A.R. Besson 1968 Wedge-tailed Shearwater McKean Island 1968. Noticed quite a few birds in the gruand mord today on a quick exam- ination. Sited one dark ph. bird out in the open ground on SW corner of island at 2030 tonight - bird was celled. No burrows nearby, later another 3 pair of dark phase birds were noted by shallow - partially-dry burrows in the open ground on the SW side of island. 15 Oct. In the early evening 2 nests (= burrows) were marked, and as many birds possibly next banded as there. The very few burrows that could be inscpected were empty. Not burrows could not be investigated because of the depth and the very clumy nature of the gruand. Any attempt to work these areas causes eplication of many of the burrows- this cannot be avoided. During the night from 2230 till c.a. 0130 (16) 186 bands were placed on adults about the gruand mord: Most birds are restricted to the mord proper but a few pairs are digging burrows beneath the nearby Lila out to about 40 feet from the base of the mord. All birds handled were dark phase except one which was between Int. and light phase. 11 bands were taken off birds (part of Ane banded) to be examined for band wear. One pair was noted digging a burrow near BFB marked nest #11 at 2010 (mid W side of island). A.R. Besson 1968 Wedge-tailed Shearwater McKean Island 20 Oct. 9 dark-phase birds seen in this about partially constructed burrows beneath the Sida about 60 yds. W of the gruand mord (by RFB Nest 13) at 2025. 24 Oct. From 2230 till 2400 caught, banded & released Wedgebats. During this period 140 were handled. Of these 56 were banded on the 15th; 84 were unbanded. Using the Lincoln Index method we arrive at Est.Pop = 199 x 140 / 56 = 498 I would tend to believe this is a fairly accurate number for the mord area. There is probably at least another 100 birds, scattered about over the west side of the island - just in casual sitting. I have recorded 18 birds in area reports from the gruand mord. Thus a reliable estimate for the island is 600 birds. Of the 140 captured last night two were near to light phase. These two were unbanded; one of the birds banded on 15 was about light phase. Hence if roughly 300 birds banded or seen, 1/70 a 3 were light phase. This is probably a good percentage for the entire population - 1/20. The birds are still digging burrows, but I must dig a few out to see if there are any eggs yet. 19 Oct. They dug at least 50 burrows and found not a single egg in them. In most cases one or both birds were in the burrow. In most cases I had only to lift out the front of the burrowus to see inside. I believe the birds will soon have eggs, but as yet do not believe any have. Mute hilling & morning calling & cooing going on outside & in the burrows.