R.S. Crossin 1966 SIC 11 March 13 - Christmas Island Entire party went out in rubber raft to Motu Tabu. Banded ca. 700 Christmas Island Shearwaters, Phoenix Island Petrels and wedge-tails in combination. Wedge tails were primarily digging new burrows. The Phoenix Island Petrels had fresh eggs up to full grown chicks and nested mainly under clumps of vines and dense bushes and under sheltered Messerschmidia trees, as did Christmas Island Shearwaters which ranged through same stage of nesting. A few Red-tailed Tropic- birds with eggs and/or chicks were noted. Fairy Terns abundant - eggs to young, mainly in the Messerschmidia trees. Hawaiian Noddy Terns - eggs through chicks, nests built mainly in Messerschmidia trees of leaves of same tree. Common Noddy Terns - eggs through chicks, no nests built - the eggs laid on bare spots on to the ground, usually under dense Messerschmidia. Banded Sooty Tern chicks and adults in the colony on south end of island during the night. Intermittent rain squalls seriously hampered work. March 14 - Party went out to Cook Island about mid day. The Sooty Tern colony was just finishing a nesting cycle. About 500 adults were sitting on the ground, but only about 10 full grown flying chicks were present. A few Crested Tern chicks were scattered about - 1/2 - 3/4 grown. A few Blue-gray Noddies appeared to be nesting. Fairy Terns were especially abundant in all the gringing Messerschmidia trees. Common Noddy and Hawaiian Noddy Terns present in low numbers and nesting. Banded Sooty Tern chicks and adults on the N end of the island (before PMR) from [illegible]. Roughly 7000 banded in combination. Chicks ranged from half to tull grown. Colony of ca. 150-200,000 birds. Cats are very abundant here as elsewhere in the vicinity of colonies and are taking a great toll of chicks. Finished banding after 0300 and broke camp and returned to Shearwater. March 15 - 2-30N; 157-36W - 4-35N; 157-32W First day N Christmas - numerous birds - 1210 total. Dark wedge tails very common - 345 total. Most WT going N or NW throughout A.M. Many returning S. during P.M. Very large feeding flock at dusk (1750). Phoenix Island Petrels common throughout day - 25. Sooty Terns very abundant - 720. Most birds string out traveling, except when in large flocks (feeding). Red-footed Boobies common in flocks up to dark. Probably the vast majority of the days total were birds based on Xmas Is. or others in the Line group. March 16 - 6-34N; 157-30W - 8-36N; 157-31W Considerable number of birds observed, but practically all confined to 3 flocks. Total of 459 birds, 418 in 3 flocks. Flocks composed of Sooty Terns and Wedgetails. One flock with 200 wedge tails were 90 percent light birds, so apparently represent northern populations. A few Juan Fernandez and Phoenix Island/tabit Petrels about, Storm Petrels have dropped off drastically since Xmas Island. Seas continue very rough and hinder collecting as spray shoots over the bow and it becomes impossible to stand watches from there. March 17 - 10-39N; 157-33W - 12-36N; 157-39W Seas quite rough, wind strong - very few birds. A total of 41, mostly Sooty Terns in 2 flocks (33). Only 9 sightings over entire day.