Observations of birds at Ujelang and other northern Marshall islands

Micronesica

198

at the airport on 24 June 1978 and several individuals subsequently at this and other localities on the island between I and 4 August. These sandpipers are usually solitary, and are more likely than others to be seen along inland roads on Yap. Even at the airport, Common Sandpipers foraged along gravel roadsides rather than in grassy areas.

Calidris ruficollis- RUFOUS-NECKED SANDPIPER Considered a regular visitor to Palau (Owen , 1977b) and with _records for Ulithi and the Marianas (Baker, 1951 ), this species was to be expected at Yap. Between I and 4 August 1978, Pratt observed as many as 25 Rufous-necked Sandpipers in small flocks of five to ten birds at the Yap airport. The birds preferred the coral runway and grassy apron to the nearby antenna field .

Erithacus calliope- SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT This Asiatic thrush was recorded by the Japanese at least once at Koror, Palau (Baker, 1951). To this may now be added a sighting by Pratt of a single male bird on 18 January 1978 in a patch of woods near the west end of the Palau airport on Babelthuap. The bird 's white eyebrow and malar streak , rosy red throat , and brown back identified it. The bird was seen as closely as 5 m and in adequate light although the sky was overcast.

Comments Kuroda ( 1961) discussed movements of migrants into Micronesia. He illustrated two major routes taken by these species, one following the BoninVolcano chain south into the Marianas and another eastward to Palau from Mindanao. In this scheme, Guam and Palau respectively were considered to be the limit of land and freshwater bird penetration along these routes. However, the records for Yap pre sen ted here and by Pratt et al. ( 1977) indicate that those species using the southern route commonly continue as far east as Yap .

Thus, observers on that island should be alert to the possibility that many other species presently known only from Palau in Micronesia will eventually appear on Yap as well.

Acknowledgements

couragement and assistance of Robert P. Owen, Chief Conservationist of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, during our several visits to Micronesia .

References Cited Alexander, W. B. 1963. Birds of the Ocean . G .

P. Putnam 's Sons, New York. xiv+306 p .

Baker, R . H. 1951 . The avifauna of Micronesia, its origin, evolution , and distribution. Univ.

Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist. 3: 1- 359.

Drahos, N . 1977. Additions to the avifauna of Guam. Micronesica 13: 45- 48.

Fisher, H. I. 1950. The birds of Yap, Western Caroline Islands. Pac. Sci . 4: 55- 62.

Kuroda , N . 1961 . The over-sea crossings of land birds in the western Pacific. Bull.

Yamashina's Inst. for Ornithology and Zoology 36: 47- 53 .

Marshall , J. T. , Jr. 1949. The endemic avifauna of Saipan, Tinian , Guam, and Palau . Condor 51 : 200-221.

Owen, R. P. 1977a. New bird records for Micronesia and major island groups in Micronesia. Micronesica 13: 57- 63 .

Owen, R. P. 1977b. A checklist of the birds of Micronesia . Micronesica 13 : 65- 81.

Pratt, H . D., P. L. Bruner, and D . G . Berrett.

1977 . Ornithological observations on Yap, Western Caroline Islands. Micronesica 13: 49- 56.

Scott , J. M ., R . L. Pyle, and C. F. Zeillemaker.

1978. Similar species of migratory waterbirds in Hawaii . ' Elepaio 39: 1- 5.

Serventy, D. L. , V. Serventy, and J. Warham .

1971. The Handbook of Australian Sea-birds.

A. H. & A . W . Reed , Sydney. viii+254 p .

H . DouGLAS PRATT, Museum of Zoology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70893 PHILLIP L. BRUNER, Division of Mathematics, Natural Science, and Technology , Brigham Young University -Hawaii Campus, Laie , Hawaii 96762

OBSERVATIONS OF BIRDS AT UJELANG AND OTHER NORTH ERN MARSHALL ISLANDS ATOLLS

Our research in Micronesia has been supported in part by grants from Brigham Young UniversityHawaii Campus, Frank M . Chapman Memorial Fund, and Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology. We gratefully acknowledge the en-

This paper summarizes observations of birds made in the Marshall Islands between 3 March 1975 and 24 March 1977 while I was a Peace Corps Volunteer at Ujelang Atoll. Observations were

Vol. 17. December 1981 conducted while traveling between Ujelang and Majuro Atolls . Visits to an atoll were usually made while traveling aboard the Trust Territory field trip ships which stopped only at the main inhabited island in an atoll. At uninhabited Ailinginae Atoll, observations were made from varying distances offshore.

Information on the Marshall Islands avifauna has been summarized by Amerson ( 1969). Previous scientific visits in the Marshall Islands have been brief and sporadic with the exception of Enewetak which , because of the Enewetak Marine Biological Station , is the most studied atoll in the group.

Birds sighted at each atoll are summarized in Table 1 and in the following species accounts. Birds seen offshore but within sight of an atoll are listed for that atoll. Notes on 39 species of birds are given. Forty-two new sight records involving 29 species are recorded . In addition, five new breeding records for five species are listed .

In the main text the common English name for plants is followed by the scientific and Marshallese name, if known , in parenthesis. Table 2 summarizes bird names used at Ujelang which may differ from those used elsewhere in the Marshall Islands (see Amerson 1969: 338- 340) since the Ujelang/Enewetak dialect differs slightly from the more common Ratak and Ralik dialects .

Spellings of Marshallese names conform to Abo, et al. (1976) where possible.

Table 3 lists the names of islands which are currently in use at Ujelang compared with those listed on H. 0 . Chart 6035 and in Bryan (1971). The Kidenen Island referred to in the text refers to island #33 and not to island # 15 with the same name.

Ujelang is an isolated atoll lying between 9 '46째 to 9 '53째N and 160 '48째 to 161 '00째E. Its closest neighbor, Enewetak Atoll , is 200 km northeast.

Elevation in the atoll probably does not exceed 9 m.

The atoll oblong in shape, has about .677 square miles of land according to Bryan . Since he does not Jist the sizes of five islands, i.e. Jedko, Ujae, Madoomlap, Madoomdik (# 19), and Majuro , the total is possibly higher.

Vegetation is well developed on most islands except Aneraj which is able to support only Pemphis acidula (kune) and several unvegetated sand bars. Co cos (ni) is found on most all of the islands and is the dominant tree form on Ujelang, Bieto , Anelap, Anemanot, Kalo, Kilokwon , and Raej Islands . Cocos has also been planted on many of the smaller islands to supply drinking coconuts

199

for use during picnics and bird or turtle gathering trips . Native vegetation is most undisturbed on the islands clockwise from Kidenen to Bokwanibeb, excepting Kalo . Native vegetation is well developed but more disturbed on islands from Ujae to Majuro. The smaller islands, i.e., islands other than Ujelang, are used in part for making copra , picnicking and gathering birds and turtles.

Polynesian rats (Rattus exulans , kijdik) are found on most of the larger islands which have been planted to Cocos. They are also abundant on Bokwananelap (#4) where apparently they were accidentally introduced in the early 1960s. The rats will eat eggs which have fallen from nests but they do not appear to be a serious predator on the Black Noddy which nests abundantly on that island.

Although the Polynesian Rat is able to climb trees (pers. obs.), it does not seem to climb the Pisonia grandis (ka wn{) in which the Black Noddy nests.

This rat is reportedly not able to climb trees as well as the roof rat (Rallus rattus) (Storer 1962: 207).

Cats (kuuj) are common on Ujelang Island and are also present on Anelap a nd Anemanot. They are also reported to be on Kalo , but none were observed there. They were introduced to keep the rat population down , which at one time was a serious problem on Ujelang Island. Dogs were formerly common on Ujelang, but were killed in May 1976 because not enough cats were being reproduced to keep the rat population in check.

When I left in February 1977, dogs were found only on Bieto Island, where there were four. Pigs (piik) are found only on Ujelang Island, where they are usually allowed to roam free. Mosquitoes (nam), during the Japanese administration , were reportedly abundant at Ujelang. From 1947, when the Enewetak people were moved there, until the summer of 1977, none were present. In 1977, mosquitoes returned to the atoll and were responsible for a few sicknesses (L. Carrucci , pers. comm.).

Nesting birds are most common on Kidenen and both Bokwananelaps. The most abundant nesting species at present is the Black Noddy (Anous tenuiroslris), followed by the White Tern (Gy gis alba). The Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), formerly abundant, has sharply declined in numbers as a nesting bird but remains a common visitor. The Sooty Tern (Sterna .fuscata) , also formerly common, no longer nests in the atoll. The decline and elimination of these two species is a result of human predation . Frigatebirds and boobys commonly roost, especially during the windier months on Kidenen , Bokom , and Bokwananelap. The terns

Wedge-tailed Shearwater Sooty /Slender-billed Shearwa ter Harcourts Storm-petrel Red-tailed Tropicbird White-tailed Tropicbird Blue-faced Booby Red-footed Booby Brown Booby Great Frigatebird Lesser Frigatebird Reef Heron Pintail Golden Plover Mongolian Plover Bar-tailed Godwit Whimbrel Bristle-thighed Curlew Common/Spotted Sandpiper Gray-tailed Tattler X X

N

Alilinginae

X X X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X X X

N

Enewetak K wajalein

X

X X

N

Bikini

X

N N N

N

Lae

List of birds sighted at each atoll visited .

X

N

Arno

Table I.

X

X

X X

路x

X

X

X

N

X

X N X

X X X

N

Ujae

X X N

Majuro Rongelap

X N N N X N N

N

N N X N X

N N

N N

Ujelang

X

X

N X

Wotho

~

1).)

() "

~

0 ::l

...,

() "

0 0

N

X- Recorded .

N- New Record.

Wandering Tattler Ruddy Turnstone Sanderling Rufous-necked Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Sharp-tailed Sandpiper jaeger sp.

Franklins Gull Common/Arctic Tern Black-naped Tern Sooty Tern Crested Tern Blue-gray Noddy Brown Noddy Black Noddy White Tern Micronesian Pigeon Long-tailed Cuckoo Barn Swallow Passer sp.

X

X

X

X X X

X X X

X

X

X X

X

X X

X X

X X

X

X X X

X X X

X

N

X X X

X X

X X

X X X N N

X N X

N

X X

X X X

X N X

X

X N X N X X X

X X

N N

X X X

N X X X

X X N N N N N

X X X

X X

X X

0

N

00

~

~

cr"

3

Cl>

()

0 Cl>

:-J

<

~

202

Micronesica Table 2.

Lei Mum M e til Mongbit Elejik Nan a Jokbata Kalo

Ak Tolong Kaka Rongbet Kolej Kuk-kuk Kewak Kididj Kut-kut Jenong Jetokolan Uwad Oo

Kar Bijuak Jukadj lui Bao Kako Mule Wide} Bao-in-mankolo

Marshallese and English bird names.

Laysan (?) Albatross Wedge-tailed Shearwater Sooty /Slender-billed Shearwa ter storm-petrel sp . (?)

Red- & White-tailed Tropicbirds Red-footed Booby booby sp. (adult Red-footed?)

Brown Booby Great Frigatebird Great Frigatebird , male Reef Heron duck spp.

Golden Plover Whimbrel Bristle-thighed Curlew Wandering Tattler Ruddy Turnstone Rufous-necked Stint shorebird sp. (?)

Black-naped Tern Sooty Tern Crested Tern Brown Noddy Black Noddy White Tern Chicken (also general name for birds) Rooster Micronesian Pigeon Long-tailed Cuckoo Owl sp. (?)

and larger birds, excepting the Reef Heron , are heavily preyed upon by the human population .

Predation on shorebirds is minor.

During the late 1800's, a more substantial human population is said to have lived at Ujelang Atoll than at present. A typhoon is reported to have struck the atoll , leaving very few survivors. The Germans bought the atoll from the survivors for use as a copra plantation. The survivors reportedly moved to Ponape, Jaluit, Majuro, and Enewetak.

During the Japanese administration, the atoll was inhabited by a few plantation workers and was the site of a weather station . In 1947, the Enewetak people, numbering around 142, were moved to Ujelang so that the United States could use Enewetak for atomic weapons testing. In 1975, there were 364 people, including two Peace Corps Volunteers, living in the atoll, all of whom were living in one town on Ujelang Island .

After the people were moved from Enewetak, the smaller islands at Ujelang were divided in such a manner so as to give several families the right to the resources of an island . This multiowner system makes management and control of an island more difficult and might be in part responsible for the decline and elimination of some nesting birds.

Seven birds of two species banded at other locations have been recovered at Ujelang Atoll.

These records are summarized in Table 4. It is interesting to note that six of these birds were banded at Johnston Atoll or the leeward Hawaiian Islands. This would seem to indicate that Hawaiian Brown Noddys do move away from the Hawaiian Islands during a part of their life-time.

This is contrary to a statement by Richardson (1957 : 30) who said there might be a "lack of migration " in nonbreeding brown noddys.

During the past, other birds have been taken by

203

Vol. 17. December 1981 Table 3.

Current Use Bokom (sand bar) (sand bar) Bokwananelap Bokwananelap (sand bar) Jedko Bokwanjuakak Bokwanibeb Ujae Kilokwon Kilokwon Bokwan (?)

Kidenen Bokwanelap Madoomdik Madoomlap Madoomdik Morina Morina Majuro Raej Ujelang Anekune Aneraj Bieto (small pass) Nele (wide pass) Anelap Anemanot Kidenen Kalo

Place names at Ujelang.

H. 0. Chart 6035 Pyokon

Boggelininlap

Seroko Pokon

Kilogen

Maron

Daisu Ujelang

Burle Romu Eimnlap Ennimenetto Kiriniyan Kalo

Bryan , 1971 I Pyokon

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Bogelinininlap

Seroko Pokon Bokanibob Bokanibwiebirko II (unnamed) 12 Kilogen 13 Bokanjoio

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Bokanemej Bokanalap Maronlik Madron M wadoomwdik Bok Maron Bok Daisu Ujelang Eneraj Burle Nelle Einmlapp Ennimenetto Kiriniyan Kalo

Order of the islands is clockwise from Bokom, corresponding with Bryan 's # I to Kalo , Bryan 's #34.

the people on Ujelang which had bands but were discarded . One person reported that on a trip to get birds, some ninety boobys and frigatebirds were taken . Of these , thirteen were reported to have had bands which were thrown away. Other people reported seeing bands on birds which were also thrown away since they did not have the means to report the numbers. Some of the banded frigatebirds were also reported to have had red bands, which may have been tagged by Woodbury (1962) at Enewetak. For some unknown reason, five of the

listed bands in Table 4 were saved. Even though the date these birds were taken is unknown, the location data supplied is of importance.

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Oceanodroma castro- HARCOURTS STORMPETREL One individual was seen off Ujae Atoll on 17 June 1975.

204

M icronesica Table 4.

Species Great Frigatebird Brown Noddy Brown Noddy Brown Noddy Brown Noddy Brown Noddy Brown Noddy

Bird bands recovered at Ujelang Atoll .

Loc. Banded Kure Enewetak A tl Johnson Atl Laysan Kure Johnston Atl Fr Frg Shl

Age

Date Bnd

Date Rcvd

u

6/25/66 I /23/69 I 0/08/ 64 I 0/22/66 I 0/24/ 63 6/ 15/ 65 5/ 30/67

2/ 14/67 6J05 j76

N N

u I± N I±

u u

u u

u

U=Unknown .

N =Nestling.

I± About one year old .

Puffin us pacificus- WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER Except for migrating Sooty or Slender-billed Shearwaters observed off Ujelang, the Wedgetailed Shearwater was the only shearwater identified in the Marshall Islands. The most seen was 130 between Ujelang and Bikini on 29 December 1975. Other records include: two off Bikini on 31 December 1975, three or four within 3 miles of the east coast of Kwajalein Atoll on 3 July 1976, three between Ujelang and Rongelap on 29 June 1976; one off Ailinginae on 30 June 1976, one 8 miles east of Lae on 5 September 1976, one off the east side of Ujelang Atoll 29 September feeding with 13,000 noddys , and one about 75 miles east north-east of Ujae on 7 September 1976. Apparently these are the first sight records for Ujelang, K wajalein, Lae, and Ailinginae. According to the people from Enewetak , the Wedge-tailed Shearwater nested on Louj Islet, Enewetak Atoll. They described its nesting below ground and moaning cries. Wedgetailed Shearwaters have also been found nesting at Bijire Islet , Enewetak Atoll, in November 1977, March- April 1978, and November 1978 (Manfred Temme, pers. comm.).

The Sooty and/or Slender-billed Shearwater (Puffinus sp .) appeared to be a common spring migrant. Between 26 April and 6 May 1976, flocks ranging from a few individuals to over onethousand were seen migrating northward off of Kalo and Ujelang Islands. They did not approach close enough to be specifically identified, but from their undulating flights are thought to have been either Sooty or Slender-billed Shearwaters, both of which have been previously recorded in the Marshall Islands (Pearson and Knudson 1967 : 20;

Amerson 1969 : 296) .

Phaethon rubricauda- RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD This tropicbird is a rare visitor to Ujelang. It was first seen flying over Bokwananelap 17 December 1976; one or two individuals were seen on 27 December 1976 between Bokwanjuakak and Jedko; one was killed by children on Ujelang Island 18 January 1977; one was over Kidenen on 7 February 1977; what may have been this species was seen over Ujelang Island by Ben Jones, Peace Corps Volunteer, on 23 March 1976. This is a new sight record for Ujeland Atoll .

Phaethon lepturus- WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD The White-tailed Tropicbird is also a rare visitor to Ujelang. Three individuals were seen briefly over Nele on 24 September 1976 and one or two were over Kidenen 7- 8 February 1977. This is a new sight record for Ujelang.

Sula dactylatra- BLUE-FACED BOOBY This is the least common of the three boobies found in the Marsha ll Islands and was encountered only twice at sea. One was observed between Majuro and K wajalein on 11 June 1975 and another was sighted less than 3 miles off Bikini on 31 December 1975. This is a new sight record for Bikini.

Sula sula-RED-FOOTED BOOBY The Red-footed Booby is frequently encountered over the open ocean . Numbers are usually higher than for the Brown Booby. Two large nestlings of

Vol. 17. December 1981 this species were seen and photographed at Wotho Island , Wotho Atoll. They were being kept by one of the children and had been taken from one of the smaller islands in the atoll. This is a new breeding record for W otho . Maximum numbers noted were 125 off Wotho on II September 1976 and 53 off Lae on 6 September 1976.

The Red-footed Booby is frequently recorded at Ujelang especially in the winter months. It is seen most often around the small islands which it uses for roosting, i.e., Kidenen , Bokom, and Bokwananelap. The most recorded at one time at Ujelang was over I 00 around Bokwananelap on 27 December 1976. Although numbers of Red-footed Boobys are greater than for the Brown Booby, it is not seen as often as the Brown. The vast majority of birds using the atoll are immature.

Groups of people make periodic trips during the winter months to the three main roost islands to collect birds for eating. Birds are either grabbed by hand and thrown to the ground or hit with a stick while roosting in the trees, especially Pisonia grandis, at night. The job of climbing the smooth barked Pisonia is left to the younger men. Several people remain on the ground to wring the necks of those birds which have been thrown down . It is not uncommon at present for twenty to thirty boobys and frigatebirds to be taken in one night.

Sula leucogaster-BROWN BOOBY This boody is frequently encountered at sea but in lower numbers than the Red-footed Booby. At Ujelang it is not as abundant, but is seen more often than the Red-footed. Maximum numbers seen were 16 offWotho on II September 1976 with Red-footed Boobys, 20 on 27 December 1976 at Bokwananelap, Ujelang, and 8 at the pass at Majuro on 2 September 1976. They were also seen at Lae, one on 17 June 1975 and Rongelap, one on 30 June 1976 and three on 9-10 September 1976.

These are new sight records for Ujelang, Lae, and Rongelap. Fosberg (1966: 13- 14) found this booby to be the most common and widespread of the three boobys in the northern Marshall Islands. At Ujelang, although it was recorded in all months except March and July, no signs of nesting were seen.

Fregata minor- GREAT FRIGATEBIRD The Great Frigatebird is occasionally seen soaring over atolls but is not encountered frequently over the open ocean. It is a very common visitor to Ujelang, where the most seen was 250 over

205

Bokwananelap on 6 December 1976. It can be seen at any time of the year, but the largest numbers are present during the winter (windier) months. It was also recorded at Ine, Arno, five on 25 April 1975, at Majuro, two on 22 March 1975, one on 29 March 197 5 and one on 24 March 1977, and at Lae, one on 15 June 1975. These are apparently new sight records for Lae, Majuro, and Arno.

Fewer frigatebirds than boobys are taken by the Marshallese. It is possible that the frigatebird is more easily disturbed than the boody at night while roosting. On one occassion they were seen soaring over Bokwananelap, Ujelang Atoll several hours after dark.

Fregata ariel- LESSER FRIGA TEBIRD This species was encountered only once at Ujelang where one was seen soaring over Kalo Island with large numbers of Great Frigatebirds during a storm on 26 April 1976. This is a new sight record for Ujelang Atoll.

Demigretta sacra- REEF HERON The Reef Heron was seen in low numbers at nearly every atoll visited. The color phases of 45 different birds was noted at the various atolls visited (excepting Ujelang) and are as follows: 18 gray, 14 mottled, and 13 white. Curiously Fosberg (1966 : 18) found that the gray and white phases were present in nearly equal numbers while the mottled was less common .

At Ujelang, the Reef Heron is present in low numbers but no nests were found. A nestling was seen with children at Ujelang Island on 22 September 1974 and was reportedly taken from one of the smaller islands. This species is often used as a pet but is rarely eaten since it eats rats and lizards which are considered unfit for human consumption. This is a new breeding record for Ujelang.

Gallus gallus- CHICKEN These birds are uncommon at Ujelang where they are usually allowed to run wild . Specific notes were not kept on this species, but it was noted at almost every atoll visited .

Anas acuta-PINT AIL This was the only duck encountered while I was at Ujelang. Some wing feathers were found in a cook house in October 1975 and sent to U.S.N.M. where postive identification was made by Roxie C. Laybourne. The second bird, a male, was seen and photographed alive on 21 February 1977. It was

206

Micronesica

found in a shallow well on 20 February 1977 on Ujelang Island . This is a new record for Ujelang Atoll.

Cairina moschata- MUSCOVY DUCK Fosberg ( 1966: 17) recorded this bird at Ujelang, but it is no longer found there. Since his visit in 1952, this species has been exterminated because it was felt that its prolific droppings attracted flies.

Pluvialis dominica- GOLDEN PLOVER

At Ujelang it may be seen through out the year.

The Bristle-thighed Curlew has been recorded picking up crabs in its bill and flinging them to the ground to break open the shell. This has been noted at Arno (Marshall , 1950 : 14) and at Enewetak (Carpenter, et al. , 1968: 299). This behavior was noted twice, once at Jupanbok , Ujelang Island on 5 October 1975 where it appeared to be tossing hermit crabs and at a sand bar west of Bokwananelap on 13 December 1976. In one of the Marshallese legends, a chief from long ago is said to have given the curlew the right to pick up crabs when no other food is available and drop them to break the shell.

This is a common and widespread shorebird and at Ujelang is the second most abundant shorebird after the Ruddy Turnstone. Substantial numbers of this bird are found from September until early April, whereafter numbers decline through May. A few birds, presumably first year birds, spend the summer on the wintering grounds.

In the Marshallese oral tradition, the Golden Plover lays its egg by flying high into the sky, out of sight of land , which then falls to the ground . On impact it breaks and releases the young bird which then runs off and hides in the leaves. This is similar to a story from the Tokelau Islands in the southern Pacific (Wodzicki and Laird 1970 : 269).

This godwit is a rare to uncommon visitor to the Marshall Islands. One individual was at Ujelang from 21 October 1975 until 20 December 1975 and another on I April 1976 at Enekune; one on Bieto Island , Ujelang on 20 march 1976, one at Jupanbok, Ujelang 1- 6 April 1976; one at Majuro Atoll on 3 March 1975 and one at Ine, Arno 14-15 April 1975 were the only ones noted. These are new sight records for Ujelang and Majuro Atolls.

Charadrius mongo/us- MONGOLIAN PLOVER

Actitis sp. -COMMON or SPOTTED SAND-

This species appears to be a regular winter visitor to Ujelang in low numbers. The only individuals of this species noted were at Enekune, Ujelang Island where no more than two were seen at a time.

Two were seen 7 September 1975 until 5 December 1975 and two again were seen from 26 November 1976 to 18 February 1977. This is a new sight record for Ujelang.

PIPER This shorebird appears to be a sparse fall and rare spring visitor to Ujelang. It is felt by many that the two cannot be separable in the field in winter plummage, the only plummage it was seen in. The following individuals were seen: at Enekune on 1- 7 September 1975; at Kalo Island, Ujelang on 25 April 1976; near Ujelang town on 9- 29 November 1976. The Spotted Sandpiper has been collected from Taka, Marshall Islands (Amerson 1969 : 45) but the Common is thus far unrecorded in the Marshalls, although it is a regular migrant in western Micronesia (Baker 1951 : 143). This is a new sight record of this genus for Ujelang.

Numenius phaeopus- WHIMBREL This shorebird occurs in low numbers throughout the Marshall Islands. At Ujelang it is a moderately common visitor through out the year with numbers being highest between September and May. The most seen was ten on 24 April 1976 and 6 November 1976 at Enekune, Ujelang Island.

It is seen more often around Ujelang Island than around the smaller uninhabited islands, in contrast to the Bristle-thighed Curlew which is the most common curlew around the smaller islands.

Numenius tahitiensis- BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW This shorebird was noted less often than the Whimbrel at the various atolls visited, possibly because as at Ujelang it prefers uninhabited islands.

Limosa lapponica- BAR-TAILED GODWIT

Heteroscelus brevipes- G RAY-TAILED TATTLER This shorebird is nearly indistinguishable from the Wandering Tattler; however, it is generally a paler gray on the back , has a white forehead , and has a double-noted whistle call (see King and Dickinson 1975 : 133). Although my early data from Ujelang are sketchy regarding the tattler, it appears to be a common and regular visitor to Ujelang. It is less common than the Wandering Tattler. The most noticed in one day was eight

Vol. 17. December 1981

between town and Enekune on I 0 February I 977.

This is a new sight record for Ujelang.

Heteroscelus incanus- W ANDERING TATTLER The Wandering Tattler is the third most abundant shorebrid in the Marshall Islands. It was seen at most atolls visited. It is relatively common as a nonbreeding visitor in the summer.

During the winter it is highly territorial most of the time . This observation is in contrast to Johnston and McFarlane (1967 : I 59) who recorded it as being territorial only during April and May at Wake Atoll.

Arenaria interpres- RUDDY TURNSTONE The Ruddy Turnstone is the most abundant shorebird visiting the Marshall Islands . It can be found through out the year, but at Ujelang it is most common from September until early April.

Numbers decline in mid April through May and then begin to increase again in late July or early August. This is in agreement with Stickney (1943: 8) who reported that the "migration season begins in August and ends in May." The most seen in one day was I I 9 on 26 November I 976 between Ujelang town and Enekune. Large numbers of shorebirds congregate near the. west end of Ujelang Island at high tide when feeding areas exposed at low tide are covered .

In this large congregation of shorebirds, one is often able to find Red-necked Sandpiper, Mongolian Plover, Spotted/Common Sandpiper and Sharptailed Sandpipers.

The Ruddy Turnstone is rarely seen beneath the vegetation on the islands. At night it is seen roosting at the edge of the vegetation or with Black-naped Terns on exposed gravel bars.

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Calidris ruficollis- RUFOUS-NECKED STINT This shorebird is an uncommon fall visitor to Ujelang. One individual was seen between 7 September and I October 1975 and three birds were seen 6- 17 November 1976, all at Enekune. The only other published record from the Marshall Islands is of a female collected I 0 July I 973 at Enewetak (Johnson and Keinholz I 975: 593). This is a new sight record for Ujelang.

Ca/idris melanotos- PECTORAL SANDPIPER The Pectoral Sandpiper was noted only once during the two years of observation. One individual was seen from 13 to 24 September I 975 at Enekune.

It has only been previously recorded from Taka Atoll in the Marshall Islands where one was collected 20 October 1964 (Amerson 1969: 49- 50).

This is a new sight record for Ujela ng.

Ca/idris acuminata- SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper is an uncommon but regular fall and winter visitor to Ujelang. One bird was killed by children with a slingshot on 27 September 1975 . Its tail feathers were saved and sent to U .S.N .M . where positive identification was made by Roxie C. Laybourne. This is a new record for Ujelang.

Stercorarius sp.-JAEGER An immature jaeger was seen 29 September 1975 in the ocean off the east side of Ujelang Atoll with a flock of I I ,000 noddys. The only other record of a jaeger from the Marshall Islands is one seen off Taka Atoll in October I 967 (Amerson 1969: 301).

This is a new sight record for Ujelang Atoll.

Larus pipixcan- FRANKLINS GULL Crocethia alba- SANDERLING This is an uncommon visitor to Ujelang. Up to four birds were seen from I I November until 20 December 1975 and from 27 March until 6 May 1976; two birds were seen 28 October until 6 November I 976, all at a short sandy beach at Enekune on the ocean side of the island. The fall birds appeared to be especially territorial in behavior. Suitable sandy beaches for Sanderlings are not extensive at Ujelang Atoll. Although most of the islands between Kalo and Raij have sandy beachs on the leeward sides, no Sanderlings were seen using those islands. This is a new sight record for Ujelang Atoll.

The first Franklins Gull recorded in Micronesia was seen and photographed at Majuro Atoll on 10 June I 975. It was in typical nuptial plummage (Anderson 1978).

Sterna sp.- COMMON/ ARCTIC TERN The Common or Arctic Tern appears to be a rare and possibly a regular visitor to Ujelang. Due to similarities in the winter plummage, it was not possible to specifically identify the birds seen . The first bird was seen 20 October 1975 at Ujelang with a flock of Black-naped Terns. What may have been the same bird was seen resting on a sandbar between Raij and Ujelang on 18 December I 975 .

Another individual was seen 8 February I 977 at

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Bokwanjuakak, resting on the island with a flock of Black-naped Terns and again with Black-naped Terns on Bokwanelap on II February 1977. One individual was sighted around Ebeye and Kwajalein Islands, Kwajalein 2-4 January 1976.

These are new sight records for Ujelang and K wajalein. The Common Tern has been collected at Jaluit (Amerson 1969 : 195) while the Arctic Tern has been sighted at Enewetak (Woodbury 1962: 71).

Sterna sumatrana- BLACK-NAPED TERN This relatively common tern was seen at all atolls visited except off Ailinginae. It was noted at Lae, where previously unrecorded, on all visits except 17 June 1975. No where were large numbers noted, usually less than ten being seen at one time. At Majuro several were ordinarily seen fishing and resting around the dock in the company of Black Noddies. It is usually found fishing over lagoons and lagoon reefs, and less often over the open ocean or ocean reefs. While fishing in the lagoon, it is usually seen with Balck Noddys. While actively fishing, the Black Noddy is less than a foot above the water and is usually able to pick its prey from the water without splashing. The Black-naped Tern, on the other hand , flies above the noddy while fishing , and when it dives for prey, it often belly flops in the water.

Adults rest at night on the gravel bars and beaches. If there are nestlings present, they commonly joint the adults although the smaller ones probably spend the night under the vegetation where they spend the day.

All of the nests which I saw were placed at the edge of, or often just under, bushes if access was open to the beach. No nests were found on the interior of the islands. In contrast, Carpenter et a!. ( 1968 : 304) reported that at Enewetak, nests were usually placed " several yards from the nearest cover just above high tide line. " Of eight nests inspected , seven contained a clutch of two eggs, the other containing only one. One of the men reported that at Enewetak he had seen clutches of four eggs.

Eggs or nestlings were found at Ujelang from August through February, excepting September and January. The Black-naped Tern has been recorded breeding at Enewetak in June through September (Carpenter eta!. 1968 : 304) and March through May (Pearson and Knudson 1967 : 203) at Ujae in February and March (Fosberg 1966 : 24) at Arno in September (Baker 1951 : 157) and at Taka, Erikub and Jaluit in October (Amerson 1969: 50,

87 , 196). It thus appears that nesting can be expected at any time of the year.

Sterna fuscata- SOOTY TERN The Sooty Tern was seen occasionally at sea and around the atolls. At Majuro, one was seen flying across the lagoon on I April 1975, several were heard flying over Rita Island, Majuro, at night on 28 September 1976. Another was heard on 28 September 1976 and another was heard on 13 March 1977 over Rita; one was noted flying away from Ujae Atoll in the early evening of 17 June 路1975; three were flying over Rongelap on 30 June 1976. These are new sight records for Majuro, Ujae, and Rongelap. During each of the three trips past Ailinginae, Sooty Terns were noted in low numbers. In May 1967, Amerson (1967 : 141) recorded a colony of 5000 adults breeding at Ailinginae Atoll.

At Ujelang Atoll during the first seven months of my visit, Sooty Terns were rarely seen, after which they became increasingly common around the atoll.

The greatest number noted in one day was 29 between town and Enekune on 26 November 1976.

Fosberg (I 966 : 25) recorded a "considerable number" of eggs and terns at Jedko Island, Ujelang, on 4 February 1952. He also reported that the people " gather and eat the eggs." The people at Ujelang also told me that the Sooty Tern formerly nested at Majuro Island. It seems to me that after continued human harassment and predation, the Sooty Terns abandoned Ujelang as a nesting atoll.

Although the Sooty Tern at Enewetak appears to breed on an irregular cycle (Carpenter et a!.

1968 : 300), I do not believe that the reason no evidence of nesting was found is the result of an irregular nesting cycle, since it has apparently not bred on the atoll since the mid-1960s.

Sterna bergii- CRESTED TERN This widespread tern was noted in low numbers at nearly every atoll visited . At Ebeye Island, Kwajalein Atoll, up to five were noted during each of five visits. All birds were seen fishing in lagoons or over reefs except for two birds on the west (leeward) side of Bikaridj Island, Arno, on l April 1975. On II September 1976, six nestlings were seen and photographed at Wotho Island, Wotho.

These had been taken from one of the small islands at Wotho by the people and were being keptalive.

One of these birds was photographed. This represents a new breeding record for Wotho Atoll .

At Ujelang, this species is an irregular visitor.

Vol. 17. December 198 1 Only scattered individuals were seen between October 1975 and January 1977. The first individual was seen at Anerej on 2 October 1975; one to two individuals were seen occasionally between 8 April and 24 May 1976 at several locations in the atoll; one was near Anekune 23 October 1976; one to two were again seen occasionally from 22 December 1976 to 25 January 1977 at several locations in the atoll.

The closest breeding locations of this tern are at Enewetak (Amerson 1969: 302) and Wotho . I was told by the people on Ujelang that this species nested at a large sandbar called Bokitoktok south of Enjebi , Enewetak.

Procelsterna cerulea-BLUE-GRAY NODDY Only one of these small terns was seen during the two years spent in the Marshalls. At dusk on 17 June 1975, one individual was noted about two miles south of Ujae Island, Ujae. It seemed to be loosely associated with a flock of noddys.

Anous stolidus- BROWN NODDY Noddies at sea are fairly common and widespread in the Marshall Islands. In general, the Brown Noddy is more common over the open ocean while the Black Noddy is more common closer to the atolls and in the lagoons. At Ujelang, the Brown Noddy is a common visitor and an uncommon nester. It has been recorded nesting from August to April with the exception of February. Nests are found in a variety of vegetation including: Pandanus, Pisonia , Pemphis, Terminalia , and Cocos as well as on the ground.

Nests in trees are made from sticks with small amounts of rock and shell. More birds use the atoll than are reproduced there. The recovery of six bands indicates that noddys using the atoll can travel long distances.

During the day, Brown Noddys are offen seen resting on sand and gravel bars. Numbers range from a couple of birds up to 700. At night they usually, but not always, roost in Saevola and Messerschmidia on the windward side of the small islands. Sometimes they will roost with Blacknaped Terns on the gravel bars.

Presently there are no large concentrations of nesting Brown Noddys . The largest numbers of eggs and nestlings noted are: 4 nestlings at Nele on 16 August 1975, 8 nestlings on Jedko on 20 September 1976, 6 nestlings and one egg at Bokom 8 October 1976, and three nestlings and one egg at Bokwanelap on 2 December 1976. In February

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1952, Fosberg (1966: 29-30) found the noddy to be generally abundant. He found " hundreds" nesting on Bokom, " quite a few " at Nele, " some nesting" on Bieto , and " very abundant " at Jedko . While at Ujelang, I was told that formerly " thousands" of noddys nested at both Jedko and Bokwanelap and that the brush on Jedko was kept cut back to encourage the ground nesting noddys.

Fosberg ( 1966: 29) also recorded that the people at Ujelang " gather and eat the eggs in large numbers and also eat the fully feathered young birds ."

This is a practice which continues today but in much reduced numbers of birds involved . Periodic visits are made to the smaller islands, especially in the winter months to collect birds for eating. Brown Noddys are collected from their roosts on moonless nights. Apparently, on moonless nights the birds are unwilling to fly and they are picked or hit with a stick from their roosts. On dark nights with some rain showers, birds are easier to catch since they reportedly roost with their head under a wing. If the tree or bush is too tall, the people are often able to climb up in it and grab the birds from the inside without disturbing the other roosting birds.

It seems obvious to me that the cause of the decline in the Brown Noddy population is attributable to over-hunting. At one time, control was practiced in who was able to go to an island to take birds. In recent years, this system has broken down so that practically anyone going to an island may take birds. If someone visits an island today and sees a nestling or egg more often than not it will be taken. When large numbers of noddys still existed on Bokwanelap, one of the owners said that no one was allowed to collect birds there without permission. This rule was at times ignored. One legally organized trip to Bokwanelap several years ago was reported to have taken ten burlap bags of eggs and young birds for a party. Another person reported that on a specially organized trip, some 800 birds and eggs were taken from Jedko. The Brown Noddy is regarded as being the best eating bird, followed by the larger boobys and frigatebirds .

Anous tenuirostris- BLACK NODDY The Black Noddy is the most abundant breeding bird at Ujelang. In 1952, Fosberg ( 1966: 32) recorded the Black Noddy in considerable numbers in the atoll: " many" at Bieto with " some" nesting, " hundreds" nesting on Kidenen , and also lesser numbers nesting on Bikom and Bokan (loc?).

Today, Kidenen and both Bokwananelaps have the highest concentrations of Black Noddys, with

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about 1000 pairs nesting at Kidenen and about 300 pairs nesting at both Bokwananelaps. Some still nest in some large Pisonia on the west side of Bieto.

Lesser numbers (up to 30 pairs) are found on Morina, Bokwanelap, Bokwanibeb, Bokwanjuakak, Jedko, and Bokom. The vast majority of nests are found in the upper branches of Pisonia grandis (ka wnf) and only rarely are they found in Guettarda , M esserschmidia , and other species.

On 14 December 1976 at Kidenen , I observed Black Noddys collecting Pisonia leaves. All nests which I closely inspected seemed to be wholly made from Pisonia leaves, but as Fosberg (1966: 32) observed, M esserschmidia (Tourn efortia) may also have been used . Both birds were involved in nest construction: one bird collected the leaves while the other constructed the nest.

Nesting appeared to begin in October at Bokwananelap and Kidenen and last until February or March. Most young were probably fledged by the end of April. Nesting takes place in other months, but is not as common .

In April 1976, large numbers of noddys were observed with Pisonia burrs stuck to their feathers .

Up to a hundred taken from Kidenen on 21 April 1976 were reported unable to fly . Lesser numbers were also found on Kalo. Curiously, no White Terns were found with burrs in their feathers.

Fosberg (1966 : 30) also observed a noddy sp " literally plastered " with Pisonia burrs at Wotho Atoll. I also observed one at Bokwananelap on 17 December 1976 which was unable to fly because of the burrs. A frigatebird with a few burrs in its wings was seen over Kalo on 26 April 1976. This phenomenon would thus seem to be most common for those birds which roost in the outer branches and leaves of the Pisonia and not for the White Tern which roosts most commonly on larger branches beneath the canopy.

Roosting at night is usually in the taller Pisonia.

At night, Black Noddies may be caught by climbing in to the trees and grabbing them or by using a bright flashlight or by piling dried coconut fronds together and burning them . This bright fire attracts noddys and White Terns which can then be dispatched with a stick as they fly by or caught as they flounder on the ground .

Eggs in all stages of development are eaten. They are cooked by boiling or by steaming in a small earthen oven. They are taken from the nest by hand. If nests are out of reach to take the eggs by hand a cup made from a pandanus leaf is put on a long stick and used to scoop the egg from the nest.

The eggs are then dropped one by one to someone on the ground who catches them in a shirt. Fully feathered young are also taken and knocked from the nest with a stick or the branch they are on is shaken until they are dislodged .

About 100 nestlings were taken from Kidenen on 19 March 1976 for a party. Large numbers of birds and eggs were taken in December when groups of men make periodic visits to the small islands to collect food during their pre-Christmas activities.

Gygis alba- WHITE TERN This is one of the most common and widespread of all birds in the Marshall Islands. At Ujelang, it is common throughout the atoll. While walking around some of the smaller islands, it is not uncommon to have up to 30 of these ethereal terns fluttering a few feet above your head.

Breeding has been recorded in all months except May and June. Lack of records from those months is probably a result of lighter coverage of the smaller islands during those months. Highest breeding numbers were found on Bokom, with substantial numbers also on Nele, Jedko and Bokwanibeb. Lesser numbers, usually a few pairs, were found around the other islands. There was one report of a nestling from Ujelang Island near Jupanbok in December 1976. Fosberg (1966 : 34) found many on Nele and Jedko, but did not find any eggs or nestlings. Nests are found most often in Pisonia, M esserschmidia , and Pemphis. This is a new breeding record for Ujelang.

Large numbers of White Terns are seen around the islands during the day. At night, the population does not appear to change significantly in contrast to the Black and Brown Noddys which seem to increase in numbers observed at night. The White Tern usually roosts in the taller trees on the main branches rather than in the canopy. They are fairly easily caught with a strong flashlight on moonless nights.

Some seventy-two culmen on adult birds were measured . They ranged from 33 to 43 mm with the mean being 39 mm . This is in close agreement with Baker's (1951 : 178) results with 116 G.a. candida which ranged from 33 to 43 mm with a mean of 38mm.

Urodynamis taitensis- NEW ZEALAND CUCKOO This visitor from the southern hemisphere is uncommon in the Marshall Islands. At Ujelang, it was noted several times: two at Enekune on 24

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Vol. 17. December 1981 April 1976, another heard there on I June 1976, and one heard at Anemanot on 16 June 1976. One was seen near Laura village, Majuro , on 22 March 1975. These are new sight records fo Ujelang and Majuro.

Ducula oceanica- MICRONESIAN PIGEON From 6 July through August 1976, one or two Micronesian Pigeons were seen at Majuro. Judging from their lethargic behaviour and ratty plummage, these birds were either being kept for pets or until wanted for eating. On 25 July 1976, a third individual was seen flying over the island about 3/4 mile north of the old airport. Several people I talked with on Majuro said that the pigeon does not occur on Majuro so that the possibility these birds were brought from another atoll where they do occur seems likely. Although I failed to see this species at lne Arno, the species may still exist there.

The pigeon was reportedly common on the northwestern part of Jaluit Atoll, while none are presently found on Jaluit or Jabor islands (Farrell, pers. comm . 1975). They are also considered to be rare and are rarely seen on Ailinglaplap Atoll (Carlsen, pers. comm. 1975). The status of this species in the Marshall Islands is unclear and may be endangered .

Hirundo rustica- BARN SWALLOW One individual was seen at several locations in Ujelang Atoll between 8 and 25 January 1977. It was first noted at Enekune, Ujelang Island, and was last seen flying over Bokwanibeb with Black Noddys and White Terns. This is a new sight record for the Marshall Islands. This species has been previously recorded as far east at the Truk District (Owen 1977).

Passer montanus-EUROPEAN TREE SPARROW Although the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) was previously reported from K wajalein Island (Amerson 1969: 317), this may be a misidentification. Manfred Temme (pers. comm.) later found Passer montanus and no P. domesticus there.

I saw a maximum of20 Passer sp. there on I March 1977.

Further studies in the Marshall Islands are needed to determine size and locations of breeding populations, especially in view of an expanding human population. The population of the Micronesian Pigeon needs to be determined since it is potentially endangered . An interesting study

would be the effect of the Marshallese resettlement of Enewetak Atoll upon its birds.

I wish to thank A . B. Amerson and W. B. Jackson for critically reading this paper in its early stages and for their encouragement while I was in the Marshall Islands. I also wish to thank S. Farell and R . Carlsen , fellow Peace Corps Volunteers, for asking about the Micronesian Pigeon at their respective atolls, and many other people too numerous to mention who took their time to supply me with information otherwise unavailable to the Marshall Islands. A special thanks goes to R. Clapp and P . Springer, for without their enthusiasm and generosity, this paper would not have been possible. A very special thanks goes to the people of Ujelang, for without their tolerance of what to them was a crazy activity, this could not have been written.

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Pearson , E. L. , and J . W . Knudson .

1967. Avifauna) records from Enewetok Atoll, Marshall Islands. Condor 69: 201 -203 .

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DAviD

A . ANDERSON ,

Oregon 97214

2703 S.E. Belmont , Portland,