R.Clapp 1964 Oct. 18 Bikar Atoll, Marshall Islands Spent the morning banding 100 Sooty Tern chicks on an islet NW but adjacent to Jaboerukku Islet. Made but slow progress since from 50-60 % of the birds were banded. I think a reasonable estimate of the number of Sooty Tern young would be between 2300 and 2500, which presupposes an adult population of about 5000 birds. This is the only place on the atoll where the species breeds. I saw a rat in the colony but they appea r scarce compared with the nearby islands. The chicks are predominantly small, some very small while a very few have their wings more completely developed. None however are able to fly. Ticks are common in the area under stones.