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Transcription
RDBrown
1968
Fairy Tern
McKenay Island
20 Oct. Worked at Fairy Tern nest on
the high SW walls and the entire
large central complex of walls. Data
as follows:
20 oct
14SW Walls
20 oct
LCC
24 oct
NW Circular Wall
TOTAL
Egg
SDY
MDY
LFG
Imm.
Total
2
2
2
—
4
17
2
3
2
26
5
1
2
—
8
TOTAL
24
2
6
4
2
38
20 oct
All egg were measured as follows:
38.2 x 29.6
38.2 x 29.4
38.7 x 30.7
38.8 x 31.2
38.9 x 30.9
39.0 x 30.0
39.2 x 30.2
39.5 x 30.3
39.5 x 31.6
39.6 x 29.9
40.1 x 29.9
40.9 x 31.1
41.0 x 30.3
41.0 x 31.4
41.5 x 30.4
43.1 x 31.2
43.1 x 32.2
43.8 x 33.2
44.0 x 39.7
Total 19
Stage of Incubation
20 oct
24 oct
Total
Fr.
4
1
5
VSC 1.
—
1
1
VSC 2.
1
—
1
SE
1
1
2
MC
4
1
5
HI
5
1
6
rafted
4
—
4
Total 19
5
24
Egg measurement, 24 oct
48.0 x 31.0
39.9 x 31.1
38.2 x 29.2
40.1 x 33.4
40.6 x 31.3
RDBrown
1968
Fairy Tern
McKenay Island
20 Oct. Measurements of the culmen from
apposed skin (free of down or feathers) to
tip of upper mandible were taken on
all chicks. The individuals were first
visually placed in an age class, and
then measured.
SDY
MDY
LFY
Imm.
20.5 mm.
23.0 mm.
24.1 mm.
24.3 mm.
13.5 mm.
21.7 mm.
25.2 mm.
27.5 mm.
14.0 mm.
24.1 mm.
26.3 mm.
—
24.8 mm.
24.3 mm.
24.1 mm.
25.4 mm.
24.2 mm.
Hence by visual placement, there
is some overlap between individuals
in the middle down young and large
feathered young classes, and very
close measurements in the large
feathered young and immature groups.
A larger sample could no doubt
give a better series in which to
set lower and upper limits to the
various age classes. However, individual
variation will probably make this
criteria invalid; hence I can see no
reason for maintaining some age class
method which utilizes measurements,
but it will allow a field worker to
utilize the same visual methods we
use in that our unfamiliar with
aging this species can check himself
with some concrete measurements.
All young were banded 7/12-5/24/68.
One egg was known to be laid on 18 oct
High SW walls.