R.D. Brown Journal - SFC 14 1966 51 Howland -> Baker -> Howland 0.51 N; 176-45 W — 0.40 N; 176-38 W 12 July cont. Large coral Coubders are present on the beach — washed up by some very heavy storms since the last visit in May. The outer beach front has been changed. Perhaps the storm which occurred were the reason for Sooty Tern failures. Spoke with Larry Hiler upon leaving Baker. He maintains that there are 200,000 Sooties on Howland. The large feeding flocks are still around Baker as apparently large numbers are still in the area. Most birds be likely settled down on chicks or eggs on Howland or out to sea in early a.m. thus few were noted. Arrived at Baker at 1220. Party D 7 went ashore. Sleek, HJF, Chandler and I spent most of the time working on the weather mechanics (setting one rig on for drive, changing rolls etc.). Nobody chummy with eggs to full-fledged chicks, few Sooty (blue-faced) young. About 200 Sootie- birds displaying and nothing on nest (no egg). Island very dry compared To past years. Shelled coral snails, 50+ Older House, 35° Paddy Terns, 12° Wood- spring Tatter. Few Sooty Terns flew over the island. Left at 1535. No problems with surf. We were roughly 7 miles from Howland at sunset. Huge numbers of birds between Howland and Baker. The large good feeding area is still around (immediately Offaker) Baker. This is roughly 4 months and that large feeding flocks have been seen, off Baker. Landed on Howland after dark — great up to 2000 banding and streaming Sooty Terns. The colony extends from near Starvation at the center of the island to nearly to the north end. They could 52 Howland -> Baker -> Howland 0.51 N; 176-45 W — 0.40 N; 176-38 W well be up to 200,000–300,000 birds present. Nesting ranges from fresh egg to chicks nearly ready to fly. The birds are sitting well on the deck of noon, but we are all very glad with the streamering. Only a few I’ve got 600, the rest 400 on known. Returns are coming in well. Left the island at roughly 0730, and started running a girl leg with crew of myself, HJF, + Chandler. Pulled 50 samples of Blue-faced Sooty Terns last night. Rain night watching 11-12 and only had a few birds (NE+D Howland). Howland to 1.04 N; 178-05 W 13 July Birds fairly numerous today (729). Began one leg of the grid out from Howland at 0800 to the W-WW — designed to be at Howland on the following morning. A few large flocks were noted up to 15 miles west of Howland and alternate small flocks with one large one at 1343 in the afternoon. The extreme western sector after this was devoid of flocks. During the night sun in to Howland birds were practically absent and sightings did not begin showing until ca. 0530 near Howland. Three Blue-streamered Blu-faced Sooties and one Howland-banded Sooty Tern was Sleeted/and Discerned on the first leg. These were all within the first 15 miles set from Howland in the morning. This demonstrates, however, that birds are feeding out to the west of Howland as well as SE about Baker. We doubt birds are moving out in all directions, considering the number that are now present on the islands.