Rd Cusin Sooty Tern 1868 McKen Island 24 Oct. Practically every adult in the colony leaves with the early storm & goes out to sea. For instance, at 0840 this was not only about 800-1000 adults in the entire colony. Birds start coming back in large numbers throughout the late afternoon and at dusk, they pally become a badam. Some plunge occurs all night long and very early; by sunset, about birds have begun to see. This is with a colony composed almost exclusively of young chicks, from just recently hatched to 4 days old. At this time the chicks are smaller & a few eggs are still being incubated in this extreme area. Hence the colony probably got pulled away about midway, some when and the last cover, were forced to nest at the ends. 22at Plot point Two plots were set up last night; both measuring 32x31 feet to give roughly a 1000 sq. ft. area. At 2200, 2245 adults noted as follows: PLT #1 175 ads. 23 chicks - only hatched 7/8 egg 4 eggs being incubated 61 remains of rotten or broken egg. (not hatched) PLT # 2 841 ads. 82 chicks 1/3 - 2/3 grown 57 rotten egg remains, Rd Cusin Sooty Tern 1868 Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata) 18-48 N; 159-33 W — 1704 N; 168-48 W. 8 Oct. 1/2 birds noted today; at least 8 Emm.; these most often accompanied by parents, Although some noted yesterday just south of Oahu, these are not likely Hawaiian Sooty Terns, which have moved off to sea at termination of breeding. One Emm. closely following parent; parent calling softly. Parents in doubt stay with young considerable this after they leave the island. 15-08 N; 162-02 W — 13-16 N; 163-17 W 9 Oct. Numbers down today to 26; all seen clearly were adults. The largest group was 17 seen just at sunset. 11-25 N; 164-35 W — 09-36 N; 165-46 W 10 Oct. Only 3 birds noted today, all adults. 07-45 N; 166-56 W — 05-57 N; 168-03 W 11 Oct. A small flock of 11 adults left in after- noon may be a bad outsider. Egg centration position to the 5th N current convergence not feeding zone. A sudden appearance of a Red-footed Boobies, at sunset being another indicator, but certainly number of birds more not what they were there in the first, if we did indeed go through the deep water zone. 03-57 N; 169-10 W — 01-58 N; 170-37 W 12 Oct. With a small travelling flock of 7 in the morning and 2 in a small flock in late afternoon; all adults.