Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Smithsonian Institution Archives.
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Transcription
the first evening, and probably represent breeding birds from Oahu.
Only four of the 106 birds were of the dark phase.
Sooty Shearwater
A total of 67 sooties were observed. Migrating birds were seen
in greatest numbers closest to the Hawaiian Islands and within 250 miles
of the West Coast. The day after leaving Honolulu 16 birds were seen.
All but one of these birds were moving in a northerly direction. On
the 27th while in the gale 25 sooties were seen. The winds were from
the north and were causing the birds some trouble. Several were seen
feathering against the wind making little progress. The remainder of
the 25 birds were flying directly against the wind.
Less than 40% of the Sooty Shearwaters were seen during the seven
day's observation in truly pelagic environment, i.e. away from island
or coastal influence. It is possible that this deep-water area is
a fringe of the two migration paths (Central Pacific and West Coast),
or that the few birds seen during this period represent the end of the
spring migration.
A few Sooty Shearwaters/ seen that did not appear to be migrating.
One was seen in a feeding flock of Sooty Terns, Wedgetailed Shearwaters,
and a booby. Others were seen flying in various directions. Although
this is not seen in fall migrants, it is apparently common among spring
migrants.