87. 27 Dec. (cont.) 1 of the Kittiwakes (imm.) remains, moving over the island freely. The Glaucus-winged Gulls stay either at S. or N. pt. Booby behavior at night. 28 Dec. Banded the gull and released him at the beach. He is so weak that he can barely stand, even though I forced a rat down him. Dennis and I get some pictures before he flies off and drinks from the lagoon. We put a 737 band on him, but this seems much to large, even though this is what Dept. of Fish and Game recommends. Perhaps his legs are small due to his weakened and thinned condition. Spun down blood, cleaned up lab, worked on Laysans, painting some not marked. Two nests have been destroyed, the eggs broken and contents gone, probably eaten by rats. We staked out the Booby colony, putting stakes in at 33 foot intervals. Next the colony will be mapped out and platforms designated. The birds have cleared platforms to dance in, and one pair (R13-14) have two platforms, dancing alternately in them. There is much manipulating of nesting material at the present. Caught a Bristle-thighed Curlew, but he escaped from the lab before I could band him. Tue. 29 December - Dennis and I bled and took measurements and ectoparasites from 8 Laysans - one bird had an extremely banded . Midway worn band which was replaced - the band read J 72 - - - It was banded This Laysan, if the 40 means year banded, was banded 24 years ago. At any rate, it is an old bird, and was not bled. There were 4 Glaucus-winged Gulls at south point, including the one unable to fly. One bird regurgitated as I approached - much rat fur and many chelipeds from crabs. The birds can now be approached to within 150' before they fly off. Checked Laysan nests, observed and photographed various displays of the Boobies - in particula Sky-calling and agonistic encounters between R13-14 and Rl5-16. After dark Dennis and I painted 5 Blue-faced Boobies in the colony as follows: Orange 22, ♂, mate of R22 - 697-24516 Orange 17, ♂, mate of R17 - 737-98231 Orange 21, ♀, mate of R21 - 697-35030 old Nest #7 Orange 1, unmated ♂ - 667-35057 Orange 2 , unmated ♂ - 737-47001