C.D. Hachman 1967 Species Account Layson Finch (Bittirrita cantans) March 18 Layson Island Late in the afternoon I walked into the Ironwood (Casuarina) where all of the Hawaiian Noddy nest are located to place some of the captured Layson Finches in one of the bird nets we were using for carrying cages. The noddies all flew out of the tree as I came into the area. I wasn't under the tree for more than two minutes, when I observed a female finch about five feet away. She landed in a low noddy nest and without delay broke the egg open and ate a little. The female was promptly chased away from the nest by a male who then quickly consumed the entire egg shell and parts of the contents. It took the bird only five minutes to completely consume the entire shell. After dark I returned to the tree to measure the noddy eggs and found a banded male sleeping on top of an unmarked Hawaiian Noddy nest. The bird had its head tucked in and was so soundly asleep that I picked it up, read + recorded the band + replaced it on the noddy nest before it became aware of what had occurred. The bird woke up + practically left the nest. Birds appear to be common + widely distributed throughout the atoll. Total population - several thousand. March 21-23 Southeast I., Pearl + Henea Reef About 95 birds released on this islet around noon on the 21st. One found in sick condition with a wing injury (male) on the morning of the 23rd. Numerous birds observed feeding on Tribulus spinosus Cyperus during the visit. C.D. Hachman 1967 Species Account Layson Duck (Anas laysanensis) March 18 Layson Island Only 15 ducks were visible in the lagoon by binoculars, check from the campsite at 5:30 p.m. Two other birds were observed in a tidal pool on the NW shore by John Macjolek around 4:30 p.m. The crew caught 12 ducks to be transported to Pearl + Henea Reef. March 19 Layson Island A bird circle, east of the East, north + west shore at 1 pm accounted for only 8 birds. March 21-23 Southeast I., Pearl + Henea Reef 12 birds (5 female) released around noon on the 21st. The second bird released flew out to sea and was joined by the first one released. All subsequent birds were wing clipped before release. Four were observed rooting on the night of the 22nd. One drake was found dead on the shore (north) on the morning of the 23rd. March 22 Sand spit near Hana I., Pearl + Henea Reef One wing clipped drake was on the north part of this sand spit along with 14 seals. The bird eluded capture by putting into deep water and was last seen swimming toward another sand spit in the direction of Southeast Island. This bird appeared healthy, but since it was wing clipped its chance of surviving in open water appears to be quite small owing to the large number of white-tipped sharks in the area. The bird may have wandered off of Southeast I. + been pushed down to the sandpit by strong wind + currents moving in that direction. The sand spit was about 2-3 miles from Southeast Island.