Hockin, C.D. 1987 Species Account Great Frigate (Fregata minor) 21-23 March Southeast Isld., Pearl + Howl Reef Saw one adult female with an orange stone attached to the left leg. Bird was sitting with a group of nesting Great frigate but I could not determine if it belonged. The bird failed to return during a 35 minute wait near the nesting area. 48 nests as follows: Adult female on egg - 10 Adult female on empty nest - 6 Adult male on egg - 16 Adult male on empty nest - 14 Empty, new construction - 2 48 The eggs were all candled (against direct sunlight) and all but two were opaque and dirty. There was a great deal of counting during this visit. March 25 Eastern Is., Midway Atoll. Hockin, C.D 1967 Species Account Great Frigate (Fregata minor) 26-30 March Pearl & Pine Atoll Afternoon count of birds in northern portion of the island at 3:20 pm - 137 on Scares, Scareole and 58 flying. A considerable amount of counting, thieving carrying, point inflation and some nest rolling (p. stubs) was observed. (26 March). March 28 An afternoon count of the central roost area turned up 114 frigate (29 in flight). Spent about 40 minutes watching if this species destroy nests after I had chased birds off in order to check breeding status. I noticed that the bird did not both a nest if it contained an egg but would immediately despoil the one if it was empty. Several female frigate refused to move from their nests even though they were empty and in spite of my showing them around + lifting them up in the air. The majority of the birds involved (14 of 18) in this nest destruction were subadult males. These subadults would move in rapidly as soon as a bird left an empty nest and one often would fly over, grab a full ball of the nest. Several adult males also made passes + took some vegetation but not in the same manner as the subadults. The subadults appeared to be doing this for ferrets. After making a strike + picking up some vegetation the bird would fly a few feet, drop the vegetation, wheel around and get in his or her mouth pos. at the nest. All adults involved in this pillaging appeared to be using the material for carrying or nest construction since all flew away with the vegetation. Several of these adults was observed landing at distant nests that appeared to be occupied by females. In view of the damage that would be caused by moving through the entire colony chasing all birds off their nests I stayed taking measurements + surveying nests. Before the main maranding started I checked 12 nests with the following results: AM AF 1egg - 5 1egg - 2 empty (new) - 2 empty (new construction) - 6