Gould, Patrick J., 1963-1965
Page 430
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Smithsonian Institution Archives. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Gould, P. J. 1964 Red-tailed Tropicbird January 6--Pacific Ocean, 4th day out Oahu, Hawaiian I. One bird seen at 1435 flying 70' above the water it flew in front of the ship and was seen again at 1447 sitting on the water. January 7--Pacific Ocean, 5th day out Oahu, Hawaiian I. 5 individuals seen today, 1 collected. A bird seen early this morning which was probably of this species, would every once in a while appear to falter in the air, side slip a little as if making a flase start at diving into the water. January 8--Pacific Ocean, 6th day out Oahu, Grid Area 2 individuals today. 1 was a sub-adult about 250' up and the other was only 40' up. Both circled the ship. January 9--Pacific Ocean, 7th day out Oahu, Grid Area 1 adult bird (♀) collected today. January 10--Pacific Ocean, 8th day out Oahu, Grid Area 4 birds seen today, mostly adults. January 11--Pacific Ocean, 9th day out Oahu, Grid Area 6 birds seen today. 4 birds seen today at 0825 (all collected)! Two adults were first seen making a series of false dives each time ending up lower to the water until they were only 20-30' above the water. At one point these two adults, while high in the air, make upward glides and hovered at the top of each glide. These two remained together. When one was shot (♂ with enlarged testes) the other hovered over it for over 15 minutes. This bird was an ad. ♀ (ovary minute). The other two birds were Imm.♀♀. January 12--Pacific Ocean, 10th day out Oahu, Grid Area A total of 3 birds seen today. Two were observed by Charles Noteboom at 0210 this morning, flying around the ship's lights. January 13, 1964--Pacific Ocean, 11th day out Oahu, Grid Area