Hachman, C.D. 1967 Species Account Sooty Tern March 12 East Is., French Frigate Shoals After last night's driving rain and 40mph winds (estimated) the Sooty population has been cut to a fourth of its former size. Only the birds on eggs remained on the island (about 5,000). March 13 Trig Is., French Frigate Shoal Fifty birds were on the ground on the north end of the island in Septimus. These birds were reluctant to fly even when closely approached. They were probably ready to lay. March 14 White- Skete, French Frigate Shoals About 150 birds on the north end of the island. No eggs were found. Birds were reluctant to fly when approached. March 14 Trig Island, French Frigate Shoal Fifteen fresh eggs were found among the 50 or so birds that were observed yesterday on the north end of this island. March 17 Offshore Layson Island Small groups of 3-6 birds flying passed ship throughout the day. No concentration observable from the ships during a complete circuit of the island in the morning. March 18 Layson Island A swirl of about 4,000 birds was over the South end of the islands at dusk (+ in the late afternoon). During a check of the NW quarter of the island a small group of about 200 was found on the ground in a bare sandy area between these sections of Scaevola. Three banded birds were captured out of this group all 903 series. No eggs were found. Hachman, C.D. 1967 Species Account Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata) March 20 Laissoni Island. About 5,000-8,000 birds swirling off the island. No nests were found during this short daylight visit. March 21-23 Southeast D., Pearl + Hermes Reef Between 2,000 (daylight) and 5,000 (night) birds swirling over the island. No eggs were found. Birds were on the ground during the second night on the island but no eggs were found on the morning of the 23rd. The birds were coming down in bare areas between Mustahied, Sieyos and Bolanum. March 25 Eastern D., Midway Atoll March 26-30 Green D., Kure Atoll About 75 birds around the island during the day. In the evening about 500 birds swirling and chattering off the eastern end of the reef. None down at night (26th March). March 28 Only a few seen today. Strong, gusty winds appeared to have scattered the small swirling flock that was observed on the two previous nights on this nearest land or observed this evening.