Hudson C.D. 1965 February 2 Journal Howland Island 20 The vegetation on Howland is healthy looking at present--fairly lush and green which would seem to indicate recent rainfall has been more than adequate. The Tribulus is in full bloom as is the Boehmeria. All other plant species appears to be doing well. This afternoon we caught 50 Sooty Terns and checked them for wing marks. All birds were netted at the lighthouse tern colony. Late in the afternoon Max sat on top of the lighthouse to watch for incoming Blue-faced Boobies. So few came into the island and found such small chicks we decided to devote the total party effort to Sooty Tern birding. Each person did about 1500 birds. That is, each person with the exception of "Tiger" Huber. When I walked back into camp around 1245 a.m. Huber was still thrashing in the lighthouse colony. As I retired for the night he was heading for the windward shore colony with an enormous pail full of birds. His evening total -- 3,500. The overall total for the entire crew was 8,800 Sooty Terns. In addition to this were 38 [illegible] returns on birds that were banded in July 1964. The first return of the evening, however, was an old Biological Survey Band that Huber found on one of his Sooty Terns: 38-312056. A red spray paint was used on this island.