R.B. Brown 1968 Widge-tailed Shearwater McKean Island 10 Oct. Noticed quite a few birds in the grano mound today in a quick exam- ination. Noted one dark phase bird out in the open ground on SW corner of island at 2030. Tonight - bird was culling. No burrows nearby; later another 3 pair of dark phase birds were noted ig shallow - partially dug burrows in the open ground on the SW side of island. 15 Oct. In the early evening 7 nests (= burrows) were marked, and as many birds possible were banded. Of these, the very few burrows that could be inspected were empty. Most burrows could not be investigated because of the depth and the very doily nature of the grano, but attempts to work this out causes eprsentation of many of the burrows - this cannot be avoided. During the night from 2230 till ca. 0130 (16) 18 bands were placed on adults about the grano mound. Most birds are restricted to the mound proper but a few pairs are digging burrows beneath the nearby lava out to about 40 feet from the base of the mound. All birds banded have dark phase eyes or which was between, tint, and light phase. All bands were taken off birds (part of those 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). R.D. Brown 1968 Widge-tailed Shearwater McKean Island 10 Oct. 7 dark-phase birds were noted about partially constructed burrows beneath the Seda about 60 yds W of the grano mound (by RFB Nest 13) at 2025. 24 Oct. From 2230 till 2400 caught, painted & released Widge-tailed. During this period 140 were handled. Of these, 56 were banded on the 15th; 84 were unbanded. Using the Lincoln-Petersen method we arrive at Est. Pop = 199 X 140 / 56 = 478 I would tend to believe this is a fairly accurate number for the mound area; there is probably at least another 100 birds, scattered about over the west side of the island - just in causal sitting. I have recorded 18 birds in areas remote from the grano mound. 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, roughly 300 birds brrrled or seen, or a 3 were light phase. This is probably a good percentage for this entire population - 17% The birds are still digging burrows, but I must dig a few out to see if there are any eggs yet. 29 Oct. Dug out 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 dig out the floor of the burrow due to see in pits. I believe the birds, will soon have eggs, but as yet do not believe any have. Mother killing & morning calling & losing going or outside & on the burrows