P.S. Brown Gray-backed tern 1968 McKean Island 24 Oct. A colony of ca. 8000 birds are situated on the fine sand rubble on Eriks g island Directly opposite pump. There was an estimate 70% heavily incubated eggs with estimated 30% or fresh eggs, primarily in the Nudge. No chicks here in this particular colony. 25 Oct. Colony of ca. 2000 as on ave. slightly incubated egg between the circular NW walls and the large central coupled SW walls. Another colony of ca. 400 as on very slight- ly incubated stage 2 and slightly incubated egg. Fletation was performed on 40 eggs in the above two colonies as follows. Fr. 1 2.5% USE 1.5 12.5% USE 2.13 32.5% SZ 18 45.0% ME 3 7.5% Considerable variation is encountered in a single colony indicating that all birds do not settle at one time. They are probably a slowly, slow trickling in of birds in any particular colony which is why one can often find flying immatures in a colony and still find incubating fish eggs. However, in fact, we are very few away about the island at this time. I have on occasion noted a few half-flying immatures and very rare (4 as 5) small medium colony chicks - these primarily on the N end of the island and at night when last visited for 8-9 sets. P.S. Brown Gray-backed tern 1968 McKean Island 25 Oct. right a slide on S rocky beach crest I ca. 400 with fresh egg, + ca. 10 Large fledgling young to flying formation. This is new egg laying since 3-4 days ago when I last went through this area Checking Boom Baily nest. A bit farther east on the S end is a colony of ca. 2000 birds with SD y and 5-10 eggs around the periphery which were very fresh. Also a few (ca. 5) flying immatures which shows this colony has been occupied regularly (a slightly irregularly) for some time. An estimated 6000 birds nesting along SE - SW shoreline of island. An occasional pair has eggs at the very edge of lagoon & seaweeds. 27 Oct. ca. 600 adults with ca. 200 eggs of slight incubation; and a handful (ca. 20-25) large flying young are situated along the rocky crest on N end of island.