Progress Report - Christmas Island During our five day stay, camps were established on all three of the major islands in the lagoon; a tour of the island was made; and a short trip was made to NW point. Work here was complicated by failure of responsible parties to notify island of our visit. Mr. Roberts, District Commissioner, went out of his way to help and made our field work much more successful. The ship had to wait an extra day for parts and with the rather temuous communication system we didn't learn this until too late and returned to the ship a day early. Communication was complicated by lack of land transport, great distances, and complications of boat trips to and from ship. A total of 7689 birds of 11 species were banded, 31 birds were collected, 30 blood samples were taken and several mammals and numerous insects were collected. This information is broken down under the four major areas worked Cook Island One night was spent here by the whole party and a second night by 1 member. Of the 15 species recorded 8 were breeding. 2033 birds of 8 species were banded. One porpoise skeleton was collected. Species Banded Returns Pot. of Population Christmas Island Shearwater 114 2 15 Phoenix Island Petrel 12 15 Red-tailed Tropic Bird 21 20 Bristle-thighed Curlew 1 10 Sooty Tern 1600 20 Hawaiian Noddy 81 3 Fairy Tern 200 15 Crested Tern 4 2 Motu Tabu One night was spent here by two party members. Of 15 species recorded 7 were breeding. 783 individuals of 4 species were banded. Species Banded Returns Pot. of Population Wedge-tailed Shearwater 297 30 Christmas Island Shearwater 84 18 Phoenix Is. Petrel 409 20 15 R.T. Tropic Bird 3 20