R. D. Gossin Journal 1965 NE area Grid. 30°55'N; 168°17'W — 12°40'N; 10°45'W 16 Aug. Entered grid before sunrise. The typical birdless NE Corner was most vacant Today. A total of 33 birds of 38 sighting. Shearwater-Petrels made up 28 of the 33. NO SOOTY Terns during the entire day. Cloudy all afternoon with a few squalls, during the day, NO birds collected. Grid area 13°00'N; 171°35'W — 14°17'N; 170°13'W 17 Aug. Running NE up leg of grid all day. The wind + moving against it makes for bad visibility, with the brinier Sea was comparatively rough. A total of 85 birds seen today. None collected. Although there were two small flocks, we were unable to catch either on with the ship. Petrels are mainly encountered as singles and scattered throughout the day, thermaltians. Terns more shewed today — all contained in two small flocks — one with 2 terns. Birds seem extremely wary of the ship — and wonder if continued collecting I in this area has not finally smartened them up. Both flocks that were shared broke up and split in all directions. No tropicbirds today. R. D. Gossin Journal 1965 Grid Area 15°35'N; 170°3'W — 14°10'N; 17°35'W 18 Aug. A slight increase in birds today, but certainly nothing compared to last month. Total of 143 seen today. (4 W/T Bnd), one Sooty Tern, Petrel collected. Plotochroa soteria including white-needles, Sooty Terns and shore of Rotauna — identified to race made up 26 birds — just under the number of widgeon. Sooty terns amounted to 54 birds, two flying terns showed up with flocks of Sooty terns and shear-pet. Running SW most of the day. Good visibility, but no birds, the few flocks of Sooty terns sighted practically vanished when the ship came near. We could at least a couple of birds in each flock have been shot at or terribly frightened by shooting sometimes in the past. Their wariness and flight when the ship comes near probably causes a chain-reaction of fear in the other birds of the flock. Petrels are just naturally wary under most conditions. Certainly Sooty terns do not act like this when out of the grid area where little collecting is being done. It will be interesting to note the behavior of birds when we start the new grid next month.