Head on Oahu and t h e i s l e t of Kauhikaipu near Oahu, and from t h e c o l l e c t i o n s of t h e Bishop Museum - - s t a t e s t h a t "with t h e poss ib l e exception of a s tatement of p e t a l co lo r , " a l l cha rac te r s l i s t e d from the Nihoa spec ie s ex i s t ed i n t h e po r tu l acas of Oahu. The Nihoa specimen c o l l e c t e d by Caum had white p e t a l s , while those of P. viZZosa genera l ly have t h e ou te r t h i r d t o ou te r ha l f pink. However, Egler d id f ind p l a n t s wi th e n t i r e l y white p e t a l s i n t h e colony on Kaohikaupu. Stone (1963) concurs with Egler ' s conclusions. Af ter observing p l a n t s from Nihoa and Kaohikaipu, grown i n t h e botany greenhouse of t h e Univers i ty of Hawaii, Herbst concurs with E g l e r ' s conclusions and no te s t h a t a number of p l a n t s on Nihoa had deep pink o r pink-tipped p e t a l s i n August 1968. These p l a n t s were found a t an e l eva t ion of 165 meters i n West Palm and Mi l l e r Valleys. On Nihoa, P. Zutea grows i n shallow, rocky s o i l and i n cracks along t h e lower south s i d e ; a l a r g e colony was found i n August 1968 near t h e remains of a heiau (temple) a t the no r theas t end of Mi l l e r P la teau . Portulaca viZZosa was found i n pockets of s o i l and i n cracks throughout t h e i s l and (Fig. 21). An introduced spec ie s , P. oleracea, occurs i n two p laces , t h e l a r g e s t colony being on Mi l l e r P la teau . A smaller colony, probably e s t ab l i shed wi th in a year of t h e August 1968 v i s i t , i s loca ted a t the base of Mi l l e r Valley on a small r i s e usua l ly used a s a campsite by r ecen t survey p a r t i e s . Seeds of p. oleracea probably were introduced a c c i d e n t a l l y during t h e HIRAN opera t ion i n 1961 when t h e Mi l l e r P la teau a r e a was used a s a he l i cop te r landing pad and campsite. Caryophyllaceae Schiedea vert iciZZata F. B r . Bryan 2 (BPBM), Caum 70 (BPBM), Chris tophersen ? (BPBM), Kr id ler and Sincock, s .n . (UH), Herbst 1210a (UH), Herbst 1401 (BPBM, UH), Yen 1005 (BPBM). I n 1923-1924 "seen only on t h e c l i f f west of t h e sand beach, and nor th of M i l l e r s Peak, j u s t below t h e summit" (Christophersen and Caum, 1931: 6) . Two f l e s h y r o o t s j u s t beginning t o send out new leaves were co l l ec t ed by Kr id ler and Sincock i n August 1968, about half-way down evil's S l ide ; specimens from one of t h e roo t s , grown i n t h e botany greenhouse, Manoa Campus, Univers i ty of Hawaii, were l i s t e d under Herbs t ' s no. 1401. Seeds from Herbst no. 1401 were l a t e r d i s t r i b u t e d t o t h e Fos ter Botanic Garden and the Lyon Arboretum. Herbst 1210a, cons i s t ing of a d r i e d fragment of a p l a n t , was found a t about 165 meters e l eva t ion i n West Palm Valley. Yen 1005 was co l l ec t ed on t h e south face of t h e c l i f f s of Dog's Head (west end) , ad jacent t o Emory's s i t e No. 2 (Emory, 1928: 18) . h i s count of September 1964 i n t o s i x l o c a l i t i e s : West Palm Valley contained 107 seed l ings , 148 non-flowering o r non-frui t ing t r e e s , and 127 wi th f lowers o r f r u i t ; East Palm Valley had 32 seed l ings , 69 non-flowering o r non-f ru i t ing , and 46 wi th f lowers o r f r u i t s . ~ o n g ' s t o t a l is 390 mature t r e e s . a n d 139 seedl ings . Herbst attempted t o fo l low ~ o n g ' s system when he counted t h e t r e e s i n August 1968. H i s census follows: i n t h e west v a l l e y , 142 seed l ings , 106 non- flowering or non-f ru i t ing and 139 with f lowers o r f r u i t s ; i n t h e e a s t v a l l e y , 238 seed l ings , 11 non-flowering or non-f ru i t ing p l a n t s and 43 wi th f lowers or f r u i t s . The t o t a l of 516 palms does not include t h e very young seed l ings with l e s s than f i v e leaves . Kramer a t t r i b u t e d t h e dec l ine i n t h e palm populat ion t o t h e ex- ces s ive crowding of t h e t r e e s i n t h e t e r r a c e s and t o a n a t u r a l th inning of a long-range cycle of t h e populat ion. Herbs t ' s observa- t i o n s of t h i s spec ie s and of t h e growth r a t e of c l o s e l y a l l i e d spec ies on Oahu l e f t l i t t l e doubt i n h i s mind t h a t t h e d i sc repanc ie s between t h e counts l a y p r imar i ly i n t h e l ack of a uniform d e f i n i t i o n of t h e word "seedl ing." I n a d d i t i o n , the d i f f i c u l t y of counting t h e palms is aggravated by t h e dens i ty of the populat ion and by the numerous, voc i ferous seab i rds t h a t n e s t i n t h e t r e e s . The populat ion probably has remained f a i r l y s t a t i c over t h e l a s t 45 years . I n August 1968 mature f r u i t s were c o l l e c t e d from both v a l l e y s and were d i s t r i b u t e d t o t h e Lyon Arboretum of t h e Univers i ty of Hawaii, Honolulu, and t h e Fos ter Botanic Garden, a l s o loca ted i n Honolulu. Polygonaceae Rmex giganteus A i t . Caum 71 (BPBM) , Christophersen 8 (BPBN) , Long 2411 (UH) , Yen 1015 (BPBM). Has been found only i n t h e Devi l ' s Slide-Miller Peak a rea . S t e r i l e i n September 1964 and August 1968. Chenopodiaceae Chenopodiwn oahuense (Mey.) Aellen C. sandwichem Moq. f . m i c r o s p e m Aellen Caum 58, 67 (BPBM), Judd 1 (BPBM) , Christophersen 7 (BPBM) , Kramer and Swedberg 6 (BPBM), Long 2410, 2413, 2418, 2444 (uH), Yen 1019 (BPBM). Widespread; one of t h e most common, i f not t h e most common, p l a n t on t h e i s l and (Fig. 6 ) . Amaranthaceae Amaranths brownii Christophersen and Caum Caum 73 (BPBM), Judd 2 (BPBM), Yen 1013 (BPBM). Caum and Judd made t h e f i r s t c o l l e c t i o n s of t h i s p l an t i n June 1,923, observing t h a t Figure 18 . Low scrambling Euphorbia shrubs around rock outcroppings along northern c l i f f s , August 1968. I n t h e foreground a r e Chenopodim and SoZanm shrubs. Photograph by Derral Herbst . Figure 19. Small grove of Pritchardia remota a t base of c l i f f in upper East Palm Valley, August 1968. Photograph by Der ra l Herbst . Eragrostis var iabiZis (Gaud .) Steud. Caum 61 (BPBM) , Long 2417 (UH) , Herbst 1208 (UH) , Yen 1009 (BPBM). Found widespread over t h e i s l and a s i n 1923-1924 but observers i n both December 1961 and September 1964 bel ieved t h i s spec ie s was l e s s abundant than indica ted by Chris tophersen and Caum. Panicwn turridwn Gaud. Caum 60 (BPBM), Christophersen 5 (BPBM), Kramer and Swedberg 7 (BPBM), Long 2408 2432 (UH), Herbst 1209 (UH), Yen 1011 (BPBM). Widely d i s t r i b u t e d i n 1923. Observers i n December 1961 and September 1964 bel ieved t h i s spec ie s t o be more abundant than indica ted by Christophersen and Caum. Only a few p l a n t s were seen i n August 1968, however. PaspaZwn sp. Found growing i n t h e v i c i n i t y of t h e HIRAN a r e a of opera t ions i n June 1962 (Kramer and Beardsley, ms.). Not seen subsequently. Setaria ver t i c iZ la ta (L.) Beauv. Yen 1012 (BPBM). Near south c o a s t , May, 1969. Palmae Pritchardia rernota Becc . D r . Rooke i n 1858 (mentioned i n Hi l lebrand, 1888: 451; not seen) , Brown s.n. (BPBM), two shee t s , one wi th Rock's no. 10347, Caum 72 (BPBM), Cooke 299 (BPBM), Chris tophersen 9a (BPBM), Long 2412, 2440, 2443 (UH). This endemic spec ie s of palm, found only i n East and West Palm Valleys (Figs. 19-20), is t h e most conspicuous component of t h e f l o r a . A few trees--most of which a r e mature--grow a t t h e bases of b a s a l t i c c l i f f s on t h e s t eep outer s lopes of each v a l l e y . Most of the populat ion, however, i s crowded i n t o small , dense groves on t h e t e r r a c e s lower i n t h e v a l l e y s . Kramer (ms.) suggests t h a t t h e i r d i s t r i b u t i o n may be determined by s o i l depth and a v a i l a b i l i t y of water. The f aces of t h e c l i f f s may a c t a s n a t u r a l catchment a r e a s which would add t o t h e moisture a t t h e i r bases, while p a r t of t h e run-off during r a i n s would be he ld by t h e deep accumula- t i o n s of d e b r i s i n the anc ien t , man-made t e r r a c e s . The palms have been counted four t imes i n t h e l a s t 45 yea r s . I n June 1923 C.S. Judd counted 347 t r e e s i n West Palm Valley and 168 i n East Palm Valley. The count d id not inc lude small seedl ings (Christophersen and Caum, 1931: 6 ) . I n December 1961 Kramer and Swedberg counted 229 t r e e s i n West Palm Valley and 54 i n t h e e a s t va l l ey . Seedl ings under one meter were omit ted, and immature f r u i t s were noted on some of t h e p l a n t s (Kramer, ms.). C.R. Long divided The f i r s t recorded bo tan ica l c o l l e c t i o n was made by a Dr. Rooke i n 1858 when he brought specimens of t h e Nihoa l o u l u , Pritchardia remotu, t o Honolulu (Hil lebrand, 1888: 451). La te r c o l l e c t i o n s were made by t h e following: Capt. J .H . Brown of t h e U.S. Revenue Cut te r THETIS, September 1914; E.L. Caum, E.H. Bryan, J r . , C.M. Cooke, J r . , and C.S. Judd, June 1923; E. Chris tophersen and T.T. Dranga, J u l y 1924; R . J . Kramer and G. Swedberg, December 1961; J.W. Beardsley, June 1962; C.R. Long, September 1964; E. Kr id l e r , J.L. Sincock, and D . Herbst , August 1968; and D . Yen, May-June 1 9 6 9 . 3 The following annotated l i s t inc ludes al,l spec ie s of vascular p l a n t s known from Nihoa I s l and . Twenty spec ie s were co l l ec t ed during t h e Tanager Expedition v i s i t s of 1923-1924--three spec ie s and t h r e e v a r i e t i e s subsequently being described a s new (Christophersen and Caum, 1931). Addit ional spec ie s co l l ec t ed subsequently and not previous ly repor ted were Por tu laca o l e racea , co l l ec t ed by Long i n 1964, Cenchrus echina tus v a r . h i l lebrandianus , c o l l e c t e d by Herbst i n 1968, and S e t a r i a ver t ic i lk ta and Ipomoea pes-caprae, co l l ec t ed by Yen i n 1969. These, together with a s i g h t i n g of a g r a s s (Paspalm s p . ) , t h a t has not been c o l l e c t e d , b r ing t h e t o t a l number of spec ies of vascular p l a n t s known t o have grown on Nihoa t o 25. Magnusson (1942) published a l i s t of l i c h e n s and Tsuda (1966) included two a lgae from Nihoa i n h i s enumeration of the marine benthic a lgae from t h e Northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands . The specimens c i t e d below a r e deposi ted i n t h e B.P. Bishop Museum Herbarium (BPBM) or i n t h e Herbarium of t h e Univers i ty of Hawaii (UH). Annotated Species L i s t Gramineae Cenchmts echina tus va r . hilZebrandianus itch^ .) F .B .H. Brown C. hiZlebrandianus Hitchcock Herbst 1206 (UH), Yen 1010 (BPBM). Kramer (ms.) repor ted f ind- ing and burning, i n 1961, s i x Cenchrus s p i k e l e t s which were s tuck t o a towel of one of t h e HIRAN personnel. Herbst found two p l a n t s growing i n a pocket of s o i l on t h e f l o o r of Mi l l e r Valley i n 1968. Both were removed and t h e a rea searched f o r seeds. Apparently these e f f o r t s were i n va in , a s t h i s p l an t i s included i n t h e 1969 c o l l e c t i o n s of Douglas Yen. - 23/ P l a n t s were a l s o co l l ec t ed i n February 1916, August 1955, and i n March 1964 (see Appendix Table 2) but we do not know the present d i s p o s i t i o n of these c o l l e c t i o n s . Figure 16. Remains of anc ient house t e r r a c e i n East Palm Valley, August 1968. Vegetation i s c h i e f l y Chenopodim shrubs with some Sida . Photograph by Derra l Herbst. Figure 1 7 . Middle Valley, August 1968; vege ta t ive cover--typical of the s i d e s of t h e val leys--consis ts pr imar i ly of 2 t o 3 foo t t a l l Sida and Chenopodim shrubs. Photograph by Der ra l Herbst. The Bureau of Sport F i she r i e s and Wi ld l i f e (BSFW), now no longer a s epa ra t e e n t i t y but subsumed within t h e U.S. F i sh and Wi ld l i f e Service, assumed r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r the management, i n spec t ion , and p a t r o l of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s National Wild l i fe Refuge i n 1964 when a refuge manager was assigned t o Honolulu. Since then a t l e a s t one landing, and usua l ly two, were made each y e a r . G / On s i x of t h e s e r ecen t v i s i t s (Table 1 ) BSFW survey p a r t i e s were composed i n p a r t of personnel from the Smith- sonian P a c i f i c Ocean Biologica l Survey Program (POBSP) which inves t iga ted t h e b i o t a of the c e n t r a l P a c i f i c from 1963 u n t i l mid-1969. During t h e s e o f t en b r i e f v i s i t s Refuge personnel were pr imar i ly concerned with admin i s t r a t ive and management d u t i e s , and with s t u d i e s of t h e populat ions and breeding s t a t u s of a l b a t r o s s e s , t h e Nihoa Mi l l e rb i rd , and t h e Nihoa Finch. POBSP a c t i v i t i e s were pr imar i ly d i r ec t ed towards obta in ing da ta on occurrence, numbers, and breeding s t a t u s of seabi rd populat ions. Data gathered during these v i s i t s , and much h i t h e r t o unpublished da ta from e a r l i e r v i s i t s , form t h e b a s i s f o r t h e f a u n i s t i c accounts presented i n fol lowing s e c t i o n s of t h i s r epor t . I n 1967 Nihoa and o ther i s l a n d s of t h e Refuge were designated a "na tu ra l area" by t h e Bureau of Sport F i s h e r i e s and Wi ld l i f e . This means t h a t t h e Refuge management i s seeking, a s f a r a s i s poss ib l e , t o prevent any d is turbance of the ecology of t h e i s l a n d s . Landings may be made only by permit from t h e Bureau, and v i s i t s a r e r e s t r i c t e d t o personnel involved i n s c i e n t i f i c s t u d i e s . VEGETATION by Der ra l ~ e r b s t z l Low shrubs, seldom above 1 meter h igh , cover t h e s i d e s and much of t h e f l o o r s of the v a l l e y s (Figs. 16-17). These c o n s i s t pr imar i ly of SoZanwn ne l son i , Chempodiwn oahuense and Sida fa l lax , and may be mixed o r i n almost pure s tands . Less common elements include Sesbania tomentosa, Euphmbia celastroides and Eragrostis variabiZis. Of t h e very few p l a n t s of t h e annual g ra s s Panicwn torridwn s ighted i n August 1968, a l l but one were young seedl ings . The shrubs a r e spa r se r and t h e t u f t s of Eragrostis more common on t h e r idges . In ter twining branches of the-scrambl ing Euphorbia shrubs form dense mats around rock outcroppings along the edges of t h e no r th c l i f f s (Fig. 18) . I n August 1968 Herbst d id not no t i ce wel l defined vege ta t ive associa- t i o n s , a l though t h e s e a r e found on o the r northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands . 21' Appendix Tables 1 t o 3 summarize personnel , accomplishment, and papers r e s u l t i n g from these and e a r l i e r v i s i t s . - 22/ Department of Botany, Univers i ty of Hawaii, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii 96822. of t h e Bishop Museum. Other ob jec t ives were t h e c o l l e c t i o n of p l a n t s , and t h e cap tu re of f r i g a t e b i r d s f o r t h e Honolulu Zoo. The p a r t y a r - r ived e a r l v on 2 1 Aueust and v i s i t e d t h e i s l and d a i l v u n t i l 24 August - when a f i n a l depa r tu re was made a t 1100 (Honolulu ~ d ; e r t i s e r , 28 i u g . , 1955; Sheehan, 1966). Dale W. Rice and Karl W. Kenyon made a low-level photographic a e r i a l survey of Nihoa on 28 December 1957. Their purpose was an accura t e census of t h e a l b a t r o s s and s e a l populat ions. Visits Ouring t h e 1960's Nihoa was v i s i t e d 5 t o 15 March 1961 by t h e U.S.S. DUVAL COUNTY which was conducting t h e f i r s t phase of a m i l i t a r y p ro jec t t o e s t a b l i s h f i r s t o rder astronomic s t a t i o n s , HIRAN, and azimuth marks on t h e northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands i n connection wi th t h e Hawaiian geo- d e t i c survey. Transpor ta t ion between t h e sh ip and t h e i s l and was by he l i cop te r (Roach, ms.). One of t h e more extens ive surveys of Nihoa was made t h e follow- ing December by Raymond J. Kramer and Gerald Swedberg, b i o l o g i s t s with t h e Hawaii Division of F i sh and Game. They landed on t h e i s l and by he l i cop te r from the U.S.S..FLOYD COUNTY which was engaged i n Phase I1 of t h e HIRAN p r o j e c t . They landed about noon on 9 December and l e f t t h e i s l and e a r l y i n t h e morning of t h e 15 th (Kramer, ms.). During t h e i r s t a y d e t a i l e d no te s were made on t h e s t a t u s of t h e two endemic landbi rds , t h e Nihoa Finch and t h e Nihoa Mi l l e rb i rd , and on t h e s t a t u s and d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e va r ious spec ie s of vascular p l a n t s occurr ing on t h e i s l and . Several of t h e i r bo tan ica l observa t ions a r e of p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t s ince they i n d i c a t e d i s t i n c t changes i n t h e vegeta t ion s i n c e t h e d e t a i l e d survey made by the Tanager Expedition i n 1923. Kramer and Swedberg's c a r e f u l count of t h e endemic palms (P r i t cha rd ia remota) revealed a t o t a l of 283 palms a s compared wi th 515 i n 1923. Brief no te s were taken on seab i rds and shoreb i rds . Eleven spec ie s of s eab i rds and two of shorebi rds were recorded. A t t h e time of t h e b i o l o g i s t s ' v i s i t , they found four m i l i t a r y personnel , two from the A i r Force and two from t h e Army, who had been l i v i n g on t h e i s l and f o r 2 weeks and who l e f t Nihoa with t h e b i o l o g i s t s . Kramer, accompanied by David H. Woodside, John k'. Beardsley, and David B. Marshal l , r e v i s i t e d Nihoa f o r about 7 hours on 10 June 1962 during t h e HIRAN I1 p r o j e c t . During t h e i r v i s i t t h e b i o l o g i s t s made b r i e f no te s on vegeta t ion and b i r d l i f e , c o l l e c t e d ar thropods, and examined t h e i s l and t o determine what e f f e c t t h e HIRAN opera t ions had had on i t s ecology. They found two spec ie s of p l a n t s (Cenchrus sp. , PaspaZwn sp.) , evident ly introduced by t h e m i l i t a r y , growing a t t h e HIRAN antennae s i t e s . heavier surf than before discouraged any at tempt a t landing. On both v i s i t s t h e ITASCA c i r c l e d t h e i s l a n d and n e i t h e r time found any evidence of r ecen t landings (Bayl i s , ms.). The ITASCA c i r c l e d Nihoa again on 19 June during another in- spec t ion of t h e northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands . Later t h a t year (10 December), while searching Hawaiian waters f o r a missing p lane , t h e STAR OF AUSTRALIA, t h e ITASCA r e v i s i t e d Nihoa. A p r i v a t e v e s s e l , t h e LANIKAI, a l s o v i s i t e d Nihoa dur ing t h e search f o r t h e downed Plane (Honolulu - S t a r B u l l e t i n , 6 , 9 Feb. 1935). On 3 March 1936, A.D. Trempe, i n cooperat ion with t h e Bio logica l Survey and f i v e crew members of t h e Coast Guard vesse l RELIANCE, made a three-hour inspec t ion of t h e b i r d l i f e of t h e i s land . Trempe (ms.) repor ted seeing 14 spec ie s of b i r d s , s i x of them breeding. Visits During t h e 1940's and 1950's George Vanderbi l t , h i s wife , and C l i f t o n Weaver paid a v i s i t t o Nihoa from a p r i v a t e yacht i n 1940. The p a r t y a r r ived a t Nihoa on 7 August and completed landing t h e i r gear by the af ternoon of t h a t day. The sh ip then departed, r e t u r n i n g t o remove t h e pa r ty from t h e i s l and on t h e 16th . The pa r ty was p r imar i ly i n t e r e s t e d i n orn i tho- l o g i c a l observa t ions and c o l l e c t i o n s (Vanderbi l t and de Schauensee, 1941). I n J u l y 1951 Vanderbi l t r e v i s i t e d Nihoa on t h e George Vanderbi l t P a c i f i c Equator ia l Expedition t h a t was c o l l e c t i n g f i s h and observing seabi rds . With him were: Vernon E. Brock of t h e Hawaii Div is ion of F ish and Game and Robert R. Harvy of Stanford Univers i ty who served a s n a t u r a l i s t s ; h i s wife Anita and daughter L u c i l l e ; Jack Lance, a spor t - f i sh ing guide; and T. I v a r Vatland and Baba Green, t h e cap ta in and crew, r e spec t ive ly , of t h e PIONEER. L i t t l e has been repor ted about t h i s v i s i t and we know of no zoologica l pub l i ca t ions r e s u l t i n g from i t (see Herald, 1952; Harry, 1953). Nihoa was v i s i t e d twice i n t h e e a r l y 1950's by Frank Richardson of t h e Univers i ty of Washington. Richardson made observat ions on t h e occurrence and breeding a c t i v i t i e s of s eab i rds . Both v i s i t s , one 2 1 t o 22 December 1953, t h e o t h e r on 18 March 1954, were made from t h e Coast Guard v e s s e l BUTTONWOOD. Th i r t een spec ie s of b i r d s were recorded on t h e f i r s t v i s i t and 11 on t h e second (Richardson, pers . corn.). The AUKAKA, owned by a Honolulu insurance man, David G. Nottage, paid a v i s i t t o Nihoa i n 1955. Aboard were Nottage and h i s bro ther Pe te r ; George Car t e r , a P e a r l Harbor mechanic; Ed Sheehan, a Honolulu r a d i o announcer; and Ivan T. Rainwater, an a i r p o r t supervisor wi th t h e p l a n t quarant ine branch of t h e U.S. Department of Agr icul ture . Rainwater, an amateur a rchaeo log i s t , had been d e t a i l e d t o c o l l e c t specimens of charcoal f o r r a d i o a c t i v e carbon da t ing by D r . K.P. Emory p a r t y landed and e s t ab l i shed camp. The fol lowing day camp was s e t up on nearby Necker and r a d i o c o m u n i c a t i o & ~ between t h e two i s l a n d s was e s t ab l i shed . P a r t of t h e pa r ty subsequently s a i l e d fo r Honolulu, another group remained on Necker, and a t h i r d crew stayed on Nihoa (Edward L. Caum, Ilarold S. Palmer, Charles S. Judd, and Bruce Cartwright) . On 20 and 21 June t h e TANAGER removed t h e p a r t i e s from Nihoa and Necker, r e s p e c t i v e l y (Gregory, 1924: 21-22). During t h e p ro t r ac t ed v i s i t hydrographic work was done, plane t a b l e topo- graphic surveys taken, and extens ive c o l l e c t i o n s and s t u d i e s were made of t h e archaeology and b i o t a ( see Appendix Table 3 ) . The following year t h e TANAGER paid another v i s i t t o Nihoa (and Necker), p r imar i ly t o fol low up on t h e a rchaeologica l work begun t h e previous year . The pa r ty ( see Appendix Table 1) was under t h e leader- s h i p of Harold S. Palmer, but a rchaeo log ica l work was d i r e c t e d by Kenneth P. Emory. Although t h e work done during t h e 4-day v i s i t (9-13 Ju ly ) was pr imar i ly a rchaeologica l , d a t a were a l s o obtained on topography, geology, and botany (Gregory, 1925: 19-20). V i s i t s i n t h e Late 1920's and Ear ly 1930's The U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship GUIDE, commanded by 19/ Thomas Maher, v i s i t e d Nihoa i n Apr i l , May, and June 1928.- Most of t h e survey p a r t y ' s work was hydrographic i n n a t u r e but a t l e a s t one archaeologica l specimen was c o l l e c t e d (Emory, 1928: 45). On 19 August 1932 Nihoa was v i s i t e d by t h e U.S.S. MONTGOMERY (DM 17) commanded by L.E. C l i f f o r d . The landing pa r ty saw many b i r d s and noted a small lean-to fac ing south on t h e s lope about 200 f e e t above Adams Bay. Remains of a r ad io r e c e i v e r were found i n t h e shack but no o t h e r evidence of human h a b i t a t i o n was seen.20/ This shack may have been b u i l t by personnel from t h e GUIDE during i t s survey of t h e i s l a n d a few years previously. In 1934 t h e U.S. Coast Guard Cut te r ITASCA paid a b r i e f v i s i t t o Nihoa t o observe condi t ions on t h e i s l a n d . The sh ip a r r i v e d l a t e i n t h e a f t e r n o o n o f 8 February bu t , l i k e many preceding v i s i t o r s , t h e crew was unable t o e f f e c t a landing . Af ter v i s i t i n g Necker and French F r i g a t e Shoals , t h e sh ip returned t o Nihoa on 11 February; a n even - 18' The exact i t i n e r a r i e s of each ind iv idua l a r e d i f f i c u l t t o e s t a b l i s h a s s e v e r a l t r i p s were made between t h e i s l a n d s . Appendix Table I l i s ts personnel known t o have spent some time on Nihoa. 191 Log of t h e U.S.S. GUIDE. Rec. Group 37, U.S. Nat. Archives, - Washington. - 20/ Report from t h e commanding o f f i c e r , L.E. C l i f f o r d , Rec. Group 37, U.S. Nat. Archives, Washington. of t h e boat and t h e coxswain seve re ly in ju red h i s l e g while t r y i n g t o hold t h e boat i n pos i t i on . By t h e time t h e survey p a r t y re turned t h e long-boat had been p a r t i a l l y s tove i n and could not be used f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . Consequently t h e s h i p ' s o f f i c e r s had t o jump i n t o t h e sea from a low c l i f f and s w i m f o r a second long-boat. The following year on 12 February a p a r t y from t h e THETIS again landed. Several o f f i c e r s , inc luding Munter, again explored t h e i s l a n d . Munter (ms.) recorded 13 spec ie s of b i r d s , seven of which were breed- ing. He a l s o co l l ec t ed f i v e specimens of t h e then undescribed Nihoa Finch and made a c o l l e c t i o n of p l a n t specimens. I n response t o a reques t by t h e Department of Agr icul ture , t h e U.S.S. HERMES made a survey of t h e b i r d l i f e of t h e leeward chain i n September 1918. Nihoa was v i s i t e d on t h e second but , a s had o f t e n happened before, heavy s e a s prevented a landing. White Terns, Sooty Terns, Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, a l b a t r o s s , and t r o p i c b i r d s were noted from o f f shore , but no o t h e r b i rd observa t ions were recorded (Diggs, ms.). I n 1919 Nihoa was v i s i t e d by G e r r i t P. Wilder, Warden of t h e Hawaiian Is lands . He a r r i v e d o f f shore on 7 October aboard t h e l i gh thouse s e r v i c e tender KUKUI. The sh ip anchored i n Adams Bay and a landing was made about 150 yards e a s t of Derby's Landing (Anon., 1920: 560). Visits by t h e Tanager Expedition Nihoa was v i s i t e d i n 1923 and 1924 a s a r e s u l t of a cooperat ive s c i e n t i f i c ven tu re sponsored by t h e U.S. Navy, U.S. Bio logica l Survey, and Bernice P. Bisho Museum. These v i s i t s , known c o l l e c t i v e l y a s t h e 1P l Tanager Expedition,- a r e by f a r t h e most important e a r l y s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s . On 24 May 1923 t h e TANAGER s igh ted Nihoa. Comnander King, Alexander Wetmore, leader of t h e s c i e n t i f i c p a r t y , David L. Thaanum, Theodore Dranga, Chapman Grant, and E r i c L. Schlemmer took a long- boat i n t o look over landing p o s s i b i l i t i e s but found t h a t h igh surf precluded landing t h e whole p a r t y (Wetmore, ms.). Grant, Thaanum, and Dranga got ashore f o r a b r i e f per iod on t h e rock ledge and managed t o c o l l e c t some molluscs and echinoids . The fol lowing day Wetmore and o the r s t r i e d t o ge t ashore but sea condit ions had not improved. F i n a l l y on 26 May t h e a t tempt t o land was abandoned and t h e TANAGER s a i l e d f o r Honolulu (Bal l , ms.). The following month, on another of her s eve ra l c r u i s e s along t h e chain, t h e TANAGER a r r ived t h e a f te rnoon of 10 June and t h e f i e l d - 17/ The expedi t ion received i t s name from t h e support v e s s e l , t h e Navy minesweeper TANAGER, commanded by Samuel W. King, Nihoa was s ighted on 9 June 1904 but no landing was made s i n c e t h e s h i p was en r o u t e t o L i s i a n s k i t o apprehend Japanese who were k i l l i n g b i r d s t h e r e (Hamlet, ms.) .15/ Another v i s i t was made by t h e THETIS on 12 January 1910 but t h i s t ime heavy seas prevented a landing. W.V.E. Jacobs (ms.), t h e v e s s e l ' s commander, noted t h a t he saw no b i r d s except t h e Sooty [Black-footed] Albat ross and no evidence of human hab i t a t ion . The THETIS passed o f f shore on numerous subsequent occasions between 1910 and 1912. On one of these o f f shore v i s i t s (17 December 1912), George W i l l e t t (ms.), who was engaged i n surveying t h e north- western Hawaaian I s l ands f o r t h e Bureau of Bio logica l Survey, l i s t e d e i g h t spec ie s of b i rds . The THETIS s ighted Nihoa twice i n 1913 but no landing was made u n t i l 7 September 191416/ when crewmen swam ashore t o c o l l e c t rock specimens f o r Car l Elschner. One of those who swam ashore was Lt . W.N. Derby. The small sand beach on which they landed was named f o r him, "Derby's Landing" (Bryan, 1942: 170). On 18 March 1915 s i x persons went ashore , landing on a b i t of sandy beach on t h e south s i d e of t h e i s l a n d near t h e western end. Duricg t h e day t h e o f f i c e r s made a b i rd survey, not ing spec ie s and numbers and t ak ing photographs. One of t h e o f f i c e r s , L t . W.H. Munter , la te r made a r e p o r t i n which he l i s t e d 14 spec ie s , n ine of which were recorded a s breeding (Munter, 1916). Two o the r spec ie s , t h e Christmas Shearwater and t h e Br is t le - th ighed Curlew, were seen by t h e s h i p ' s cap ta in , J . H . Brown (ms.). Munter's obscure and l i t t le-known r e p o r t was t h e f i r s t f a i r l y comprehensive list of b i r d s of Nihoa. H i s r e p o r t a l s o inc ludes t h e e a r l i e s t mention of t h e Nihoa Finch, l a t e r described by W.A. Bryan (1917). Although some of Munter's es t imates seem high i n view of more r e c e n t , d e t a i l e d observa t ions , o t h e r s seem q u i t e reasonable. On t h e whole t h e r e p o r t was one of t h e most va luable e a r l y surveys of the b i r d l i f e of Nihoa, p a r t i c u l a r l y when one cons iders t h e b r e v i t y of the v i s i t . While t h e landing p a r t y was making observat ions on t h e high s lopes , t h e seas began t o r i s e . The long-boat 's crew l o s t c o n t r o l - 15' Log of t h e U.S. Revenue Cut te r THETIS. Rec. Group 26, U.S. Nat. Archives, Washington. - 16' Elschner (1915: 9) s t a t e d t h a t s a i l o r s swam ashore a t Nihoa i n May 1910, but t h i s i s evident ly i n c o r r e c t a s an examination of t h e logs of t h e THETIS f o r t h a t period r e v e a l s no such landing. Probably Elschner confused Nihoa wi th Necker where a landing was made on 23 May 1910. and h i s a s s i s t a n t s who made topographic and geologica l observa t ions , Sanford B. Dole, who made o r n i t h o l o g i c a l observa t ions , Mr. Jaeger , a b o t a n i s t , and Mrs. E.M. Beckley, r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e Hawaiian Government Museum (Emory, 1928: 10 ) . Mr. ~ i l l i a m s % / and W.E.H. D e v e r i l l took photographs and t h e l a t t e r co l l ec t ed seve ra l archaeo- l o g i c a l specimens. is hop's statement t h a t " the i s l a n d had been ransacked f o r b i r d s , s k i n s , eggs, and fea thers" (Bishop, 1885b: 5) suggests t h a t q u i t e a number of o rn i tho log ica l specimens were co l l ec t ed but t h e present whereabouts of t hese specimens is unknown. Possibly most were l o s t , a s were most photographs and t h e cameras, when two boats swamped dur ing t h e depa r tu re of t h e excursion pa r ty . Toward t h e end of t h e v i s i t a f i r e had broken out t h a t ev iden t ly consumed much of t h e i s l a n d ' s vege ta t ion (Bishop, 1885a: 4 ) . The schooner KAALOKAI ca r ry ing t h e Rothschild Expedition was of f Nihoa on 26 and 27 May 1891. No landing could be made because of heavy seas , but expedit ion personnel Henry C . Palmer and George C . Munro made observat ions of b i r d l i f e o f f shore . Seventeen d i f f e r e n t spec ie s were seen (Palmer i n Rothschi ld , 1893-1900: v i i ; Munro 1941a: 41, 49; 1941b: 16) . Bryan (1942: 170) repor ted a v i s i t t o Nihoa i n September 1894 by t h e B.M.S. HYACINTH; soundings were taken. Nihoa was acquired by t h e United S t a t e s a s a p a r t of t h e T e r r i t o r y of Hawaii on 7 Ju ly 1898. I n 1902 t h e U.S. F i sh Commission sh ip ALBATROSS v i s i t e d Nihoa twice, 1 t o 3 June and 5 t o 9 August, while engaged i n deep-sea exp lo ra t ions of f t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s . No landing could be made on e i t h e r v i s i t . Walter K. F i she r , one of t h e b i o l o g i s t s , subsequently repor ted observa t ions of 19 spec ie s of b i r d s t h a t were seen on or around t h e i s l and (Fisher , 1903). On both v i s i t s t h e ALBATROSS dredged o f f - shore t o c o l l e c t marine organisms ( see Appendix Tables 2 and 3) . I n A p r i l 1909, by Executive Order 1019, Nihoa was included i n t h e Hawaiian I s l ands Bird Reservat ion. Visits by t h e T h e t i s - 1904-1916 During t h e e a r l y 1900's Nihoa w a s v i s i t e d o f t e n by t h e U.S. Revenue Cut te r THETIS. Most of t h e s e v i s i t s were casua l i n spec t ions which were made t o discover whether b i r d s had been molested by f ea the r poachers, a r ecu r r ing problem on s e v e r a l of t h e o the r northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands . No evidence was ever found t h a t poachers had v i s i t e d Nihoa. Lack of poaching, i n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y , was not due t o i n s u f f i c i e n t numbers of b i r d s bu t r a t h e r t o t h e d i f f i c u l t y of landing and working on t h e s t eep s lopes . - lk' Poss ib ly J.J. Williams who took b i r d photographs on Laysan I s l and i n t h e 1890's. 111 c i r c u l a r appeared claiming Hawaiian dominion over Nihoa.-- The fol lowing spr ing an expedi t ion was dispatched t o Nihoa t o annex formally t h e i s l and t o t h e Hawaiian Kingdom. On 23 A p r i l 1857 Captain John Paty of t h e schooner MANUKAWAI, w i th King Kamehameha I V on board, landed and again annexed t h e i s l and t o t h e Hawaiian Kingdom. P a t y ' s log desc r ibes t h e v i s i t . A t 10 a.m. went ashore (got upse t i n landing) . The King and Governor landed a t t h e same time i n a canoe.... I deposi ted a b o t t l e a t t h e foo t of t h e pole near t h e landing p lace , conta in ing no te s agreeable t o my i n s t r u c t i o n s . . . a l s o a p l a t e of copper on which I scratched 23rd A p r i l A.D. 1857. King Kamehameha I V v i s i t e d t h i s I s l and , and took Possession. Not seeing anything t o warrant my longer s t a y he re , I got under way a t 3 p.m. (Paty, 1857). The EURMICE, a French man-of-war, v i s i t e d Nihoa a t t h e same time and re turned t o Honolulu with t h e King and h i s p a r t y on board. One of t h e primary purposes of t h e v i s i t was t o determine whether guano was present i n s u f f i c i e n t quan t i ty and q u a l i t y fo r p r o f i t a b l e mining. To Kamehameha's disappointment, Wm. Hil lebrand, who analysed the samples brought back, concluded t h a t t h e m a t e r i a l was not va luab le enough f o r shipping and export but t h a t i t might be of some use a s a f e r t i l i z e r i n a r e a s of t h e main Hawaiian 1slands.l2/ On 30 December 1858, Nihoa was viewed o f f shore by Lt. J . N . Brooke of t h e U.S. Schooner FENIMORE COOPER while en rou te t o French F r i g a t e Shoals .a I n t h e e a r l y morning of 22 J u l y 1885 an excursion pa r ty of over 200 people, inc luding P r incess L i l iuoka lan i , landed on Nihoa from t h e steamer IWALANI. Others i n t h e pa r ty included Sereno E. Bishop - D.L. Gregg t o t h e U.S. Secre tary of S t a t e , 17 , 24 December 1856. S t a t e of Hawaii, S t a t e Archives, Honolulu. - Report from W. Hil lebrand t o I,. Kamehameha, Minister of t h e I n t e r i o r , 26 August 1856. S t a t e of Hawaii, S t a t e Archives, Honolulu. - 13/ Log of t h e U.S. Schooner FENIMORE COOPER. Rec. Group 37, U.S. Nat. Archives, Washington. [The following morning] When t h e capta in saw t h e schooner approaching c l o s e i n wi th t h e i s l and , he made a l a s t e f f o r t t o launch h i s boat . They suc- ceeded i n g e t t i n g her i n t o t h e breakers but t h e f i r s t heavy r o l l e r t h a t broke under them severed t h e boat amid-ships, and t h e cap ta in upon end of her and a man t h a t could not s w i m on t h e o the r , were hove up s a f e l y on the beach by t h e succeeding wave. The r e s t of t h e boa t ' s crew were good swimmers and a l s o landed i n s a f e t y . Our boat was not f a r off when t h i s occurred, and anchoring a s near a s poss ib le t o t h e shore , t h e men, a l l but one, swam off t o her through t h e s u r f . The only way we could devise t o g e t t h e cap ta in and seaman o f f , was t o f l o a t a cork-jacket on shore, a t t h e end of a l i n e , which being put on by t h e cap ta in and seaman, a f t e r n a t e l y , and a rope t i e d around them, they were hauled through t h e sur f without any o the r in ju ry than swallowing a quant i ty of sal t -water . B i rd ' s Is land i s an uninhabited rock, about a league i n circumference, and t h e h ighes t p a r t from f i v e t o e igh t hundred f e e t above t h e ocean. Where our boat landed, is the only spot where a landing could be e f f e c t e d , and upon t h a t s i d e a lone i t has an i n c l i n a t i o n by which it may be ascended. Every where e l s e i t is perpendicular , and a t a d i s t ance , looks l i k e t h e work of a r t . It has a scanty vegeta- t ion. I n t h e l a t e 1850's many of t h e c e n t r a l P a c i f i c i s l a n d s became o b j e c t s of commercial i n t e r e s t because of guano which was t r e a t e d t o make f e r t i l i z e r . Most i n t e r e s t centered on t h e d ry e q u a t o r i a l i s l ands , many of which had s u b s t a n t i a l d e p o s i t s , but t h e s t rong demand f o r guano and t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r quick p r o f i t s r e s u l t e d i n almost a l l c e n t r a l P a c i f i c i s l a n d s being inves t iga ted . I n December 1856 t h e B r i s i t h warship HAVANA s a i l e d from Honolulu t o determine whether guano d e p o s i t s were present on Nihoa, The sh ip a r r i v e d of fshore on t h e morning of t h e e i g h t h and remained o f f s h o r e through t h e e leventh , but heavy seas prevented a landing. Captain Harvey went a s c l o s e t o shore a s he dared but saw no guano, concluding t h a t "from t h e formation of t h e rock and t h e l a r g e amount of heavy r a i n t h a t f a l l s i n ...[ t h e i s l and ' s ] v i c i n i t y , I do not imagine i t p o s s i b l e t h a t any quant i ty could accumulate; --nor were b i r d s seen i n such q u a n t i t i e s a s t o warrant t h e expectat ion" (Harvey, 1860: 423). This expedit ion by a fore ign s h i p i n Hawaiian t e r r i t o r y evi- den t ly alarmed t h e Hawaiian government, f o r s h o r t l y t h e r e a f t e r a and annex i t t o the Hawaiian Kingdom (Thrum, 1893: 7; Emory, 1928: 8;9/ Bryan, 1942: 169). Adams, h imsel f , s t a t e s t h a t he v i s i t e d t h e i s l and twice but never landed and f u r t h e r no te s t h a t "Kaahumanu v i s i t e d t h e i s l a n d i n t h e Summer of 1822 and some of her n a t i v e s landed on i t . . . ."lO/ Another e a r l y landing was made by t h e crew of t h e U.S. Schooner DOLPHIN (Paulding, 1831: 192-195). Like many subsequent v i s i t o r s they had cons iderable d i f f i c u l t y landing and r e tu rn ing from t h e i s l a n d . Pauld ing ' s d e s c r i p t i o n fol lows. On t h e n i n t h of January, [I8261 a t e i g h t i n t h e morning ... [Nihoa] was discovered c l o s e t o us . We tacked and stood back c l o s e i n with the south- west s i d e , where was a small sand-beach, f i f t y t o a hundred yards long. The cap ta in , tak ing t h e Globe's whale-boat went i n shore t o f i s h , but seeing a few s e a l upon t h e sand beach was induced t o land. It soon af terwards became squa l ly and blew with g r e a t v io lence . The s u r f . . . r o s e wi th t h e wind, and, ... t h e cap ta in , a f t e r a sho r t examination of t h e is land. . . found it impossible t o launch h i s boat. . .[and w a s forced t o pass] t h e n ight on t h e i s l and . It blew a ga le and ra ined i n t o r r e n t s a l l n igh t . The cap ta in and h i s boa t ' s crew took s h e l t e r i n a cavern upon t h e sea- shore, where they had not been long by a comforta:al.e f i r e they had made, when, by t h e r i s i n g of t h e t i d e t h e sea broke i n upon them, and they with d i f f i c u l t y escaped t o t h e s i d e of t h e rocks , and thence upon t h e sand-beach. The i s l and was high and almost perpendicular , and with t h e f loods t h a t f e l l and rushed down i t s s t eep s i d e s , rocks of a l a rge s i z e were disengaged from t h e i r beds, and came tumbling down i n every d i r e c t i o n , t o t h e g r e a t p e r i l of the cap ta in and h i s b o a t ' s crew.. . .After a l i t t l e search , they found an asylum i n a cave a t t h e s i d e of t h e mountain, where they passed t h e n igh t .... 9 / Emory s t a t e s a l s o t h a t Thrum's information about the 1822 v i s i t - was obtained from t h e journa l of Captain Alexander Adams. This i s impossible a s t h e Adam's journa l c i t e d (Thrum, 1905: 66-74) covers only t h e period 16 January 1816 t o 26 December 1817. 101 Adams t o L. Kamehameha, 18 March 1857. S t a t e of Hawaii, S t a t e - Archives, Honolulu. populat ion which was p a r t of t h e c u l t u r e t h a t a l s o sprang up on Necker. He suggests t h a t t h e permanent populat ion of Nihoa a rose when Nihoa was c u t off from communication with t h e l a r g e r Hawaiian ~ s l a n d s . d / He hypothesizes t h a t t h e people of t h e Necker c u l t u r e were forced out of t h e main Hawaiians and s e t t l e d f o r a time on Nihoa. Emory concludes t h a t t h e Necker c u l t u r e was "a pure sample of t h e c u l t u r e p reva i l ing i n Hawaii before t h e t h i r t e e n t h century , and t h a t p r e h i s t o r i c a s we l l a s t h e h i s t o r i c Hawaiian c u l t u r e may be considered Tahi t ian i n o r ig in" (Emory, 1928: 122). European Discovery and Ear ly Visits Europeans discovered t h e ex i s t ence of Nihoa when t h e i s l and was s ighted by Captain William Douglas of t h e H.M.S. IPHIGENIA. The IPHIGENIA, s a i l i n g i n company wi th t h e schooner NORTH WEST AMERICA, s ighted Nihoa a t t h r e e i n t h e morning of 19 March 1779 and hove t o 7 / u n t i l daybreak. Meares (1790: 212), who evident ly owned t h e ship,- l a t e r reported t h a t This i s l and o r rock , bea r s t h e form of a saddle, high a t each end, and low i n t h e middle. To t h e South i t is covered with verdure ; but on t h e North, West, and East s i d e s , it i s a bar ren rock, perpen- d i c u l a r l y s t eep , and d id n o t appear t o be a c c e s s i b l e but t o t h e fea thered r ace , with which i t abounds. It was the re fo re named Bird 1 s l a n d . Y It l i e s i n t h e l a t i t u d e of 23 degrees 07' North, and i n t h e longitude of 198 degrees 10 ' Eas t [ I61 degrees 50' West], by a medium of s e v e r a l observed d i s t ances of t h e sun and t h e moon. During ensuing years a number of sh ips passed of fshore without making a landing: i n March 1794 t h e B r i t i s h sh ips t h e DISCOVERY and t h e CHATHAM, and on 1 August 1795 t h e B r i t i s h sloop PROVIDENCE (Buck, 1953: 44, 46); on 17 Apr i l 1817 t h e bark COLUMBIA (Corney 1896: 73); and on 1 Ju ly 1825 t h e TARTAR (Morrel l , 1841: 216). I n 1822, Queen Kaahumanu, having heard about Nihoa, s en t two or t h r e e v e s s e l s commanded by Captain William Sumner t o f ind t h e i s l and 6/ Nihoa, but n o t Necker, was by t r a d i t i o n bel ieved t o have been known t o t h e Hawaiians p r i o r t o t h e a r r i v a l of Europeans (Emory, 1928: 119). L1 Buck, 1953: 38. 81 A name by which Nihoa was b e s t known through t h e f i r s t ha l f of t h e 20th Century. Figure 1 4 . Looking nor th down t h e "Devi l ' s Slide". BSFW photograph, 15 August 1970, by Eugene Kr id l e r . 1 i Figure 15. Native s t r u c t u r e on t h e no r theas t corner of M i l l e r ' s P la teau . BSFW photograph, 15 August 1970, by Eugene Kr id l e r . t h e i r r e l a t i v e frequency of occurrence, and d iscuss ions of r e l a t i v e wear and appearance may be found by consu l t ing Palmer. Magnetite i n t h e rocks of Nihoa causes wide v a r i a t i o n i n l o c a l magnetic dec l ina t ion . The average d e c l i n a t i o n on Nihoa, l i k e t h a t of t h e surrounding ocean, i s about 11 degrees E of N. However, d e c l i n a t i o n a t 10 p o i n t s on Nihoa ranged from 2 t o 28.5 degrees E of N , t h e s e two extremes coming from s t a t i o n s only 800 f e e t a p a r t . HISTORY P r e h i s t o r i c Habi ta t ion Nihoa, l i k e nearby Necker I s l a n d , was once inhabited by Polynesians. Emory (1928)?/ repor ted t h a t of the many stone s t r u c - t u r e s (Fig. 15) a t l e a s t 25 were foundat ions of houses and about 15 were ceremonial s t r u c t u r e s . F i f t e e n b lu f f s h e l t e r s were discovered. H e thought t h a t t h e i s l a n d could have she l t e red a populat ion of up t o 174 persons but bel ieved t h a t probably no more than 100 ever l i ved t h e r e . A l a r g e number of a r t i f a c t s from t e r r a c e s , house s i t e s , and b lu f f s h e l t e r s was co l l ec t ed by t h e Tanager Expedition. A r t i f a c t s of rock included grindstones, hammerstones, bowls, j a r s , and a mortar . A r t i f a c t s of p l an t o r i g i n included a bed and a p i l l ow made of bunchgrass, a wooden n e t t i n g s h u t t l e , a p iece of b read f ru i t wood which had been shaped i n t o a crude t i l ler of European form, and ashes and charcoal . A r t i f a c t s of animal o r i g i n included a c o r a l rubbing s tone and f i l e , awls o r needles made of b i r d bones, fragments of t u r t l e s h e l l s , and a fishhook of bone, probably from a human femur. Cowries (Cypraea maur i t iana) had been used a s squid l u r e s . Human s k e l e t a l ma te r i a l was found a t two s i t e s . A t one, i n a r e c e s s on t h e e a s t s i d e of Dog's Head, t h e remains of four a d u l t s were found wi th p e t r e l s nes t ing among t h e s k u l l s . A t t h e o t h e r , on a ledge f ac ing t h e sea , were p a r t i a l remains of an a d u l t and two ch i ld ren . Af ter comparing t h e a rchaeologica l m a t e r i a l s co l l ec t ed on Nihoa and Necker, i n t e r se, and wi th those from o the r a r e a s of Polynesia , Emory (1928) concludes t h a t a t one time Nihoa supported a permanent 2' Emory (1928) g ives an exhaust ive account of t h e archaeology of Nihoa derived pr imar i ly from t h e r e s u l t s of t h e f i e l d work done by t h e Tanager Expeditions of 1923 and 1924. with ac r id - t a s t ing ma t t e r , presumably derived from t h e d e j e c t a of t h e mul t i tudinous b i r d s and is ni trogenous and phosphatic i n characterCPalmer, 1927: 15) . Along t h e south shore l i e s a nea r ly continuous wave c u t t e r r a c e , broken i n t h r e e p l aces , 4 t o 8 f e e t above sea l e v e l and vary ing i n width from 10 t o 50 f e e t . Fragments of t e r r a c e a l s o remain along o t h e r s i d e s of t h e i s l a n d . A t p re sen t wave a c t i o n i s c u t t i n g caves along t h e base of t h e no r th , no r theas t , southeas t and p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e west c l i f f s of the i s l a n d . A t the e a s t e r n end of t h e i s l and a tunnel , through which small boa ts may pass , c u t s through t h e 300 f o o t promontory (Palmer, op. c i t . : 14) . Palmer f o u n d n o s l i ckens ides , o f f s e t beds, o r other s igns of f a u l t i n g . The rocks of t h e i s l a n d a r e mostly o l i v i n e b a s a l t s and occur e i t h e r a s d i k e s or flows. A few a r e o l i v i n e f r e e b a s a l t s . No ash , bombs o r t u f f was found. Most of t h e rocks a r e medium gray except f o r a few which a r e dark b r i c k r e d , due t o oxide of i ron . Oxidation is not r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e s u r f a c e of t h e rocks and presumably occurred while t h e rock was s t i l l ho t . Ol iv ine was found i n a t l e a s t 18 t o 21 specimens examined by Palmer and occurred p a r t i c u l a r l y commonly i n t h e d ike rocks. Feld- spar ( l a b r a d o r i t e ) phenocrysts were found i n four s e c t i o n s . The ground mass of t h e rock c o n s i s t s p r imar i ly of elongated f e l d s p a r g ra ins . Among t h e f e ldspa r g r a i n s a r e a u g i t e g r a i n s , a few o l i v i n e g r a i n s and a l i t t l e g l a s s (Palmer, op. c i t . : 16) . Powers (1920) a l s o b r i e f l y described a rock co l l ec t ed p r i o r t o t h e v i s i t s by t h e Tanager Expedition. A d e t a i l e d account of t hese rock specimens may be found i n Washington and Keyes (1926). A l l t h e rocks examined by them were b a s a l t i c and occurred i n four v a r i e t i e s : andesine b a s a l t , o l i v i n e b a s a l t , l a b r a d o r i t e b a s a l t and p i c r i t e b a s a l t . I n t h e i r chemical a n a l y s i s of four specimens (one of each type of b a s a l t ) from 55 t o 65 percent of t h e rocks cons is ted of Si02 and A 1 0 but apprec iable q u a n t i t i e s of FeO, MgO, and CaO were a l s o preseng ?washington and Keyes, 1926: 344). The rocks of Nihoa a r e of high s p e c i f i c g rav i ty . Palmer weighed 11 specimens of d ike rock and found s p e c i f i c g r a v i t i e s ranging from 2.53 t o 3.06, wi th an average of 2.88. The varying abundance of o l i v i n e , a heavy mineral , accounts f o r t h e varying s p e c i f i c g r a v i t i e s . Palmer a l s o analyzed t h e sand from t h e beach i n some d e t a i l . The p r i n c i p a l components were g ra ins of calcium carbonate, o l i v i n e and magneti te . Also found, but i n much smaller amounts, were g ra ins of f e l d s p a r , a u g i t e and l ava . D e t a i l s on t h e s i z e of t h e g r a i n s , back most on i t s windward s i d e both by wave a t t a c k and by stream e ros ion , and t h e l a s t remnant should be a p a r t of t h e o r i g i n a l leeward quadrant. Palmer noted t h a t none of t h e o r i g i n a l lava su r face remained on Nihoa and s t a t e d t h a t t h e flows were from 1 t o 20 f e e t i n thickness and exhib i ted considerable l a t e r a l e x t e n t . Perpendicular or extremely s t e e p c l i f f s a r e found on t h e e a s t , west, and nor th s i d e s of t h e i s l and . Along t h e south shore c l i f f s a r e 50 t o 100 f e e t high. These c l i f f s were caused by wave eros ion which undermined higher l a y e r s of l ava . Two o the r kinds of c l i f f s may be found on Nihoa. The more abundant type i s found where massive, t h i c k lava flows have r e s i s t e d weathering and eros ion more success- f u l l y than have adjacent f lows, t h u s forming low c l i f f s . A t h i r d type of c l i f f i s found where heavy d ikes have pro tec ted t h e rock behind them while t h a t i n f r o n t was worn away. Palmer (1927: 13) described these a s follows. I n t h i s way two g rea t d ikes northwest of t h e sand beach have formed a c l i f f 200 f e e t high, faced f o r nea r ly i t s f u l l l eng th by t h e d ike ma te r i a l . The s t eep , chute l i k e gash [ t h e D e v i l ' s S l i d e , F ig . 141 which debouches through t h e no r th c l i f f near t h e northwest corner of t h e i s l and has a s t eep ly inc l ined f l o o r and c l i f f s f o r s i d e wa l l s . The gash i s due t o t h e removal of t h e weaker flow lavas from t h e reg ion between two d ikes . . . . A shallower chute on the west c l i f f s i s due t o t h e same processes working between t h e western ex tens ions of t h e same d ikes . Nihoa has no permanent s t reams but Palmer thought t h a t i n t e r - m i t t e n t streams might be of cons iderable power, p a r t l y because of t h e s c a r c i t y of small boulders and g rave l i n t h e streamways and p a r t l y because t h e average s lope of t h e i s l a n d , excluding t h e c l i f f s , i s about 23 degrees. Runoff i s most ly t o t h e south s i d e of t h e i s l and through t h e base of t h e v a l l e y s but t h e northwestern p la teau d r a i n s mostly t o t h e nor th . Palmer found th ree small seeps a t t h e bottoms of streamways. [These seeps] r ep resen t ground water which i s he ld up by r e l a t i v e l y impervious l a y e r s of b a s a l t , o r which c i r c u l a t e s through f i s s u r e s i n t h e b a s a l t . The smal les t seep i s a l i t t l e west of t h e head of t h e middle cove, and i s s u e s from c rev ices i n t h e c l i f f behind t h e t e r r a c e . The second is a t 270 f e e t e l eva t ion i n t h e l a r g e v a l l e y t o the east. . . .The water h e r e appears t o be brought out by t h e overlying s o i l and rock by a massive and r e l a t i v e l y impervious lava flow. The l a r g e s t discharge of water i s by seepage from t h e conglomerate body a t t h e head of t h e west cove, and i s brought t o t h e su r face i n t h e same way. The water of a l l t hese seeps is heavi ly charged Figure 1 2 . Best landing a rea i s i n t h e r i g h t foreground. Note t h e ex tent of rock t e r r a c e along t h e edge of t h e i s l a n d . Camp i s on a reasonably l e v e l spot near t h e base of M i l l e r ' s Valley. POBSP photograph, 8 March 1968, by Roger B . Clapp Figure 13. Three of the many d ikes c u t t i n g t h e western c l i f f s . BSFW nhotograph, 15 September 1971, by Eugene Kr id l e r . A Figure 10. The s t eep west c l i f f of Nihoa Is land . BSFW photograph, September 1971, by Eugene Kr id l e r . i ! Figure 11. Western po r t ion of i s l and showing sandy beach i n western- most cove. M i l l e r ' s Peak and M i l l e r ' s Valley a r e t o the r i g h t . I n the cen te r i s Pinnacle Peak and West Palm Valley. To t h e extreme l e f t i s Dog's Head Peak. J u s t to t h e West of Dog's Head Peak i s t h e small West Valley. BSFW photograph, June 1962, by David B. Marshall . The i r r e g u l a r southern perimeter of t h e i s l and , enclosing Adam's Bay, i s divided i n t o t h r e e coves, t h e westernmost of which has a small sandy beach (Fig. 11) t h a t i s o f t e n c a l l e d "Derby's Landing." I t received i ts name i n 1914 when a Lieutenant Derby swam ashore t h e r e t o obta in some rock specimens f o r Carl Elschner (Bryan, 1942: 170). This i s a poor landing spot because of t h e presence of submerged rocks. The coves t o t h e west a r e edged by rock t e r r a c e s and t h e b e s t landing spo t i s on t h e e a s t e r n s i d e of t h e middle cove (Fig. 12) . Nonetheless, i f t h e weather i s not favorable , landing he re can be extremely hazardous. The i s l and i s wel l vegetated but occas ional ly sub jec t t o drought which changes i t s green appearance t o a s e r e yellowish- brown. Grasses tend t o dominate t h e r i d g e s wi th the v a l l e y s covered by dense scrub. GEOLOGY The e a r l i e s t geologic observa t ions of Nihoa were made by Sereno E. Bishop during a one day v i s i t on 22 J u l y 1885. H i s ob- se rva t ions were of some va lue but were very b r i e f and e s s e n t i a l l y s i m i l a r t o those made l a t e r and i n g rea t e r d e t a i l by Palmer (1927). Carl Elschner, aboard t h e USCG s h i p THETIS i n 1914, was unable t o land on t h e i s l and but a Lieutenant Derby swam ashore and obtained some rock specimens. Elschner (1915) described t h e i s l and i n some d e t a i l but h i s observat ions were much improved upon by Harold S. Palmer. Palmer, geologis t on t h e Tanager Expedition, v i s i t e d t h e i s l and i n 1923 and 1924 and l a t e r wrote t h e only d e t a i l e d account of t h e geology of Nihoa (Palmer, 1927). Our b r i e f account he re , un le s s otherwise ind ica t ed , d e r i v e s l a r g e l y from h i s r e p o r t . U t i l i z i n g observa t ions on t h e s t r i k e and d i p of t h e d i k e s and of t h e pos i t i on ing of t h e some 25 d ikes c u t t i n g t h e west c l i f f s (Fig. 1 3 ) , Palmer (1927: 11) concluded t h a t ... Nihoa i s a po r t ion of t h e southwest quadrant of t h e o r i g i n a l cone. This is f u r t h e r corroborated by t h e f a c t t h a t Nihoa l i e s near t h e southwester ly end of a submarine bank with depths of 20 t o 40 fathoms. [The U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Chart No. 4181 indi-cates t h a t t h e bank has a depth of 25 t o 35 fathoms and extends 13 n a u t i c a l mi l e s from Nihoa i n a nor thwester ly d i r e c t i o n . ] The su rv iva l of a p a r t of t h e southwest quadrant may be t h e r e s u l t of p r o t e c t i o n from t h e a t t a c k of waves d r iven by t h e no r theas t t r ades . I f no o the r a c t i o n i n t e r f e r e d , a homogenous [ s i c ] i s l and should be cu t Figure 8. Tanager Peak as seen from the air. Note steepness of north cliffs. BSFW photograph, July 1962, by David B. Marshall. Figure 9. Miller's Peak as seen from the northeastern rim of the island, September 1964. BSFW photograph by Eugene Kridler. F i g u r e 6 . Viewing Tanager Peak from t h e t o p of Middle V a l l e y . Note d e n s e Chenopodiwn on s l o p e s and d r y Sida i n l e f t f o r e g r o u n d , POBSP photograph, 8 March 1968, by Roger B. Clapp i I I I i F i g u r e 7 Low p o i n t a l o n g t h e n o r t h r i m between M i l l e r ' s and Tanager Peaks . POBSP photograph, 8 March 1968, by Roger B. Clapp. F i g u r e 4 . Looking a t Nihoa I s l a n d from t h e s o u t h , December 1912. Photo c o u r t e s y of V i r g i n i a F r e a r Wild. F i g u r e 5. Viewing M i l l e r Peak from t h e r i d g e west of Middle V a l l e y . The d o t s i n t h e r i g h t fo reground a r e n e s t i n g Red-footed Boobies. POBSP photograph , 8 March 1968, by Roger B. Clapp . The primary purpose of t h i s r e p o r t , one of a s e r i e s on t h e northwestern Hawaiian I s l a n d s , i s to summarize present knowledge of t h e v e r t e b r a t e fauna and vascular f l o r a of Nihoa I s l and . A cons iderable e f f o r t has been made t o thoroughly document previous information and many of these unpublished no te s , p a r t i c u l a r l y those of D r . Alexander Wetmore, who l ed the 1923 Tanager Expedition, add cons iderably t o our knowledge of t h e i s l a n d ' s b i o t a . Secondari ly, t h i s r e p o r t should serve a s a re ference t o papers ( see Appendix Tables 2 and 3 ) dea l ing with o the r a spec t s of t h e i s l a n d ' s b i o t a . The p resen t r epor t was l a r g e l y i n f i n a l d r a f t form i n l a t e 1970 and inc ludes only s l i g h t emendations and add i t ions a f t e r t h a t period. The t a b l e s of observa t ions have been emended t o inc lude BSFW informa- t i o n a v a i l a b l e through 1973 but only seldom has t h i s a d d i t i o n a l information made changes i n the t e x t necessary. BSFW and POBSP f i e l d no te s and t r i p r e p o r t s concerning Nihoa a r e , r e spec t ive ly , s to red i n t h e Bureau of Sport F i s h e r i e s and Wi ld l i f e f i l e s , Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii and t h e P a c i f i c Ocean Biologica l Survey Program f i l e s , National Museum of Natura l His tory , Washington, D.C . DESCRIPTION Nihoa, remnant of a vo lcan ic cone, is cha rac te r i zed by s t eep s lopes , rocky outcroppings, we l l developed v a l l e y s , and p rec ip i tous c l i f f s . Figures 2 and 3 p resen t a v e r t i c a l overview of t h i s i s l and which measures about 1,500 yards e a s t t o west and from 300 t o 1,000 yards wide (Bryan, 1942: 167). From t h e south the i s l a n d present a d i s t i n c t saddle-shaped appearance (Fig. 4) with t h e h ighes t peaks being found on t h e north- e a s t e r n and northwestern co rne r s of t h e i s l and . The maximum e leva t ion of 895 f e e t i s t o t h e northwest a t M i l l e r ' s Peak (Fig. 5) . I n the v i c i n i t y of M i l l e r ' s Peak a r e s e v e r a l a c r e s of reasonably l e v e l land which i s much favored by a l b a t r o s s e s f o r nes t ing . A t t h e north- e a s t e r n corner of t h e i s l a n d i s Tanager Peak (Fig. 6 ) , i t s 852 foo t e l eva t ion only s l i g h t l y lower than t h a t of t h e peak t o t h e west. Between t h e peaks t h e e l eva t ion of t h e r i d g e drops t o 360 f e e t near t h e head of Middle Valley (Fig. 7 ) . This a r e a o f t en has small nes t ing concent ra t ions of Blue-faced Boobies. C l i f f s dominate t h e perimeter of t h e i s l a n d . The no r th , west , and e a s t c l i f f s (Figs. 8-10) a r e nea r ly perpendicular t o t h e su r face of t h e ocean and a t times may e x h i b i t a small overhang. The c l i f f s of t h e western perimeter d e c l i n e r a t h e r i r r e g u l a r l y i n he ight and i n a few p laces r i s e t o small peaks. The d e c l i n e i n height of t h e eas t e rn c l i f f s i s f a r more uniform. The c l i f f s of t h e south s i d e a r e only 50 t o 100 f e e t high and may be r e l a t i v e l y e a s i l y sca l ed . Six v a l l e y s , vary ing considerably i n t h e s teepness of t h e s lopes of t h e bordering r idges , f a n out r a d i a l l y t o t h e cen te r o r south of a po in t i n Adam's Bay. Table 1. Recent surveys of Nihoa I s l and by t h e POBSP and BSFW* Year T o t a l Days of Month 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 Observation March BSFW BSFW BSFW BSFW BSFW POBSP POBSP POBSP POBSP (0.3) (1.1) (1.2) (1.0) (2.0) May-June Ju ly BSFW (0.4) July-Aug . August Sept . BSFW POBSP (1.3) BSFW (12.4) BSFW POBSP (4.0) BSFW (1.2) BSFW (3.2) BSFW BSFW (0.3) (1.1) BSFW (0.3) 0.7 BSFW BSFW (0.2) (0.3) To ta l Days of Observa- t ion 2.8 1.2 4.0 2.2 5.2 12.7 0.3 1 .3 0.3 0.3 30.3 *POBSP i s l i s t e d under BSFW when POBSP personnel accompanied BSFW f i e l d p a r t i e s on one of t h e i r regular inspec t ion t r i p s . Figures i n parentheses a r e t h e approximate number of days spent on t h e i s l and . . . . . THE NATURAL HISTORY OF NIHOA I S ND, 3 NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS- 21 3 / 41 by Roger B. Clapp--, Eugene Kridler-, and Robert R . Fleet- INTRODUCTION Nihoa I s l and , sometimes known a l s o a s Bird Is land , is a p r e c i p i t o u s remnant of a vo lcan ic peak and i s t h e easternmost of a cha in of i s l a n d s comprising t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s National Wi ld l i f e Refuge (Figure 1 ) . Approximately 156 a c r e s i n ex ten t , i t l i e s a t 23"06'N, 161?58'W (Off. of Geogr., 1956: 58) , about 250 mi l e s from Honolulu (Bryan, 1942: 167). Its n e a r e s t neighbor i n t h e northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands is Necker I s l and ly ing about 155 mi les t o t h e west- north-west. Few r e p o r t s have been made about t h e b i o t a of t h e i s l a n d . Most of our knowledge of t h e b i r d l i f e stems from a r e p o r t by Vanderbi l t and de Schauensee (1941) a s well a s from seve ra l papers dea l ing with t h e two endemic forms of pas se r ines found on t h e i s l and (Bryan, 1916, 1917; Wetmore, 1924, Richardson, 1954). A cons iderable amount of information was a l s o obtained by t h e Tanager Expeditions of 1923 and 1924, but t h e m a t e r i a l dea l ing wi th the b i r d s was never published. Beginning i n 1964 t h e P a c i f i c Ocean Biologica l Survey Program ( h e r e a f t e r POBSP) of t h e Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n and t h e Bureau of Sport F i s h e r i e s and Wi ld l i f e ( h e r e a f t e r BSFW) began making pe r iod ic surveys of Nihoa. From 1964 through 1973, 1 6 v i s i t s were made, toge ther t o t a l i n g 30.3 days of observat ion (Table 1 and Appendix Table 1 ) . I n t h e t a b l e s the unpublished survey ma te r i a l obtained by t h e BSFW and POBSP can be loca ted through reference t o t h e d a t e of t h e survey. Dates a r e l i s t e d i n t h e L i t e r a t u r e Cited sec t ion under BSFW and POBSP. Paper Number 76, P a c i f i c Ocean Biologica l Survey Program, Smith- sonian I n s t i t u t i o n , Washington, D . C . m 1 ' National F ish and Wi ld l i f e Laboratory, U.S. F i sh and Wi ld l i f e Serv ice , Department of t h e I n t e r i o r , National Museum of Natural His tory , Washington, D.C . 20560. Off ice of Endangered Species and I n t e r n a t i o n a l A c t i v i t i e s , U.S. F i s h and Wi ld l i f e Serv ice , Department of t h e I n t e r i o r , 1311 K a ~ i o l a n i Boulevard. Honolulu, Hawaii 96814. Department of Wild l i fe Sciences, College of Agr icul ture , Texas A & M Univers i ty , College S t a t i o n , Texas 77840. Observations of White Terns on Nihoa I s l and . Observations of Nihoa M i l l e r b i r d s on Nihoa Is land . Nihoa Mi l l e rb i rd specimens from Nihoa Is land . Observations of Nihoa Finches on Nihoa Is land . Nihoa Finch specimens from Nihoa Is land . Observations of Hawaiian Monk Seals a t Nihoa Is land . Observations of Green T u r t l e s a t Nihoa Is land . LIST OF APPENDIX TABLES S c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s t o Nihoa I s l a n d , 1885-1973. 134 Resu l t s of s c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s t o Nihoa I s l and , 1885-1973. 139 Publ ica t ions on c o l l e c t i o n s and s t u d i e s (with t h e exception of b i rds ) made on Nihoa I s l and , 1885-1973. 143 Table 8 . (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1971 15 S e p t . ? A c t i v e burrows were widespread. Oc- c a s i o n a l c a l l i n g was heard (BSFW). 1972 1 6 S e p t . 10 ,000 (BSFW) . 1973 3 1 J u l y ? A t l e a s t 500 b i r d s were s e e n (BSFW). * S t a t e d t o be most common b i r d on i s l a n d . Tab le 9. Wedge-tailed Shearwater Specimens from Nihoa I s l a n d ? ? Museum Museum and Museum Date Museum Males Nos. Females Nos. yg. Nos. C o l l e c t e d C o l l e c t o r USNM 1 189399 2 189400- 401 2 June F i s h e r 1902 SUI 1, 18592 3 June N u t t i n g 1902 USNM 1 300723 2 300724- 1 146153 Aug. 1940 V a n d e r b i l t 7 25 CHRISTMAS SHEARWATER Puffinus m t i v i t a t i s S t a t u s Common b r e e d e r ; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 800. P r e s e n t from a t l e a s t e a r l y March through a t l e a s t e a r l y October ; a b s e n t remainder of y e a r . Most n e s t i n g p robab ly o c c u r s from A p r i l through September. Nests most f r e q u e n t l y a t h i g h e r e l e v a t i o n s and on t h e ground. P o p u l a t i o n s Recent numer ica l e s t i m a t e s made i n March and J u l y and August (Table 10) s u g g e s t t h a t less t h a n a thousand b i r d s n e s t on t h e i s l a n d . These e s t i m a t e s a r e of low r e l i a b i l i t y , however, and i t is p o s s i b l e t h a t i n t e n s i v e c e n s u s i n g migh t r e v e a l g r e a t e r numbers p r e s e n t . Annual Cycle I n f o r m a t i o n t h a t would p e r m i t a n a n a l y s i s of t h e a n n u a l c y c l e i s s p a r s e b u t what i s a v a i l a b l e s u g g e s t s t h a t t h i s s p e c i e s ' c y c l e c l o s e l y p a r a l l e l s , b u t i s e a r l i e r t h a n , t h a t of t h e Wedge-tai led Shearwater . It i s n o t known when t h e s e b i r d s beg in t o r e t u r n t o t h e i s l a n d , b u t most e v i d e n t l y r e t u r n i n e a r l y and mid-March. Eggs have been l a i d a s e a r l y a s l a t e March (1969), b u t o b s e r v a t i o n s made i n June and J u l y s u g g e s t t h a t most l a y i n g p robab ly t a k e s p l a c e i n A p r i l o r May. Cons ide rab ly more d e t a i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n i s needed on t h e n e s t i n g s t a t u s i n A p r i l and May i n o r d e r t o document ade- q u a t e l y t h e p e r i o d of peak egg l a y i n g . Most eggs e v i d e n t l y h a t c h i n l a t e J u n e and J u l y b u t a t l e a s t a few h a t c h by l a t e May. Some f l e d g i n g may occur i n l a t e August b u t most p robab ly o c c u r s i n September. Judging from t h e a v a i l a b l e o b s e r v a t i o n s , t h e number of a d u l t s g r e a t l y d e c r e a s e s by mid-September, and i t seems l i k e l y t h a t most have d e p a r t e d by l a t e September. Breeding H a b i t a t A number of o b s e r v e r s have i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h i s s p e c i e s n e s t s on t h e h i g h e r e l e v a t i o n s of t h e i s l a n d . Many have recorded n e s t s frcm such a r e a s . Wetmore (ms.) found a number of p a i r s on t h e s l o p e s c f M i l l e r ' s Peak a t abou t 800 t o 900 f e e t . V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauersee (1941: 9 ) recorded t h e i r p r e s e n c e " a t t h e peak of Middle V a l l e y and a l o n g t h e c l i f f l e a d i n g t o D e v i l ' s S l i d e . " K r i d l e r found young among t h e r o c k s j u s t below M i l l e r ' s Peak i n J u l y 1964, on t h e r i d g e west of Miller's Peak i n September 1967, and n e a r Miller's Peak i n August 1968. He noted i n 1965 t h a t t h i s s p e c i e s was "commonly found a t t h e h i g h e r e l e v a t i o n s . " I n J u l y and August 1966 most young were found on t h e r i d g e s and peaks and a l o n g t h e l e d g e s on t h e n o r t h e r n r i m of t h e i s l a n d between Miller's and Tanager Peaks . None was observed on t h e v e g e t a t e d s l o p e s of t h e v a l l e y s . Few d a t a a r e a v a i l a b l e on t h e n a t u r e of t h e n e s t s i t e s . Wetmore (ms.) r e p o r t e d t h a t Chr i s tmas Shearwate r s n e s t e d " i n l i t t l e s h e l t e r s b e n e a t h overhanging s t o n e s o r t u s s o c k s of g r a s s " where t h e y might o r might no t be covered. Banding E i g h t a d u l t s , none of which h a s been r e c a p t u r e d , were banded by t h e BSFW: 1 i n March 1964 and 7 i n March 1965. Specimens S i x specimens have been c o l l e c t e d on Nihoa. Wetmore c o l l e c t e d a n a d u l t female (USNM 300699) on 1 2 J u n e 1923, a j u v e n i l e male (USNM 300700) on 1 4 June 1923, and a n embryonic a l c o h o l i c (USNM 289399) t h e same day. The o t h e r t h r e e specimens (PAS 146165-167), n o t c e r t a i n l y sexed , were c o l l e c t e d i n August 1940 by t h e V a n d e r b i l t E x p e d i t i o n . Table 1 0 . Observa t ions of Chr i s tmas Shearwate r s on Nihoa I s l a n d P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breed ing S t a t u s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1891 26-27 May 1902 1-3 June 5-9 Aug. I915 18 Mar. 192: 11-16 June 1940 7-15 Aug. 1953 18 Mar. 21-22 Dec. 1961 2 Mar. 9-16 Dec. 1962 1 0 J u n e 1963 5-6 June 1964 6-7 Mar. 25 J u l y 23-24 Sep t 1965 13-14 Mar. 231.?3* 0 - '1" - iP ? ? (100,000) O? r a r e s t b i r d on i s l a n d O? 0 ? 0 v e r y abundant ? ? ? 0 800 P r e s e n c e no ted o f f s h o r e (Munro, 1941a: 4 9 ) . None s e e n from o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 793) . A few s e e n o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 793) . E s t i m a t e by Brown (ms.) . i s most l i k e l y e r r o n e o u s . Ca. 20 p a i r s found b u i l d i n g n e s t s ; most b i r d s p r e l a y i n g o r w i t h e g g s ; one ca. 1 week o l d young found (Wetmore, m s .) . "No n e s t s o r eggs were observed b u t one n e s t l i n g young was seen" (Van- d e r b i l t and de Schauensee , 1941: 9) Only p a r t of i s l a n d surveyed (Rich- a r d s o n , p e r s . c o r n . ) . Only p a r t of i s l a n d surveyed (Rich- a r d s o n , p e r s . c o r n . ) . Not no ted from o f f s h o r e (Woodside and Kramer , m s .) . (Kramer , m s . ) . "On eggs and w i t h downy c h i c k s " (Kramer and Beards ley , m s .) . 50-100 s e e n o f f s h o r e (POBSP). C o u r t i n g b e h a v i o r obse rved . No n e s t s w i t h eggs found (BSFW, POBSP). 2 young n o t e d . Both were n e a r l y f e a t h e r e d w i t h down remain ing o n l y on nape of neck (BSFW). (BSFW, POBSP) . No eggs o r young s e e n (BSFW, POBSP). Table 1 0 . (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1966 28 J u l y - 500 Ca. 250 young, a l l o l d e r t h a n 3 weeks 1 Aug. (BSFW, POBSP) . 1967 8-9 Mar. 1 s e e n Most of b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n n o t y e t p r e s e n t (BSFW, POBSP). 13-14 S e p t . 1 0 One young, f e a t h e r e d w i t h down r e - maining on neck, no ted (BSFW). 1968 7-9 Mar. 100 No n e s t s found b u t 1 p a i r seen c o p u l a t i n g by K r i d l e r (BSFW, POBSP) 24-27 Aug. 6 3 a d u l t s and 3 c h i c k s seen n e a r M i l l e r ' s Peak. Chicks i n j u v e n i l e plumage e x c e p t f o r s c a n t down on top of head and nape of neck (BSFW?. 1969 21 Mar. 5 0 3 found i n c u b a t i n g eggs (BSFW). 1970 1 5 Aug. 50-100 (BSFW) . 1971 18-19 Aug. 40 Downy t o n e a r - f l e d g i n g young seen (BSFW) . 15 S e p t . ? S e v e r a l s e e n (BSFW) 1972 16 Sepe. 3 0 (BSFW) . SOOTY STORM PETREL Oceanodroma t r i s t r m i S t a t u s Poor ly known. Occurs on Nihoa, a t l e a s t i n s m a l l numbers, and a p p a r e n t l y b r e e d s t h e r e . Observa t ions The Sooty Storm P e t r e l h a s been recorded t h r i c e on Nihoa and once from o f f s h o r e . F i s h e r (1903: 795) o b t a i n e d a n immature t h a t r e t a i n e d a t r a c e of dorm which f l e w aboard h i s s h i p on 1 June 1902. The p r e s e n t l o c a t i o n of t h i s specimen i s unknown ( V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee, 1941: 9-10). On 6 and 7 March 1964 POBSP p e r s o n n e l saw none b u t hea rd one c a l l i n g from a burrow. I n add i t j .on , t h e y c o l l e c t e d two v e r y young p e t r e l c h i c k s t h a t were found dead. These specimens canno t be l o c a t e d b u t t h e y were p robab ly young Sooty Storm P e t r e l s s i n c e no o t h e r s p e c i e s of p e t r e l known t o occur on Nihoa would be expected t o have c h i c k s a t t h a t t ime of y e a r . During t h e v i s i t of 1 3 t o 14 March 1965 K r i d l e r banded one p e t r e l and c o l l e c t e d a n o t h e r . I n March 1969 K r i d l e r c a p t u r e d and banded two a d u l t s which were t aken from a burrow a b o u t half-way up one of t h e canyons. S e v e r a l o t h e r p e t r e l s were seen i n c r e v i c e s and hol lows d u r i n g t h i s v i s i t . There a r e no o t h e r d e f i n i t e s i g h t i n g s b u t o b s e r v a t i o n s a t - t r i b u t e d t o Bulwer ' s P e t r e l ( s e e t h a t s p e c i e s accoun t ) i n March 1967 may have r e f e r r e d t o t h i s s p e c i e s . I n March 1968 s e v e r a l s m a l l p e t r e l s which cou ld n o t be p o s i t i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d were seen o f f s h o r e . T h i s s p e c i e s i s t h e l e a s t conspicuous of t h e p e t r e l s b r e e d i n g i n t n e n o r t h w e s t e r n Hawaiian I s l a n d s . I t s c a l l d o e s n o t c a r r y w e l l and it t e n d s t o form l o c a l i z e d c o l o n i e s . L i t t l e a t t e m p t was made t o make n o c t u r n a l s u r v e y s on some of t h e r e c e n t v i s i t s . Thus, i f Nihoa h a s o n l y a s m a l l p o p u l a t i o n of t h e s e p e t r e l s , t h e y cou ld have been e a s i l y over looked . Banding The BSFW banded 1 a d u l t i n March 1965 and 2 a d u l t s i n March 1969. Specimens We have been unab le t o d i s c o v e r t h e l o c a t i o n of any of t h e f o u r specimens mentioned above. RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD Phaethon aethereus mesonauta S t a t u s Vagrant ; one specimen r e c o r d from J u n e 1923. Observa t ions Wetmore c o l l e c t e d an immature female (USNM 300997) a s i t f l e w over Nihoa on 15 June 1923. The specimen was i d e n t i f i e d a s be long ing t o t h e r a c e P. a . mesonauta (Clapp and Woodward, 1968: 10-11). (The specimen number was e r r o n e o u s l y r e p o r t e d a s 300977 i n Clapp and Woodward (1968) ) . T h i s r a c e b r e e d s i n t h e P a c i f i c from t h e Gulf of C a l i f o r n i a and t h e R e v i l l a Gigedo I s l a n d s t o t h e Galapagos and i s l a n d s n e a r t h e c o a s t of Ecuador (AOU, 1957: 27) . The o n l y o t h e r specimen r e c o r d f o r t h e c e n t r a l P a c i f i c i s one t a k e n i n 1968 a t French F r i g a t e Shoa l s (Amerson, 1971: 1 8 4 ) . Recent s i g h t r e c o r d s a l s o e x i s t f o r Johns ton A t o l l (Moynihan, 1957: 36; Amerson and S h e l t o n , i n p r e s s ) . RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD Phaethon rubricauda S t a t u s Common breeder; maximum recen t es t imate : 375 t o 625. A t l e a s t small numbers ( tens) present i n a l l months, but more numerous from March through September. Known t o nes t from a t l e a s t mid-March through a t l e a s t e a r l y October. Nests on ground i n s h e l t e r o r rocks o r vegeta t ion . Populations Although of low r e l i a b i l i t y , t h e var ious populat ion es t imates (Table 11) i n d i c a t e t h a t l e s s than a thousand t r o p i c b i r d s breed on Nihoa. Wetmore's May and June 1923 es t imate of 800 b i r d s i s probably not s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from the es t imate of 375 to 625 b i r d s ma3e i n Ju ly and August 1966 due t o t h e low r e l i a b i l i t y of e s t ima tes . The March 1965 es t imate of 400 seems unusually l a r g e f o r t h a t t ime of year--so l a r g e , i n f a c t , t h a t t h e d i f f e r e n c e from other years may be s i g n i f i c a n t ; poss ib ly more b i rds i n i t i a t e d nes t ing e a r l i e r than usual . The March 1965 survey was the only recent March survey on which a c t i v e n e s t s were found. Annual Cycle Data a r e too scanty fo r d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s of seasonal v a r i a t i o n i n numbers, but ava i l ab le observa t ions i n d i c a t e t h a t maximal numbers a r e present i n mid-summer and minimal numbers i n mid-winter. The e a r l i e s t t h a t eggs were recorded was 3 March and t h e l a t e s t they were recorded was 24 t o 25 August. The l a r g e s t number of eggs a r e probably present from mid- o r l a t e Apr i l through June. The presence of eggs i n March 1936 and 1965 i n d i c a t e s t h a t hatching those years could have occurred by e a r l y May. Most hatching probably occurs i n l a t e June and e a r l y Ju ly . I f t h e n e s t s i n i t i a t e d i n March were success fu l , young could have fledged by l a t e Ju ly . Most f l edg ing l i k e l y occurs from l a t e August through September, with a t l e a s t a few b i r d s f ledging i n October. Breeding Habitat According t o most observers , Red-tailed Tropicbirds a r e widely d i s t r i b u t e d over the s lopes of t h e i s l and . They a r e common i n rocky c rev ices a t t h e base of rimrock outcroppings a t t h e west end of t h e i s l and and i n West Palm Canyon, and have been reported a s abundant i n t h e v i c i n i t y of t h e c l i f f face between M i l l e r ' s and Tanager Peaks. Most n e s t s a r e i n rocky c a v i t i e s but o the r s a r e found under over- hanging rock ledges. Some n e s t on the su r face of the ground beneath dense vegeta t ion such a s Chenopodiwn and Sida. Banding Seven b i r d s were banded by t h e POBSP and BSFW i n 1964: 4 a d u l t s i n March by t h e POBSP and 3 n e s t l i n g s i n September by t h e BSFW. No r e t u r n s have been o b t a i n e d . Specimens Two s t u d y s k i n s c o l l e c t e d by Wetmore i n 1923 a r e a p p a r e n t l y a l l t h a t have been c o l l e c t e d on Nihoa. Adul t males (USNM 300998-999) were c o l l e c t e d on 11 and 12 J u n e ; and a s k u l l (USNM 289154) was c o l l e c t e d on 15 J u n e . Tab le 11. Observa t ions of Red- ta i l ed T r o p i c b i r d s on Nihoa P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breed ing S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1891 26-27 May 1902 1-3 June 1915 1 8 Mar. 1923 5 Apr. 24-26 May 11-16 June 1936 3 Mar. 1940 7-15 Aug. 1953 21-22 Dec. 1954 1 8 Mar. 1961 2 Mar. 9-16 Dec. ? ? s e v e r a l ? ? 800 ? f a i r l y numerous 0 0 ? 1 S e v e r a l (Munr o , s c h i l d , seen d i s p l a y i n g from o f f s h o r e 1941a: 50; Palmer i n Roth- 1893-1900: v i i - v i i i ) . P o s s i b l y seen from o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 778, 796) . 1 p a i r found n e s t i n g (Munter, 1915: 1 3 2 ) . O c c a s i o n a l l y s e e n o f f s h o r e (Wetmore, m s . ) . Seen from o f f s h o r e (Wetmore, m s . ) . "Nest ing" (Wetmore, ms. ) . Nests w i t h eggs found (Trempe, ms. ) . Most ly young n e a r l y f u l l grown b u t 2 nests w i t h eggs found ( V a n d e r b i l t and de Schauensee, 1941: 1 0 ) . Only p a r t of i s l a n d surveyed (Rich- a r d s o n , p e r s . c o r n . ) . Only p a r t of i s l a n d surveyed (Rich- a r d s o n , p e r s . c o r n . ) . Not noted from o f f s h o r e (Woodside and Kramer , m s . ) . Seen f l y i n g h i g h over i s l a n d (Kramer, ms . ) . Table 11. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e 1962 1 0 June 1963 5-6 June 1964 6-7 Mar. 20 J u l y 23-24 Sep t . 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 J u l y - 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 13-14 S e p t . 1968 7-9 Mar. 1968 24-27 Aug. 1970 15 Aug. 1971 18-19 Aug. 15 S e p t . 1972 1 6 S e p t . 1973 3 1 J u l y common ? 3 0 ? 50 4 00 Ca . 375-625 2 0 common 150-200 200-300 100 200 ? 100 150 Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s Many w i t h e g g s (Kramer and B e a r d s l e y , m s . ) . Ca. 20 s e e n from o f f s h o r e (POBSP). B i r d s a t n e s t s i t e s bu t no n e s t s w i t h c o n t e n t s (BSFW, POBSP). Eggs t o n e a r l y grown young (BSFW). 4 l a r g e downy young and 5 nea r - f l e d g i n g young found (BSFW, POBSP) Eggs b u t no young p r e s e n t (BSFW, POBSP). Ca. 100 n e s t s w i t h young; ca. 20% a b o u t 2-3 weeks o l d ; ca. 80% o l d e r t h a n 3 weeks (BSFW, POBSP). No eggs o r young found (BSFW, POBSP). A few v e r y l a r g e c h i c k s observed (BSFW) . No n e s t s w i t h c o n t e n t s found. Ca. 50 s e e n i n f l i g h t over t h e i s l a n d a t once b u t no more than 1 0 found on t h e ground (BSFW, POBSP) . From eggs t o n e a r l y f l e d g e d young. Over 50 n e s t s r ecorded d u r i n g c o u r s e of o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s (BSFW). Large f e a t h e r e d young rioted (BSFW). Young no ted were from abou t 3 weeks o l d t o n e a r l y f l e d g e d (BSFW). Near-f ledging c h i c k s s e e n (BSFW). (BSFW) . (BSFW) . BLUE-FACED BOOBY S t a t u s Common breeder; maximum recen t es t imate : 350. Probably p resen t throughout yea r , but most nes t ing occurs from February through September o r October. Nests on t h e ground, p r imar i ly i n a r e a s of higher e l e v a t i o n . Populat ions Recent es t imates (Table 12) suggest a maximal populat ion l e v e l of 300 t o 400 b i r d s . Wetmore's 1923 e s t ima te i s reasonably cons i s t en t with th.?se es t imates but Munter's 1915 es t imate i s inexpl icably higher than recent es t imates . Several r ecen t est.imates made during summer (1966, 1971) a r e lower than would be expected, judging from most of t h e es t imates made during March, e a r l y i n t h e breeding season. The v a r i a b i l i t y i n March and l a t e summer es t imates i s apparent ly g r e a t e r than f o r es t imates from most o the r northwestern Hawaiian I s l a n d s a t these times of year , and sugges ts t h a t t h e populat ion l e v e l s on t h i s i s l and may be more v a r i a b l e from year t o year than on o ther north- western Hawaiian I s l ands . Annual Cycle Numbers present and numbers breeding a r e probably considerably lower i n l a t e f a l l and winter but t h e absence of numerical e s t ima tes from these months makes i t impossible t o determine the degree t o which t h e populat ion v a r i e s throughout t h e year . Eggs a r e l a i d pr imar i ly from February through March and a t l e a s t a few a r e l a i d from Apr i l through J u l y . I n most yea r s apparent ly l i t t l e l ay ing occurs i n l a t e summer o r e a r l y f a l l but t h e presence of r e c e n t l y fledged young i n mid-June 1923 i n d i c a t e s t h a t some egg-laying took p lace 5 112 t o 6 months earlier--November o r e a r l y December. Kramer's observa t ions i n December 1961 and June 1962 i n d i c a t e t h a t some eggs were l a i d i n January or February, and BSFW observat ions on 21 March 1969 suggest a laying peak a b ~ u t 2 months e a r l i e r ( l a t e January) . Vanderbi l t and de Schauensee's observat ions s i m i l a r l y suggest t h a t laying took p lace very e a r l y i n 1940. Peak numbers of young a r e probably present from e a r l y May through Ju ly . Most young evident ly f l edge from l a t e Ju ly through September with a few f ledging i n October and November. Breeding Habi ta t A l l observers who noted t h e l o c a t i o n of Blue-faced Eooby n e s t s agree t h a t most n e s t s were i n open a r e a s (Fig. 24) on t h e r i d g e s and s lopes of t h e i s l and . On many surveys (1923, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1970, September 1971) the l a r g e s t concent ra t ion of n e s t s or b i r d s F i g u r e 24. Blue-faced Booby a t n e s t on rocky o u t c r o p p i n g s . POBSP photograph, 8 March 1968, by Roger B. Clapp. was on Miller P l a t e a u . On s e v e r a l s u r v e y s ( J u l y 1964, July-August 1966, March 1968) a s m a l l c o n c e n t r a t i o n of n e s t s was l o c a t e d j u s t above t h e c l i f f f a c e on t h e r i d g e a l o n g t h e n o r t h s i d e of t h e i s l a n d between Miller's and Tanager Peaks. I n March 1968 a more d e t a i l e d a p p r a i s a l of t h e l o c a t i o n of t h e n e s t s was made. Of t h e 122 n e s t s coun ted , 5 1 (42 p e r c e n t ) were found on M i l l e r P l a t e a u and t h e upper wes t s l o p e s of t h e i s l a n d ; 12 (10 p e r c e n t ) were found on t h e lower wes t p o r t i o n of t h e i s l a n d ( t h e a r e a around West and West Palm V a l l e y s ) ; 11 (9 p e r c e n t ) were found on t h e upper c e n t r a l s l o p e s from t h e r i d g e e a s t of Miller Canyon a c r o s s Middle V a l l e y t o t h e lower s l o p e s of Tanager Peak; 3 (2 p e r c e n t ) were found on t h e upper e a s t p o r t i o n of t h e i s l a n d ( t h e a r e a around Tanager Peak and t h e upper p o r t i o n s of E a s t and E a s t Palm V a l l e y s ) ; and 45 (37 p e r c e n t ) were found on t h e l o n e r e a s t e r n s l o p e s of t h e i s l a n d ( t h e a r e a around E a s t and E a s t Palm V a l l e y s ) . I n summary, 53 p e r c e n t were on upper s l o p e s and 47 p e r c e n t were on lower s l o p e s . Banding Nine a d u l t s were banded i n March 1964 by t h e POBSP (6) and t h e BSFW ( 3 ) , b u t none h a s been r e c a p t u r e d . A Blue-faced Booby, banded (USFWS 568-71825) a s a " l o c a l " a t T r i g I s l a n d , F rench F r i g a t e S h o a l s , on 9 June 1967 by POBSP p e r s o n n e l , was found dead (age and s e x un- known) a t Nihoa on 24 August 1968 (Amerson, 1971: 143, 197, 356). Specimens Two a d u l t s , a male (USNM 300949) and a female (USNM 3009481, were co l l ec t ed by Wetmore 13 June 1923. Table 1 2 . Observations of Blue-faced Boobies on Nihoa Is land Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 26-27 May ? 1902 1-3 June ? 5-9 Aug. ? 1915 18 Mar. 5.000 1916 12 Feb. [apparent ly not very common] 1923 5 Apr. 11-16 June 1936 3 Mar. 1940 7-15 Aug. 1961 2 Mar. 9-16 Dec. 1962 10 June 1963 5-6 June ? 250 ? ? ? very abundant ? ? Presence noted from offshore (Munro, 1941a: 49). Noted a s "common" from offshore (F isher , 1903: 797). Common; numerous b i r d s i n juvenal plumage seen from offshore (F isher , 1903: 797). Eggs present (Munter, 1915: 131-132) Brown (ms.) g ives an i d e n t i c a l a l t e r n a t i v e es t imate . Some found nes t ing (Munter , m s .) . Occasionally seen of fshore (Wetmore, ms.). Newly-hatched t o r e c e n t l y fledged young observed (Wetmore, ms.). Nesting; eggs noted (Trempe, ms.). "The breeding season had j u s t been completed" (Vanderbilt and de Schauensee, 1941: 10 ) . Seen on t h e i s l and from o f f shore (Woodside and Kramer, ms.) . Birds pa i red but no n e s t s noted (Kramer , m s . ) . Large downy young observed (Kramer and Beardsley , m s .) . Ca. 20 seen from of ?shore (POBSP) . Table 12. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e 1964 6-7 Mar. 100 25 J u l y ? 23-24 Sep t . 50 1965 13-14 Mar. 300 1966 28 Ju ly - 115-140 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 2 13-14 Sep t . v e r y common 1968 7-9 Mar. 350 24-27 Aug. 200-250 1969 21 Mar. go* 1970 1 5 Aug. 160 Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences Ca. 40 a c t i v e n e s t s found: 90% w i t h eggs , none w i t h young (BSFW, POBSP) . Nes t ing (BSFW) 14 immatures counted. No n e s t s w i t h eggs o r downy young s e e n (BSFW, POBSP). Eggs b u t no young observed. An e s t i m a t e d 150 n e s t s p r e s e n t (BSFW, POBSP) . Sample count of 17 n e s t s : 2 (122) w i t h h e a v i l y incuba ted e g g s , 1 5 (88%) w i t h 10-21 day o ld .young . 24 im- ma tu res a l s o counted (BSFW, POBSP). None found n e s t i n g (BSFW, POBSP). Downy c h i c k s observed (BSFW) . Only eggs p r e s e n t , most p robab ly f r e s h o r s l i g h t l y i n c u b a t e d . 122 n e s t s coun ted . Of 77 n e s t s of which t h e c o n t e n t s a r e known, 3 (4%) were empty b u t a c t i v e and 74 (96%) c o n t a i n e d e g g s . Ca . 300 n e s t i n g b i r d s p r e s e n t (BSFW, POBSP) . Most abundant on M i l l e r P l a t e a u . N e s t s t h e r e c o n t a i n e d eggs t o n e a r l y f l e d g e d young. Many young f l e d g e d (BSFW). Eggs t o f l y i n g young. Most n e s t s w i t h s m a l l young (BSFW). E s t i m a t e i n c l u d e s 30 f l y i n g young. No dependent young o r eggs s e e n (BSFW). Table 1 2 . (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey - E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1971 18-19 Aug. 8 0" Most young s e e n were f u l l grown (BSFW). 1 5 S e p t . ? Most b i r d s were on M i l l e r P l a t e a u (BSFW) . 1972 1 6 Sep t . 300 A t l e a s t 75 young were p r e s e n t (BSFW). 1973 3 1 J u l y 3 00 (BSFW) . * E s t i m a t e i s of t h e number of n e s t i n g b i r d s o n l y . BROWN BOOBY SuZa Zeucogaster Common b r e e d e r ; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 225. P r e s e n t through- o u t y e a r w i t h fewer p r e s e n t i n w i n t e r . Most n e s t i n g e v i d e n t l y o c c u r s from February th rough August b u t some may occur o u t s i d e t h i s p e r i o d . Nests on t h e ground. P o p u l a t i o n s Recent numer ica l e s t i m a t e s i n d i c a t e t h a t peak p o p u l a t i o n s comprise 150 t o 225 b i r d s ( s e e Tab le 1 3 ) . The e s t i m a t e s from September and December s u g g e s t t h a t p o p u l a t i o n s u s u a l l y d e c r e a s e d u r i n g f a l l and w i n t e r . The on ly e a r l y e s t i m a t e (1923) does n o t appear s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from most r e c e n t e s t i m a t e s . The March 1967 e s t i m a t e i s i n e x p l i c a b l y s m a l l , which may b e t h e r e s u l t of o b s e r v e r e r r o r o r p o s s i b l y i n d i c a t e s a v e r y l a t e n e s t i n g season . Annual Cycle On Nihoa t h i s s p e c i e s a p p e a r s t o n e s t e a r l i e r t h a n i t s congener , t h e Blue-faced Booby. O b s e r v a t i o n s of v a r i o u s l y - s i z e d young i n March, ana Kramer 's o b s e r v a t i o n s i n December 1961, i n d i c a t e t h a t l a y i n g may beg in a s e a r l y a s November o r December. Most e g g s , however, a r e p robab ly l a i d i n February o r March. The occurrence of a n e s t with eggs i n June (Wetmore, ms.) suggests t h a t an occasional n e s t i s s t a r t e d i n May o r June and a few n e s t s a r e probably begun i n A p r i l . These a r e poss ib ly r e n e s t e r s . Observations of t h e s i z e of young made during t h e summer suggest t h a t most hatching occurs from about Apr i l throu.gh May. Most f ledg- ing probably occurs from l a t e Ju ly through August, wi th a few b i r d s f ledging i n September or l a t e r ; judging from recen t observa t ions f ledging i s l a r g e l y completed by t h e end of August. Breeding Habi ta t Brown Booby n e s t s a r e widely s c a t t e r e d over t h e s lopes of t h e i s l and and usua l ly a r e found i n loca t ions overlooking r a t h e r sharp drops i n e l eva t ion . Although Brown Booby n e s t s a r e a s r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e s lopes of t h e i s land a s a r e those of t h e Blue-faced Boobies, n e s t s may of ten be found along t h e r i d g e above t h e c l i f f f a c e on t h e no r th edge of t h e i s l a n d . Some n e s t s i t e s a r e poss ib ly on t h e c l i f f f ace i t s e l f , but we l ack information i n t h i s a r e a . I n March 1965 most n e s t s were near Tanager Peak and along t h e western r i d g e from M i l l e r ' s Peak t o Dog's Head Peak. In March 1968 we attempted t o determine what propor t ion of t h e n e s t s was found on Mil le r P la t eau and t h e upper west s lopes of t h e i s l and ; 14 (18 percent ) were found on t h e lower west s lopes of t h e i s l and ( i n t h e a rea around Vest and West Palm Valleys) ; 6 (8 percent ) were found on t h e upper west s lopes ( inc luding Mi l l e r P l a t e a u ) ; 6 (8 percent ) were found on t h e upper c e n t r a l s lopes and the r i d g e s e a s t of Mi l l e r Canyon across Middle Valley t o t h e lower s lopes of Tanager Peak; 3 1 (40 percent) were found on t h e upper e a s t po r t ion of t h e i s l and ( t h e a rea around Tanager Peak and t h e upper s lopes of East and East Palm Valleys; and 20 (26 percent) were found on t h e lower e a s t e r n s lopes of East and East Palm Valleys and t h e surround- ing a r e a . In summary, 56 percent were. located on upper s lopes and 44 percent were on lower s lopes . Banding The POBSP banded two n e s t l i n g s , one i n March 1964, t h e other i n J u l y 1966. Neither has been recaptured . Specimens Two males were co l l ec t ed by Wetmore: USNM 300878 on 14 June 1923, USNM 300880 t h e following day. T a b l e 1 3 . O b s e r v a t i o n s of Brown Boobies on Nihoa I s l a n d P o p u l a t i o n Da te of Survey E s t i m a t e B r e e d i n g S t a t u s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1891 26-27 May 1902 1-3 J u n e 5-9 Aug. 1923 11-16 J u n e 1940 7-15 Aug. 1953 21-22 Dec. 1957 4 J u l y 1961 2 Mar. 9-16 Dec. 1962 1 0 J u n e 1963 5-6 J u n e 1964 6-7 Mar. 25 J u l y 23-24 S e p t . ? ? ? 1 0 0 ? 8-10 ? ? r e l a t i v e l y r a r e ? ? 150-200 ? 2 0 P r e s e n c e n o t e d from o f f s h o r e (Munro, 1941a : 49 ) . P r e s e n c e n o t e d from o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 7 7 9 ) . Numbers of young b i r d s s e e n from o f f - s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 798) . M o s t l y young, many hal f -grown, b u t a t l e a s t 1 n e s t w i t h e g g s p r e s e n t (Wet- more , ms.) . 1, B r e e d i n g was i n a l a t e s t a g e , and l a r g e young were s e e n on t h e n e s t s " ( V a n d e r b i l t and d e s c h a u e n s e e , 1941: 1 0 ) . ? (R icha rdson , p e r s . c o r n . ) . Two dozen b i r d s f o l l o w e d s h i p as it p a s s e d i s l a n d (Labrecque , 1957: 1 9 ) . Not n o t e d from o f f s h o r e (Woodside and Kramer , m s . ) . "Females were on eggs" (Kramer, ms . ) . La rge downy young obse rved (Kramer and B e a r d s l e y , m s . ) . Ca. 40 s e e n f rom o f f s h o r e (POBSP) . C a . 75 n e s t s p r e s e n t , a l l w i t h e g g s e x c e p t f o r 1 w i t h a v e r y l a r g e n e s t - l i n g (BSFW, POBSP). S e v e r a l n e a r l y f l e d g e d and f l e d g e d young obse rved (BSFW) . 4 immature b i r d s s e e n . No n e s t s w i t h e g g s o r downy young obse rved (BSFW, POBSP) . Table 13. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 J u l y - 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 13-14 Sept 1968 7-9 Mar. 24-27 Aug. 1969 21 Mar. 1970 1 5 Aug. 1971 18-19 Aug. 1972 1 6 Sep t . 1973 3 1 J u l y 15 0 40-65 15 100 225 minimum of 50 n o * 135 8 o* 150 15 Eggs and young p r e s e n t . Most n e s t s con- t a i n e d 2 eggs (BSFW, POBSP). Near end of b r e e d i n g c y c l e . Ca. 20 immatures on i s l a n d (BSFW, POBSP). "Nesting" (BSFW, POBSP) About 50% s e e n were f l e d g e d immatures (BSFW) . F r e s h eggs t o medium-sized downy young. 77 n e s t s counted. Of 38 n e s t s whose c o n t e n t s were checked, 1 (3%) was empty b u t a c t i v e ; 32 (84%) c o n t a i n e d e g g s ; 1 (3%) h e l d an egg and a naked young; 4 (11%) c o n t a i n e d a medium- downy young. Ca. 200 n e s t i n g b i r d s p r e s e n t (BSFW, POBSP) . No n e s t s w i t h eggs o r downy young found , F l y i n g immatures s e e n . 14 s e e n i n one group on Tanager Peak (BSFW). Eggs t o downy young. Some f l y i n g im- m a t u r e s seen . Very l a r g e and f l e d g e d young s e e n (BSFW). Young from abou t a month o l d t o f u l l y - f l e d g e d b i r d s were p r e s e n t (BSFW). (BSFW) (BSFW) . E s t i m a t e i s of t h e number of b r e e d i n g b i r d s o n l y . RED-FOOTED BOOBY Suza s u z a S t a t u s Common b r e e d e r ; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 3 ,500. P r e s e n t through- o u t t h e yea r b u t most abundant i n s p r i n g and summer. Breeding o c c u r s throughout y e a r b u t most of t h e p o p u l a t i o n b r e e d s from February through October . B u i l d s bulky n e s t s i n low bushes o r Pritchardia palms. P o p u l a t i o n s Recent p o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e s (Tab le 14) c o n s i s t e n t l y i n d i c a t e maximal p o p u l a t i o n s of 3 ,000 t o 4 ,000 b i r d s . Surveys made towards t h e end of t h e yea r s u g g e s t a c o n s i s t e n t d e c r e a s e i n t h e p o p u l a t i o n , and t h e one a v a i l a b l e December e s t i m a t e s u g g e s t s t h a t p o p u l a t i o n s d e c r e a s e markedly, t o pe rhaps one- ten th of t h e peak. Wetmore's 1923 e s t i m a t e i s a lmos t t w i c e a s l a r g e a s any r e c e n t e s t i m a t e , b u t t h e absence of r e c e n t numer ica l e s t i m a t e s from J u n e , a month when p o p u l a t i o n s may w e l l r e a c h t h e i r z e n i t h , p r e c l u d e s any c o n c l u s i o n t h a t p o p u l a t i o n s a r e s m a l l e r today . Anrual C s -- Our d a t a c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e t h a t l a y i n g u s u a l l y b e g i n s i n F e b r u a r y , w i t 5 t h e peak o c c u r r i n g i n l a t e February o r March. A s m a l l downy young a b o u t 2 weeks o l d seen i n March 1968 must have come from a n egg l a i d i n J a n u a r y , and o b s e r v a t i o n s from March 1969 s u g g e s t t h a t f a i r l y l a r g e numbers of b i r d s l a i d eggs i n January t h a t y e a r . Thus, a few eggs may be l a i d e a r l i e r i n t h e y e a r b u t t h e number n e s t i n g a t t h i s t ime must r e p r e s e n t on ly a s m a l l p r o p o r t i o n of t h e b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n . Some l a y i n g a l s o o c c u r s i n May and June b u t l a y i n g t h e r e a f t e r i s ap- p a r e n t l y q u i t e v a r i a b l e from year t o y e a r . O b s e r v a t i o n s i n J u l y and August 1966 s u g g e s t t h a t l a y i n g had been l a r g e l y completed by e a r l y J u l y , b u t o b s e r v a t i o n s i n September 1967 and 1971 i n d i c a t e t h a t some l a y i n g had occur red i n J u l y o r August . I n September 1964 and August 1970, on t h e o t h e r hand, o b s e r v a t i o n s i n d i c a t e t h a t l a y i n g had been completed by l a t e June . Young a r e known t o have ha tched a s e a r l y a s l a t e February and, i f eggs observed i n t h e f a l l were f e r t i l e , may have ha tched a s l a t e a s September o r October . However, by f a r t h e l a r g e s t p r o p o r t i o n of t h e young p robab ly h a t c h from May th rough June o r e a r l y J u l y . L i t t l e d a t a a r e a v a i l a b l e on f l e d g i n g b u t a few young may f l e d g e a s e a r l y a s June . ( I f eggs p r e s e n t i n September were f r e s h , f l e d g i n g cou ld occur even e a r l i e r i n t h e y e a r . ) Most p robab ly f l e d g e i n August o r September, and a v e r y small p r o p o r t i o n f l e d g e i n October o r November. Thus, b r e e d i n g p robab ly o c c u r s i n a l l months, b u t on ly a few b i r d s breed from l a t e September th rough e a r l y February . Breeding H a b i t a t On Nihoa Red-footed Boobies n e s t on t h e s l o p e s of t h e i s l a n d i n s m a l l c o l o n i e s and i n wide ly d i s p e r s e d i n d i v i d u a l n e s t s . A l a r g e pro- p o r t i o n of t h e n e s t s i s found a t midd le and lower r a t h e r t h a n a t h i g h e r e l e v a t i o n s . A nes t ing concent ra t ion has seve ra l times been noted on Mi l l e r P la teau (= Albat ross P la teau of Venderbi l t and de Schauensee, 1941: 10) and i n nearby a reas . Vanderbi l t and de Schauensee noted t h a t they were most abundant t h e r e i n August 1940 and Kramer s t a t e d t h a t t h e main colony was found on t h e upper s lopes of Mi l l e r Valley i n December 1961. Kr id ler found a colony of about 100 n e s t s on t h e Pla teau i n Ju ly 1964, and considerable numbers were found nes t ing i n t h a t genera l area i n March 1965, July-August 1966, and March 1968. On t h e l a t t e r v i s i t perhaps half t h e n e s t s were found i n the ~ i l l e r ' s Peak-Miller Plateau a r e a . Considerable numbers a l s o nes t on s lopes of the va r ious va l l eys , and smaller numbers n e s t i n groves of Pritchardia palms. Most n e s t s a r e b u i l t from 3 to 4 f e e t above the ground i n low Chenopodiwn, Sida and Sesba~zia . Color Phases No q u a n t i t a t i v e da ta a r e a v a i l a b l e on t h e propor t ion of the d i f - f e r e n t color phases i n t h e breeding population but observa t ional da t a suggest t h a t over 99 percent of the population c o n s i s t s of t h e white- plumaged morph (Pig. 25). Dark-plumaged morphs have been seen on t h r e e occasions. Wetmore (ms.) f lushed a "bird i n grey plumage with a pure white t a i l " from a nes t with a newly hatched young i n June 1923. Another dark-phase b i rd was noted i n March 1964 and s t i l l another , ev iden t ly paired with a white-phase b i rd , was noted i n March 1968 (Pig. 26). Banding Fifty-one a d u l t s and 7 n e s t l i n g s were banded by t h e BSFW and POBSP on recent v i s i t s . F i f t y n e s t i n g a d u l t s were banded by t h e BSFW i n March 1965 and 1 a d u l t and 7 n e s t l i n g s were banded by the POBSP i n J u l y 1966. None has been recaptured . Specimens Three specimens were co l l ec t ed by Wetmore: two males (USNM 300912, 300915) on . I 2 June 1923, and an embryonic a l coho l i c (USNM 289297) on 14 June 1923. Table 14. Observations of Red-footed Boobies on Nihoa Population Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 26-27 May ? Presence noted from offshore . Several captured a s they roosted on t h e sh ip . An immature seen (Mumo, 1941a: 49-50). 1902 1-3 June p l e n t i f u l Seen s i t t i n g on n e s t s from offshore (F isher , 1903: 797). F i g u r e 25. White-phase plumage morph of t h e Red-footed Booby, 8 March 1968. POBSP photograph by Roger B . Clapp. F i g u r e 2 6 . Dark-phase plumage morph of t h e Red-footed Booby, 8 Narch 1968. POBSP photograph by Roger B. Clapp. ' 5 r,i10 I - . , , Table 1 4 . (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Surve E s t i m a t e 1902 5-9 Aug. 1915 1 8 Mar. 1916 12 Feb. 1923 11-16 June 1936 3 M a r . 1940 7-15 Aug. 1953 21-22 Dec. 1954 1 8 Mar. 1961 2 Mar. 9-16 Dec. 1962 1 0 June 1963 5-6 June 1964 6-7 Mar. 25 J u l y 23-24 Sept No a d u l t s c e r t a i n l y no ted b u t immatures s e e n from o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 797) . Eggs p r e s e n t (Munter, 1915: 1 3 1 ) . A l - t e r n a t i v e e s t i m a t e by Brown (ms.) seems much l a r g e r than c r e d i b l e . Mating and b u i l d i n g n e s t s . Severa l f l e d g e d young s e e n (Munter, m s . ) . From r e c e n t l y completed n e s t s through f r e s h and incuba ted eggs t o r e c e n t l j - ha tched th rough half-grown young (Wetmore, m s .) . N e s t i n g , eggs noted (Trempe, m s . ) . "Breeding seemed t o be i n a l l s t a g e s " ( V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee, 1.941: 1 0 ) . ? (Richardson, p e r s . comm.) . ? ? ? (Richardson, p e r s . comm.). Seen on t h e i s l a n d from o f f s h o r e (Wood- s i d e and Kramer, ms.). " A l l young were n e a r l y f u l l grown and c a p a b l e of f l y i n g " (Kramer, ms. ) . Young i n v a r i o u s growth s t a g e s . No eggs observed (Kramer and B e a r d s l e y , ms. ) . Ca . 8 0 seen from o f f s h o r e (POBSP). C a . 1 , 0 0 0 n e s t s counted. Of t h o s e whose c o n t e n t s were checked, a l l c o n t a i n e d eggs , none young (BSFW, POBSP). Eggs t o w e l l f e a t h e r e d young b u t most n e s t s w i t h young (BSFW). 15 l a r g e n e s t l i n g s and 68 immatures coun ted . No n e s t s w i t h eggs o r s m a l l young observed (BSFW, POBSP) . Table 14. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breed ing S t a t u s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 Ju ly - 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 13-14 Sept 1968 7-9 Mar. 24-27 Aug. 1969 21 Mar. 1970 1 5 Aug. 1971 18-19 Aug. 15 S e p t . 1972 1 6 S e p t . 1973 3 1 J u l y 3,500* 2,800- 3,000" 3 ,000 v e r y abundant 3,000 hundreds 1,050" 1 , 5 0 0 1 , 0 0 0 ? 1 , 5 0 0 ? Ca. 1 , 7 0 0 n e s t s coun ted . A l l i n v e s t i g a t e d c o n t a i n e d e g g s . None c o n t a i n e d young (BSFW, POBSP). Ca. 1 , 4 0 0 n e s t s coun ted : ca. 3-7% w i t h i n c u b a t e d eggs , t h e rest w i t h young. Of t h e young abou t 10% were r e c e n t l y h a t c h e d , 40% were abou t 2-3 weeks o l d , and 50% were more than 3 weeks o l d (BSFW, POBSP). Only a b o u t 5% of n e s t s w i t h e g g s , none w i t h young (BSFW, POBSP). Eggs t o n e a r f l e d g i n g young (BSFW). Ca. 1 , 2 0 0 n e s t s coun ted . Eggs t o s m a l l downy young bu t most n e s t s w i t h c o n t e n t s had eggs . Sample coun t of 115 n e s t s : 60 (52%) empty b u t a c t i v e ; 54 (47%) w i t h eggs ; 1 (1%) w i t h a s m a l l downy young (POBSP , BSFW) . Eggs t o f l y i n g young. S c a t t e r e d through- o u t v e g e t a t e d s l o p e s of i s l a n d . Large c o l o n y of 150 n e s t s on M i l l e r P l a t e a u (BSFW) . Most n e s t s c o n t a i n e d s m a l l young b u t a few h e l d eggs (BSFW). An e s t i m a t e d 500 young p r e s e n t , rangi.ng i n s i z e from 314 grown t o f u l l y f l e d g e d Most young had n o t y e t f l e d g e d and no n e s t s w i t h eggs were seen (BSFW). Most n e s t s c o n t a i n e d n e a r - f l e d g i n g young b u t a few n e s t s w i t h eggs were a l s o p r e s e n t (BSFW) . A few n e s t s c o n t a i n e d eggs b u t most con- t a i n e d young of v a r y i n g a g e s (BSFW). C h i c k s s e e n (BSFW). A minimum of 350 b i r d s was p r e s e n t (BSFW). * E s t i m a t e i s f o r t h e number of n e s t i n g b i r d s . GREAT FRIGATEBIRD F'regata minor S t a t u s Abundant b r e e d e r ; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 10,000. P r e s e n t throughout yea r b u t d e c i d e d l y l e s s abundant i n w i n t e r . Some b r e e d i n g bj-rds p r e s e n t throughout t h e y e a r b u t most b r e e d i n g o c c u r s from Pebru- a r y o r March th rough September. B u i l d s bulky n e s t s i n low bushes . P o p u l a t i o n s Recent e s t i m a t e s p l a c e maximal p o p u l a t i o n l e v e l s a t abou t 10 ,000 (Table 15) bu t p o p u l a t i o n s may b e c o n s i d e r a b l y s m a l l e r d u r i n g l a t e f a l l and w i n t e r . The o n l y two e a r l y n u m e r i c a l e s t i m a t e s a r e n o t c o n s i s t e n t w i t h r e c e n t o b s e r v a t i o n s . Munte r ' s e s t i m a t e of 50,000 i s much h i g h e r t h a n any r e c e n t e s t i m a t e , and b!etmore's e s t i m a t e of 1 ,200 i s c o n s i d e r a b l y lower t h a n any r e c e n t e s t i m a t e made when a l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n of t h e p o p - - l a t i o n was b r e e d i n g . Recent e s t i m a t e s a r e s u b j e c t t o a d e g r e e of e r r o r bu t do no t v a r y from one a n o t h e r enough t o s u p p o r t e i t h e r Munter o r Wetmore's e s t i m a t e s . Annual Cycle D i s p l a y i n g males have been n o t e d from e a r l y December t o e a r l y June bu t t h e e a r l i e s t t h a t eggs have been known t o be l a i d i s abou t mid- January . The p r e s e n c e of r e c e n t l y ha tched young i n e a r l y March 1965 i n d i c a t e s t h a t some eggs were l a i d a s e a r l y a s t h e second week i n January . Rowever, t h e egg- laying peak a p p a r e n t l y u s u a l l y o c c u r s from l a t e February th rough March w i t h a n undetermined number of eggs l a i d i n A p r i l , May and pe rhaps June. O b s e r v a t i o n s from e a r l y June 1923 i n d i c a t e t h a t some egg- laying must have o c c u r r e d i n A p r i l , May and June, and t h e p r e s e n c e of young abou t a week o l d i n l a t e J u l y 1966 ( F i g . 27) p r e d i c a t e s l a y i n g i n l a t e May. Most h a t c h i n g p robab ly o c c u r s from A p r i l th rough June and t h e m a j o r i t y of t h e young p robab ly f l e d g e from September th rough October . An o c c a s i o n a l b i r d may f l e d g e a s e a r l y a s l a t e August , and a few a s l a t e a s November. Dependent immatures have been p r e s e n t i n mid-March w e l l i n t o t h e succeed ing n e s t i n g s e a s o n . Breeding H a b i t a t Munter (1915: 132) i n d i c a t e d t h a t f r i g a t e b i r d s n e s t e d l e s s commonly a t h i g h e l e v a t i o n s , b u t most r e c e n t o b s e r v e r s have found them common on most of t h e upper two- th i rds of t h e i s l a n d ' s s l o p e s . V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee (1941: 10) s t a t e d t h a t t h e " c o l o n i e s appeared t o be l i m i t e d t o l o c a l i t i e s half-way up most of t h e v a l l e y s . " I n March 1964 K r i d l e r noted t h a t n e s t s were most abundant n e a r t h e t o p of E a s t Palm V a l l e y , Middle V a l l e y , and Miller Canyon, and i n September 1967 found them most abundant i n t h e former two a r e a s . I n March 1965, 1967, and 1968 t h e s e f r i g a t e b i r d s n e s t e d most d e n s e l y on t h e upper s l o p e s of M i l l e r V a l l e y up t o Miller Peak. On Nihoa t h e s e b i r d s n e s t m o s t l y i n many s m a l l c o l o n i e s c o n t a i n i n g a dozen t o 30 n e s t i n g p a i r s , b u t a r e a l s o found n e s t i n g i n wide ly s c a t - t e r e d i n d i v i d u a l s i t e s . Most n e s t s a r e p l a c e d i n low, t h i c k Chenopodim and Sida. Banding The POBSP banded 1 a d u l t and 490 n e s t l i n g s i n J u l y 1966 b u t none h a s been r e c a p t u r e d . Specimens Two specimens , an a d u l t male (USliM 464440) and a n a d u l t f emale (LISNM 464441) were c o l l e c t e d on 1 4 June 1923 by Wetmore. T a b l e 1 5 . O b s e r v a t i o n s of Great F r i g a t e b i r d s on Nihoa I s l a n d . P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1885 22 J u l y ? 1891 26-27 May ? 1902 1-3 June ? 5-9 Aug. ? 1915 18 Mar. 50,000 1916 12 Feb. v e r y common 1923 5 Apr. ? 11-16 June 1 ,200 1936 3 M a r . many Large downy young (Bishop, 1885a: 2 ) . P r e s e n c e no ted from o f f s h o r e (Munro, 1941a: 49) . Abundant, s e e n n e s t i n g i n bushes from o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 799) . " S t i l l t o be s e e n i n c o n s i d e r a b l e numbers" [from of f s h o r e ] ( F i s h e r , 1903 : 789) . Eggs and males w i t h i n f l a t e d t h r o a t pouches r e p o r t e d (Munter, 1915: 1 3 2 ) . Brown (ms.) g i v e s a n i d e n t i c a l a l t e r n a - t i v e e s t i m a t e . Breeding s e a s o n a p p a r e n t l y j u s t begun b u t n o eggs o r young p r e s e n t (Munter, ms. ) . O c c a s i o n a l l y s e e n o f f s h o r e (Wetmore, ms. ) . I n c u b a t i n g e g g s o r w i t h young from r e c e n t l y ha tched t o a few half-grown. Only 1 male w i t h i n f l a t e d t h r o a t pouch s e e n (Wetmore, m s .) . Many n e s t s w i t h e g g s (Trempe, m s . ) T a b l e 1 5 . (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1940 7-15 Aug. "Small colon- "The n e s t s c o n t a i n e d a lmos t mature i e s were q u i t e young" ( V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee, 1953 21-22 Dec. 1954 18 Mar. 1961 2 Mar. 9-16 Dec. 1962 1 0 June 1963 5-6 June 1964 6-7 Mar. 25 J u l y 23-24 Sep t . 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 J u l y - 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 13-14 Sep t . common" 700-900 500-1,000 ? v e r y abundant ? ? 1 0 , 0 0 0 ? 6,000 5,200" 4,200- 6 ,900 9 ,000 v e r y abundant ? (Richardson, p e r s . comm.). ? (Richardson, p e r s . comm.). Seen on t h e i s l a n d from o f f s h o r e (Woodside and Kramer, ms . ) . Large f l y i n g young b u t no n e s t s w i t h eggs s e e n (Kramer , m s . ) . I t Half grown downy young on n e s t s . No males seen i n n u p t i a l d i s p l a y s " (Kramer and B e a r d s l e y , m s . ) . Ca. 20 seen from o f f s h o r e (POBSP). Ca. 4,800 a c t i v e n e s t s c o u n t e d , most w i t h e g g s . 1 0 n e s t s found w i t h r e c e n t l y hatched young; c o u r t i n g b i r d s observed (BSFW, POBSP) . Downy t o w e l l - f e a t h e r e d young b u t most n e s t s w i t h downy young (BSFW). 167 l a r g e young coun ted . Ca. 1 , 0 0 0 a l r e a d y f l e d g e d young p r e s e n t (BSFW, POBSP) . Ca. 2,500 n e s t s counted abou t 70% con- t a i n i n g eggs (BSFI,!, POBSP) . Ca. 2,500 young p r e s e n t , 10% r e c e n t l y ha tched , 30% from 2-3 weeks o l d , and 60% o l d e r t h a n 3 weeks o l d . No n e s t s w i t h eggs observed (BSFW, POBSP). I n i t i a t i n g n e s t i n g . Of 3 1 n e s t s checked, 1 0 (32%) were empty and 2 1 (68%) con- t a i n e d eggs , 43% of which were f r e s h and 57% were incuba ted (BSFW, POBSP). A few s m a l l downy young and many i m - ma tu res n o t e s (BSFW) . Table 1 5 . (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1968 7-9 Mar. 7,000- 8 ,000 24-27 Aug. ? 1969 21 Mar. 3,450* 1976 L5 Aug. 4 ,600 1.971 18-19 Aug. ? 15 S e p t . ? 1972 1 6 S e p t . 3,000" 1973 3 1 J u l y ? Only eggs p r e s e n t . A c o n s i d e r a b l e pro- p o r t i o n of p o p u l a t i o n s t i l l i n p r e l a y i n g s t a g e s (30-40% of males w i t h i n f l a t e d t h r o a t pouches i n some a r e a s ; 70-807 i n o t h e r s ) . Sample coun t of 55 n e s t s : 26 (47%) empty b u t ac t i .ve , 29 (53%) w i t h eggs . Ca. 2 ,000 n e s t s counted and a n e s t i m a t e d 4 ,000 n e s t i n g b i r d s p r e s e n t (BSFW, POBSP) . From half-grown t o f l e d g e d young (BSFW) . Most n e s t i n g b i r d s j u s t beg inn ing t o in- c u b a t e eggs (BSFW). More t h a n 1 , 1 0 0 young were coun ted . Most were v e r y l a r g e and w e l l - f e a t h e r e d b u t were n o t y e t f l e d g e d (BSFW) . A t l e a s t 1 , 2 0 0 p r e s e n t . Most young were abou t 314 grown '(BSFW) . Young were from 112 grown t o nea r - f l e d g i n g s i z e (BSFW) . An e s t i m a t e d 1 , 5 0 0 young were p r e s e n t (BSFW) . A t l e a s t 2,000 p r e s e n t (BSFW) * E s t i m a t e i s f o r t h e number of b r e e d i n g b i r d s on ly . PINTAIL Anas acuta S t a t u s A c c i d e n t a l ; one r e c o r d of two b i r d s from September 1971. Observa t ions On 15 September 1971 t h e BSFW s u r v e y p a r t y saw a female P i n t a i l n e a r a v e r y s m a l l pudd le of wa te r a b o u t one- th i rd of t h e way up E a s t Palm V a l l e y . The r o t t i n g c a r c a s s of a d r a k e t h a t had p robab ly been dead f o r 2 t o 3 weeks was found i n t h e same puddle and a wing (USNM 567292) was c o l l e c t e d . P i n t a i l s have n o t p r e v i o u s l y been recorded from Nihoa b u t a r e of f a i r l y r e g u l a r occur rence on Laysan and Midway A t o l l s where much more e x t e n s i v e ponds o r l agoons a r e t o be found. The s p e c i e s h a s a l s o been r e c o r d e d from French F r i g a t e S h o a l s (Amerson, 1971: 228) , P e a r l and Hermes Reef (Amerson, Clapp and Wir tz , 1974: 182) and from L i s i a n s k i I s l a n d ( K r i d l e r , unpub. obse rv . ) i n t h e n o r t h w e s t e r n Hawaiian I s l a n d s , a s w e l l a s from J o h n s t o n A t o l l (Amerson and S h e l t o n , i n p r e s s ) . GOLDEN PLOVER Phviatis dominica S t a t u s - Uncommon b u t r e g u l a r m i g r a n t ; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 50. Recorded i n February , March, J u n e , August , September, and December. L a r g e s t numbers occur red i n March. Observa t ions A l l o b s e r v a t i o n s a r e l i s t e d i n T a b l e 16. Specimens E v i d e n t l y on ly one specimen h a s been c o l l e c t e d . The V a n d e r b i l t E x p e d i t i o n ob ta ined a f emale (PAS 146156) i n August 1940. T a b l e 1 6 . Observa t ions of Golden P l o v e r s on Nihoa I s l a n d P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breed ing S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1902 1-3 June a few Seen from o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , i903: 778). 5-9 Aug. a few Seen from o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 779) . 1915 1 8 Mar. s e v e r a l Seen "on t h e p l a t e a u " (Munter, 1915: s e e n 1 3 3 ) . 1916 1 2 Feb. q u i t e (Munter, ms . ) . rommon 1923 11-16 June 3 Seen on r o c k s of Adams Bay 11 June (Wetmore, ms.) . 1940 7-15 Aug. a few T I n o t p r e s e n t i n any numbers." Number of dead b i r d s found ( V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee , 1941: 1 0 ) . 1953 21-22 Dec. 0 (Richardson, p e r s . comm.). T a b l e 1 7 . (Cont inued) P o p u l a t i o n D a t e o f Survey E s t i m a t e O b s e r v a t i o n s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1968 7-9 Mar. 0 (BSFW, POBSP) . 24-27 Aug. 0 (BSFW) , 1969 2 1 Mar. 0 (BSFW) . 1970 1 5 Aug. 1 (BSFW) . 1 9 7 1 18-19 Aug. 1 (BSFW) . 15 S e p t . 0 (BSFW) . 1972 1 6 S e p t . 0 (BSFW) . RUDDY TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres S t a t u s Common m i g r a n t , p r e s e n t i n s m a l l numbers; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 200. Recorded i n March, May, J u n e , Augus t , September, and December. L a r g e s t numbers o c c u r r e d i n s p r i n g (March) and f a l l (September) . O b s e r v a t i o n s A 1 1 o b s e r v a t i o n s a r e l i s t e d i n T a b l e 1 8 . Specimens We know of b u t o n e specimen, a f e m a l e (PAS 1461571, c o l l e c t e d by t h e V a n d e r b i l t E x p e d i t i o n i n August 1940 . T a b l e 18 . O b s e r v a t i o n s of Ruddy T u r n s t o n e s on Nihoa I s l a n d P o p u l a t i o n D a t e of Survey E s t i m a t e O b s e r v a t i o n s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1891 26-27 May ? 2 s m a l l f l o c k s s e e n from o f f s h o r e (Munro, 1941a: 5 0 ) . 1902 1-3 J u n e ? Seen f rom o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 7 7 8 ) . 4-9 Aug. ? Seen f rom o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 779) . 1916 1 2 Feb . a few s e e n (Munter , m s . ) . 1923 24 May 2 Seen on l e d g e s below w e s t e r n c l i f f s (Wetmore, ms.) . F i g u r e 2 7 . N e s t i n g G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d w i t h d o m y young i n J u l y 1966. BSFW pho tograph by Eugene K r i d l e r . F i g u r e 28. B r i s t l e - t h i g h e d Curlew f o r a g i n g among t h e r o c k s i n lower M i l l e r V a l l e y , 8 March 1968. POBSP photograph by Roger B . Clapp. 1940. There a r e f o u r more r e c e n t r e c o r d s . On 1 3 and 14 September 1.967 K r i d l e r saw a s i n g l e B r i s t l e - t h i g h e d Curlew. Two o t h e r s were s e e n on r o c k s abou t 150 t o 200 f e e t f rom t h e b a s e of M i l l e r Canyon 7 t o 9 March 1968 ( F i g . 28) . Another was s e e n 18-19 August 1971. and f i v e were p r e s e n t on 1 6 September 1972. IdANDERING TATTLER Heterosce2us incanus S t a t u s Uncommon m i g r a n t ; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 2 . Recorded i n March, May, J u n e , and August. O b s e r v a t i o n s A 1 1 o b s e r v a t i o n s a r e l i s t e d i n Tab le 1 7 . Specimens A s i n g l e specimen was c o l l e c t e d by V a n d e r b i l t b u t we do n o t know t h e s p e c i f i c c o l l e c t i o n d a t a . Tab1.e 1 7 . Observa t ions of Wandering T a t t l e r s on Nihoa J s l a n d P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e O b s e r v a t i o n s , Ren~arlcs, and Refe rences - 1923 24 May 2-3 (Wetmore, ms . ) . 11-1 6 June 1-2 Seen d a i l y on r o c k l e d g e s of Adams Ray (Wetmore, ms.) . 1940 7-15 Aug. v e r y few ( V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee, 1941: 1 1 ) . 1953 21-22 Dec. 1954 1 8 Mar. 1961. 9-16 Dec. 1964 6-7 Mar. 23-24 Sep t . 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 J u l y - 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 13-14 S e p t . 0 (Richardson , p e r s . comm.). (R ichardson , p e r s . comm.) . (Kramer , m s . ) . (BSFU, POBSP) . (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW, POBSP) . Along l e d g e s on s o u t h s ide . of i s l a n d (BSFW) . (BSFW) . Table 1 6 . (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1954 18 Mar. 1961 9-16 Dec. 1963 5-6 June 1964 6-7 Mar. 23-24 S e p t . 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 J u l y - 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 13-14 S e p t . 1958 7-9 Mar. 1968 24-27 Aug. 10-15 1969 21 Mar. 36 1970 15 Aug. 2 1971 18-19 Aug. 0 15 S e p t . ? 1972 1 6 S e p t . 1 BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW S t a t u s (Richardson, p e r s . comm.) . (Kramer , m s . ) . Seen from o f f s h o r e (POBSP). (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW, POBSP) . 5 s e e n n e a r Dog Head Peak (BSFW, POBSP). (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW) . Seen i n s m a l l f l o c k s b u t more o f t e n a s i n d i v i d u a l s . S c a t t e r e d a l l over i s l a n d (BSFW, POBSP) . I n d i v i d u a l s s c a t t e r e d over i s l a n d (BSFW). (BSFW) . (BSFW) . (BSFW) . Rare (BSFW) . (BSFW) . Uncommon m i g r a n t ; f i v e s i g h t r e c o r d s ; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 5 . Recorded i n March, August and September. O b s e r v a t i o n s V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee (1941: 1 0 ) r e p o r t e d a s m a l l f l o c k of c u r l e w s s e e n " s h o r t l y a f t e r l a n d i n g on Nihoa," presumably on 7 August Table 18 . (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Da te of Survey E s t i m a t e O b s e r v a t i o n s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1923 11-16 June ? 1940 7-15 Aug. "Probab ly . . . most common 1953 21-22 Dec. 1954 6-7 Mar. 1961 9-16 Dec. 1963 5-6 June 1964 6-7 Mar. 23-24 S e p t . 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 Ju ly - 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 13-14 Sep t . 1968 7-9 Mar. 24-27 Aug. s h o r e b i r d ." a few 1 abou t 5 s e e n 1 1 0 30-75 100 0 7 5 7 5 2 00 3 0 "One o r two s e e n d a i l y on t h e r o c k s of Adams Bay. Two s e e n r e s t i n g on a c a i r n on M i l l e r s Peak 900 f e e t above t h e sea" (Wetmore, ms . ) . "Observed i n small numbers everywhere , even on t h e h i g h e s t peaks ." Seen feed- i n g on b e e t l e s a s w e l l a s mar ine l i f e ( V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee , 1941: 1 1 ) . (Richardson, p e r s . comm.). (Richardson, p e r s . comm.) . (Kramer , m s . ) . Seen from o f f s h o r e (POBSP). Seen i n g u l c h e s and s e a c l i f f s (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW, POBSP) . F l o c k s of 1 7 , 23, and 32 f l y i n g over wa te r on s o u t h s i d e of i s l a n d (BSFW, POBSP) . S c a t t e r e d s m a l l f l o c k s from s e a l e v e l t o t h e t o p of t h e r i d g e between t h e peaks (BSFW) . P r i m a r i l y i n s m a l l f l o c k s o r s c a t t e r e d i n d i v i d u a l s i n t h e lower a r e a s of t h e i s l a n d . Common a l o n g t h e r o c k s a t t h e edge of t h e s u r f where a f l o c k of a b o u t 28 b i r d s s e e n b a t h i n g . Small f l o c k s of 10-20 b i r d s s e e n on t h e c r e s t s o f some lower r i d g e s (BSFW, POBSP). S c a t t e r e d . Most on r o c k s h e l f a t s e a l e v e l (BSFW) . Table 18. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Da te of Survey E s t i m a t e O b s e r v a t i o n s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1969 21 Mar. 82 (BSFW) . 1970 15 Aug. 8 One seen n e a r t h e t o p of Miller 's Peak (BSFW) . 1971 18-19 Aug. 8 (BSFW) . 15 Sep t . ? Rare (BSFW). 1972 16 S e p t . 2 (BSF'I:) HERRING GULL Larus argen.totus S t a t u s Vagrant ; one s i g h t r e c o r d i n March 1965. Observa t ions K r i d l e r observed a n a d u l t n e a r Derby ' s Landing on 24 March 1965. Subsequen t ly , w h i l e a t t e m p t i n g t o photograph t h e b i r d , K r i d l e r g o t c l o s e enough t o make a p o s i t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . H e r r i n g G u l l s a r e one of t h e s e v e r a l s p e c i e s of g u l l t h a t occur f a i r l y f r e q u e n t l y i n t h e n o r t h w e s t e r n Hawaiian I s l a n d s (Clapp and Woodward, 1968: 26 ; S i b l e y and McFarlane, 1968: 314-318). None h a s been r e p o r t e d p r e v i o u s l y from Nihoa. GRAY-BACKED TERN Sterna Zunata S t a t u s Abundant b r e e d e r ; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 10,000, P r e s e n t from February o r e a r l i e r th rough September o r October ; p robab ly a b s e n t d u r i n g remainder of y e a r . Breeds from a t l e a s t March through September. Nests on t h e ground, u s u a l l y i n a z e a s of s p a r s e v e g e t a t i o n . P o p u l a t i o n s Recent p o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e s and t h o s e from 1915 and 1923 a g r e e r e a s o n a b l y w e l l (Table 19) and s u g g e s t t h a t maximal p o p u l a t i o n s a r e abou t 10 ,000 b i r d s . E s t i m a t e s from v a r i o u s March v i s i t s a r e v a r i a b l e , b u t t h i s may r e f l e c t d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e t iming of t h e b r e e d i n g c y c l e from year t o year a s much a s i t d o e s any i n a c c u r a c i e s i n t h e e s t i m a t e s themselves . Annual Cycle The p a u c i t y of o b s e r v a t i o n s from January and February makes i t imposs ib le t o t e l l when t h e f i r s t b i r d s a r r i v e a t t h e i s l a n d b u t t h e numbers and s t a g e of b reed ing observed on v a r i o u s March s u r v e y s make i t obvious t h a t t h e s e t e r n s u s u a l l y a r r i v e a t least as e a r l y as February . The i n i t i a t i o n of l a y i n g a p p a r e n t l y v a r i e s from y e a r t o y e a r . Observa t ions from March 1915, 1964, 1967, and 1968 i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e p o p u l a t i o n was j u s t beg inn ing t o b reed and would p robab ly r e a c h a n egg- laying peak l a t e r i n t h e month o r i n April. . I n March 1965, however, a t l e a s t s e v e r a l thousand eggs were p r e s e n t by mid-March, s u g g e s t i n g t h a t some l a y i n g o c c u r r e d i n February and t h a t t h e egg l a y i n g peak was e a r l i e r than on t h e o t h e r March v i s i t s . Laying may a l s o occur i n May o r June b u t i t i s n o t known whether t h e Gray-baclced Terns u s u a l l y l a y i n l a r g e numbers d u r i n g t h e s e months. Wetmore's 1923 o b s e r v a t i o n s i n d i c a t e a l a y i n g peak i n e a r l y June b u t t h e p r e s e n c e of half-grown young a t t h a t time shows t h a t a t l e a s t some e g g s had been l a i d i n A p r i l . Hatching may occur from l a t e March o r e a r l y A p r i l th rough l a t e J u l y b u t most young p robab ly h a t c h from abou t May th rough e a r l y June. The p r e s e n c e of s l i g h t l y incuba ted eggs i n e a r l y March s u g g e s t s t h a t some young cou ld f l e d g e by e a r l y o r mid-June b u t t h e e a r l i e s t r e p o r t of f l y i n g young i s e a r l y August. D e s p i t e t h e l a c k of p o s i t i v e o b s e r v a t i o n s , i t seems l i k e l y t h a t most f l e d g i n g o c c u r s from mid-July th rough August. Small numbers of young a r e p r e s e n t on t h e i s l a n d i n September b u t by t h e end of t h e month a lmos t a l l young have f l e d g e d and most a d u l t s have l e f t t h e i s l a n d . Breeding H a b i t a t Gray-backed Terns a r e found i n much t h e same a r e a s a s a r e Sooty Terns , b u t a p p a r e n t l y p r e f e r l e s s d e n s e l y v e g e t a t e d a r e a s and a r e much more prone t o n e s t on r o c k l e d g e s and r i d g e s . C o l o n i e s were wide ly d i s t r i b u t e d over t h e s l o p e s of t h e i s l a n d (March 1965, July-August 1966, March 1967, 1968) , b u t seem t o r e a c h maximum n e s t i n g d e n s i t i e s i n t h e v a r i o u s canyons and g u l c h e s ( JU~Y-Augus t , 1966; March 1968)- On t h e l a t t e r v i s i t they were a p p a r e n t l y m d s t abundant i n t h e lower p o r t i o n s of M i l l e r Canyon, Middle V a l l e y , and t h e lower e a s t e r n s l o p e s of t h e i s l a n d . V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee r e p o r t e d t h a t i n August 1940 t h e y occurred i n two s m a l l c o l o n i e s , b o t h of them i n t h e upper p o r t i o n of Middle V a l l e y . Banding The BSFW and POBSP banded 119 Gray-backed Terns on r e c e n t v i s i t s . The BSFW banded 1 0 a d u l t s i n March 1964 and 79 a d u l t s i n March 1965. The POBSP banded 6 a d u l t s , 1 3 f l y i n g young, and I1 n e s t l i n g s i n J u l y and August 1966. None h a s been r e c a p t u r e d . Specimens We know of f o u r specimens from Nihoa: Wetmore i n 1923 c o l l e c t e d a n a d u l t male (USNM 300628) on 1 5 June , a f emale (USNM 300629) on 1 2 June , and a n embryonic a l c o h o l i c (USNM 289312) on 1 3 June ; a n o t h e r male (PAS 145155) was c o l l e c t e d by t h e V a n d e r b i l t E x p e d i t i o n i n August 1940. Tab le 1 9 . Observa t ions of Gray-backed Terns on Nihoa I s l a n d P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1891 26-27 May ? Presence noted from o f f s h o r e ( a s "Br id led Tern") (Munra, 1941a: 49) . 1902 1-3 June ? Common; seen from o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 781) . 5-9 Aug. ? Common; seen from o f f s h o r e . Numbers of f l y i n g young s e e n ( F i s h e r , 1903: 781). 1915 1 8 Mar. 10 ,000 " . . . s e e n i n s c a t t e r e d p a i r s .... Two on ly were f l u s h e d from eggs" (Munter, 1915: 133) . Brown (ms.) g i v e s a n i d e n t i c a l a l t e r n a t i v e e s t i m a t e . No n e s t s found (Munter, ms. ) . 1916 1 2 Feb. n o t v e r y numerous 1923 5 Apr. ? 11-16 June 10,000 1936 3 M a r . ? 1940 7-15 Aug. ? 1953 21-22 Dec. 0 1954 1 8 Mar. 12-14 1961 2 Mar. ? O c c a s i o n a l l y s e e n o f f s h o r e (Wetmore, ms.). M a j o r i t y w i t h f r e s h eggs b u t some r e - c e n t l y ha tched young and a few h a l f - grown young s e e n (Wetmore, ms.). No n e s t s found (Trempe, ms. ) . Found i n two s m a l l c o l o n i e s . "Breeding was i n i t s l a s t s t a g e s and o n l y young were seen" ( V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee, 1941: 11) . Only p a r t of i s l a n d surveyed (Rich- a r d s o n , p e r s . comm.) . Only p a r t of i s l a n d surveyed (Rich- a r d s o n , p e r s . comm.) . Abundant, seen from o f f s h o r e (Woodside and Kramer , ms.) . Table 19 . (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1961 9-16 Dec. 1962 1 0 June 1963 5-6 June 1964 6-7 Mar. 25 J u l y 23-24 S e p t . 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 J u l y - 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 13-14 S e p t . 1968 7-9 Mar. 24-27 Aug. 1969 21 Mar. 1970 15 Aug. 1971 18-19 Aug. 15 S e p t . 23,-338 0 - 77 - l., 0 ? ? 100 v e r y common 5 0 5,000- 6 ,500 8 ,000 ' 10 ,000 v e r y common 2,000 low thousands ( 3 , 0 0 0 350 6 , UO!l 7 ,000 ? (Kramer, ms. ) . With eggs and downy young (Kramer and Beards ley , ms. ) . Ca . 40 s e e n from o f f s h o r e (POBSP) Ca. 25 n e s t s w i t h eggs observed (BSFW, POBSP) . Very s m a l l c h i c k s t o 213-grown young (BSFW) . 6 immatures remaining on t h e i s l a n d from t h e p r e c e d i n g season (BSFW, POBSP). Nests c o n t a i n e d o n l y eggs . An e s t i m a t e d 2,500 n e s t s p r e s e n t (BSFW, POBSP). C a . 4,000 young; 5% r e c e n t l y ha tched , 25% from 2-3 weeks o l d , and 70% o l d e r t h a n 3 weeks (BSFW, POBSP). On f r e s h t o s l i g h t l y i n c u b a t e d eggs (BSFW, POBSP) . Some n e a r f l e d g i n g young no ted (BSFW). Only 1 n e s t w i t h egg found. Most b i r d s e v i d e n t l y p r e - n e s t i n g (BSFW, POBSP) . A v e r y few 314 f e a t h e r e d young b u t most young f l y i n g (BSFW). Young ranged i n s i z e from abou t 114 grown t o f l e d g i n g . The g r e a t m a j o r i t y of b i r d s was n e a r f l e d g i n g (BSFW). Young were from abou t 112 grown t o f l e d g i n g (BSFW) . Smal l numbers of n e a r - f l e d g i n g young were p r e s e n t (BSFW) . T a b l e 19. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1972 16 Sep t . 4 , OOO* Young were p r e s e n t (BSFW) 1973 3 1 J u l y ? A t l e a s t 1 ,500 b i r d s were p r e s e n t (BSFW). * E s t i m a t e i s of t h e number of b r e e d i n g b i r d s on ly . SOOTY TERN Sterna fuscata S t a t u s Abundant b r e e d e r ; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 100,000. U s u a l l y p r e s e n t from a t l e a s t mid-February through l a t e September o r October b u t b r e e d s p r i m a r i l y from l a t e February through J u l y o r August ; p robab ly a b s e n t d u r i n g much of remainder of y e a r . N e s t s on t h e ground (F ig . 291, o f t e n i n a r e a s of dense v e g e t a t i o n . P o p u l a t i o n s Recent p o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e s f a i r l y c o n s i s t e n t l y s u g g e s t popula- t i o n l e v e l s i n t h e low t e n s of thousands , and do n o t i n d i c a t e any d i f f e r e n c e from e s t i m a t e s made e a r l i e r i n t h e 20 th c e n t u r y (Tab le 20). The e s t i m a t e from March 1965 i s c o n s i d e r a b l y h i g h e r than any o t h e r b u t i t i s based on b e t t e r d a t a . On t h a t v i s i t t h e p o r t i o n of t h e p o p u l a t i o n b r e e d i n g n e a r Miller's Peak was censused by making a n e s t d e n s i t y count and a p p l y i n g t h e d e n s i t y f i g u r e t o t h e approximate a r e a covered by n e s t i n g b i r d s . (No d e t a i l s on methods employed a r e a v a i l a b l e . ) Tha t a r e a was e s t i m a t e d t o c o n t a i n about 27,000 b reed ing b i r d s . T h i s f i g u r e , r e p r e - s e n t i n g o n l y about one- four th of t h e t o t a l b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n , is s t i l l h i g h e r t h a n any o t h e r p o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e t h a t h a s been made on Nihoa. We b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s datum i n d i c a t e s t h a t many of t h e o t h e r p o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e s may have been t o o low and t h a t t o t a l b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n s a r e u s u a l l y 50,000 t o 100,000 b i r d s . (Date on t h e r e l i a b i l i t y of v i s u a l e s t i m a t e s of Sooty T e r n s , o b t a i n e d on o t h e r i s l a n d s by t h e POBSP, sug- g e s t t h a t p o p u l a t i o n s of t h i s s p e c i e s a r e more o f t e n underes t ima ted t h a n o v e r e s t i m a t e d . ) Annual Cycle The i n i t i a t i o n of t h e b r e e d i n g season may v a r y by s e v e r a l months from year t o y e a r . I n a t l e a s t t h r e e y e a r s (1915, 1967, 1969) l a y i n g e v i d e n t l y began i n l a t e February o r e a r l y March. I n 1964, however, t h e p resence of week-old c h i c k s i n e a r l y March i n d i c a t e s t h a t l a y i n g began a s e a r l y a s l a t e January o r e a r l y February . The p r e s e n c e of young (of u n s p e c i f i e d s i z e ) i n mid-March 1965 and M u n t e r ' s o b s e r v a t i o n s i n February 1916 i n d i c a t e l a y i n g occur red by mid-February i n t h o s e y e a r s . The s i z e of young s e e n i n March 1568 (Table 19) i n d i c a t e s t h a t some egg- laying must have begun by t h e second o r t h i r d week of December and con t inued u n t i l t h e f i r s t o r second week of J a n u a r y . On t h e l a t t e r v i s i t t h e d i s t i n c t h i a t u s between s t a g e s of b r e e d i n g i n d i f f e r e n t c o l o n i e s suggested t h a t no eggs were l a i d i n l a t e January o r e a r l y February . I n 1964, 1966, and 1967 o n l y a v e r y small p o r p o r t i o n of t h e b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n l a i d b e f o r e l a t e February , however. Thus, d a t a from f i v e y e a r s i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y of t h e b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n b e g i n s t o l a y i n l a t e February and e a r l y March. The w i n t e r b r e e d i n g i n 1967-1968 probab1.y was a n e x c e p t i o n a l occur- r e n c e a s w i n t e r b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n s have n o t been r e p o r t e d from any of t h e o t h e r n o r t h w e s t e r n Hawaiian I s l a n d s . However, a w i n t e r b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n was r e p o r t e d from Moku Manu i n t h e main Hawaiian I s l a n d s (Richardson, 1957: 24) . Some l a y i n g o c c u r s i n A p r i l and May and f r e s h eggs were r e p o r t e d i n June (Wetmore, ms. ) . O b s e r v a t i o n s made i n mid-August 1940 i n d i c a t e t h a t some eggs were l a i d a s l a t e a s mid-July. On Nihoa Sooty Terns have t h u s e x h i b i t e d a l a y i n g span of abou t seven months (mid-December t o mid-July) . Hatching h a s occur red from a t l e a s t January th rough l a t e August b u t p robab ly o c c u r s p r i m a r i l y from l a t e March th rough May, F l e d g i n g may occur a s e a r l y a s e a r l y March b u t i n most y e a r s most f l e d g i n g p robab ly occurs from l a t e May th rough J u l y . F ledg ing p o s s i b l y occurs a s l a t e a s October (1940) b u t i s e v i d e n t l y u s u a l l y completed by August o r mid-September. 'The absence of b r e e d i n g b i r d s i n l a t e J u l y and e a r l y August 1966 i s p u z z l i n g and may i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e p o p u l a t i o n d i d n o t b reed o r t h a t e a r l y b reed ing a t t e m p t s were e n t i r e l y u n s u c c e s s f u l . It is a l s o pos- s i b l e t h a t l a y i n g began a s e a r l y a s i n 1967-1968 and t h a t t h e b r e e d i n g season had been completed p r i o r t o t h e su rvey . Also p u z z l i n g i s t h e p a u c i t y of b i r d s i n March 1954. R i c h a r d s o n ' s o b s e r v a t i o n s s u g g e s t t h a t n o t o n l y had n e s t i n g n o t begun b u t t h a t t h e b i r d s had n o t begun t o r e t u r n t o t h e i s l a n d . C l e a r l y , much may y e t be d i s c o v e r e d abou t t h e n a t u r e and v a r i a b i l i t y of t h e Sooty Tern b reed ing c y c l e on Nihoa. Breeding H a b i t a t Sooty Terns n e s t i n a wide v a r i e t y of s i t u a t i o n s on Nihoa b u t a number of o b s e r v e r s no ted t h a t t h e y were more common a t h i g h e r e l e v a t i o n s Munter (1915: 132) found t h e b i r d s " i n e v e r i n c r e a s i n g numbers" a s h e ascended t h e s l o p e s . Wetmore (ms.) found them n e s t i n g "from t h e lower r o c k c l i f f s c l e a r t o t h e h i g h e r summits." He a l s o no ted t h a t t h e y o c c u r r e d i n a number of s m a l l c o l o n i e s on t h e lower s l o p e s b u t formed l a r g e r c o l o n i e s on t h e h i g h e s t s l o p e s . The two c o l o n i e s r e p o r t e d by Vanderbi l t and de Schauensee (1941: 11) were a l s o found a t higher e l e v a t i o n s , t h e l a r g e r colony near t h e top of Middle Valley, t h e smal le r high up i n East Palm Valley. Recent observat ions confirm t h a t these t e r n s tend t o n e s t i n a number of co lonies and i n l a r g e r numbers a t higher e l eva t ions . I n March 1964 BSFW personnel found l a r g e colonies on t h e e a s t s lopes of Middle Valley and on Mi l l e r P la teau and noted t h a t b i r d s were found nes t ing elsewhere a s wel l . In Ju ly 1964 a l a r g e colony was found along t h e top of t h e r i d g e between M i l l e r ' s and Tanager Peaks, and i n March 1965 b i r d s nested t h e r e , on Mi l l e r P la teau , and on the e a s t s lope below Tanager Peak. I n March 1968 these b i r d s nested on t h e s lopes a t t h e base of Mi l le r Canyon, near the top of Middle Valley, on the s lopes of East Palm Valley, on Mi l l e r P la teau , and i n a number of o ther a r e a s . I n August 1970 t h e l a s t few nes t ing b i r d s were p resen t on t h e upper s lope of t h e saddle between M i l l e r ' s and Tanager Peaks. Most eggs a r e l a i d i n small depressions on bare ground but a r e occas ional ly found on small amounts of dead vegeta t ion . Typica l ly n e s t s a r e placed bes ide t u f t s of g ra s s o r under dense vege ta t ion , such a s Chenopodim, Sida, or SoZanwn. Banding Two a d u l t s were banded by the BSFW i n March 1964. Neither has been recaptured. Specimens We have found records of f i v e specimens from Nihoa. Four, two a d u l t males (USNM 300548, 300550), an a d u l t female (USNM 300549) and a juven i l e female (USNM 300551), were co l l ec t ed by Wetmore between 12 and 15 June 1923. A female (PAS 146154) was co l l ec t ed by t h e Vanderbi l t Expedition i n August 1940. Table 20. Observations of Sooty Terns on Nihoa Is land Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 26-27 May ? Presence noted from o f f shore (Munro, 1941a: 49). 1902 1-3 June ? Abundant, seen from o f f s h o r e (F isher , 1903: 780). 5-9 Aug. ? Abundant, seen from offshore . Many f l y i n g young seen (Fisher , 1903: 780). 1915 18 Mar. 20,000 Only eggs found (Munter, 1915). Alter- (10,000) na t ive es t imate by Brown (ms.). Table 20. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1916 12 Feb. 1923 11-16 June 1936 3 M a r . 1940 7-15 Aug. 1953 21-22 Dec. 1954 1 8 Mar. 1961 2 Mar. 9-16 Dec. 1962 1 0 June 1963 5-6 June 1964 6-7 Mar. 25 J u l y 23-24 Sep t . 1 in l a r g e numbers 12 ,000 ? ? 15-20 6-8 ? 2 ? ? 10,000- 15 ,000 v e r y common 1965 13-14 Mar. 100,000 1966 28 J u l y - 5 00 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. Ca. 25,000 13-14 S e p t . ? Only eggs found (Munter, ms . ) . M a j o r i t y of n e s t s w i t h f r e s h eggs bu t f l e d g e d young p r e s e n t i n some p a r t s of co lony (Wetmore, ms. ) . No n e s t s found (Trempe, m s . ) . 2 c o l o n i e s , 1 l a r g e , 1 s m a l l , p r e s e n t 1 , N e s t i n g was i n a l l s t a g e s from un- ha tched eggs t o f u l l y f l e d g e d young" ( V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee , 1941: 1 1 ) . ? (Richardson, p e r s . c o r n . ) . ? (Richarcson , p e r s . c o r n . ) . Abundant, s e e n from o f f s h o r e (Woodside and Kramer , ms.) . Seen s o a r i n g over c l i f f s (Kramer, ms.) With eggs and f l e d g e d young (Kramer and Beards ley , m s .) . Hundreds seen from o f f s h o r e (POBSP). Ca. 6,000 n e s t s w i t h eggs , ca. 100 week-old c h i c k s found (BSFW, POBSP). Downy c h i c k s t o f l e d g e d young (BSFW). Heard f l y i n g overhead . Not b r e e d i n g (BSFW, POBSO) . Ca. 90% w i t h e g g s , 10% w i t h young (BSFW, POBSP) . Not b r e e d i n g . 2 groups of b i r d s ob- se rved on ground (BSFW, POBSP). On eggs , no young found (BSFW, POBSP). Only a few a d u l t s and f l y i n g young no ted (BSFW) . T a b l e 20. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breedi.ng S t a t u s , Remarks, a&Ref e r e n c s 1968 7--9 Mar. ca. 20,000 Ca. 2,000 t o 4 ,000 n e s t s w i t h f r e s h t o s l i g h t l y incuba ted eggs . 2 s m a l l c o l o n i e s wi.th 1.arge young a l s o p r e s e n t . 1 con ta ined s e v e r a l hundred young from 112 grown ( c a m 4 weeks o l d ) t o n e a r f l e d g i n g young (ca , 6-7 weeks o l d ) . The o t h e r con ta ined abou t 50 young (ca. 4-5 weeks o l d ) . The ma- j o r i t y p r e s e n t was n o t y e t n e s t i n g (BSF\\!, POBSP) . 24-2.7 Aug . ? ? (13Sm). 1.969 21. Har. 6 ,800 ?fast i n c u b a t i n g eggs ; no young s e e n (S3SFW) . 1970 15 hug. 2,000- A few v e r y l a r g e young were sti~l1 p r e s e n t 3,000 (USFW) . 1971 1.8-19 Aug. 1 , 0 0 0 Young were f u l l y f e a t h e r e d (BSFW) . 1072 1.6 Sep t . 20 No breedi.ng b i r d s were found (BSIIW) . Common b r e e d e r ; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 2 ,500, P r e s e n t through- o u t yea r b u t evident3.y more common i n s p r i n g and summer. Breeds throughout y e a r b u t m a j o r i t y of b i r d s apparent1.y b r e e d s d u r i n g s p r i n g and e a r l y summer. Lays s i n g l e egg i n h o l e s and n i c h e s under l e d g e s i n c l i f f f a c e s and r o c k o u t c r o p p i n g s (F ig . 3 0 ) . P o p u l a t i o n s Most r e c e n t e s t i m a t e s and t h e one made by Wetmore i n 1923 s u g g e s t t h a t t h e maximal p o p u l a t i o n l e v e l i s i n t h e low thousands (Tab le 2 1 ) . Cons ide rab le v a r i . a b i l i t y i s found i n e s t i m a t e s made a t t h e same t i m e of y e a r bu t t h i s p robab ly o n l y i n d i c a t e s t h e low l e v e l of r e l i a b i l i t y of t h e e s t i m a t e s . Annual Cycle Too few d e t a i l e d o b s e r v a t i o n s a r e a v a i l a b l e t o document comple te ly t h e breedi.ng c y c l e ; a v a i l a b l e o b s e r v a t i o n s i n d i c a t e a n extended b r e e d i n g F i g u r e 29. Sooty Tern i.ncubat:i.ng egg i n lower p a r t of Middle V a l l e y , 9 March 1968. POBSP photograph by Roger B. Clapp. F i g u r e 30. Blue-gray Noddy c h i c k a t n e s t s i t e i n n i c h e i n rock w a l l , 9 March 1968. YOBSP photograph by Roger B . Clapp. season from a t l e a s t December through October o r November i n some yea r s (1964, perhaps 1940). I n o the r years (1967, 1968, 1971, 1972) observat ions from l a t e summer and e a r l y f a l l i n d i c a t e t h a t nes t ing had probably been completed by August or September. I n March 1964, 1965, and 1968 an est imated 50, 90, and 88 percent , r e s p e c t i v e l y , of t h e n e s t s contained eggs which suggests a l ay ing peak then or i n Feb- ruary . Observations made i n December 1953, and r e p o r t s of va r ious ly s i zed young on a number of March v i s i t s (1964, 1965, 1967, 1968), i n d i c a t e t h a t some lay ing normally occurs a s e a r l y a s December o r January. Most es t imates from l a t e summer and f a l l (mid-August 1970 and 1971; September 1964, 1967, 1971, 1972) i n d i c a t e a populat ion decrease a t t h a t time which probably means a decrease i n t h e number of breeding b i r d s . More d e t a i l e d sample n e s t counts a r e needed from most seasons t o b e t t e r document t h e l ay ing peaks and t h e degree t o which breeding a c t i v i t y may diminish during the l a t t e r p a r t of t h e year . Breeding Habitat Blue-gray Noddies, l i k e White Terns, nes t i n cons iderable abundance on t h e no r th rock c l i f f s of t h e i s l and but un l ike t h a t spec ie s n e s t commonly i n va r ious a r e a s on t h e south s lopes of t h e i s l a n d . Nests a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y abundant i n n i ches and c a v i t i e s i n the rock outcroppings j u s t above t h e shore l ine , but many n e s t s a r e a l s o present on t h e rock f aces and under ledges a long t h e s i d e s of t h e v a l l e y s and i n rock outcroppings near t h e tops of t h e r idges . Banding The BSFW banded 32 Blue-gray Noddies on r ecen t v i s i t s : 6 a d u l t s i n March 1964, 5 a d u l t s i n March 1965, 2 a d u l t s i n Ju ly 1966, 17 a d u l t s and 1 l o c a l i n March 1968,and l a d u l t i n August 1968. None has been recaptured . Specimens More Blue-gray Noddies have been co l l ec t ed on Nihoa than almost a l l o ther spec ie s combined--at l e a s t 42 specimens. Of these , 33 a r e located i n t h e National Museum of Natural His tory , 2 i n t h e Phi lade lphia Academy of Science, and 7 i n t h e Bernice P . Bishop Museum. A l i s t of t h e s e specimens is presented i n Table 22. Table 21. Observations of Blue-gray Noddies on Nihoa I s l and Populat ion Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 26-27 May ? Presence noted from offshore (Munro, 1941a: 49). 1903 1-3 June ? Abundant; seen from o f f shore (F isher , 1903: 781). Table 21. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e 1902 5-9 Aug. ? 1915 1 8 Mar. "Several" 1916 12 Feb. 5-6 s e e n 1923 5 Apr. ? 24-26 May 100 no ted 11-16 June 1 , 6 0 0 1936 3 Mar. ? 1940 7-15 Aug. r a t h e r r a r e 1953 21-22 Dec. 150-200 1954 1 8 Mar. 100-150 1961 2 Mar. ? 9-16 Dec. n o t t o o common 1962 1 0 June abundant 1963 5-6 June ? 1964 6-7 Mar. thousands 25 J u l y f a i r l y common 23-24 Sep t . 150-300 1965 13-14 Mar. 500-600 Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences Abundant; s e e n from o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 779) . 2 young b i r d s found (Munter, 1915) . A n e s t w i t h a n egg found (Munter, ms . ) . O c c a s i o n a l l y s e e n o f f s h o r e (Wetmore, ms. ) . A s s o c i a t e d i n p a i r s (Wetmore, ms.). From s l i g h t l y i n c u b a t e d t o h e a v i l y i n - cuba ted eggs and from r e c e n t l y ha tched t o f l edged young (Wetmore, ms.) . P r e s e n c e no ted (Trempe, ms.) . "Nesting" ( V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee, 1941: 1 1 ) . "Nest ing and l a y i n g were a p p a r e n t l y j u s t s t a r t i n g " (Richardson , 1957, p e r s . comm.). ? (Richardson, p e r s . comm.). Abundant; s e e n from o f f s h o r e (Woodside and Kramer, ms . ) . ? "Paired" ( ~ r a m e r , m s .) . "Breeding. . .one dead c h i c k seen" (Kramer and B e a r d s l e y , ms.) . Thousands s e e n from o f f s h o r e (POBSP). From eggs t o f l e d g e d young found (BSFW, POBSP) . ? (BSFW). Eggs t o f l e d g e d young (BSFW, POBSP) Ca. 250 n e s t s , 5% w i t h young (BSFW, POBSP) . Table 21. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1966 28 J u l y - 2,500 ? (BSFW, POBSP) 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. s e v e r a l From eggs t o 1 / 2 grown young (BSFW, thousand POBSP). 13-14 Sep t . v e r y common No eggs o r young found (BSFW). a l o n g c l i f f s 1968 7-9 Mar. 2,000 F r e s h eggs t o n e a r f l e d g i n g young. Sample coun t of 34 n e s t s : 30 (88%) w i t h eggs ; 3 (9%) w i t h s m a l l d o m y c h i c k s ; and 1 (3%) w i t h a n e a r - f l e d g i n g young (BSFW, POBSP) . 24-27 Aug. h i g h A s p e c i a l e f f o r t made t o f i n d n e s t s b u t hundreds no n e s t i n g a c t i v i t y no ted (BSFTJ). (1 ,000 1969 21 Mar. 85 ? (BSFW). 1970 15 Aug. 75-100 No n e s t s were found (BSFW) . 1971 18-19 Aug. 2 0 (BSFW) 1 5 S e p t . O? None was s e e n (BSFW). 1972 16 Sep t . 50 (BSFW) 1973 3 1 J u l y 150 (BSFW) . Table 22. Blue-gray Noddy Specimens from Nihoa I s l a n d . ? ? Museum Museum and Museum Date Museum Males Nos. Females Nos. yg . Nos. C o l l e c t e d C o l l e c t o r USNM 1 3 300383, 6 300384- 3 300451- 12-15 June Wetmore 434,436, 386, 453 1923 437,440, 438,442 441,443- 450 USNM 1 289216* 2 289214- 215" 12-15 June Wetmore 1923 U SNM 7 289305- 11 ,15 June Wetmore 308** 1923 323-325""" Table 22. (Continued) ? ? Museum Museum and Museum Date Museum Males Nos. Females Nos. yg. Nos. C o l l e c t e d C o l l e c t o r PAS 2 146162, Aug. 1940 V a n d e r b i l t 164 BPBM USNbl 1 493275' 6 J u n e POBSP 1963 * S k e l e t o n s ** Embryonic a l c o h o l i c s . *** Older a l c o h o l i c s . + Shot from o f f s h o r e BROWN NODDY Anous s to l idus S t a t u s - Abundant b r e e d e r ; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 20,000. P r e s e n t throughout t h e y e a r b u t most numerous i n summer and f a l l . . Breeds throughout t h e y e a r b u t i n g r e a t e r numbers from s p r i n g t h r o u g h e a r l y f a l l . B u i l d s n e s t on t h e ground i n bo th v e g e t a t e d and open a r e a s (F ig . 31) . The g e n e r a l t r e n d of e s t i m a t e s (Table 23) shows t h a t b i r d s number a t l e a s t i n t h e low thousands i n summer and f a l l and t h a t c o n s i d e r a b l y fewer b i r d s a r e p r e s e n t i n March. The e a r l y e s t i m a t e s (1915 and 1923) do n o t appear t o be s i g n i f i - c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t from r e c e n t e s t i m a t e s , a l t h o u g h Wetmore's e s t i m a t e of 4,000 f o r June 1923 i s a l i t t l e lower than we would e x p e c t , and Brown's e s t i m a t e f o r March 1915 i s p robab ly e r r o n e o u s l y l a r g e . The p o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e f o r J u l y and August 1966 seems p a r t i c u l a r l y l a r g e compared w i t h o t h e r numer ica l e s t i m a t e s , b u t no o t h e r e s t i m a t e s have been made a t t h a t t ime of y e a r . Figure 31. Brown Noddy a t n e s t with egg, March 1967. BSFW photograph by Eugene K r i d l e r . Annual Cycle This spec ies shows a l e s s c l e a r l y defined breeding cyc le than t h a t of any o ther spec ie s breeding i n t h e northwestern Hawaiian Is lands . On Nihoa eggs have been l a i d i n a l l months from December through August and some may have been l a i d i n the o ther months a s wel l . The more quan- t i t a t i v e da ta suggest t h a t t h e numbers of l ay ing b i r d s inc rease con- s ide rab ly during March and seve ra l succeeding months, with l i t t l e lay ing occurr ing a f t e r mid-August. Observations i n d i c a t e per iods of peak laying a s : 1923-June, 1964-July, 1966-June or J u l y , and 1967-late J u l y or e a r l y August. Grea tes t numbers probably hatch from l a t e June through mid- o r l a t e August, and l a r g e s t numbers probably f l edge from l a t e August through October. Judging from d a t a gathered on o ther northwestern Hawaiian I s l ands , probably r e l a t i v e l y l i t t l e breeding occurs from November through February. Breeding H a b i t a t Brown Noddy n e s t s a r e wide ly d i s p e r s e d o v e r t h e s l o p e s of t h e i s l a n d b u t tend t o be most numerous i n r a v i n e s . N e s t s c o n s i s t p r i - m a r i l y of l o o s e a g g r e g a t i o n s of s t i c k s , weed s tems, and s t r a w s , and o c c a s i o n a l l y c o n t a i n f e a t h e r s , bones , o r p e b b l e s . A l l n e s t s whose a c t u a l l o c a t i o n s were r e p o r t e d were found on t h e ground b u t t h e s i t e s v a r i e d c o n s i d e r a b l y . Many of t h e n e s t s were under t h i c k s h r u b s such a s Chenopodiwn, and o t h e r s were on r o c k o u t c r o p p i n g s , l e d g e s , and i n sha l low h o l e s i n t h e c l i f f s . Banding I n a l l , 37 Brown Noddies were banded on r e c e n t v i s i t s t o Nihoa: 3 a d u l t s by t h e BSFW i n March 1964 and 34 l a r g e young by t h e POBSP i n September 1964. None h a s been r e c a p t u r e d . Specimens We have found r e c o r d s of s i x specimens. Wetmore c o l l e c t e d two a d u l t f emales (USNM 300499-500) on 12 June 1923 and a n embryonic a l c o - h o l i c (USNM 289399) on 1 4 June . I n August 19110 t h e V a n d e r b i l t E x p e d i t i o n c o l l e c t e d two o t h e r s , a male (PAS 146159) and a d o u b t f u l l y sexed female (PAS 1Li6158). A t h i r d specimen from 1940 i s l i s t e d by V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee (1941: 12) b u t we do n o t know i t s p r e s e n t d i s p o s i t i o n . Tab le 23. Observa t ions of Brown Noddies on Nihoa I s l a n d P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1891 26-27 May ? Presence noted from o f f s h o r e (Munro, 1941a: 49). 1902 1-3 June ? Seen f l y i n g o f f s h o r e and on i s l a n d ( F i s h e r , 1903: 778-783). 5-9 Aug. ? Seen f l y i n g o f f s h o r e and on i s l a n d ( F i s h e r , 1903: 779-783). 1915 1 8 Mar. 5 00 ? , no n e s t s no ted (Munter, 1915: 1 3 3 ) . (5,000) A l t e r n a t i v e e s t i m a t e by Brown (ms.). 1916 12 Feb. v e r y F r e s h eggs found. Many young from numerous p r e c e d i n g b r e e d i n g season seen (Munter, ms . ) . Table 23. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1923 11-16 J u n e 1936 3 M a r . 1940 7-15 Aug. 1953 21-22 Dec. 1954 18 Mar. 1961 9-16 Dec. 1962 1 0 June 1963 5-6 June 1964 6-7 Mar. 25 J u l y 23-24 Sep t . 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 Ju ly - 1 Aug. 4,000 ? e x t r e m e l y p l e n t i f u l 200-250 200-300 ? ? ? 600 v e r y abundant 7,000" 1 , 0 0 0 20, ooo* Most ly w i t h f r e s h o r p a r t l y incuba ted eggs (Uetmore, m s . ) . No n e s t s found (Trempe, ms. ) . "Breeding was i n a l l s t a g e s " (Vander- b i l t and de Schauensee , 1941: 1 2 ) . "a d e d i n i t e b r e e d i n g season had s t a r t e d " (Richardson, 1957 and p e r s . comm.). ? (Richardson, p e r s . comm.). Eggs and downy c h i c k s (Kramer, ms.) From eggs t o f l e d g e d young (Kramer and Beards ley , ms . ) . Thousands s e e n from o f f s h o r e (POBSP). 1 n e s t w i t h eggs and 2 w i t h young found. Cour t sh ip behav io r observed (BSFW, POBSP). Eggs t o nea r - f l edg ing young b u t ca. 99% of n e s t s w i t h eggs (BSFW). Ca. 3,500 young, m o s t l y l a r g e c h i c k s o r f l y i n g immatures. A few n e s t s w i t h eggs o r smal-ler young (BSFW, POBSP). 90% w i t h eggs , 10% w i t h young (BSFW, POBSP) . C a . 10,000 n e s t s , 90% w i t h e g g s , 10% w i t h young. Ca. 75% of young r e c e n t l y h a t c h e d , 25% from 2-3 weeks o l d (BSFW, POBSP) . Table 23. (Cont inued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1967 8-9 Mar. s e v e r a l From eggs t o 314 grown young. Most thousand c h i c k s from 113 t o 314 grown (BSFW, POBSP). 13-14 S e p t . c onimon Eggs t o f l y i n g young b u t ca. 75-8077 o f n e s t s w i t h snial l downy c h i c k s (BSFW) 1968 7-9 Plar. 1 , 0 0 0 F r e s h eggs t o young abou t 3-4 weeks o l d . Most of p o p u l a t i o n n o t n e s t i n g (BSFW, POBSp). 24-27 Aug. low Cggs t o f l y i n g young (DSFIJ) . thousands (5,000 1969 21 E!ar. 2 ,000 Eggs t o f l y i n g young (BSFW) . 1570 15 Aug. 5 , 0 0 0 In a sample of 100 n e s t s , 84 c o n t a i n e d e g g s , 1 4 had s m a l l downy c h i c k s , and 2 had l a r g e n e a r - f l e d g i n g young. R e c e n t l y f l e d g e d young were a l s o s e e n (BSFW). 1971 18-19 Aug. 5 , 0 0 0 From eggs t o f l e d g e d young (BSFW). 15 Sep t . thousands (BSFW) . 1972 1 6 S e p t . 15 ,000 (BSFW) . 1973 3 1 J u l y > 4 ,000 (BSFV) . * E s t i m a t e i s of number of b reed ing b i r d s o n l y . BLACK NODDY Anous tenuirostris S t a t u s Poor ly known. B i r d s p robab ly p r e s e n t th roughout t h e yea r b u t changes i n p o p u l a t i o n l e v e l unknown. Maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : s e v e r a l thousand o r low thousands . Only once found b r e e d i n g (August 1940) b u t a lmos t c e r t a i n l y b r e e d s on Nihoa e v e r y y e a r . Populat ions - V i r t u a l l y nothing i s known of t h e populat ion s i z e s ince these b i r d s occur pr imar i ly on t h e nea r ly inaccess ib l e no r th c l i f f f a c e , and to a l e s s e r ex ten t on t h e eas t e rn and western c l i f f f aces . Since the north c l i f f f a c e cannot be c a r e f u l l y observed, d i f f e rences i n population es t imates from survey to survey a r e nea r ly meaningless. Estimates (Table 24) i n d i c a t e t h a t t h i s spec ie s is f a i r l y common during the spr ing . Annual Cycle Vanderbilt and de Schauensee (1941: 12) were t h e only observers who found n e s t s of t h i s spec ie s . They noted t h a t t h i s spec ies "nested p a r t i c u l a r l y i n Middle Valley." The v a l i d i t y of t h i s observat ion seems quest ionabie s i n c e no o ther observer has found them n e s t i n g i n t h i s a rea . They a l s o noted t h a t t h e r e were "no d i s t i n c t co lonies and t h e bird seemed t o mix f r e e l y wi th t h e . . . [Brown] Noddy." Table 24. Observations of Black Noddies on Nihoa Is land Population Date of Survey Est imate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1891 26-27 May ? Presence noted from offshore (Munro, 1941a: 49). 1902 1-3 June ? Presence noted from offshore (F isher , 1903: 778). 5-9 Aug. ? Presence noted from offshore (F isher , 1903: 779) but t h e comment t h a t they were seen i n August ( 200 . cit., p. 784) might suggest they were not seen i n June. 1923 24 May ? ? (Wetmore, m s .) . 11-16 June sma 11 Seen i n small numbers i n t h e rock she lves numbers below t h e c l i f f s on t h e western s i d e of t h e i s l and (Wetmore, ms.) . 1936 3 Mar. ? No n e s t s found (Trempe, ms.). 1940 77-15 Aug. f a i r l y "Breeding was i n a l l s t ages" (Vanderbilt abundant and de Schauensee, 1941: 12 ) . 1953 21-22 Dec. 4-8 ? (Richardson, pe r s . comm.) . 1954 18 Mar. 2 ? (Richardson, pe r s . comm.). 1961 2 Mar. ? Not noted from o f f shore (Woodside and Kramer , m s . ) . Table 24. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1961 9-16 Dec. 0 1962 1 0 June ? 1963 5-6 J u n e ? 1964 6 - 7 M a r . Ca. 1 , 0 0 0 25 J u l y ? 23024 Sep t . Ca. 250 1965 13-14 Mar. 7 00 1966 28 Ju ly - 6 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. s e v e r a l thousand 1968 7-9 Mar. a t least sev- e r a l hundreds 24-27 Aug. ? 1970 15 Aug. 1 ,000 1971 15 Sept . low t h o u s a n d s 1972 1 6 Sep t . 1 , 0 0 0 WHITE TERN S t a t u s - (Kramer, 1961) . ? Seen o n l y on c l i f f s (Kramer and Beards ley , m s .) . Ca. 100 s e e n from o f f s h o r e (POBSP) . ? (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW) . ? (BSFW, POBSP) . No e g g s o r young s e e n (BSFW, POBSP). ? (BSFW, POBSP). ? (BSFW, POBSP) . ? No n e s t s found on a c c e s s i b l e p a r t of i s l a n d (BSFW, POBSP) . ? Seen i n a r e a of n o r t h e r n c l i f f f a c e (BSFW) . (BSFW) . (BSFW) . (BSFW) . Common b r e e d e r ; maximum r e c e n t e s t i m a t e : 3 ,000. P r e s e n t through- o u t t h e yea r b u t a p p a r e n t l y l e s s abundant i n f a l l and w i n t e r ; p robab ly b r e e d s throughout t h e y e a r b u t d a t a a r e t o o few t o e s t a b l i s h when b reed ing peaks o c c u r . Lays s i n g l e egg on r o c k o u t c r o p p i n g s and i n h o l e s i n c l i f f f a c e . P o p u l a t i o n s Most r e c e n t e s t i m a t e s of t h e p o p u l a t i o n p l a c e i t i n t h e low hundreds (Table 25) b u t t h e s e e s t i m a t e s a r e q u i t e s u b j e c t i v e . S ince many s u r v e y s covered on ly p a r t of t h e a r e a w h e r e t h e s e b i r d s occur most d e n s e l y , w e s u s p e c t t h a t many of t h e e s t i m a t e s a r e low and t h a t t h e maximal p o p u l a t i o n s a r e i n t h e low thousands . Both M u n t e r ' s and Wetmore's e a r l y e s t i m a t e s a r e c o n s i d e r a b l y l a r g e r than any r e c e n t e s t i m a t e , t h e former s o much s o t h a t w e s u s p e c t i t was h i g h l y inaccu- r a t e . Wetmore's e s t i m a t e i s a l s o l a r g e r than r e c e n t e s t i m a t e s b u t h e may have seen more of t h e n o r t h e r n c l i f f f a c e t h a n d i d o b s e r v e r s on more r e c e n t t r i p s . Annual Cycle Many, i f n o t most , White Terns , n e s t on t h e n e a r l y i n a c c e s s i b l e n o r t h f a c e of t h e i s l a n d and many s u r v e y s have been u n a b l e t o f i n d any n e s t s a l t h o u g h they were p robab ly p r e s e n t . Consequent ly we know l i t t l e about t h e b r e e d i n g c y c l e of t h i s s p e c i e s on Nihoa. Eggs have been found i n March, J u n e , August , and September and p re - f l edg ing young have been found i n March, May, June , and August , i n d i c a t i n g t h a t l a y i n g h a s o c c u r r e d i n a t l e a s t February , A p r i l , and J u l y . It i s l i k e l y t h a t a t l e a s t a s m a l l p r o p o r t i o n of t h e p o p u l a t i o n b r e e d s throughout t h e y e a r . Breeding H a b i t a t The g r e a t m a j o r i t y of White Terns n e s t s on t h e s h e e r c l i f f s of t h e n o r t h , e a s t , and west s i d e s of t h e i s l a n d . A much smaller number n e s t s on t h e rocky o u t c r o p p i n g s of t h e s o u t h s l o p e s of t h e i s l a n d . Wetmore (ms.) no ted t h a t t h o s e on t h e n o r t h c l i f f f a c e tended t o n e s t below 500 f e e t and t h a t most n e s t e d between 20 and 250 f e e t above t h e s e a . Specimens Four specimens were c o l l e c t e d by Wetmore on 1 3 June 1923: a n a d u l t female (USNM 300417), a n a d u l t male (USNM 300418) and 2 a l c o - h o l i c s (USNM 289327-328). Tab le 25. Observa t ions of White Terns on Nihoa I s l a n d P o p u l a t i o n Da te of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1891 26-27 May ? Presence no ted from o f f s h o r e (Munro, 1941a: 49). 1902 1-3 June ? Common; s e e n from o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 785-786). T a b l e 25. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and Refe rences 1902 5-9 Aug. 1915 18 Mar. 1916 12 Feb. 1923 5 Apr. 24-27 Map 11-16 June 1936 3 Mar. 1940 7-15 Aug. 1953 21-22 Dec. 1954 18 Mar. 1961 2 Mar. 9-16 Dec. 1963 5-6 June 1964 6-7 Mar. 25 J u l y 23-24 Sep t . 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 Ju ly - 1 Aug. ? Common; seen from o f f s h o r e ( F i s h e r , 1903: 785-7861. 50,000 ? (Hunter , 1915: 1 3 3 ) . A l t e r n a t i v e (100,000) e s t i m a t e by Brown (ms.) . s e e n S t a t e d t o be n o t a s numerous a s on t h e o c c a s i o n a l l y March, 1915, su rvey (Munter, ms. ) . ? O c c a s i o n a l l y seen o f f s h o r e (Wetmore, m s . ) . abundant Eggs and young found (Wetmore, ms.) . 8 ,000 Some beg inn ing t o b r e e d ; " o t h e r seemed t o have young" (Wetmore, ms.) . ? No n e s t s found (Trempe, ms . ) . n o t p a r t i c u - "Breeding was i n an e a r l y s t a g e , t h e l a r l y abundant eggs j u s t commencing t o ha tch" (Van- d e r b i l t and de Schauensee , 1941: 12) 20-30 20-30 ? ? ? thousands ? 350 800 500 ? (Richardson, p e r s . comm.). ? (Richardson, p e r s . comm.) . Abundant; s e e n from o f f s h o r e (Woodside and Kramer, ms . ) . "Many f l y i n g i.mmatures seen" (Kramer , ms. ) . Thousands seen from o f f s h o r e , i n c l u d i n g many young b i r d s (POBSP). Eggs t o f l e d g e d young (BSFW, POBSP). (BSFW) . Eggs t o f l edged young (BSFW, POBSP). ? No a t t e m p t made t o l o o k f o r n e s t s (BSFW, POBSP). ? (BSFW, POBSP). Table 25. (Continued) Populat ion Date of Survey - Estimate Breedin g S ta tus , Remarks, and References 1967 8-9 Mar. 600 ? (BSFW, POBSP). 13-14 Sept. ? One found incubat ing an egg (BSFW) 1968 7-9 Mar. 24-27 Aug . 1961 21 Mar. 1970 15 Aug. 1971 18-19 Aug. 1972 16 Sept. 1973 31 Ju ly MOCKINGBIRD S t a t u s many hundreds many hundreds 3 0 100-200 3,000 3 00 2,000 ? No n e s t s found on a c c e s s i b l e p a r t of i s l and (BSFW, POBSP) . Eggs t o f l y i n g young (BSFW). ? (BSFW). (BSFW) . Near f ledging young seen (BSFW). (BSFW) . (BSFW) . Vagrant; one s i g h t record i n August 1971. Observations Robert J. Shallenberger observed and photographed a Mockingbird t h a t he saw on Mil le r P la t eau during t h e BSFW survey of 18-19 August 1971. The spec ies has n o t been recorded previous ly from Nihoa but i s wel l e s t ab l i shed i n the main Hawaiian I s l ands and has previous ly wan- dered t o both French F r i g a t e Shoals and Necker I s land i n t h e north- western Hawaiian I s l ands (Amerson, 1971: 302; Berger, 1972: 215). NIHOA MILLERBIRD AcrocephaZus fmiZiar is kingi S t a t u s - Common endemic breeder; maximum recen t populat ion es t imate : 625. Present throughout the year but i n f r equen t ly seen because of i t s tendency t o skulk i n dense shrubbery. Nests i n low bushes and probably breeds from a t l e a s t February through l a t e August or e a r l y September. Populat ions Recent populat ion e s t ima tes , based pr imar i ly on t r a n s e c t censuses, have v a r i e d widely (Table 26) but t h i s v a r i a t i o n i s more l i k e l y a t t r i b u t e d t o inadequacies of the censuses than t o very marked changes i n t h e popu- l a t i o n s of Mi l l e rb i rds . I n any case i t seems l i k e l y t h a t t h e populat ion c o n s i s t s of a t l e a s t s e v e r a l hundred b i r d s . Annual Cycle L i t t l e i s known of t h e reproduct ive h a b i t s of t h e Nihoa Mi l l e rb i rd s i n c e only four a c t i v e n e s t s had been found through J u l y 1973 (Table 26). What l i t t l e evidence i s a v a i l a b l e suggests t h a t t h e spec ie s n e s t s p r i - mar i ly dur ing t h e northern hemisphere spr ing and summer. Breeding Habi ta t This spec ie s occurs widely throughout t h e i s l and but seems t o p re fe r a r e a s of dense Sida and Chenopodiwn. Berger (1972: 110) has pointed out t h a t of a l l n e s t s found t o d a t e , two were i n Sida and t h e r e s t were i n Chenopodiwn. Berger (op. c i t . : 110) has described o ld n e s t s seen by him a s averaging "about 3 by 4 inches i n maximum diameter and were com- posed pr imar i ly of s t r i p s and p i e c e s of g ra s s stems and b lades , wi th varying amounts of r o o t l e t s . A l l of t h e n e s t s contained some f e a t h e r s of o t h e r spec ies of b i r d s , white being t h e predominant co lor used." Banding Thirty-two Mi l l e rb i rds have been banded on Nihoa by the BSFW: 8 i n September 1964, 1 i n March 1965, March 1967, March 1968, 4 i n August 1968 and 17 i n June 1969. Specimens We know of 26 study sk ins of t h e Mi l le rb i rd from Nihoa Is land . These a r e l i s t e d i n Table 2 7 . There a r e , i n addi . t ion, a ske le ton (USNM 289276) and an a l coho l i c (USNM 289299), both co l l ec t ed by Alexander Wetmore i n June 1923. Table 26. Observations 'of Nihoa M i l l e r b i r d s on Nihoa Is land Dopulation Date of Survey Estimate Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and References 1923 11-16 June near 100 Described a s a new spec ie s Conopoderas k i n g i by Wetmore (1924). The breeding season had ended and young were f u l l y grown. 1940 7-15 Aug. ? No n e s t s o r young b i r d s seen (Vander- b i l t and de Schauensee, 1941: 13) . 1953 21-22 Dec. ? Only two indivi.dua1s seen (Richardson, 1954: 224). Table 26. (Continued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s 1961 9-16 Dec. 200 1962 1 0 J u n e ? 1964 6-7 Mar. ? 25 J u l y ? 23-24 S e p t . 15 0 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 J u l y - 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 13-14 S e p t . 1968 7-9 Mar. 24-27 Aug. 1969 2 1 Mar. 29 May- 1 0 June 1970 15 Aug. , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1 1 P a i r i n g appeared t o be t a k i n g p l a c e " (Kramer, m s . ) . Many males s i n g i n g . One n e s t c o n t a i n - i n g one egg was found (Kramer and B e a r d s l e y , ms. ) . 7 b i r d s seen . No n e s t s found (POBSP, BSFW) . 3 b i r d s s e e n , 2 of which appeared t o be p a i r e d (BSFW). No e v i d e n c e of n e s t i n g found (POBSP, BSFW) . No n e s t s found (BSFW, POBSP). S i x o l d n e s t s found 1 August (Berger , 1972: 1 1 0 ) . Ten t o 15 b i r d s s e e n . Some s i n g i n g males hea rd (POBSP, BSFW) . E s t i m a t e based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s (BSFW) . E s t i m a t e based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s . No n e s t s found b u t a r e c e n t l y f l e d g e d young observed (POBSP, BSFW) . A n e s t w i t h two eggs found 25 August (Berger , 1972: 1101. Based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s . No e v i d e n c e of n e s t i n g was found (BSFW). 1st e s t i m a t e based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s 30 May; 2nd e s t i m a t e based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s 6 June (BsFW). A n e s t w i t h two s m a l l young found 30 May and one w i t h a n e a r f l e d g i n g young found 2 J u n e (Berger , 1972: 1 1 0 ) . Based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s . No n e s t s found (BSFW) . Table 26. (Cont inued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 1971 18-19 Aug. 273 Based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s (BSFW). (91-454) * 15 S e p t . ? About 1 0 b i r d s seen (BSFW). 1972 1 6 S e p t . 592 Based o n t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s (BSFW). (334-850)* 1973 3 1 J u l y 198 Based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s (BSFW). (46-350)* * F i g u r e s i n p a r e n t h e s e s r e p r e s e n t c o n f i d e n c e l i m i t s f o r t h e population e s t i m a t e a t a 95% c o n f i d e n c e l e v e l . Tab le 27. Nihoa M i l l e r b i r d specimens from Nihoa I s l a n d ? ? Museum Museum and Huseum Date Museum Males Nos. Females Nos. i m . Nos. C o l l e c t e d C o l l e c t o r USNM 5 287888 1 301127 1 0 301128- 12-15 June Wermore ( t y p e ) , 137 1923 301126, 301138- 140 PAS 4 146144- 5 146143, 145, 146146- 146149, 148, 146152 146150 1 6 Aug. V a n d e r b i l t 1940 1 325832 16 Aug. V a n d e r b i l t 1940 NIHOA FINCH Psittarostra cantuns uZtima Abundant endemic b r e e d e r ; maximum r e c e n t p o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e : 6,686. P r e s e n t throughout t h e y e a r . Commonly seen because of t h e i r c o n f i d i n g n a t u r e . P r e f e r s t o n e s t i n rocky o u t c r o p p i n g s and n e s t s p r i n c i p a l l y from l a t e February th rough a t least A p r i l . Although r e c e n t e s t i m a t e s a r e v a r i a b l e , t h e y s u g g e s t a p o p u l a t i o n on t h e o r d e r of 3 ,000 t o 5 ,000 b i r d s (Tab le 2 8 ) . These e s t i m a t e s a r e c o n s i s t e n t l y h i g h e r t h a n t h o s e e s t i m a t e s made by e a r l i e r o b s e r v e r s b u t we b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s d i f f e r e n c e may be a t t r i b u t e d t o more r e l i a b l e r e c e n t e s t i m a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s than t o any i n h e r e n t change i n t h e popu- l a t i o n l e v e l s of t h i s f i n c h . Recent e s t i m a t e s do n o t s u g g e s t any pronounced s e a s o n a l changes i n p o p u l a t i o n s . Annual Cycle A v a i l a b l e ev idence s u g g e s t s a f a i r l y pronounced s p r i n g b r e e d i n g season . A n e a r f l e d g i n g young s e e n by Richardson on 1 8 March 1954 i n d i c a t e s t h a t egg- laying may beg in i n l a t e February . T h i s i s cor - r o b o r a t e d by t h e presenceof young e a r l y i n March d u r i n g 1967 and 1969. So d a t a i s a v a i l a b l e f o r n e s t i n g a c t i v i t i e s d u r i n g A p r i l and n e s t s have n o t been recorded l a t e r i n t h e y e a r . O b s e r v a t i o n s by Berger (1972: 159- 161) on c a p t i v e Nohia F inches may s u g g e s t t h e p o t e n t i a l e x t e n t of t h e b reed ing season i n t h e w i l d . He r e c o r d e d e g g s d u r i n g a p e r i o d e x t e n d i n g from 17 December 1969 th rough 27 J u l y 1970. Breeding H a b i t a t Nihoa F i n c h e s a r e widespread over t h e i s l a n d b u t o f t e n occur commonly n e a r t h e rocky o u t c r o p p i n g s (F ig . 32) which s e r v e a s t h e i r p r i n c i p a l n e s t i n g si tes. S e v e r a l o b s e r v e r s have no ted t h a t t h e s e b i r d s o f t e n congrega te n e a r s e e p s o r p o o l s of wa te r w i t h Wetmore n o t i n g t h a t a s xany a s 50 cou ld be s e e n i n such s i t u a t i o n a t one t ime. F i g u r e 32. Nihoa F inch on rocky o u t c r o p p i n g , 16 September 1972. BSFW photograph by Eugene K r i d l e r . Food H a b i t s L ike t h e r e l a t e d s u b s p e c i e s on Laysan I s l a n d , Nihoa F inches a r e a v i d egg e a t e r s , a behav io r i sm t h a t h a s been recorded by many o b s e r v e r s . I n 1923 Wetmore no ted t h a t l i t e r a l l y thousands of t e r n , s h e a r w a t e r , and p e t r e l eggs had had t h e i r s i d e s c u t open by t h e f i n c h e s . I n J u l y and August 1966 b o t h Berger (1972: 157) and Heiden (POBSP) no ted t h i s s p e c i e s f e e d i n g on e g g s of t h e Brown Noddy. I n one i n s t a m e Berger noted 20 f i n c h e s w i t h i n 30 f e e t of a s i n g l e broken egg. Heiden a l s o obse rved t h i s s p e c i e s f e e d i n g on t h e eggs of t h e Gray-backed Tern , Red-footed Booby, and Wedge-tai led Shearwate r . The o n l y o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e on t h e food h a b i t s of t h i s s p e c i e s comes from V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee (1941: 13) and Rich- a r d s o n (1954: 224). The former n o t e d t h a t s e v e r a l stomachs c o n t a i n e d " . . . a g e l a t i n o u s y e l l o w s u b s t a n c e ( p r o b a b l y y o l k of e g g ) , minute b l a c k s e e d s and m i c r o s c o p i c pebb les . " R ichardson r e p e a t e d l y observed t h e s e f i n c h e s " e a t i n g t h e s m a l l , g reen f l o w e r heads of Chenopodiwn sand- wichewn ... [and n o t e d ] ... one b i r d p i c k i n g o u t t h e s t i l l p a r t l y g r e e n seed of PortuZaca cawnii". Banding A t o t a l of 336 Nihoa F inches have been banded by t h e BSFW. Four a d u l t s were banded i n September 1964; 8 n e s t l i n g s were banded i n March 1965; 12 a d u l t s were banded i n J u l y 1966; 46, a l l a d u l t s e x c e p t f o r one immature, were banded i n March 1967; 22 n e s t l i n g s were banded i n March 1968; 37, i n c l u d i n g 7 a d u l t s and 3 0 immatures were banded i n August 1968, and a n o t h e r 207 were banded i n June 1969. F o r t y - f i v e of t h e 46 b i r d s banded i n March 1967 were sh ipped by BSFW t o French F r i g a t e Shoa l s w i t h 32 l a t e r b e i n g in t roduced t o Tern I s l a n d and w i t h 1 0 be ing i n t r o - duced t o E a s t I s l a n d . The E a s t I s l a n d p o p u l a t i o n d i d n o t s u r v i v e . A s many a s 9 were s t i l l p r e s e n t on T e r n I s l a n d i n September 1971 (BSFW). Specimens F i f t y - n i n e specimens of Nihoa F i n c h e s a r e l i s t e d by l o c a t i o n i n Tab le 29. There a r e i n a d d i t i o n a s k e l e t o n (USNM 289277) and a n a l c o h o l i c (USNM 289329) bo th o f which were c o l l e c t e d by Wetmore j~n June 1923. Table 28. O b s e r v a t i o n s of Nihoa F i n c h e s on Nihoa I s l a n d P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breeding S t a t u s , Remarks and R e f e r e n c e s 1885 22 J u l y ? S p e c i e s seen by Sanford B . Dole (Munro, 1960: 1 3 0 ) . 1915 18 Mar. "1,000 o r (Munter, 1915: 132) . The p r e s e n c e of more" t h i s b i r d was l a t e r no ted by Bryan (1916). 1916 12 Feb. ? 5 specimens c o l l e c t e d by Munter (ms.) were l a t e r d e s c r i b e d a s a new s p e c i e s TeZespiza uztirna by Bryan (1917) . 1923 11-16 June 8 00 B i r d s had f i n i s h e d b r e e d i n g and a d u l t s were i n mol t (Wetmore, ms.). 1940 7-15 Aug. 500-1,000 B i r d s n o t n e s t i n g b u t 2 o l d n e s t s found ( V a n d e r b i l t and de Schauensee , 1941: 1 3 ) . 1953 21-22 Dec. " reasonab ly 2 o l d n e s t s found (Richardson, 1954: numerous" 224) . 1954 1 8 Mar. - 1 n e a r - f l e d g i n g young found i n 1 of t h e n e s t s s e e n t h e p r e v i o u s December (Richardson, 1954: 224). 1961 9-16 Dec. 800-1,200 No n e s t s found (Kramer, ms. ) . 1962 1 0 June "as abundant a s No n e s t s found (Kramer and B e a r d s l e y , m s . ) . i n December 1961" 1964 6-7 Mar. 2,500- 1 b i r d s e e n n e s t b u i l d i n g (POBSP). 5,000 23-24 Sep t . 4,500- No ev idence of n e s t i n g found (POBSP, 5 ,000 BSFW) . 1965 13-14 Mar. 4 ,000 6 n e s t s w i t h young and 1 c o n t a i n i n g 3 eggs found. Of 4 n e s t s examined, 2 c o n t a i n e d 2 young and 2 c o n t a i n e d 3 young. 8 n e s t l i n g s were banded (POBSP, BSFW) . 1966 28 J u l y - 5 ,000 No ev idence of b r e e d i n g found (POBSP, 1 Aug. BSFW) . 1967 8-9 Mar. 5 ,000 42 b i r d s c a p t u r e d f o r i n t r o d u c t i o n t o Tern and E a s t I s l a n d s , F rench F r i g a t e Shoa l s (POBSP, BSFW). Eggs and young found (Berger , 1972: 1 5 8 ) . Table 28. (Cont inued) P o p u l a t i o n Date of Survey E s t i m a t e Breed ing S t a t u s , Remarks, and R e f e r e n c e s 13-14 S e p t . 5 ,000 E s t i m a t e based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s (BSFW) 1968 7-9 Mar. 24-27 Aug. 1969 21 Mar. 29 May 1970 1 5 Aug. 1971 18-19 Aug. 1 5 Sep t . 1972 1 6 S e p t . 1973 3 1 J u l y 6,600 E s t i m a t e based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s . B i r d s a p p a r e n t l y a t a peak of n e s t i n g . B i r d s s e e n b u i l d i n g . 1 3 n e s t s found w i t h a t o t a l of 28 n e s t l i n g s and 1 0 e g g s . The maximum number of young i n a n e s t was 4 . 22 n e s t l i n g s were banded (FOBS?, BSFW) . 6,686 E s t i m a t e based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s (4,881-8,491)" (BSFW) . 2,993 E s t i m a t e based o n s m a l l number of t r a n s - (1,913-4,073)" ect c e n s u s e s and p o s s i b l y s u b j e c t t o e r r o r . 2 n e s t s found, 1 w i t h 1 egg and 1 w i t h 1 young (BSFW). 2,987 I s t ~ e s t i r r a t e based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s (2,206-3,948)* 3 0 May; 2nd e s t i m a t e based on t r a n s e c t 1 ,528 c e n s u s e s 6 June (BSFW). (924-2,132)* 2,341 E s t i m a t e based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s . (1,637-3,045)" S e v e r a l o l d n e s t s found; no ev idence of b r e e d i n g no ted (BSFW). 3 ,759 E s t i m a t e based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s . (2,707-4,81l)*No a c t i v e n e s t s found (BSFW). common (BSFW) . everywhere 3,799 E s t i m a t e based on t r a n s e c t c e n s u s e s (3,009-4,589)*(BSFW). 1 ,318 E s t i m a t e based on t r a n s e c t censuses (892-1,744)" (BSFW) . * F i g u r e s i n p a r e n t h e s e s r e p r e s e n t c o n f i d e n c e l i m i t s f o r t h e p o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e a t a 95% c o n f i d e n c e l e v e l . T a b l e 29. Nihoa F i n c h specimens from Nihoa I s l a n d ? ? Museum Museum and Museum D a t e Museum Males Nos. Females Nos. imm . Nos. C o l l e c t e d C o l l e c t o r BPBM? LACM USNM PAS AMNH U SNM USNM 20243 (holo- 1 t y p e ) 20244 ( p a r a - t y p e ) 301144,301147, 5 301150,301159 301167,301171** 301174-177 20244 (pa ra - 1 t y p e ) 1 2 Feb. 1916 Munter 20246 (pa ra - 1 2 Feb. 1916 Munter t y p e ) 301145,301146, 11-15 J u n e Wetmore 301149,301151- 1923 154,301156**, 301157-158, 301162-169, 301172-173, 301178-179, 301181-184 146133-135, 1 6 Aug. 1940 V a n d e r b i l t 146137-140, 146142 325831 1 6 Aug. 1940 V a n d e r b i l t 8 Mar. 1967 K r i d l e r 1 5 S e p t . 1967 K r i d l e r * One of t h e o r i g i n a l f i v e specimens p r e s e r v e d i n s p i r i t s and may s t i l l b e i n t h e Bishop Museum. ** T h i s b i r d was l a t e r exchanged t o t h e Museum o f Compara t ive Zoology. Mammals Only one s p e c i e s of mammal i s known t o o c c u r a t Nihoa and i t s a p p e a r a n c e t h e r e i s uncommon. HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL Monachus s c h a u i n s Z a n d i S t a t u s Uncommon v i s i t o r . Not lcnown t o b r e e d a t Nihoa . O b s e r v a t i o n s A l l o b s e r v a t i o n s of t h i s s p e c i e s a t Ni.hoa a r e summarized i n T a b l e 30. T a b l e 30. O b s e r v a t i o n s of Hawaiian Monk S e a l s a t Nihoa I s l a n d Number D a t e of Survey Seen Remarks and R e f e r e n c e s 1857 23 Apr. a b o u t a On beach. S e v e r a l s h o t by King dozen Kamehameha I V ( P a t y i n Emory, 1928: 9 ) . 1940 7-15 Aug. 0 ( V a n d e r b i l t and d e Schauensee , 1941: 8 ) . 1953 21-22 Dec. 0 (Kenyon and R i c e , 1959: 217) L954 1 8 Mar. 0 (Kenyon and R i c e , 1959: 217) . 1957 28 Dec. 0 ( R i c e , 1960: 3 7 7 ) . 1964 6-7 Mar. 1 1 l y i n g on s m a l l beach on west s i d e of Adam's Bay 6 March. Adu l t seem swimming o f f s h o r e l a t e r i n d a y (POBSP) 23-24 S e p t . 1 A d u l t swimming n e a r l a n d i n g s i t e (BSFW, POBSP) . 1965 13-14 Mar. 6 3 s e e n e a c h day: 2 a d u l t s , ma le and f e m a l e ; 4 s u b a d u l t s , 1 female (BSFW, POBSP) . 1966 28 J u l y - 0 (BSFW, POBSP) . 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 0 (BSFW, POBSP) . 13-14 S e p t . 0 (BSFW) . T a b l e 30. (Continued) Kumber D a t e of Survey Seen Remarks and R e f e r e n c e s 1968 7-9 Mar. 24-27 Aug . 1969 21 Mar. 29 May 1970 15 Aug. 1971 18-19 Aug. 15 S e p t . 1972 1 6 Sep t . 1973 3 1 J u l y (BSFW, POBSP) . (BSFW) . (BSFW) . (BSFW) . (BSFW) . (BSFW) . Found bask ing on sandy beach (BSFW). (BSFW) . Basking on sandy beach (BSFW). R e p t i l e s Two s p e c i e s o f r e p t i l e s , a l i z a r d and a t u r t l e , a r e known t o o c c u r a t Nihoa. Both a r e uncommon and t h e r e i s no a d e q u a t e e v i d e n c e t h a t e i t h e r s p e c i e s h a s e v e r b red t h e r e . MOURNING GECKO Lepidodacty Zus Zugubris S t a t u s Unconnnon r e s i d e n t ; p r o b a b l y a r e c e n t i n t r o d u c t i o n t h a t may n o t b e e s t a b l i s h e d . Observa t ions T h i s s p e c i e s h a s on ly been t w i c e seen on Nihoa. A s i n g l e specimen was c o l l e c t e d i n Eragrostis clumps i n September 1964 (Beards ley , 1966: 160) and a n o t h e r specimen was c o l l e c t e d i n March 1965 by Walker. The absence of o b s e r v a t i o n s from e a r l i e r v i s i t s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h o s e i n 1923 and 1940, s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e s p e c i e s is p robab ly a r e c e n t i n t r o d u c t i o n , most l i k e l y stemming from 1 9 6 1 and 1962 when o i l b a r r e l s , boards , and much o t h e r m i s c e l l a n e o u s m a t e r i a l was f e r r i e d t o t h e i s l a n d by t h e h e l i c o p t e r s of t h e HIRAN o p e r a t i o n . The absence of more r e c e n t ob- s e r v a t i o n s s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e gecko nay no t have become e s t a b l i s h e d on t h e i s l a n d . GREEN TURTLE Chelonia niydus S t a t u s Uncommon v i s i t o r . Observa t ions Emory (1928: 8 ) remarked t h a t " T u r t l e s a r e f a i r l y common [ a t Nihoal" b u t we have been u n a b l e t o f i n d any h i s t o r i c a l b a s i s f o r h i s s t a t e m e n t . Perhaps some were s e e n d u r i n g h i s v i s i t i n 1924. Recent o b s e r v a t i o n s of t u r t l e s a t Nihoa a r e few (Table 31) and i n d i c a t e t h e s p e c i e s i s o n l y a n o c c a s i o n a l v i s i t o r t o the , i s l a n d . They a r e most l i k e l y v i s i t o r s from t h e nea rby l a r g e b reed ing co lony a t F rench F r i g a t e S h o a l s ( s e e Amerson, 1971: 79-92). T a b l e 31. O b s e r v a t i o n s of Green T u r t l e s a t Nihoa I s l a n d Number Date of Survey Seen Remarks and Refe rences 1964 6-7 Mar. 0 (BSFW, POBSP). 23-24 S e p t . 2 Seen j u s t o f f s h o r e (BSFW, POBSP) . 1965 13-14 Mar. 1 About 2 112 f e e t long (BSFW, POBSP). 1966 28 J u l y - 0 (BSFW) 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 1 1 l a r g e t u r t l e s e e n o f f s h o r e on 9 March (BSFW, POBSP) . Table 31. (Continued) Number Da te of Survey Seen Remarks and Refe rences 1967 13-14 Sep t . 0 (BSFW) . 1968 7-9 Mar. 1 Seen swimming o f f s h o r e on 8 March (BSFW, POBSP) . 24-27 Aug., 0 (BSFW) . 1969 21 Mar. 0 (BSFW) . 1970 15 Aug. 0 (BSFW) 1971 18-19 Aug. 0 (BSFW) . 1.5 Sept . 3 2 were on a low r o c k a t t h e b a s e of t h e nor thwes t c l i f f ; t h e o t h e r was s e e n swimming around t h e s h i p (BSFW). 1972 16 Sep t . 1 (BSFW) . 1973 3 1 J u l y 0 (BSFW) . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many p e r s o n s c o n t r i b u t e d much t i m e and e f f o r t towards t h e com- p l e t i o n of t h i s r e p o r t . Michio T a k a t a , D i r e c t o r , Hawaii D i v i s i o n of F i s h and Game, k i n d l y a l lowed u s t o u s e unpubl ished r e p o r t s i n t h e D i v i s i o n ' s f i l e s . D r . Alexander Wetmore, Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n , Washington, D . C . , g r a c i o u s l y gave u s f u l l u s e of t h e i n f o r m a t i o n o b - t a i n e d by him d u r i n g t h e 1923 Tanager E x p e d i t i o n , and D r . F rank Richardson, U n i v e r s i t y of Washington, S e a t t l e , Washington, communicated p o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e s made d u r i n g h i s v i s i t s t o t h e i s l a n d i n December 1963 and March 1964. M r . Edwin H . Bryan, J r . , Manager of t h e - P a c i f i c S c i e n c e I n f o r m a t i o n Center o f t h e B e r n i c e P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu , a i d e d by a l l o w i n g u s f u l l a c c e s s t o h i s f i l e s on many d i f f e r e n t o c c a s i o n s . D r . P h i l i p S. Humphrey, U n i v e r s i t y of Kansas , Kansas, p r i n c i p a l i n v e s t i g a t o r of t h e POBSP, i s t o be thanked f o r h i s c o n s t a n t s u p p o r t d u r i n g t h e many f r u s t r a t i o n s encountered d u r i n g t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of t h i s accoun t . Many o t h e r s , p a r t i c u l a r l y p e r s o n n e l of t h e P a c i f i c Ocean B i o l o g i c a l Survey Program, Bureau of S p o r t F i s h e r i e s and W i l d l i f e , and Hawaii D i v i s i o n of F i s h and Game, c o n t r i b u t e d f i e l d d a t a which c o n s t i t u t e a l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n of t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r e s e n t e d h e r e i n . These p e r s o n s a r e l i s t e d i n Appendix Tab le 1. We a l s o thank A. Binion Amerson, J r . , and D r . P h i l i p C . Shelton who made va luable comments during t h e prepara t ion of t h e manuscript. D r . F. Raymond Fosberg k indly read and commented on t h e vege ta t ion sec t ion of t h i s r e p o r t . A. Binion Amerson c r i t i c a l l y read t h e e n t i r e f i n a l d r a f t . F ie ld work on Nihoa was made p o s s i b l e by a coopera t ive agreement between t h e Department of t h e I n t e r i o r , Bureau of Sport F i s h e r i e s and Wi ld l i f e , and the Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n . We a r e a l s o most g r a t e f u l to t h e U.S. Coast Guard whose l o g i s t i c support made poss ib l e most of t h e v i s i t s t o Nihoa. The camera copy was typed by Barbara B. Anderson with funding through a con t rac t wi th t h e Bureau of Sport F i s h e r i e s and Wi ld l i f e , Department of t h e I n t e r i o r ( c o n t r a c t number 14-16-008-596, February 3 , 1971). LITERATURE CITED Agass iz , A . , and H.L. C l a r k . 1907-1912. Hawaiian and o t h e r P a c i f i c E c h i n i . Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard , Mem. 34: v i i + 383 pp. Alexander , W.B . , e t aZ. 1965. The f a m i l i e s and genera of p e t r e l s and t h e i r names. I b i s 107: 401-405. Amerson, A . B . , Jr . 1968. T i c k d i s t r i b u t i o n i n t h e c e n t r a l P a c i f i c a s i n f l u e n c e d by s e a b i r d movement. J . Med. E n t . 53(3) : 332-339. ----- 1971. The n a t u r a l h i s t o r y of F rench F r i g a t e S h o a l s , n o r t h w e s t e r n Hawaiian I s l a n d s . A t o l l Res. B u l l . 150: xv + 383 pp. Amerson, A.B. , J r . , R.B. C lapp , and W.O. Wir tz 11. 1974. The n a t u r a l h i s t o r y of P e a r l and Hermes Reef , n o r t h w e s t e r n Hawaiian I s l a n d s . A t o l l Res. B u l l . 174: x i v + 306 pp. Amerson, A.B., J r , and P.C. S h e l t o n . I n p r e s s . The n a t u r a l h i s t o r y of Johns ton A t o l l , c e n t r a l P a c i f i c Ocean. A t o l l Res. B u l l . 192: 1-498. Anonymous. 1920. A South Sea b i r d i s l a n d n o r t h of t h e e q u a t o r . Mid- Pac . Mag. 19: 559-561. A . O . U . [American O r n i t h o l o g i s t s ' Union] . 1957. C h e c k l i s t of North American B i r d s , 5 t h ed . Lord B a l t i m o r e P r e s s , Ba l t imore . x i i + 691 pp. ----- Committee on C l a s s i f i c a t i o n and Nomenclature. 1973. T h i r t y - second supplement t o t h e American O r n i t h o l o g i s t s ' Union check l ist of North American B i r d s . Auk 90: 411-419. B a l l , S.C. (ms.) . F i e l d notebook k e p t d u r i n g t h e 1923 Tanager E x p e d i t i o n . B.P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu. B a y l i s , J . S . (ms.). C r u i s e r e p o r t f o r t h e ITASCA f o r t h e month of June 1934. Rec. Group 26 , U.S. Nat. Arch ives , Washington, 6 pp. Beards ley , J . W . 1966. I n s e c t s and o t h e r t e r r e s t r i a l a r t h r o p o d s from t h e leeward Hawaiian I s l a n d s . P roc . Haw. En t . Soc. 19: 157-185. Berger , A . J . 1972. Hawaiian b i r d l i f e . Univ. of Hawaii P r e s s , Hono- l u l u . x i i + 270 pp. B e c c a r i , 0 . 1889. Le palme d e l g e n e r e Pritchardia. Males ia 3 : 281-317. B e c c a r i , O . , and J . F . Rock. 1921. A monographic s t u d y of t h e genus Pri tchardia . B.P. Bishop Mus. Mem. 8: 1-77. Bishop, S.E. 1885a. G e o l o g i c a l and t o p o g r a p h i c a l r e p o r t upon Nihoa o r B i r d I s l a n d , surveyed J u l y 22, 1885. Hawaiian Government Survey, Honolulu. 7 pp. ----- 1885b. Nihoa--i ts topography, something abou t i t s geology. Honolulu. 7 pp. Brown, J . H . (ms.) . Repor t t o t h e C a p t a i n Commandant of t h e Coas t Guard of o b s e r v a t i o n s made d u r i n g a c r u i s e t o Laysan, L i s i a n s k i , e t c . i n March 1915. Rec. Group 26, U.S. Nat . A r c h i v e s , Wash- i n g t o n . 1 4 pp. Bryan, E.H., Jr. 1942. American P o l y n e s i a and t h e Hawaiian Chain . Tongg P u b l . 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Hawaiian I s l a n d s N a t i j n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge s p r i n g t r i p . March 19-Apr i l 6 , 1969. 32 pp. O l s e n , D.L. [1969] . Hawai ian I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge f i e l d t r i p , Kay 28-June 11, 1969. 1 8 pp . K r i d l e r , E. [1970] . Hawai ian I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge F i e l d T r i p R e p o r t . August 1970. 1 9 pp. O l s e n , D . C . [1971] . E x p e d i t i o n R e p o r t . Hawaiian I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge . Nihoa , Necker , F r e n c h F r i g a t e S h o a l s . August 16-27, 1971. 1 6 pp. K r i d l e r , E. [1971]. Hawai ian I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge T r i p R e p o r t . September 2-17, 1971. 30 pp. ----- [1972] . E x p e d i t i o n R e p o r t . Hawai ian I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge . September 3-17, 1972. 28 pp . O l s e n , D.L. [1973] . E x p e d i t i o n R e p o r t . Hawaiian I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge . J u l y 22-August 1, 1973 1 8 pp. C h r i s t o p h e r s e n , E. , and E.L. Caum. 1931 . V a s c u l a r p l a n t s o f t h e leeward i s l a n d s , Hawaii . B.P. Bishop Mus. B u l l . 81: 1-41. Clapp, R.B., and P.W. Woodward. 1968 . New r e c o r d s of b i r d s from t h e Hawai ian Leeward I s l a n d s . P r o c . U.S. Nat . Mus. 124 (No. 3640) : 1-39. C l a r k , A.H. 1908. D e s c r i p t i o n s o f new s p e c i e s o f c r i n o i d s , c h i e f l y from t h e c o l l e c t i o n s made by t h e U.S. F i s h e r i e s s t e a m e r "Alba t ross" a t t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s i n 1902 . . .P roc . U.S. Nat. Mus. 34 (No. 1608) : 209-244. ----- 1949. Oph iu ro idea of t h e Hawai ian I s l a n d s . B.P. Bishop Mus. B u l l . 195: 1-133. Corney, P. 1896. Voyages i n t h e n o r t h e r n P a c i f i c . ... Honolu lu , T.G. Thrum, x + 138 + v pp. D a l l , W . , P. B a r t s c h , and H.H. Rehder . 1938. A manual of t h e r e c e n t and f o s s i l pe lecypod m o l l u s k s of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s . B.P. Bishop Mus. B u l l . 153: 1-233. D iggs , J .T . (ms.). Repor t o f t h e c r u i s e of t h e U.S.S. HERMES among t h e i s l a n d s o f t h e Hawaiian g r o u p , 1918. Rec. Group 45, U.S. N a t . A r c h i v e s , Washington. 24 pp. , H.L. C l a r k , A.L. Treadwel l zoo logy o f t h e t r o p i c a l cen B.P. B i shop Mus. B u l l . 27: ii + 148 pp. Edmondson, C . H . , W.K. F i s h e r Cushman. 1925. Mar ine . and J.A. ttral P a c i f i c . E g l e r , F.E. 1938. R e d u c t i o n of PortuLaca cawnii F. Brown t o P. viZZosa Chamisso. Repent . Sp. Nov. Reg. Vege t . 44: 264-265. E l s c h n e r , C . 1915 The l eeward i s l a n d s of t h e Hawaiian Group. [ R e p r i n t from Honolulu A d v e r t i s e r ] Honolulu . 69 pp. E l y , C.A., and R.B. Clapp. 1973. The n a t u r a l h i s t o r y of Laysan I s l a n d , n o r t h w e s t e r n Hawaiian I s l a n d s . 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B.P. Bishop Mus. B u l l . 21: 1-55. Hamlet , O .C . (ms.) . L e t t e r t o t h e U.S. S e c r e t a r y o f t h e T r e a s u r y d a t e d 23 J u n e , 1904 ... [ g i v i n g d e t a i l s of a p p r e h e n s i o n o f f e a t h e r - h a r v e s t e r s ] ... Rec. Group 2 6 , U.S. N a t . A r c h i v e s , Washington. 9 pp. Hardwick, D.F. 1965. The c o r n earworm complex. Mem. E n t . Soc Canada 40: 1-247. Hardy, D.E. 1964. I n s e c t s o f Hawai i . Vo l . 11. D i p t e r a : Brachyce ra I1 - Cylor rhapha 1. E.C . Zimmerman, Ed. Uni.v. of Hawai i P r e s s , Honolulu . v i i + 458 pp. H a r r y , R.R. 1953 . Skin d i v i n g o n a P o l y n e s i a n e x p e d i t i o n . Skin D i v e r 2: 6-7. Hartman, 0 . 1966. Po lychae tous a n n e l i d s of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s . B.P. Bishop Mus. Occ. P a p e r s 23: 163-252. Harvey, T . 1860. Notes of a voyage t o t h e P a c i f i c i n HMS "Havana" Naut. Mag. 29: 302-307, 358-361, 420-425, 521-525, 587-591. Hera ld , E.S. 1952. "pioneer" i n t h e P a c i f i c . Pac. Discovery 5 (5 ) : 15-17. H i l l e b r a n d , W.F. 1888. F l o r a of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s ... Heide lbe rg : C a r l Winter . x c v i + 673 pp . Honolulu A d v e r t i s e r . 1955. Much ev idence of the p a s t on Nihoa, p . A-1; c o l . 6-8, August 28, 1955. Honolulu S t a r - B u l l e t i n . 1935. Northrup C a s t l e t o t a l k on r e c e n t t r i p t o westward i s le t s , p. 4 , c o l . 4 , February 6 , 1935; t e l l s o f voyage, p . 9, c o l . 7 , February 9, 1935. Jacobs , W.V.E. (ms.) . Repor t t o t h e S e c r e t a r y of t h e T r e a s u r y of i n v e s t i g a t i o n s and apprehens ion of J a p a n e s e plumage h u n t e r s i n January 1910. Rec. Group 26, U.S. Nat . Arch ives , Washington. 1 8 PP. J a c o t , A.P. 1929. Concerning t h e genus Neoliodes (Or iba to idea - A c a r i n a ) . T r a n s . h e r . Micro . Soc. 48: 30-43. J e h l , J .R. , Jr . 1968. R e l a t i o n s h i p s i n t h e C h a r a d r i i ( s h o r e b i r d s ) ; a taxonomic s t u d y based on c o l o r p a t t e r n s of t h e downy young. San Diego Soc. of Nat. H i s t . , Mem. 3: 1-54. Kenyan, K . W . , and D.W. R i c e . 1959. L i f e h i s t o r y of t h e Hawaiian monk s e a l . Pac . S c i . 13 : 215-252. King, W.B. 1967. S e a b i r d s of t h e T r o p i c a l P a c i f i c Ocean. P r e l i m i n a r y Smi thson ian I d e n t i f i c a t i o n Manual. Smithsonian I n s t i t u t i o n , Washington, D . C . x x x i i i + 126 pp. Kramer, R . J . (ms.) . Repor t on t r i p t o Nihoa I s l a n d . December 1961. Hawaii Dept . of F i s h and Game, Honolulu . 20 pp. Kramer, R . J . , and J . W . Beards ley . (ms.) . A r e p o r t on a s u r v e y t r i p t o t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge, June 1962. Hawaii Dept . of F i s h and Game, Honolulu . iii + 17 pp. Kroenlce, L.W., and G.P. Woollard. 1965. G r a v i t y i n v e s t i g a t i o n s on t h e Leeward I s l a n d s o f t h e Hawaiian Ridge and J o h n s t o n I s l a n d . Pac . S c i . 19: 361-366. Labreque, A . 1957. A t r i p t o Laysan I s l a n d . E l e p a i o 18: 16-19 Lamoureux, C.H. 1964. The Leeward Hawaiian I s l a n d s . Haw. Bot. Soc. N e w s l e t t e r . 3 ( 2 ) : 7-11. Lopes, H . d e Souza. 1938. On t h e genus Goniophyto Tomsend , 1927, w i t h d e s c r i p t i o n of a new s p e c i e s from Hawaii . B.P. Bishop Mus. Occ. P a p e r s 14: 193-197. Maa, T.C. 1962. Notes on t h e Hippoboscidae ( ~ i p t e r a ) , I . Pac . I n s e c t s 4: 583-614. ----- 1968. Records of Hippoboscidae ( D i p t e r a ) from t h e c e n t r a l P a c i f i c . J . Med. En t . 5: 325-328. Magnusson, A.H. 1942. L ichens of Nihoa and Neclcer I s l a n d s . B.P. Bishop Mus. Occ. Papers 17: 1-41. M a r s h a l l , D.B. 1964. T r e a s u r e i s lands--of w i l d l i f e . Aud. Mag. 66: 160-165. Meares, J . 1790. Voyage made i n t h e y e a r s 1788 and 1789 from China t o Northwest c o a s t of America .... London, Logographic P r e s s (19) and xcv and 372 and (104) pp . M o r r e l l , B . , Jr. 1841. A n a r r a t i v e of f o u r voyages t o t h e South Sea , Nor th and South P a c i f i c . . . f rom t h e y e a r 1822 t o 1831 ... Harper & B r o t h e r s , New York. 492 pp. Moynihan, M . 1957. Notes on t h e s e a b i r d s of Sand I s l a n d of t h e Johns ton I s l a n d group. E l e p a i o 18: 35-37. Munro, G . C . 1941a. B i r d s of Hawaii.. .An Ocean C r u i s e . E l e p a i o 2: 34-36, 41-43, 49-51. ----- 1941b. B i r d s of Hawai i . . .The Chr i s tmas I s l a n d Shearwater . E l e p a i o 2: 16-18. ----- 1960. B i r d s of Hawaii . 2nd e d . C h a r l e s E . T u t t l e Co., R u t l a n d , Vermont. 192 pp. Munter, W.H. 1915. Repor t of d e s t r u c t i o n of b i r d l i f e on Laysan I s l a n d . Ann. Rep. Coast Guard f o r 1915: 130-140. ----- (ms. ) . Repor t t o t h e Cap ta in of t h e THETIS of b i r d o b s e r v a t i o n s made d u r i n g a c r u i s e t o t h e Hawaiian Bi rd R e s e r v a t i o n i n J a n u a r y and February 1916. Rec. Group 26, U.S. Nat. Arch ives , Washington. 19 PP. N u t t i n g , C . C . 1905. Hydroids of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s c o l l e c t e d by t h e s t eamer A l b a t r o s s i n 1903. U.S. F i s h Comm. B u l l . 23 ( p t . 3 ) : 931-959. ----- 1908. D e s c r i p t i o n s of t h e Alcyonar ia c o l l e c t e d by t h e U.S. Bureau of F i s h e r i e s Steamer A l b a t r o s s i n t h e v i c i n i t y of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s i n 1902. P roc . U.S. Nat. Mus. 34 (No. 1624) : 543-601. O f f i c e of Geography. U.S. Department of t h e I n t e r i o r . 1956. NIS [ N a t i o n a l I n t e l l i g e n c e Survey] G a z e t t e e r , Hawaiian I s l a n d s . C e n t r a l I n t e l l i g e n c e Agency, Washington, D . C . iii + 89 pp. Ortman, A.E. 1905. Schizopods of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s c o l l e c t e d by t h e ALBATROSS i n 1902. U.S. F i s h Comm. B u l l . 23 ( p t . 3 ) ; 961- 974. POBSP [ P a c i f i c Ocean B i o l o g i c a l Survey Program], Smithsonian I n s t i t u - tion [unpub l i shed r e p o r t s ] : S i b l e y , F.C. I19631 ...[ Repor t on] . . . P a c i f i c P r o j e c t f i e l d t r i p - June 1963. 18 pp. Amerson, A.B. , Jr. [1964] . Northwest Hawaiian I s l a n d s t r i p r e p o r t , March 1964. 20 pp. F l e e t , R.R. [1964] . Leeward I s l a n d s Survey No. 5 , September, 1964. 1 0 pp. Banko, W. [1965] . T r i p r e p o r t ... Hawaiian leeward i s l a n d s su rvey ... March 11-23, 1965. 11 pp. Heiden, R.S. [1966] . Leeward Survey 1\14, Nihoa I s l a n d , 28 J u l y - 1 August 1966. 9 pp. Hackman, C.D. [1967]. P r e l i m i n a r y r e p o r t of Leeward I s l a n d su rvey No. 1 8 , March 6 t o March 27, 1967. 1 2 pp. Clapp, R.B. 119681. LS 822, P r e l i m i n a r y R e p o r t , Nihoa I s l a n d . 9 PP. Palmer, H.S. 1927. Geology of Kaula, Nihoa, Necker and Gardner I s l a n d s and French F r i g a t e S h o a l s . B.P. Bishop Mus. B u l l . 35: 1-35. P a t y , J. 1857. Account of t h e Manuokawai - I n t e r e s t i n g accoun t of h e r e x p l o r a t i o n s . The P o l y n e s i a n , 6 June: 40. P a u l d i n g , H. 1831. J o u r n a l of a c r u i s e of t h e Uni ted S t a t e s Schooner Dolphin ... G and C and H C a r v i l l , New York. i v + 258 pp. P e t e r s , J .L. 1931. Check- l i s t o f b i r d s of t h e world . Vol. I . Harvard Univ. P r e s s , Cambridge, Mass. x v i i + 345 pp. ----- 1934. C h e c k - l i s t of b i r d s of t h e world . Vol . 11. Harvard Univ. P r e s s , Cambridge, Mass. 401 pp. P i l s b r y , H.A. 1927. L i t t o r a l b a r n a c l e s of t h e Hawaiian i s l a n d s and Japan . P roc . Acad. Na t . S c i . , P h i l a . 79: 308-317. Powers, S. 1920. Notes on Hawaiian p e t r o l o g y . Am. 3. S c i . 4 t h Ser . 50: 256-280. Rathbun, M . J . 1906. The Brachyura and Macrura of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s . U.S. F i s h Comm. B u l l . 23 ( p t . 3 ) : 827-930. R i c e , D.W. 1960. P o p u l a t i o n dynamics of t h e Hawaiian monk s e a l . J . Mammal. 41: 376-385. R i c e , D.W. , and K.W. Kenyon. 1962. Breeding d i s t r i b u t i o n , h i s t o r y and p o p u l a t i o n s of n o r t h P a c i f i c a l b a t r o s s e s . Auk 79: 365-386. Richardson, F. 1954. Repor t on t h e two n a t i v e p a s s e r i n e s of Nihoa, Hawaii . Condor 56: 30. ----- 1957. The b r e e d i n g c y c l e s of Hawai-ian s e a b i r d s . B.P. Bishop Mus. B u l l . 218: 1-41. Roach, F.L. (ms.) . E a s t P a c i f i c Survey Phase I , U.S.S. Duval County, LST 758. ( T y p e s c r i p t copy of r e p o r t i n t h e f i l e s of t h e 1 4 t h Naval D i s t r i c t , Honolulu) . Ross, E.S. 1951. A new s p e c i e s of Embioptera from Oceania . P roc . Haw. Ent . Soc. 14: 307-310. R o t h s c h i l d , W. 1893-1900. The a v i f a u n a of Laysan and t h e n e i g h b o r i n g i s l a n d s . R.H. P o r t e r , London. 3 p a r t s . xx + x i v + 320 pp. Sheehan, E. 1966. S c i e n t i f i c j o u r n e y t o mys te ry i s l e . Honolulu A d v e r t i s e r , June 8 , 1966. S i b l e y , F.C., and R.W. McFarlane. 1968. G u l l s i n t h e c e n t r a l P a c i f i c . Pac. S c i . 22: 314-321. Snyder, J . O . 1904. A c a t a l o g u e of t h e s h o r e f i s h e s c o l l e c t e d by t h e s teamer A l b a t r o s s abou t t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s i n 1902. U.S. F i s h Comm. B u l l . 22: 513-538. S t r a s b e r g , D.W. 1956. Notes on t h e b l e n n i o i d f i s h e s of Hawaii w i t h d e s c r i p t i o n s of two new s p e c i e s . P a c . S c i . 10: 241-267. S t . John., H . 1970. The genus Sicyos (Cucurb i t aceae ) on t h e Hawaiian Leeward I s l a n d s . Hawaiian P l a n t S t u d i e s 35. Pac. S c i . 24: 439-456. S tone , B.C. 1963. The genus Portulaca i n t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s . Advancing f r o n t i e r s of P l a n t S c i e n c e (New D e l h i ) 4: 141-149. Thrum, T.C., comp. 1893. Hawaiian Almanac and Annual f o r 1894. T.G. Thrum, Nonolulu. 162 pp. ----- 1905. Hawaiian Almanac and Annual f o r 1906. T.G. Thrum, Honolulu. 255 pp. Timber lake , P.H. 1924. Records of t h e i n t r o d u c e d and immigrant c h a l c i d f l i e s of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s (Hymenoptera). P roc . Haw. Ent . Soc. 5: 418-449. Tomich, P.Q. 1969. Mammals i n I-iawaii. A s y n o p s i s and n o t a t i o n a l b i b l i o g r a p h y . B.P. Bishop Mus. Spec. Pub l . 47: 1-238. Trempe, A.D. (ms. ) . Repor t on t h e b i r d l i f e observed on t h e c r u i s e of t h e R e l i a n c e i n March 1936. Rec. Group 26, U.S. Na t . Arch ives , Washington. 5 pp. Tsuda, R.T. 1966. Marine b e n t h i c a l g a e from t h e leeward Hawaiian group. A t o l l Res. B u l l . 115: 1-13. Us inger , R.L. 1942. The genus ~Vysius and i t s a l l i e s i n t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s . B.P. Bishop Mus. B u l l . 173: 1-167. V a n d e r b i l t , G . , and R.M. d e Schauensee , 1941. Z o o l o g i c a l r e s u l t s of t h e V a n d e r b i l t Nihoa E x p e d i t i o n . I . Summary of z o o l o g i c a l ex- p l o r a t i o n s and t h e b i r d s of Nihoa. Notu lae Na tu rae , Acad. Nat . S c i . , P h i l a . , No. 86: 1-14. Vaughan, T.W. 1907. Recent Madrepor ia of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s and Laysan. U.S. Nat . Mus. B u l l . 59: i x + 222 p . Washington, H.S. and M . G . Keyes. 1926. P e t r o l o g y of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s : V . The Leeward I s l a n d s . h e r . J o u r . S c i . , 5 t h s e r . , 12: 336-352. Wetmore, A. (ms. ) . F i e l d n o t e s t aken on t h e 1923 Tanager Exped i t ion . ( O r i g i n a l i n p o s s e s s i o n of A. Wetmore). ----- 1924. A w a r b l e r from Ni.hoa. Condor 26: 177-178. ----- 1925. B i r d l i f e among l a v a r o c k and c o r a l sand . Nat. Geog. Mag. 48: 77-108. Wheeler, W.M. 1934. Rev i sed l i s t of Hawaiian a n t s . B.P. Bishop Nus. Occ. P a p e r s 1 9 (21) : 1-21. W i l l e t t , G. (ms.). [ E x t r a c t s from a r e p o r t made t o t h e Bureau of B i o l o g i c a l Survey] . Bureau of S p o r t F i s h e r i e s and W i l d l i f e , K a i l u a , Hawaii. Woodside, D . H . , and R . J . Kramer. (ms.) . A r e p o r t on a s u r v e y t r i p t o t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge, March 1961. Hawaii D e p t , of F i s h and Game, Honolulu. 32 pp. Woodward, P.W. 1972. The n a t u r a l h i s t o r y of Kure A t o l l , n o r t h w e s t e r n Hawaiian I s l a n d s . A t o l l Res. B u l l . 164: x i i + 318 pp. Yashimoto, C.M. 1965. Synops i s of Hawaiian Eu loph idae i n c l u d i n g Aphe l in inae (Hym: C h a l c o i d e a ) , Pac . I n s e c t s . 7 : 665-699. Zimmerman, E . C . 1948a. I n s e c t s of Hawaii. Vol . 2. Apte rygo ta t o Thysanoptera . Univ. of Hawaii P r e s s , Honolulu. v i i i + 475 pp. ----- 1948b. I n s e c t s of Hawaii , Vol . 3 . H e t e r o p t e r a . Univ. of Hawaii P r e s s . v + 255 pp. ----- 1958a. I n s e c t s of Hawai i , Vol. 7 . M a c r o l e p i d o p t e r a . Univ. of Hawaii P r e s s , Honolulu. i x + 542 pp. ----- 1958b. I n s e c t s of Hawai i , Vol . 8 . L e p i d o p t e r a : P r y a l o i d e a . Univ. of Hawaii P r e s s , Honolulu. i x + 456 pp. Appendix T a b l e 1. S c i e n t i f i c v i s i t s t o Nihoa I s l a n d , 1885-1973 Da te P e r s o n n e l V e s s e l 1858? 1885" 22 Ju ly D r . Rooke ? IWALANI P r i n c e s s L i l i u k o l a n i E.M. Beckley Sereno E. Bishop W.E.H. D e v e r i l l Sanford B. Dole M r . Hal l M r . J a e g e r Mr. Wi l l i ams Some 200 o t h e r s 1891" 26-27 May R o t h s c h i l d E x p e d i t i o n Henry C. Palmer George C . Munro ALBATROSS 1902" 1-3 June 5-9 Aug. A l b a t r o s s E x p e d i t i o n C h a r l e s H. G i l b e r t (SU)""" Walker K. F i s h e r (SU) C h a r l e s C . N u t t i n g (SUI) John 0 . Snyder (SU) 1912" 17 Dec. 1914 7 S e p t . George Willett (BBS) THETIS TliETI S Capt. James H . Brown (U" i) Carl E l s c h n e r Cap t . James H . Brown (USCG) L t . Wil l iam H. Munter (USCG) 4 members of crew 1915 18 Mar. 1916 12 Feb. 1923 24-25 May L t . Wi l l i am H. Munter (USCG) Crew of THETIS THETIS TANAGER Tanager E x p e d i t i o n David L. Thaanum (BPBM) ( c o n c h o l o g i s t ) Theodore T. Dranga ( c o n c h o l o g i s t ) Chapman Gran t ( n a t u r a l i s t ) 11-20 June Tanager E x p e d i t i o n TANAGER Alexander Wetmore (BBS) ( o r n i t h o l o g i s t ) Wil l iam G . Anderson ( c o l l e c t o r ) A.L.C. Atk inson (HBAF) Appendix Table 1. (Continued) Date Personnel Vessel Edwin H. Bryan, Jr. (BPBM) (entomologist) Bruce Cartwright (BPBM) ( a s s i s t a n t i n hydrographic work) Chapman Grant (BBS) ( n a t u r a l i s t ) Charles 3 . Judd ( f o r e s t e r ) Edward L. Caum (BPBM) (bo tan i s t ) Harold S. Palmer (BPBM) (geo log i s t ) Er ic L. Schlemmer ( a s s i s t a n t to Wetmore) David L. Thaanum (BPBM) (conchologist) George Higgs (cook) C . Montague Cooke, Jr . (BPBM) (malacologist) 9-13 Ju ly Tanager Expedition Harold S. Palmer (BPBM) (geologis t ) William G . Anderson ( c o l l e c t o r ) William Bush ( c o l l e c t o r ) Er l ing Christophersen (BPBM) (bo tan i s t ) Theodore T. Dranga (BPBM) (conchologist) Kenneth P. Emory (BPBM) (archaeologis t ) Kenneth I. Hobson ( co l l ec to r ) A. Landgraf (topographer) 3 Mar. A.D. Trempe B.L. Bassham (USCG) Other members of crew TANAGER RELIANCE 7-16 Aug. M r . and Mrs. George Vanderbi l t NAVIGATOR C l i f t o n Weaver J u l y George Vanderbi l t P a c i f i c Equator ia l PIONEER Expedition George Vanderbi l t Vernon E. Brock (HDFG) B. Green Robert R. Harry (SU) Anita Vanderbi l t L u c i l l e Vanderbi l t T. Ivar Vatland 21-22 Dec. Frank Richardson (UW) 18 Mar. Frank Richardson (UW) 21-24 Aup. Ivan T . Rainwater (USDA) George Car t e r David G . Nottage Peter Nottage Ed Sheehan BUTTONFJOOD BUTTONWOOD AUKAKA Appendix Tab le 1. (Continued) Da te P e r s o n n e l V e s s e l 1957 28 Dec. Karl W. Kenyon (BSFW) A e r i a l Survey Dale W. Rice (BSFW) 1961" 2 Mar. David H. Woodside (HDFG) Raymond J . Kramer (HDFG) PLANETREE 10-15 Dec. (1600-0830)** Raymond J . Kramer (HDFG) Gerald Swedberg (HDFG) HIRAN 11 p e r s o n n e l FLOYD COUNTY David B . M a r s h a l l (BSFW) John W . B e a r d s l e y (HSPA) Raymond J . Kramer (HDFG) Davi-d H. Woodside (HDFG) 1962 1 0 June (0615-1345) STONE COUNTY H e l i c o p t e r 1963* 5-6 June A. Binion Amerson, J r . (POBSP) Fred C . S i b l e y (POBSP) TAWAKONI PLANETREE Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) A . Binion Amerson, J r . (POBSP) Loren Kroenke (UH) Edward O ' N e i l l (BSPW) Ronald L. Walker (HDFG) George S. W i s l o c k i (POBSP) 1964 6-7 Mar. (1000-0800) 25 J u l y (ca. 1000- 1500) 23-24 S e p t . (0930-1700) CHARLES H . GILBERT Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) John Beards ley (UH) Rober t R. F l e e t (POBSP) C h a r l e s R. Long (POBSP) Ronald L. bJalker (HDFG) BASSWOOD BLACKHAW 1965 13-14 Mar. (1045-1545) Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) Winston Banko (POBSP) Chandler S . Robbins (BSFW) Ronald L. Walker (WDFG) Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) Andrew Berger (UH) Nelson R i c e (HDFG) Ronald Walker (HDFG) BUTTONWOOD 1966* 18-20 Mar. Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) Andrew J. Berger (UH) Richard S . Heiden (POBSP) E r n e s t Kosaka (HDFG) CHARLES H . GILBERT 28 Ju ly - 1 Aug. Appendix Table 1. (Continued) Date P e r s o n n e l V e s s e l 1967 8-9 Mar. (0945-1040) 13-14 Sep t . (0855-1420) 1968 7-9 Mar. (1130-1030) 24-27 Aug. (0900-1400) 1969 21 Mar. (0900-1730) 29 May- 1 0 June 1970 ' 15 Aug. (0830-1600) 1 9 7 1 18-19 Aug. (0800-1230) Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) C . Douglas Hackman (POBSP) E r n e s t Kosaka (HDFG) John Maciolek (BSFW) Richard Wass (UH) Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) Rober t Ba l lou (BSFW) John L . S incock (BSFW) Ronald L. Walker (HDFG) Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) Roger B . Clapp (POBSP) K a r l W. Kenyon (BSFW) E r n e s t Kosaka (HDFG) John L. S incock (BSFW) Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) G . Bren t Dalyrymple (USCG) Richard R. D o e l l (UDCG) C . Rober t Eddinger (US) D e r r a l Herbs t (UH) John L . S incock (BSFW) Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) Karl W . Kenyon (BSFW) George Laycock (NAS) David L. Olsen (BSFW) John L . S incock (BSFW) David L . Olsen (BSFW) E r n e s t Kosaka (HDFG) James McVay (UH) Wil l iam P a t z e r t (UH) John L. S incock (BSFW) Douglas Yen (BPBM) Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) Joseph Mazzoni (BSFW) David L. Olsen (BSFW) John L . S incock (BSFW) David H. Woodside (HDFG) David L . Olsen (BSFW) David C h i l d s (SI ) Richard Grigg (HIMB) Rober t J . S h a l l e n b e r g e r (01) James Vansant (UH) Will iam Worces ter (UH) BASSWOOD BUTTONWOOD IRONWOOD BUTTONWOOD BUTTONWOOD BUTTONWOOD TERITU Appendix T a b l e 1. (Cont inued) Date P e r s o n n e l V e s s e l 1 5 S e p t . Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) (1300-1800) Erwin A . Bauer Kenneth S. N o r r i s (01) John L . Sincoclc (BSFW) E r i c L. Schlemmer 1972 16 S e p t . Eugene K r i d l e r (BSFW) (0700-1500) R u s s e l Apple (USNPS) Bruce Benson (HA) E r n e s t Kosaka (HDFG) David L . Olsen (BSFW) John L . S incock (BSFW) 1973 3 1 J u l y David L . O l sen (BSFW) (1030-1830) John L. S incock (BSFW) Le igh ton T a y l o r (BSFW) Thomas T e l f e r (HDFG) BUTTONWOOD BUTTONWOOD BUTTONWOOD * No l a n d i n g made on i s l a n d . ** Time of a r r i v a l and d e p a r t u r e , where known, is l i s t e d under t h e d a t e of v i s i t f o r s u r v e y s made d u r i n g t h e 1960 's . *** G l o s s a r y of A b b r e v i a t i o n s : BBS, Bureau of B i o l o g i c a l Survey; BPBM, B e r n i c e P. Bishop Museum; BSFW, Bureau of S p o r t F i s h e r i e s and W i l d l i f e ; HA, Honolulu A d v e r t i s e r ; HBAF, Hawaiian Board of A g r i c u l t u r e and F o r e s t r y ; HDFG, Hawaii D i v i s i o n of F i s h and Game; HIMB, Hawaii I n s t i t u t e o f Marine Biology; HSPA, Hawaiian Sugar P l a n t e r s A s s o c i a t i o n ; NAS, N a t i o n a l Audubon S o c i e t y ; 01, Oceanic I n s t i t u t e , Waimanalo, Hawai i ; POBSP, P a c i f i c Ocean B i o l o g i c a l Survey Program; S I , Smi thson ian I n s t i t u t i o n ; SU, S t a n f o r d U n i v e r s i t y ; SUI, S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y of Iowa; UH, U n i v e r s i t y of Hawai i ; USDA, Uni ted S t a t e s Department of A g r i c u l t u r e ; USCG, Uni ted S t a t e s Coast Guard; USCGS, Uni ted S t a t e s Coas t and Geode t i c Survey; USNPS, Uni ted S t a t e s N a t i o n a l P a r k S e r v i c e ; UW, U n i v e r s i t y of Washington. Appendix Table 2. Resu l t s of s c 1885-1973 i e n t i f i c v : i t s t o Nihoa ; land , Date Resu l t s 1885 22 J u l y 1891 26-27 May 1902 1-3 June 5-10 Aug. 1912 17 Dec. 1914 7 Sept. 1915 18 Mar. 1916 12 Feb. 1.923 24-25 May 11-16 June According t o Hillebrand (1888: 451), seeds of t h e endemic palm were brought t o Honolulu by a D r . Rooke. We know noth ing f u r t h e r of t h i s v i s i t . Topographic and geologic observat ions. Observations and c o l l e c t i o n s of b i r d s , none of which was sub- sequently r epor t ed . Archaeological ma te r i a l co l l ec t ed included a s tone bowl and d i s h , a c o r a l rubbing s tone , and a c o r a l f i l e . Birds observed from offshore . 3 Red-footed Boobies co l l ec t ed and o the r b i r d s observed (Munro, 1941a: 1941b). Observations of b i r d s from offshore (F isher , 1903). Collected of fshore : c o r a l s , molluscs, hydroid, schizopod, c r a b s , f i s h , echinoderms, and b i r d specimens ( a t l e a s t 6 b i r d s sk ins represent ing 3 s p e c i e s ) . Observations of b i rds from offshore . I s land and i t s geology described; seeds and pot- t i o n s of Pritchardia taken to Honolulu. P l an t s co l l ec t ed . Observations of b i r d s and es t imates of t h e numbers p resen t ; f i r s t published mention of t h e Nihoa Finch, palm seeds c o l l e c t e d (Munter, 1915). Observations of b i r d s ; photographs of f l o r a and fauna; co l l ec t ed : p l an t s ; 5 specimens of t h e Nihoa Finch, reported and l a t e r described by W.A. Bryan (1916, 1917). Observations of b i r d s and desc r ip t ion of t h e Nihoa Ef i l le rb i rd (Wetmore, 1924, 1925) . A new b i r d d i s t r i b u t i o n a l record from the June 1923 v i s i t was l a t e r repor ted by Clapp and Woodward (1968). 109 b i rd specimens (sk ins) of 17 spec ie s co l l ec t ed . Co l l ec t ions o f : c rus tacea , echinoderms, foramini fera ; f i s h , mollusca; marine a lgae , i n s e c t s , vascular p l a n t s , rocks. Geology, topography, and archaeology described. Appendix Table 2. (Continued) Date Resul t s 1936 3 Mar. 1940 7-10 Aug. 1951 J u l y 1953 21-22 Dec. 1954 18 Mar. 1955 21-24 Aug. 1957 28 Dec. 1961 2 Mar. 10-15 Dec. 1962 10 June 1963 5-6 June Observations of b i r d s and t h e i r breeding s t a t u s . Observations and annotated b i rd l i s t (Vanderbilt and de Schauensee, 1941); photographs taken and color movie of b i r d s made. 48 b i rds of 12 spec ie s co l l ec t ed . Fish c o l l e c t e d ; 12 Nihoa Finches captured f o r t rans- por t t o Honolulu Zoo of which 6 ev ident ly reached the zoo (Herald, 1952: 15) . Observations of s eab i rds and t h e i r breeding s t a t u s (Richardson, 1957); s e a l census taken but none found. Observations of s eab i rds and t h e i r breeding s t a t u s (Richardson, 1957); s e a l census taken but none found. Notes on s t a t u s of Nihoa Finch and Mi l l e rb i rd (Rich- ardson, 1954). Charcoal co l l ec t ed f o r r ad ioac t ive carbon d a t i n g ; 3 or 4 Great F r iga teb i rds captured f o r t r a n s p o r t t o Honolulu Zoo; p l a n t s co l l ec t ed ; an unfinished adz and a s tone bowl c o l l e c t e d ; movies, photographs and tape recordings made. Seal census taken but none found; a e r i a l census of a l b a t r o s s e s (Rice and Kenyon, 1962). Bird observa t ions from o f f shore . Observations of b i r d s with p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on Nihoa Finches and Mi l l e rb i rds ; survey of vegeta- t i o n with p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on s t a t u s of Nihoa Palm; vege ta t ion pho tos t a t ions e s t ab l i shed ; e f f e c t of m i l i t a r y a c t i v i t i e s i nves t iga t ed ; p l a n t s col- l ec t ed ; seeds of Pritckrdia and Chenopodiwn co l l ec t ed f o r a r t i f i c i a l propagation. Observations of b i r d s with p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on the Nihoa M i l l e r b i r d ; b r i e f no te s on vege tc t ion ; c o l l e c t i o n of 15 spec ie s of i n s e c t s and p l a n t a s s o c i a t e s ; e f f e c t of m i l i t a r y a c t i v i t i e s i n v e s t i - gated; photographs taken. Birds observed of fshore ; 2 ~ u l w e r ' s P e t r e l s col- l ec t ed . Appendix Table 2 . Date 1964 6-7 Mar. 25 Ju ly 23-24 Sept . 1965 13-14 Mar. 1966 28 July- 1 Aug. 1967 8-9 Mar. 13-14 Sept. 1968 7-9 Mar. 24-27 Aug. (Continued) Resul t s Observations of b i r d s ; s e a l s and t u r t l e s censused; refuge s igns e rec t ed ; vegeta t ion photographed. Collected: p l a n t s ; l impets , and a lgae by Walker; 2 p e t r e l ch icks ; arachnids. 99 b i r d s of 11 spec ie s banded. Observations of b i r d s and t h e i r breeding s t a t u s . Observations of b i r d s with p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on t h e m i l l e r b i r d ; census of t u r t l e s and s e a l s ; 57 b i r d s of 5 spec ie s banded. Collected: p l a n t s , isopods, a rachnids , i n s e c t s , 1 l i z a r d . Observations of b i r d s ; t u r t l e s and s e a l s censused; 312 b i r d s of 9 s p e c i e s banded. Collected: 1 Sooty Storm P e t r e l , 1 l i z a r d . Observations of b i rds with p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on surveys of Nihoa Finch and Mi l l e rb i rd ; t u r t l e s and s e a l s censused; photographs taken of t e r r a i n ; refuge s i g n e rec t ed . Collected: b i r d specimens; l impets by Berger. 1,544 b i rds of 8 spec ies banded. Observations of b i r d s ; t u r t l e s and s e a l s censused; 45 Nihoa Finches captured by BSFW f o r in t roduc t ion t o French F r i g a t e Shoals; 1 Mi l l e rb i rd and 46 Nihoa Finches banded. Collected: marine inshore or- ganisms, hippoboscid f l i e s , 1 f i n c h . Observations of b i r d s with p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on Nihoa Finches and Mi l l e rb i rds ; t r a n s e c t censuses made of f i n c h and Mil le rb i rd populat ions; 1 gecko and 1 f i n c h c o l l e c t e d . Observations of b i r d s with p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on Nihoa Finches and Mi l l e rb i rds ; t r a n s e c t censuses made of f inch and Mi l l e rb i rd populat ions; t u r t l e s censused; p l a n t s co l l ec t ed ; 105 b i r d s of 5 spec ie s banded. Observations of b i r d s with p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on Nihoa Finches and Mi l l e rb i rds ; t r a n s e c t censuses made of f i n c h and Mi l l e rb i rd popula t ions ; t u r t l e s and s e a l s censused; c o l l e c t i o n of rock samples f o r a n a l y s i s of magnetic p rope r t i e s ; observa t ions of vegeta t ion; e c t o p a r a s i t e s co l l ec t ed from f inches ; 42 b i r d s of 3 spec ie s banded. Appendix Table 2. (Continued) Date Resul t s 1969 21 Mar. 29 May- 10 June 1970 15 Aug. 1971 18-19 Aug. 14-15 Sept . 1972 16 Sept. 1973 31 Ju ly Observations of b i r d s , censuses of t u r t l e s and s e a l s ; i s l and vege ta t ion cover mapped; p a r t i a l censuses made of f i n c h and Mil le rb i rd populat ions. 2 Sooty Storm P e t r e l s banded. Observations of b i r d s with p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on Nihoa Finches and Mi l l e rb i rds ; t r ansec t censuses of f inch and Mi l l e rb i rd populat ions; e thnobotanica l surveys, marine survey of surrounding waters , r e t r i e v a l of c u r r e n t meters , vegeta t ion photosta- t i o n photographs obtained. 224 b i r d s of 2 spec ie s banded. Observations of b i r d s , t r ansec t censuses of f i n c h population. Observations of b i r d s ; t r a n s e c t censuses made of f i n c h and Mi l l e rb i rd populat ions. Offshore marine observat ions. Cursory observa t ions made of b i r d s , s e a l s and t u r t l e s . Several a rchaeologica l samples obtained f o r Carbon-14 da t ing . Observations of b i r d s , s e a l s and t u r t l e s ; t r a n s e c t oensuses made of f i n c h and Mi l l e rb i rd populat ions. Cursory observat ions of b i rds . Sea ls noted; t r a n s e c t censuses made of f inch and Mil le rb i rd populat ions. Appendix Table 3 . P u b l i c a t i o n s on c o l l e c t i o n s and s t u d i e s ( w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of b i r d s ) made on Nihoa I s l a n d , . 1885-1973* Pro tozoa Cushman i n Edmondson R e p o r t s 1 5 s p e c i e s of f o r a m i n i f e r a c o l l e c t e d e t aZ. o f f s h o r e by t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n . C o e l e n t e r a t a N u t t i n g , 1905 Vaughan, 1907. R e p o r t s 1 s p e c i e s of hydro id c o l l e c t e d s o u t h of Nihoa by t h e A l b a t r o s s E x p e d i t i o n . R e p o r t s 6 s p e c i e s of c o r a l s (Madreporia) c o l l e c t e d o f f s h o r e by t h e A l b a t r o s s Expedi- t i o n . N u t t i n g , 1908. R e p o r t s 11 s p e c i e s of c o r a l (Alcyonar ia ) c o l l e c t e d by t h e A l b a t r o s s E x p e d i t i o n ; most a r e d e s c r i b e d a s new s p e c i e s . P i l s b r y , 1927. L i s t s a b a r n a c l e c o l l e c t e d by t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n . D a l l , e t aZ.,, 1938. L i s t s two s p e c i e s of pelecypods c o l l e c t e d o f f s h o r e by t h e A l b a t r o s s E x p e d i t i o n . Annel ida Hartman, 1966. Summarizes p u b l i s h e d r e c o r d s o f p o l y c h a e t e s (I s p e c i e s ) ; g i v e s c u r r e n t taxonomy. Arachnornorpha (Arachnids) Bryan, e t aZ., 1926. S t a t e s t h a t b i r d t i c k s were found a b u n d a n t l y . J a c o t , 1929. R e p o r t s a n o r a b a t i d m i t e (Acar ina) from c o l l e c t i o n s made by t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n . B e a r d s l e y , 1966. R e p o r t s 5 Araneida and a n undetermined pseudoscorp ion from c o l l e c t i o n s made i n September 1964. F i r s t r e c o r d of t h e oc- c u r r e n c e of pseudoscorp ions . Amerson, 1968. R e p o r t s t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n and h o s t s of t i c k s from c o l l e c t i o n s made by t h e POBSP. Appendix Tab le 3. (Continued) Crus tacea Ortman, 1905. Rathbun, 1906. R e p o r t s a s i n g l e s p e c i e s of schizopod c o l l e c t e d i n t h e v i c i n i t y of Nihoa by t h e A l b a t r o s s E x p e d i t i o n . R e p o r t s brachyuran and macruran c r a b s c o l - l e c t e d o f f s h o r e by t h e A l b a t r o s s E x p e d i t i o n . Edmondson i n Edmondson e t at., R e p o r t s 3 s p e c i e s of decapods c o l l e c t e d by 1925. t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n . Bryan e t aZ., 1926. I n d i c a t e s t h a t i s o p o d s were c o l l e c t e d by t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n . Beards ley , 1966. L i s t s 2 s p e c i e s of i sopods from c o l l e c t i o n s made i n September 1964. L a b i a t a (Hexapoda - I n s e c t s ) Timber lake , 1924. Records a c h a l c i d f l y c o l l e c t e d by t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n . Bryan e t aZ., 1926. R e p o r t s ca. 67 s p e c i e s of i n s e c t s c o l l e c t e d by t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n . Wheeler. 1934. L i s t s 4 s p e c i e s of a n t s on t h e b a s i s of e a r l i e r p u b l i c a t i o n s . Lopes, 1938. D e s c r i b e s a new s p e c i e s of sa rcophag id f l y from c o l l e c t i o n s of t h e Tanager Expe- d i t i o n . Us inger , 1942. R e p o r t s 3 s p e c i e s of Nysius (Hemiptera: L y g a e i d a e ) , 2 d e s c r i b e d a s new, from c o l - l e c t i o n s by t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n . Zimmerman, 1948a. L i s t s 8 s p e c i e s of i n s e c t s ( 1 t h y s a n u r a n , 4 cockroaches ; 1 embiopteran, and 1 e a r w i g . ~ immerman ' s v a r i o u s d i s t r i b u t i o n a l r e c o r d s i n t h e I n s e c t s of Hawaii s e r i e s d e r i v e from t h e Tanager c o l l e c t i o n s , b u t e x t e n s i v e l y r e v i s e taxonomy, r e i d e n t i f y specimens , and i d e n t i f y t o s p e c i e s h i t h e r t o u n i d e n t i f j e d specimens; s e v e r a l new d i s t r i b u t i o n a l r e c o r d s a r e l i s t e d i n t h e s e r i e s . Zimmerman, 1948b. L i s t s 6 s p e c i e s of Hemiptera (4 l y g a e i d s , 1 n a b i d , and 1 a n t h o c o r i d ) . Appendix T a b l e 3. (Continued) Ross. 1951. Zimmerman, 1958a. Zimmerman, 1958b. Maa, 1962. Hardy, 1964. Yashimoto, 1965. Hardwick, 1965. Beards ley , 1966. Maa, 1968. Echinodermata F i s h e r , 1906. F i s h e r , 1907. Agass iz and C l a r k , 1907-1912. C l a r k , 1908. C l a r k in Edmondson et at., 1925 S t a t e s t h a t t h e embiop te r id c o l l e c t e d by t h e Tanager Exped i t ion and r e p o r t e d a s Oligotoma insularis (Bryan et al., 1926) i s a c t u a l l y Otigotoma (Apostkonial oceania Ross s p . nov. L i s t s 2 s p e c i e s of n o c t u i d moths . L i s t s 1 p y r a l i d moth and 1 p t e r o p h o r i d moth. R e p o r t s specimens of Hippoboscidae c o l - l e c t e d by t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n . I d e n t i f i e s a d o l i c o p o d i d f l y n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y i d e n t i f i e d i n Bryan et al., 1926. L i s t s 2 s p e c i e s of e u l o p h i d s (Hymenoptera: Cha lco idea ) . D e s c r i b e s a n o c t u i d moth from specimens c o l l e c t e d by t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n . R e p o r t s 110 s p e c i e s of i n s e c t s c o l l e c t e d i n June 1962 and September 1964, 4 1 of them new d i s t r i b u t i o n r e c o r d s . L i s t s e a r l i e r r e c o r d s of i n s e c t s b u t d o e s n o t i n c l u d e Mallophaga . R e p o r t s POBSP c o l l e c t i o n s of h ippobosc id f l i e s . R e p o r t s 9 s p e c i e s of s t a r f i s h e s ( A s t e r o i d e a ) from c o l l e c t i o n s made by t h e A l b a t r o s s E x p e d i t i o n o f f s h o r e . Records 3 s e a cucumbers (Holo thuro idea ) c o l l e c t e d by t h e A l b a t r o s s E x p e d i t i o n . Records 9 s p e c i e s of Echinoidea c o l l e c t e d by t h e A l b a t r o s s Exped i t ion . R e p o r t s a c r i n o d c o l l e c t e d from o f f s h o r e by t h e A l b a t r o s s E x p e d i t i o n . R e p o r t s 3 s p e c i e s of Echinoidea c o l l e c t e d by t h e Tanager Exped i t ion Appendix Table 3 . (Continued) Clark , 1949. Chordata Ver tebra ta Reports 10 b r i t t l e s t a r s (Ophiuroidea) c o l l e c t e d by t h e Albat ross Expedition. Summarizes previous records fo r echinoderms. P i sces Snyder, 1904. Reports 1 spec ie s co l l ec t ed by t h e Albat ross Expedition. G i l b e r t , 1905. Records 22 spec ie s of deep sea f i s h e s co l - l e c t e d i n t h e v i c i n i t y of Nihoa by t h e Albat ross Expedition. Fowler and B a l l , Reports 7 spec ie s of f i s h co l l ec t ed by t h e 1925 Tanager Expedition. S t rasberg , 1956. Revises taxonomy of Hawaiian blennioid f i s h e s and records 1 species from Nihoa. R e p t i l i a Beardsley, 1966. Gives f i r s t record of a l i z a r d , LepidodactyZus Zugubris, from a c o l l e c t i o n made i n September 1964. Mamal ia Paty, 1857. F i r s t r epor t of s e a l s a t Nihoa. Kenyon and Rice, Reports no s e a l s seen during v i s i t s by 1959. Richardson i n 1953, and 1954. Rice, 1960b. Reports no s e a l s seen on a e r i a l survey December 1957. Tomich, 1969. Reports occurrence of monk s e a l i n March 1965. F lo ra Beccari , 1889. Describes endemic palm (Pritchardia remota) from c u l t i v a t e d specimen from Honolulu. Bryan, 1916. I n d i c a t e s palm seeds were co l l ec t ed dur ing t h e A p r i l 1915 c r u i s e of t h e THETIS. The Appendix Tab le 3 . (Continued) B e c c a r i and Rock, 1921. C h r i s t o p h e r s e n and Caum, 1931 Magnusson, 1942 Lamoureux, 1964. Tsuda, 1966. Geophysical Bishop, 1885a and b . E l s c h n e r , 1915. Powers, 1920. Washington and Keyes, 1926. Palmer , 1927 Kroenke and Woollard, 1965. Archaeology Emory, 1928. THETIS v i s i t e d Nihoa i n March n o t A p r i l 1915 and two r e p o r t s of t h e v i s i t g i v e no i n d i c a t i o n t h a t p l a n t s were c o l l e c t e d t h e n . I n a c t u a l i t y t h e s e e d s were c o l l e c t e d i n September 1914 ( s e e n e x t e n t r y ) . Remarks on Pritchurdia specimens c o l l e c t e d i n September 1914. R e p o r t s 20 s p e c i e s of v a s c u l a r p l a n t s c o l - l e c t e d by t h e Tanager Exped i t ion . L i s t s 1 9 s p e c i e s of l i c h e n s c o l l e c t e d by t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n . R e p o r t s t h a t t h e 11 s p e c i e s of v a s c u l a r p l a n t s c o l l e c t e d by t h e HDFG i n 1962 a r e r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e 20 s p e c i e s c o l l e c t e d by t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n i n 1923. R e p o r t s 2 s p e c i e s of mar ine b e n t h i c a l g a e from c o l l e c t i o n s made i n J u l y 1924 and March 1964. Gives g e o l o g i c a l and t o p o g r a p h i c a l observa- t i o n s made i n 1885. Gives d e s c r i p t i o n s and g e o l o g i c a l comments from o b s e r v a t i o n s made o f f s h o r e i n September 1914. Records o b s e r v a t i o n s on a r o c k specimen s t a t e d (e r roneous ly ) t o have been c o l l e c t e d by W.A. Bryan. R e p o r t s r e s u l t s of s t u d i e s of r o c k s c o l l e c t e d i n 1914 and 1923. Gives g e o l o g i c a l and t o p o g r a p h i c a l observa- t i o n s made by t h e Tanager Exped i t ion . R e p o r t s g r a v i t y o b s e r v a t i o n s made i n March 1964. R e p o r t s on a r c h a e o l o g i c a l work conducted by t h e Tanager E x p e d i t i o n and summarizes a l l a v a i l a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n .