ATOLL RESEARCH BULLETIN

ATOLL RESEARCH BULLETIN

No. 1fx

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF KURE ATOLL, NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

b y P a u l W. Woodward

I s s u e d b y

THE SMITHSONIAW INSTITUTION

w i t h t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f

The Bureau of S p 3 r t F i s h e r i e s and W i l d l i f e

U.S.

Department of t h e I n t e r i o r

Washington, D . C . ,

U. S. A.

December 31,

1972

TABU OF CONTENTS

Table of C o n t e n t s F i g u r e s

T a b l e s

I n t r o d u c t i o n H i s t o r y

1 9 t h Century 20th Century D e s c r i p t i o n V e g e t a t i o n Climate

S c i e n t i f i c V i s i t s B i o l o g i c a l Surveys Other S c i e n t i f i c V i s i t s Kure Avifauna

I n t r o d u c t i o n

Breeding S p e c i e s

Common Non-breeding S p e c i e s Rare Non-breeding S p e c i e s A c c i d e n t a l S p e c i e s

P o p u l a t i o n s

Annual P o p u l a t i o n Cycles Breeding Cycles

F a c t o r s A f f e c t i n g N e s t i n g Success P o l y n e s i a n Rats

Storms High T i d e s Rain

Human D i s t u r b a n c e

Great F r i g a t e b i r d P r e d a t i o n S e a l s

Dogs

S t a r v a t i o n

M i s c e l l a n e o u s F a c t o r s Movement

S u e c i e s Accounts

B l a c k - f o o t e d A l b a t r o s s , Diomedea n i g r i p e s Laysan A l b a t r o s s , Diomedea i m m u t a b i l i s B l a c k - f o o t e d x Laysan A l b a t r o s s ,

Diomedea n i g r i p e s x immutabilis

Northern Fulmar, Fulmarus g l a c i a l i s r o d g e r s i i Bonin P e t r e l , Pterodroma h . hypoleuca

Kermadec P e t r e L , ~ t e r o d r o k a n e g l e c t a Murphy's P e t r e l , Pterodroma u l t i m a Bulwer ' s P e t r e l , Bulweria b u l w e r i i

Wedge-tailed Shearwater, P u f f i n u s p a c i f i c u s Sooty Shearwater, P u f f i n u s g r i s e u s

Christmas Shearwater, Puffinus n a t i v i t a t i s L e a c h ' s Storm P e t r e l , Oceanodroma l e u c o r h o a

iii

Sooty Storm P e t r e l , Oceanodroma C r i s t r a m i R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d , Phaethon r u b r i c a u d a W h i t e - t a i l e d ~ r o ~ i c b i r d , - P h a e t h o n l e p t u r u s Blue-faced Booby,

Sula

d a c t y l a t r a

Brown Booby, l e u c o g a s t e r Red-footed Booby, S u l a s u l a Great F r i g a t e b i r d , F r e g a t a minor L e s s e r F r i g a t e b i r d , F r e g a t a Black-crowned Night Heron,

Nycticorax n y c t i c o r a x ( h o a c t l i ? ) Emperor Goose, P h i l a c t e c a n a g i c a European Widgeon, Mareca penelope P i n t a i l , Anas a c u t a

T u f t e d Duck, Aythya f u l i g u l a Bufflehead, Bucephala a l b e o l a

P e r e g r i n e Falcon, ~alc-rinus ( p e a l e i ? ) D o t t e r e l , Eudromias m o r i n e l l u s

American Golden Plover, P l u v i a l i s dominica B l a c k - b e l l i e d P l o v e r , S q u a t a r o l a s q u a t a r o l a Ruddy Turnstone, A r e n a r i a

Lntntt

P i n t a i l Snipe, F a p e l l a

Wood Sandpiper, Tringa g l a t e o l a

Wandering T a t t l e r , I-Ieteroscelus incanum L e s s e r Yellowlegs, Totanus f l a v i p e s S h a r p - t a i l e d Sandpiper, E r o l i a acuminata P e c t o r a l Sandpiper, E r o l i a melanotos S h a r p - t a i l e d o r P e c t o r a l Sandpiper,

E r o l i a acuminata o r melanotos Dunlin, E r o l i a a l p i n a s a k h a l i n a

L o n g - b i l l e d Dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus Western Sandpiper, E r e u n e t e s

a

B a r - t a i l e d Godwit, Limssa l a p p o n i c a Ruff, Philornachus

pugnax

S a n d e r l i n g , C r o c e t h i a

alba

Red Phalarope, Phalaropus f u l i c a r i u s R i n g - b i l l e d G u l l ,

Larus

d e l a w a r e n s i s H e r r i n g Gull,

Larus

a r g e n t a t u s

v s

Slaty-backed G u l l , s c h i s t i s a g u s Glaucous-winged Gull,

Larus

g l a u c e s c e n s

Glaucous Gull, hyperboreus

Black-legged Kittiwake,

Xissa

t r i d a c t y l a Black Tern, Chlidoniae n i g e r

A r c t i c Tern, S t e r n a p a r a d i s e a Sooty Tern, s t e r n a f u s c a t a Gray-backed Tern, S t e r n a l u n a t a Brown Noddy, A m s t o l i d u s Black Noddy, A m t e n u i r o e t r i s

White Tern, Gygis alba

Horned Puffin, Fratercula corniculata Short-eared Owl, A & flammeus ( flammeus? ) Skylark, Alauda arvensis pekinensis

Barn Swallow, Kirundo rustica

Water Pipit, Anthus spinoletta japonicus Red-throated Pipit, Anthus cervinus House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis townsendi Sand Island Avifauna

Specimens Kure Reptiles

Species Accounts

Hawksbill Turtle, Eratmochelys imbricata Green Sea Turtle, Chelonia

mydas

Stump-toed Gecko, Gehyra mutilata House Gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus Kure Mammals

Species Accounts

Squirrel Monkey, Saimiri sp.

Polynesian Rat, Rattus exulans

Goose-beaked Whale, Ziphius cavirostris Sperm Whale, Physeter catadon

Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin, Stenella roseiventris Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Tursiops truncatu~

Hawaiian Monk Seal, Monachus schauinslandi Domestic Dog, canis familiaris

Pig, - Sus scrofa Acknowledgments

Literature Cited

FIGURES

Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

V e g e t a t i o n of Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

A e r i a l view of Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , l o o k i n g n o r t h ,

6

A p r i l 1966.

A e r i a l view of Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , looking s o u t h , 27 February

1968.

A e r i a l view of b u i l d i n g complex on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

13

October 1964.

North antenna f i e l d from n o r t h tower, Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1 J u l y

1968.

Blue-faced Boobies i n n o r t h antenna f i e l d , Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1 J u l y

1968.

Looking towards west p o i n t from r a d a r r e f l e c t o r , Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1 J u l y

1968.

Breeding Red-footed Boobies i n c e n t r a l r o o s t , Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1 J u l y

1968.

South beach, Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1

July 1968.

Edge of runway, Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1 J u l y

1968.

Looking towards n o r t h p o i n t from n o r t h tower, Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1 J u l y 1968.

S o o t y Tern colony i n s o u t h antenna f i e l d , Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1 J u l y 1968.

G e n e r a l i z e d a n n u a l p o p u l a t i o n c y c 1 . e ~ of b r e e d i n g s p e c i e s a t Kure A t o l l .

Generalized a n n u a l p o p u l a t i o n c y c l e s o f non-breeding s p e c i e s a t Kure A t o l l .

G e n e r a l i z e d breeding c y c l e s of a v i a n speci.es a t Kure A t o l l .

Location of i s l a n d s o r a t o l l s i n c e n t r a l P a c i f i c where Kure-banded b i r d s have been r e c a p t u r e d o r v i c e - v e r s a .

L o c a t i o n s of b i r d s banded a t Kure A t o l l and recovered a t s e a o r o u t s i d e t h e c e n t r a l P a c i f i c .

Breeding c y c l e of Black-footed A l b a t r o s s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-65.

D i s t r i b u t i o n and abundance of b r e e d i n g Black-footed A l b a t r o s s on Green I s l a n d , Kure . A t o l l , May

1967.

Breeding c y c l e of Laysan A l b a t r o s s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-65.

D i s t r i b u t i o n of breeding Laysan A l b a t r o s s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , May 1967.

Number of Bonin P e t r e l s c a p t u r e d e a c h n i g h t i n two s t u d y a r e a s , 11 February

- ¹⁴

A p r i l

1969,

^{on Green}

I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

Counts of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters i n t h e c e n t r a l p l a i n on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1967-68.

D i s t r i b u t i o n of breeding Christmas Shearwaters and Sooty Storm P e t r e l s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l . Annual p o p u l a t i o n c y c l e of R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d s

f l y i n g over Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

Breeding c y c l e s o f R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-66.

Number of R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d n e s t s i n which f i r s t egg was l a i d each semi-monthly p e r i o d i n s t u d y a r e a a t west end of runway on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964

-67.

Breeding c y c l e s of Blue-faced Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

Number of Blue-faced Booby n e s t s i n which f i r s t egg was l a i d each semi-monthly p e r i o d i n n o r t h antenna f i e l d , Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

Number of Blue-faced Booby n e s t s i n which f i r s t eggs were l a i d each semi-monthly p e r i o d on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

Number of B l ~ e - f a c e d Booby n e s t s i n which f i r s t eggs hatched each semi-monthly p e r i o d on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

v i i

84

93

97 105

LO7

116

124

13

1

13 8

13 9

14

1

15 6

15

⁷

158

159

v i i i BFB-5.

BB-1.

BB-2.

BB-3.

BB-4

.

RFB-1.

RFB-2.

RFB-3.

GF-1.

GF-2.

AGP-1.

RT-1.

BTC-1.

WTa-1.

Sand-1.

ST-1.

D i s t r i b u t i o n of b r e e d i n g Blue-faced and Brown Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

Breeding c y c l e s of Brown Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

Number of Brown Booby n e s t s i n which f i r s t egg was l a i d each semi-monthly p e r i o d i n n o r t h antenna f i e l d , Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-68.

Number of Brown Booby n e s t s i n which f i r s t eggs were l a i d each semi-monthly p e r i o d on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-68.

Number of Brown Booby n e s t s i n which f i r s t eggs h a t c h e d each semi-monthly p e r i o d on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-68.

Breeding c y c l e s of Red-footed Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1965-69.

Number of Red-footed Booby n e s t s i n which f i r s t egg was l a i d each semi-monthly p e r i o d on Green I s l a n d , Kure toll,

1968.

D i s t r i b u t i o n of Red-footed Booby b r e e d i n g and r o o s t i n g a r e a s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1967-68.

Breeding c y c l e s of Great F r i g a t e b i r d s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1965, 1968,

1969.

D i s t r i b u t i o n of Great F r i g a t e b i r d breeding a r e a s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1967-68.

Annual c y c l e of American Golden P l o v e r s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

Annual c y c l e of Ruddy Turnstones on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

Annual c y c l e of B r i s t l e - t h i g h e d Curlews on Green I s l a n d , K w e A t o l l .

Annual c y c l e of Wandering T a t t l e r s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

Annual c y c l e of S a n d e r l i n g s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l . Breeding c y c l e s of Sooty Terns on Green I s l a n d , Kure

A ~ O U , 1965-69.

ST-2.

ST-3.

ST- 4.

GBT-1.

GBT-2.

GBT-3.

BN-1.

BN-2.

BN-3.

BlN-1.

WT-1.

F'R-1.

D i s t r i b u t i o n of Sooty Tern breeding a r e a s on Green Island, Kure Atoll,

1964-65.

D i s t r i b u t i o n of Sooty Tern breeding a r e a s on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1966-67.

D i s t r i b u t i o n of Sooty Tern breeding a r e a s on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1968-69.

Number of Gray-backed Tern eggs l a i d each semi-monthly period on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1967-69.

Breeding c y c l e s of Gray-backed Terns on Green Island, Kure Atoll,

1965-69.

D i s t r i b u t i o n of breeding Gray-backed Terns on Green Island, Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

Breeding cycles of Brown Noddies on Green Island, Kure A t o l l , 1965-69.

Number of Brown Noddy eggs l a i d each week a t n o r t h point study a r e a on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1967-68.

D i s t r i b u t i o n of breeding Brown Noddies on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1967.

Main Black Noddy r o o s t i n g a r e a and White Tern breeding s i t e s on Green Island, Kure A t o l l .

Number of White Tern eggs l a i d each semi-monthly period on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1967-68.

Population s i z e of Polynesian r a t s i n a 6.94 a c r e study a r e a on Green Island, Kure Atoll, March 1964- May

1965.

Number of Hawaiian Monk Seal pups born each semi-- monthly period a t Kure Atoll, 1964-65.

TABLES

P-1. V a s c u l a r p l a n t s recorded a t Kure A t o l l by v a r i o u s p e o p l e .

C - 1 . Wind d i r e c t i o n a t Kure A t o l l by semi-monthly p e r i o d s ,

1961-68

( e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) .

- 2 Average semi-monthly wind speed i n B e a u f o r t S c a l e (numbers i n p a r e n t h e s e s a r e r a n g e ) a t Kure A t o l l ,

1961-68.

C-3. Average semi-monthly maximum t e m p e r a t u r e s (numbers i n p a r e n t h e s e s a r e r a n g e ) a t Kure A t o l l ,

1961-68.

C-4. Average semi-monthly minimum t e m p e r a t u r e s (numbers i n p a r e n t h e s e s a r e r a n g e ) a t Kure A t o l l ,

1961-68.

C - 5 .

Semi-monthly r a i n f a l l ( i n i n c h e s ) a t Midway A t o l l , 1963

-68.

BS-1. Major b i o l o g i c a l s u r v e y s of Kure A t o l l . BS-2. Minor b i o l o g i c a l s u r v e y s of Kure A t o l l .

BS-3. T o t a l man-days s p e n t a t Kure A t o l l by POBSP p e r s o n n e l . BS-4. Man-days s p e n t a t Kure A t o l l by POBSP p e r s o n n e l

( l i s t e d by y e a r s ) .

POP-1. Maximum and minimum p o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e s of a v i a n s p e c i e s o c c u r r i n g commonly a t Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

POP-2. S i z e o f b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

POP-3. R e l a t i o n s h i p of l a t e n e s s of b r e e d i n g c y c l e s and t h e s i z e of t h e b r e e d i n g p o p u l a t i o n of f o u r s p e c i e s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

POP-4. P r o b a b l e changes i n p o p u l a t i o n s i z e of common a v i a n s p e c i e s

a t

Kure A t o l l a f t e r

1959.

r

BC-1. Egg l a y i n g ' p e r i o d s of a v i a n s p e c i e s a t Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

BC-2. Peak egg l a y i n g p e r i o d s of a v i a n s p e c i e s a t Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

BC-3. Range of egg l a y i n g and peak egg l a y i n g a t Kure A t o l l , 1964

-69.

NS-1. Avian s p e c i e s preyed upon by P o l y n e s i a n r a t s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

M - 1 . B i r d s banded on o t h e r i s l a n d s i n t h e c e n t r a l P a c i f i c and r e c a p t u r e d a t Kure A t o l l ,

1959-69.

2

B i r d s banded

a t

Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d

a t

o t h e r l o c a t i o n s i n t h e c e n t r a l P a c i f i c .

BFA-1. P r e v i o u s r e c o r d s of Black-footed A l b a t r o s s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

BFA-2. POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s of Black-footed A l b a t r o s s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

BFA-3. Counts of non-breeding Black-footed A l b a t r o s s , Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-65.

BFA-4.

Counts of non-breeding Black-footed A l b a t r o s s , Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1969.

BFA-5. Number of Black-footed A l b a t r o s s handled d u r i n g s e v e r a l b r e e d i n g s e a s o n s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

BFA-6.

P r o d u c t i v i t y o f Black-footed A l b a t r o s s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1963-69.

BFA-7. Recapture r a t e s of Black-footed A l b a t r o s s banded a s n e s t l i n g s

a t

Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x p r e s s e d a s percentages),

1959-69;

BFA-8. Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t Black-footed A l b a t r o s s banded a s b r e e d e r s a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x - p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) , 1960-69.

BFA-9. Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t Black-footed A l b a t r o s s banded a s non-breeders a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e (ex- p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) , 1960-69.

BFA-10. Black-footed A l b a t r o s s banded a t Kure A t o l l and r e - covered o u t s i d e t h e c e n t r a l P a c i f i c .

LA-1. Previous r e c o r d s of Laysan A l b a t r o s s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

x i i

LA-2. POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s of Laysan A l b a t r o s s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

LA-3.

Counts of non-breeding Laysan A l b a t r o s s , Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1969.

LA-4.

P r o d u c t i v i t y of Laysan A l b a t r o s s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1963-69.

LA-5.

Recapture r a t e s of Laysan A l b a t r o s s banded a s n e s t l i n g s a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x p r e s s e d a s per- c e n t a g e s ) ,

1959-59.

LA-6. Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t Laysan A l b a t r o s s banded a s b r e e d e r s a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) , 1960-69.

LA-7.

Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t Laysan A l b a t r o s s banded a s non-breeders a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x - p r e s s e d a s ~ e r c e n t a g e s ) , 1959-69.

LA-8.

Number of a d u l t Laysan A l b a t r o s s handled d u r i n g s e v e r a l b r e e d i n g seasons a t Kure A t o l l .

LA-9. Laysan A l b a t r o s s banded a t Kure A t o l l and recovered a t s e a .

BP-1. P r e v i o u s r e c o r d s of Bonin P e t r e l s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

BP-2. POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s of Bonin P e t r e l s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

BP-3. Recapture r a t e s of Bonin P e t r e l s banded a s a d u l t s a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t - a g e s ) ,

1959-69:

BP-4.

A d u l t Bonin P e t r e l s banded on o t h e r i s l a n d s and r e - c a p t u r e d a t Kure A t o l l .

WTS-1. P r e v i o u s r e c o r d s of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

WTS-2. POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s o f Wedge-tailed Shear- w a t e r s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

WTS-3. Recapture r a t e s of Wedge-tailed S h e a r w a t e r s banded a s a d u l t s a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) , 1959-69.

CS-1. P r e v i o u s r e c o r d s of Christmas S h e a r w a t e r s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

CS-2. POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s of Christmas S h e a r w a t e r s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

CS-3. Recapture r a t e s of Christmas S h e a r w a t e r s banded a s a d u l t s a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x p r e s s e d as p e r c e n t a g e s ) ,

1959-69.

SSP-1. POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s of Sooty Storm P e t r e l s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1963-69.

RTTB-1. POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s of R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

RTTB-2. P r e v i o u s r e c o r d s o f R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

RTTB-3. Major p e r i o d s i n t h e R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d b r e e d i n g c y c l e on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

RTTB-4.

P r o d u c t i v i t y of R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-68.

RTTB-5. R e s u l t s of R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d b r e e d i n g i n a s t u d y a r e a on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-65.

RTTB-6.

Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d s banded a s non-breeders a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e

( e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) , 1959-69.

RTTB-'7. Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d s banded a s b r e e d e r s a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x - p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) ,

1964-69.

RTTB-8. Number of R e d - t a i l e d T r o p i c b i r d s handled on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

BFB-1. P r e v i o u s r e c o r d s of Blue-faced Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

BFB-2. POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s of Blue-faced Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

BFB-3. S t r u c t u r e of t h e b r e e d i n g Blue-faced Booby p o p u l a t i o n on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

x i i i Page

-

128

130

xiv

BFB-4 .

BFB-5.

BFB-6.

BFB-7.

BFB-8.

BFB -9.

BFB-10.

BFB-11.

BFB-12.

BFB-13.

BFB - 14 .

BB-1.

BB-2.

BB-3.

BB-4 .

Structure of the breeding Blue-faced Booby population on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1964.-69 (expressed as percentages).

Number of Blue-faced Boobies handled each year on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1964-69.

Major periods in the Blue-faced Booby breeding cycle on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1964-69.

Clutch size of Blue-faced Boobies on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1964-69.

Incubation periods for first and second eggs of Blue- faced Boobies on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1964-69.

Productivity of Blue-faced Boobies on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1964-69.

Success of first nesting attempts for two clutch sizes of the Blue-faced Booby on Green Island, Kure Atoll,

1964-66.

Contribution of first and second eggs to Blue-faced Booby productivity on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1964-66 Productivity of Blue-faced Boobies in the north antenna field based on first nesting attempts, Kure Atoll,

1964-69.

Survival rates of various Blue-faced Booby cohorts hatched on Green Island, Kure Atoll (expressed as percentages), 1959-69.

Recapture rates of adult Blue-faced Boobies banded at Kure Atoll and recaptured there (expressed as percent- ages), 1959-69.

Previous records of Brown Boobies on Green Island, Kure Atoll.

POBSP semi-monthly estimates of Brown Boobies on Green Island, Kure Atol.1, 1963-69,

Number of Brown Boobies handled each year on Green Island,

Kure Atoll, 1.964-69. 170

Structure of the breeding Brown Booby population on

Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1966-69.

I'7 0

BB-5. S t r u c t u r e of t h e breeding Brown Booby p o p u l a t i o n on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1966-69

( e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t - a g e s ) .

BB-6.

Major p e r i o d s i n t h e Brown Booby b r e e d i n g c y c l e on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

BB-'7. C l u t c h s i z e of Brown Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-68.

BB-8.

I n c u b a t i o n p e r i o d s f o r f i r s t and second eggs of Brown Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-68.

BB-9. Re-nesting of Brown Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l . BB-10. P r o d u c t i v i t y of Brown Boobies i n t h e n o r t h a n t e n n a f i e l d

based on f i r s t n e s t i n g a t t e m p t s , 1964-68.

BB-11. P r o d u c t i v i t y of Brown Boobies i n t h e s o u t h antenna f i e l d , Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-68.

BB-12. P r o d u c t i v i t y of Brown Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure

toil,

1964-68.

BB-U. C o n t r i b u t i o n of f i r s t and second Brown Booby eggs t o p r o d u c t i v i t y , Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

BB-14. C o n t r i b u t i o n of r e - n e s t i n g Brown Boobies t o p r o d u c t i v i t y , Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

BB-15. Success of f i r s t n e s t i n g a t t e m p t s f o r v a r i o u s c l u t c h e s o f Brown Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

BB-16.

Recawture r a t e s of v a r i o u s Brown Booby c o h o r t s from "

Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l (expressed a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) ,

1959-69.

BB-1'1. Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t Brown Boobies banded a t Kure

toll

and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) ,

1959-69.

BB-18. Brown Boobies banded a s n e s t l i n g s a t Kure A t o l l and r e - covered a t v a r i o u s l o c a t i o n s .

RFB-1. Previous r e c o r d s of Red-footed Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

RFB-2.

POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s o f Red-footed Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

RFB-3. Number and percentage of t o t a l number of p r e v i o u s l y banded Red-footed Boobies c a p t u r e d i n samples of b r e e d i n g b i r d s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1967.

WB-4.

S t r u c t u r e of b r e e d i n g Red-footed Booby p o p u l a t i o n on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1967.

RFB-5. Age s t r u c t u r e of s u b a d u l t Red-footed Booby p o p u l a t i o n on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , i n May-July 1967 and 1968 ( e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) .

RFB-6.

Summary of s u b a d u l t Red-footed Boobies handled on Green i s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , April-October

1966.

RFB-7. Summary of s u b a d u l t Red-footed Boobies handled on Green i s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , May-July

1967.

RFB-8. Summary of s u b a d u l t Red-footed Boobies handled on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , May-July

1968.

RFB-9. Major p e r i o d s i n t h e Red-footed Booby b r e e d i n g c y c l e on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

XFB-10, P r o d u c t i v i t y of Red-footed Boobies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

XFB-11. N e s t i n g s u c c e s s of t h r e e groups of Red-footed Booby n e s t s i n t h e c e n t r a l r o o s t , 29 May

-

1 0 August

1968.

RFB-12. Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t Red-footed Boobies banded a s b r e e d e r s a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x -

p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) ,

1964-69.

²⁰¹

RFB-13. Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t Red-footed Boobies banded a s non-breeders a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e

( e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) ,

1959-69.

202

RFB-14.

Number of Red-footed Boobies handled each y e a r a t Kure

A t o l l , 1963-69. 203

RFB-15. Recapture r a t e s of Red-footed Boobies banded as sub- a d u l t s a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x p r e s s e d

a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) , 1963-69. 203

RFB-16. Recapture r a t e s of Red-footed Boobies banded a s n e s t - l i n g s a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x p r e s s e d

a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) ,

1959-69.

204

XIi13-17. Movement of Red-footed Boobies banded by t h e POBSP on

o t h e r i s l a n d s t o Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

₂₀₅

GF-11.

GF-12.

D - 1 .

AGP-1.

AGP- 2.

AGP-3.

P r e v i o u s r e c o r d s of Great F r i g a t e b i r d s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s of Great F r i g a t e b i r d s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

Summary of Great F r i g a t e b i r d s handled on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , A p r i l

-

October 1966.

Summary of G r e a t F r i g a t e b i r d s handled on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

5

May

- 8

J u l y 1967.

Major p e r i o d s i n t h e Great F r i g a t e b i r d b r e e d i n g c y c l e on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

Comparison of 1967 and

1968

Great F r i g a t e b i r d n e s t counts on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

Great F r i g a t e b i r d p r o d u c t i v i t y on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1964-69.

Recapture r a t e s of Great F r i g a t e b i r d s banded a s a d u l t s a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x p r e s s e d a s

~ e r c e n t a g e s ) , 1959-69,

Number of Great F r i g a t e b i r d s handled each y e a r a t Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

Recapture r a t e s of Great F r i g a t e b i r d e banded a e sub- a d u l t s a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) ,

1961-69.

Great F r i g a t e b i r d s banded a t Kure A t o l l and r e c o v e r e d a t v a r i o u s l o c a t i o n s .

Movement of Great F r i g a t e b i r d s banded by t h e POBSP on o t h e r i s l a n d s t o Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

Summary of u n i d e n t i f i e d ducks seen on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-68.

P r e v i o u s r e c o r d s of American Golden P l o v e r s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s of American Golden P l o v e r s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1963-69.

Percentage o f American Golden P l o v e r s recorded by season i n d i f f e r e n t a r e a s on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , d u r i n g

1963-65

s h o r e b i r d c o u n t s .

x v i i

206

207

209

209

210

211

American Golden Plovers banded at Kure Atoll.

Previous records of Ruddy Turnstones on Green Island, Kure Atoll.

POBSP semi-monthly estimates of Ruddy Turnstones on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1963-69.

Percentage of Ruddy Turnstones recorded by season in different areas on Green Island, Kure Atoll, during

1963-65 shorebird counts.

Ruddy Turnstones banded at Kure Atoll.

Previous records of Bristle-thighed Curlews on Green Island, Kure Atoll.

POBSP semi-monthly estimates of Bristle-thighed Curlews on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1963-69.

~ r e ~ i o u s records of Wandering Tattlers on Green Island, Kure Atoll.

POBSP semi-monthly estimates of Wandering Tattlers on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1963-69.

Previous records of Sanderlings on Green Island, Kure Atoll.

POBSP semi-monthly estimates of Sanderlings on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1963-69.

Previous records of Sooty Terns on Green Island, Kure Atoll.

POBSP semi-monthly estimates of Sooty Terns on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1963-69.

Populations of Sooty Terns breeding in the various colonies on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1966-69.

Percentage of banded Sooty Terns in the breeding popu- lation on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1967-68.

Major periods in the Sooty Tern breeding cycle on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1964-69.

Peak egg laying periods in various Sooty Tern colonies

on Green Island, Kure Atoll, 1966-69.

Productivity of Sooty Terns on Green Island, Kure A t o l l , 1964-68.

Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t Sooty Terns banded a s breeders a t Kure A t o l l and recaptured t h e r e (expressed a s percent- a g e s ) ,

1965-69.

Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t Sooty Terns banded a s non-breed- e r s a t Kure A t o l l and recaptured t h e r e (expressed a s percentages),

1964-69.

Number of a d u l t Sooty Terns handled each year a t Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

POBSP semi-monthly estimates of Gray-backed Terns on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

Previous records of Gray-backed Terns on Green Island, Kure A t o l l .

P r o d u c t i v i t y of Gray-backed Terns on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t Gray-backed Terns banded a t Kure A t o l l and recaptured t h e r e (expressed a s . p e r c e n t - ages), 1962-69.

Previous records of Brown Noddies on Green Island, Kure A t o l l .

POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s of Brown ~ o d d i e s on Green Island, Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

Comparison of Brown Noddy counts on Green Island, Kure A t o l l , f o r

1965,

1967, and 1968.

Major periods i n t h e Brown Noddy breeding cycle on Green Island, Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

P r o d u c t i v i t y of Brown Noddies on Green Island, Kure A t o l l , 1964-68.

Percentages of various Brown Noddy c o l o r phases on Green Island, Kure A t o l l ,

1968.

Nesting success of the f o u r b a s i c c3lor phases of Brown Noddies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1968.

BN-8.

Recapture r a t e s of a d u l t Brown Noddies banded a t Kure A t o l l and r e c a p t u r e d t h e r e ( e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t a g e s ) ,

1959-69.

B I N - 1 . P r e v i o u s r e c a r d s of Black Noddies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

BIN-2. POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s of Black Noddies on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

BUY-3. Black Noddies banded a t Kure A t o l l by t h e POBSP.

WT-1. P r e v i o u s r e c o r d s of White Terns on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

WT-2. POBSP semi-monthly e s t i m a t e s of White Terns on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1963-69.

WT-3. P r o d u c t i v i t y of White Terns on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

SEO-1. O b s e r v a t i o n s of S h o r t - e a r e d Owls on Green I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l .

S I - 1 . POBSP e s t i m a t e s of b i r d s on Sand I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-68.

S-1. Avian specimens known t o have been c o l l e c t e d a t Kure A t o l l .

GT-1. P r e v i o u s r e c o r d s o f Green Sea T u r t l e s a t Kure A t o l l . GT-2. POBSP o b s e r v a t i o n s of Green Sea T u r t l e s a t Kure A t o l l ,

1963 -69.

PO-1. S B S P o b s e r v a t i o n s of u n i d e n i i f i e d c e t a c e a n s a t Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

MS-1. P r e v i o u s r e c o r d s of Hawaiian Monk S e a l s a t Kure A t o l l . MS-2. Summary of POBSP Hawaiian Monk S e a l c o u n t s on Green

I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l , 1964-69.

MS-3. Summary of POBSP Hawaiian Monk S e a l c o u n t s on Green and Sand I s l a n d s , Kure A t o l l ,

1965-68.

MS-4. S m a r y of POBSP Hawaiian Monk S e a l c o u n t s on Sand I s l a n d , Kure A t o l l ,

1965-68.

MS-5. POBSP Hawaiian Monk Seal ground counts on Sand Island,

Kure Atoll, 1964-69. 3 09

MS-6. Productivity of Hawaiian Monk Seals at Kure Atoll,

1964-69. 3 10

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF KURE ATOLL, NORTHWESTERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS'

by Paul W. Woodward d

INTRODUCTION

Kure Atoll, located at 2Bo25'N and 178°10'W, is the northernmost coral atoll in the world and the westernmost land of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It is approximately 1,175 nautical miles northwest of Honolulu, 2,165 nautical miles southeast of Tokyo, and 3,240 nautical miles west of

Baja California. The nearest land is Sand Ieland, Midway Atoll,

49 nautical miles to the southeast.

Green Island, the only permanent land in the atoll, is located near the fringing reef in the southeast sector of the lagoon. Crescentric in shape with the long axis curving from north to west, it is 1.43 miles in greatest length and 0.37

miles in maximum width. Sandy beaches encircle the entire

island. Along the lagoon beach there is a series of sand dunes, some as high as 25 feet, that decreases in elevation southwest along the beach. Behind the dunes, to the east, the surface sebtles gently into a low, relatively flat depression. The elevation here is from 6 to 10 feet. Dunes are absent along the ocean side and elevations here do not exceed 15 feet.

Presently the dominant features on the island are man-made:

the 625-foot LORAN tower and transmitter building in the central plain, the 70-foot-high radar reflector on a dune along the southwest beach, the 4,000-foot runway, and the building complex near the center of the island.

A dense growth of Scaevola taccada covers much of the island except for the man-made open areas and the natural central plain

Paper Number 81, Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

Present address: 513 South Elmhurst, Mt. Prospect, Illinois,

60056.

where only low herbaceous p l a n t s grow. ^A t o t a l of 46 v a s c u l a r p l a n t s p e c i e s h a s been r e c o r d e d ; t h e m a j o r i t y (31) was i n t e n - t i o n a l l y o r a c c i d e n t a l l y i n t r o d u c e d .

S i x t y - s i x s p e c i e s of b i r d s have been r e c o r d e d from t h e a t o l l ;

15

breed t h e r e ,

6

a r e common v i s i t o r s ,

7

a r e r e g u l a r v i s i t o r s i n s m a l l numbers and

38

a r e a c c i d e n t a l . The Hawaiian Monk S e a l and P o l y n e s i a n Rat a r e r e s i d e n t s p e c i e s , while a n o t h e r

seven mammalian s p e c i e s have been recorded. Small numbers of two gecko s p e c i e s l i v e on Green I s l a n d and Green T u r t l e s v i s i t t h e a t o l l i n f r e q u e n t l y .

P r i o r t o 1950 Kure A t o l l was v i s i t e d i n f r e q u e n t l y , e s p e c i a l l y by b i o l o g i s t s . I n t h e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y a t l e a s t 1 3 d i f f e r e n t s h i p s came t o t h e a t o l l and a n o t h e r

4

wrecked upon t h e r e e f . These v i s i t s were g e n e r a l l y b r i e f and no permanent s e t t l e m e n t s were made. V i s i t s were more f r e q u e n t i n t h i s c e n t u r y and t h e f i r s t s y s t e m a t i c b i r d o b s e r v a t i o n s were made i n

1915.

D e t a i l e d o b s e r v a t i o n s were a l s o made i n 1923, 1957,

1958,

and

1959 -

I n June 1960 t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a United S t a t e s Coast Guard LORAN s t a t i o n was begun; it was completed i n A p r i l

1961.

T h i s was t h e f i r s t permanent s e t t l e m e n t on t h e i s l a n d . P r e s e n t l y (1970) 24 men l i v e t h e r e .

I n t h e 1 9 6 0 ' s v i s i t s by b i o l o g i s t s became more f r e q u e n t and culminated i n t h e d e t a i l e d survey of t h e a t o l l by t h e P a c i f i c Ocean B i o l o g i c a l Survey Program (POBSP) of t h e Smith- s o n i a n I n s t i t u t i o n from

1963

t o 1969. This s u r v e y s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n c r e a s e d our knowledge of t h e a t o l l ' s fauna ( e s p e c i a l l y b i r d s ) , n o t only of what s p e c i e s o c c u r r e d t h e r e b u t o f t h e i r b i o l o g y and movements. This work composes t h e bulk of t h i s p a p e r .

HISTORY

P r i o r t o

1827

Kure A t o l l was probably v i s i t e d by a t l e a s t

6

d i f f e r e n t s h i p s and r e c e i v e d a d i f f e r e n t name a f t e r each v i s i t . I n

1799

Captain Don M. Z i p i a n i , commanding t h e Spanish v e s s e l Senhora d e l P i l a r , found an i s l a n d t h r e e m i l e s from n o r t h n o r t h -

--

e a s t t o s o u t h southwest i n l a t i t u d e 28'9'N l o n g i t u d e 1 ' i ' 5 ° 4 8 ' ~ and named it P a t r o c i n i o ( ~ i n d l a ~ , 1870). K r u s e n s t e r n (1835)

l i s t s f o u r i s l a n d s i n t h e v i c i n i t y of Kure ( S t a v e r a t 28% 181°20'E, Ocean a t 28"lO'N 181°20'E, Massachusetts a t 28"20'N 1 8 l o 2 0 ' E , and Cure a t 2 8 ' 2 ' 7 ' ~ 1 8 1 ' 3 5 ' ~ ) and s t a t e s t h a t t h e y were i n f a c t a l l t h e same i s l a n d . S i n c e t h e r e a r e no d e t a i l s of any of t h e s e v i s i t s it i s impossible t o @ a t e u n e q u i v o c a l l y t h a t t h e y were Kure A t o l l o r which one a c t u a l l y d i s c o v e r e d t h e a t o l l .

The f i r s t v i s i t d e f i n i t e l y t o Kure A t o l l was i n 1825 when t h e schooner T a r t a r , under t h e command of Captain Benjamin M o r r e l l , J r . , s p e n t two days ( M o r r e l l , 1 8 4 1 ) . On 11 J u l y t h e s h i p l e f t P e a r l and Hermes Reef and s a i l e d westward. The n e x t day it a r r i v e d a t B y e r ' s I s l a n d (probably Midway) which they l e f t a t

6

p.m. A t 4 a.m. on

13

J u l y 1825, approximately t h e t h e i t would t a k e t o s a i l from Midway t o Kure, t h e y a r r i v e d a t a n unknown i s l a n d .

A t

6

a.m. we were w i t h i n h a l f a m i l e of t h e b r e a k e r s , and no l a n d i n s i g h t . We bore up and p a s s e d around t h e west end o f t h e r e e f , which was d i s t a n t about two m i l e s . We t h e n h a u l e d on a wind under t h e Lee o f t h e r e e f a t t h e r a t e of seven m i l e s an hour, f o r two h o u r s i n a n o r t h - by-west course, we saw t h e l a n d from t h e mast head, b e a r i n g north-west. We immediately k e p t o f f f o r it, and a t 1 0 a.m. we were c l o s e i n w i t h a s m a l l low i s l a n d , covered w i t h sea-fowl, and t h e s h o r e s of which were l i n e d w i t h s e a e l e p h a n t s . Green t u r t l e s were found h e r e i n g r e a t abundance, and two hawk's b i l l t u r t l e s were s e e n . This i s l a n d p r e s e n t s a l l t h e u s u a l i n d i c a t i o n s of v o l c a n i c o r i g i n .

On t h e west s i d e of t h i s i s l a n d t h e r e i s a r e e f which r u n s o f f about f i f t e e n m i l e s , w h i l e t h a t on t h e s o u t h - e a s t s i d e e x t e n d s a b o u t t h i r t y m i l e s , i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of s o u t h - s o u t h - e a s t . These r e e f s a r e formed of c o r a l , and a f f o r d good anchorage on t h e south-west s i d e , b u t on t h e e a s t s i d e t h e w a t e r i s bold c l o s e t o t h e r e e f . The i s l a n d i s low, b e i n g n e a r l y l e v e l w i t h t h e s u r f a c e of t h e s e a , and a b o u t f o u r m i l e s i n c i r c u m f e r e n c e . I t s c e n t r e i s i n l a t . 29'57' n o r t h , l o n g . 174'31' e a s t

( M o r r e l l ,

- -

l o c . c i t

. ⁾ .

They l e f t on Thursday t h e 1 4 t h o f J u l y . Although t h e p o s i t i o n i s i n c o r r e c t , it i s obvious from t h e s a i l i n g times and d e s c r i p t i o n t h a t t h i s was Kure A t o l l . K r u s e n s t e r n (1835) named it Morel1 ( s i c ) I s l a n d .

I n 1827 C a p t a i n S t a n i k o w i t c h , of t h e Russian shop Moller, found a s m a l l , low, dangerous i s l a n d a t 28"ZT'N, 1 7 8 ° 2 3 ' 3 ~ "

(Sharp, 1 9 6 0 ) . It was t h i s d i s c o v e r y t h a t prompted Krusenstern t o synonomize a l l t h e previous names under t h e s i n g l e a p p e l l a t e of "Cure ~ s l a n d . "

I n 1837 t h e f i r s t of many s h i p s wrecked on t h e r e e f s u r - rounding t h e a t o l l . A t 11:30 p.m. on

9

June t h e B r i t i s h whaler

G l e d s t a n e s , Capt. John R . Brown commanding, s t r u c k t h e n o r t h e r n r e e f w i c h I s l a n d G a z e t t e , 1837). Three b o a t s were lowered and t h e c a p t a i n , o f f i c e r s , and crew l a i d o f f t h e wreck u n t i l d a y l i g h t when t h e y rowed about f i f t e e n m i l e s t o land ( p r e -

sumably Green island). They r e t u r n e d t o t h e wreck and were a b l e t o s a l v a g e a l i t t l e bread, a few c l o t h e s , e i g h t e e n c a s k s of

f l o u r , one c a s k of s a l t p r o v i s i o n s , and a few c a s k s o f o i l y w a t e r . Most of t h e time t h e crew was engaged i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a s m a l l v e s s e l from t h e remains of t h e G l e d s t a n e s . On 1 2 October t h e v e s s e l was launched and named t h e D e l i v e r a n c e . Three days l a t e r Capt. Brown, t h e Chief Mate, and e i g h t men

s a i l e d f o r Hawaii. Sometime i n November t h e y a r r i v e d i n Honolulu and s e v e r a l months l a t e r t h e remaining crew was brought o f f t h e a t o l l by a v e s s e l d i s p a t c h e d by t h e H.B.M. Consul i n Honolulu

(U.

⁾

.

Capt. Brown d e s c r i b e d t h e i s l a n d a s such:

The i s l a n d i n i a t . 28O22'Nand long. 178"30' W, which I suppose t o be Ocean I s l a n d , i s a b o u t t h r e e m i l e s i n circumference. It i s composed of broken c o r a l and s h e l l s , and i s covered, n e a r t h e s h o r e , w i t h low bushes. I n t h e season, it abounds w i t h s e a - b i r d s and a t times, t h e r e i s a c o n s i d e r a b l e number of h a i r s e a l s . There i s always an abundance of f i s h , and i n a g r e a t v a r i e t y . The h i g h e s t p a r t of t h e i s l a n d i s n o t more t h a n t e n f e e t about t h e l e v e l of t h e s e a . The o n l y f r e s h w a t e r i s what d r a i n s through t h e sand a f t e r t h e heavy r a i n s . From t h e specimens of dead

s h e l l s l y i n g about t h e beach, t h e r e a p p e a r s t o be a g r e a t v a r i e t y of s h e l l (Hawaiian S p e c t a t o r , J u l y 1 8 3 8 ) . I n May

1838

Capt. Daggett of t h e s h i p Oscar saw C u r e ' s I s l a n d i n l a t i t u d e 28"15' N, l o n g i t u d e 1 7 7 ' 3 5 ' a n d noted t h a t t h e r e e f extended westward (sandwich I s l a n d G a z e t t e , Dec. 22, 1 8 3 8 ) . It was noted i n t h i s a r t i c l e t h a t C u r e ' s I s l a n d was a l i t t l e t o t h e e a s t of Ocean I s l a n d , s u g g e s t i n g t h a t t h e r e was s t i l l some confusion a s t o t h e e x a c t l o c a t i o n of Kure A t o l l .

On 24 September 1842 a t 2:30 a.m. a n o t h e r whaler, t h e P a r k e r from New Bedford, Massachusetts, s t r u c k t h e r e e f abqut

8

m i l e s n o r t h northwest from t h e c e n t e r of Ocean I s l a n d (Temperance Advocate and Seamen's F r i e n d , June 27, 1 8 4 3 ) . The s h i p was com- p l e t e l y wrecked and f o u r men were l o s t . Only a peck of beans and 20 pounds of s a l t meat were saved. A f t e r s t r u g g l i n g f o r e i g h t days and seven n i g h t s t h e y reached l a n d on a

r a f t

t h e y had c o n s t r u c t e d from t h e wreck of t h e P a r k e r .

Here t h e y found some remains of t h e Glkdstanes which served f o r firewood and b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s . From t h e P a r k e r t h e y ob- t a i n e d some p i e c e s of copper which were made i n t o cooking u t e n s i l s .

While on t h e i s l a n d t h e men k i l l e d 7 , 0 0 0 s e a fowl and a b o u t

60

s e a l s f o r food (Whalemen's S h i p p i n g L i s t , November 7 , 1 8 4 3 ) . A dog remaining from t h e G l e d s t a n e s ' wreck was on t h e i s l a n d and a f t e r s e v e r a l weeks t h e y caught and a t e i t . Every morning and evening t h e c a p t a i n conducted r e l i g i o u s s e r v i c e s and on Sabbath mornings a b e t h e l f l a g was h o i s t e d ( I b i d . ) .

-

On

16

A p r i l

1843

t h e James S t e w a r t of S t . Johns, New Brunswick was s p o t t e d , b u t t h e wind c a r r i e d it t o t h e s o u t h of t h e i s l a n d . The n e x t day C a p t . Smith, t h e c a r p e n t e r , t h e cooper and c a b i n boy boarded t h e s h i p . Before l e a v i n g t h e y l e f t 20 pounds of bread and 20 pounds of beef f o r each remaining man, b e s i d e s a b a r r e l of s a l t , and c o t t o n c l o t h s u f f i c i e n t f o r one s h i r t each and numerous minor a r t i c l e s of e s s e n t i a l b e n e f i t . The c a p t a i n o f t h e James S t e w a r t promised t o r e t u r n t o p i c k up t h e remaining crew a f t e r t h e end of h i s c r u i s e . This proved t o be unnecessary, however, f o r on 2 May t h e w h a l e s h i p Nassau, Captain Weeks commanding, a r r i v e d and took t h e remaining crew o f f t h e i s l a n d .

I n l a t e June o r e a r l y J u l y

1859

t h e American barque Gambia v i s i t e d Xure. Capt. N.C. Brooks r e p o r t e d (Brooks, 1860):

...

c o n s i s t i n g of t h r e e s m a l l i s l a n d s o r r o c k s , s u r - ruunded by a r e e f t h i r t y m i l e s i n circumference

....

A bank makes o f f round t h i s r e e f a t a d i s t a n c e of a m i l e w i t h twenty-five t o t h i r t y fathoms w a t e r . The t h r e e i s l a n d s a r e on a l i n e E a s t and West. The s u r f makes o f f t o t h e E a s t a q u a r t e r of a m i l e , and t o t h e N.W. twelve m i l e s . The r e e f opens t o t h e S.W. f o r a b o u t t h r e e m i l e s . The b e s t anchorage

i s

found by b r i n g i n g t h e N.W. p o i n t of t h e b r e a k e r s North, i n water from seven t o twelve fathoms, one m i l e from t h e r e e f . C u r r e n t s s e t s n o r t h and s o u t h about two k n o t s . Tide r i s e s twenty-two i n c h e s . They can be approached from any p o i n t , and can be seen from t h e masthead e i g h t m i l e s , being a b o u t twenty f e e t h i g h and covered w i t h bushes. On t h e n o r t h end of t h e l a r g e i s l a n d , which i s

3

1/2 m i l e s l o n g by 1 1/2 wide, t h e r e h a s been a lagoon, but it i s now overgrown. On t h i s i s l a n d I found t h e remains of t h e wreck of a merchantman, which had e v i d e n t l y been r e c e n t l y l o s t . She was n o t an American v e s s e l . I found t h e beach strewn w i t h remains o f t h e c a r g o and wreck, c o n s i s t - i n g of bamboos, China mats, and t u b s . The v e s s e l was undoubtedly from China o r Manila. On t h e n o r t h end I found washed a s h o r e t h e b r o a d s i d e of t h e v e s s e l , t h a t had t h e f o r e and main c h a n n e l s on Tram p l a n k s h e a r t o below

6

s h e e t s copper. I brought away copper and door l o c k s , which I found on h e r c a b i n

d o o r s on t h e beach. On t h e s t e r n of a j o l l y b o a t I found t h e name I s s a c Holder branded, probably t h e b u i l d e r ' s name. Good w a t e r may be o b t a i n e d on t h i s i s l a n d . The second i s l a n d i n s i z e i s a b o u t two m i l e s l o n g and a h a l f a m i l e wide, w i t h l i t t l e v e g e t a t i o n , few fowls, and p l e n t y of t u r t l e . The t h i r d i s a mere sand s p i t .

Kure A t o l l was n e x t v i s i t e d by t h e U.S.S. Lackawanna, C a p t . W i l l i a m Reynolds commanding. On 3 l A u g u e t 1867 t h e s h i p

c i r c l e d t h e r e e f and t h e f o l l o w i n g r e p o r t was made (RG

45

N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s Log o f t h e Lackawanna May 20,

1867

t o November 24, 1867)

.

I s l a n d

14 3/4'

i n circumference, somewhat o v a l shaped. Wall extended from middle of g r e e n i e l a n d t o NW extreme a s a t Brooks i s l a n d , b u t showing about w a t e r t o t h e westward, a low sand i s l a n d , west of green i s l a n d a s a t Brooks b u t n o t s o h i g h . A l a r g e t r e e w i t h r o o t s on beach. A lower mast of

a s h i p on g r e e n i s l a n d NE c o r n e r . Lagoon a l l shallow w a t e r . No s i g n of e n t r a n c e o r i n s i d e anchorage from a l o f t .

A t approximately

4

a.m. on 28 October 1870 t h e U.S.S.

Saginaw, L t . Commander Montgomery S i c a r d commanding, l e f t Midway A t o l l , a f t e r seven months of work, f o r San F r a n c i s c o . B e f o r e

s e t t i n g s a i l f o r C a l i f o r n i a , however, t h e C a p t a i n d e c i d e d t o go t o Kure A t o l l and c o n f i r m i t s p o s i t i o n and l o o k f o r shipwrecks.

E a r l y i n t h e morning on 29 October t h e s h i p was r e s t i n g on t h e n o r t h e r n r e e f of Kure A t o l l and t a k i n g on w a t e r r a p i d l y . The F r i e n d f o r February 1, 1871, r e p o r t s t h a t :

It was i n t r u t h , a remarkable shipwreck. The n i g h t had been c l e a r s t r a i g h t , w i t h a moderate b r e e z e . The

s h i p was heading d i r e c t f o r an i s l a n d whose p o s i t i o n and d i s t a n c e

-

and t h a t a s h o r t one

-

were known, approximately i f n o t p r e c i s e l y . She was making n o t o v e r two and a h a l f t o t h r e e knots, y e t she r a n d i r e c t l y , w i t h o u t any p a r t i c u l a r l a c k of v i g i l a n c e , on a r e e f which was above water, and on which t h e b r e a k e r s where d a s h i n g f u r i o u s l y .

Nonetheless, L t . Commander S i c a r d was c l e a r e d of n e g l i g e n c e by a board of i n q u i r y .

S i n c e t h e s h i p d i d n o t b r e a k up u n t i l s e v e r a l weeks had p a s s e d , much g e a r was s a l v a g e d and a comfortable camp was e r e c t e d on Green I s l a n d . Readers a r e r e f e r r e d t o George H . R e a d ' s The

-

L a s t C r u i s e

- -

o f t h e Saginaw f o r d e t a i l s of l i f e on t h e i s l a n d . Much of t h e time was s p e n t b u i l d i n g a g i g and a n o t h e r l a r g e r b o a t t o e f f e c t t h e i r r e s c u e .

On

18

November 1870 t h e g i g , w i t h L t . J.C. T a l b o t , P e t e r F r a n c i s , James Muir, John Andrews, and William H a l f o r d aboard, l e f t Kure f o r Honolulu. A f t e r a long, arduous journey t h e y s i g h t e d Kauai on

18

December. One day l a t e r t h e g i g went through t h e s u r f and o a p s i z e d k i l l i n g a l l crew members e x c e p t Halford

h he

F r i e n d , Jan. 1,

1871).

When news of t h e Saginaw reached Honolulu t h e American Consul d i s p a t c h e d t h e

Kana

Packet t o r e s c u e t h e crew and t h e Hawaiian King d i s p a t c h e d t h e steamer K i l a u e a f o r t h e same purpose because h e was a f r a i d t h a t t h e

slower-moving

Kana

Packet would n o t a r r i v e i n time. On 3 January 1 8 7 1 t h e Kilauea reached Kure and t h e n e x t day t h e crew was t a k e n o f f t h e i s l a n d .

The n e x t recorded v i s i t t o Kure was i n

1881

when t h e

B r i t i s h schooner Ada

-

s p e n t about two days t h e r e from 30 December t o 1 January c o l l e c t i n g t u r t l e s , beche-de-mer, and e g g s . They took

6

t u r t l e s , 140 beche-de-mer, p l e n t y of b i r d eggs, and a t l e a s t 2 r o t t e n t u r t l e eggs ( H o r n e l l , 1 9 3 4 ) .

On

15

J u l y

1886,

t h e Dunnottar C a s t l e , H.A. Martin c a p t a i n , bound f o r Wilmington, C a l i f o r n i a , from Sydney, A u s t r a l i a , w r e c k e d upon t h e r e e f of Kure A t o l l (Honolulu Almanac and D i r e c t o r y , 1 8 8 7 ) . Nine days l a t e r Mr. Norman and s i x men l e f t i n a b o a t t o g e t r e l i e f from Honolulu. A f t e r a journey of about 52 days t h e y a r r i v e d a t Hanalei, Kauai, and on

14

September t h e W a i a l e a l e l e f t Honolulu t o r e s c u e t h e crew. However, t h e remaining 22 crewmen had been taken off t h e i s l a n d by t h e Birham

W o o d

of S t . J o h n ' s , New Brunswick. During t h e i r b r i e f s t a y on t h e i s l a n d t h e y e v i d e n t l y a t e t u r t l e s a n d seafowl.

The W a i a l e a l e a r r i v e d on 20 September and t h e i s l a n d was t a k e n p o s s e s s i o n of by James H . Boyd f o r King Kalakaua of Hawaii w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g words:

I C o l o n e l James H a r b o t t l e Boyd by t h e power i n me v e s t e d by His I-Iawaiian Majesty King K a l a k a u a ' s Com- miseion a s His S p e c i a l Commissioner do i n His Royal Name t a k e f o r m a l p o s s e s s i o n o f Ocean I s l a n d o r Moku Papapa a s a p a r t and p o r t i o n of H i s Royal Domain.

Done a t Ocean I s l a n d o r Moku Papapa t h i s 20th day of September A.D.

1886.

J a s . H . Boyd

H i s Hawaiian M a j e s t y ' s S p e c i a l Commissioner

( ~ a w a i i a n Archives, L e t t e r s Book 28, p. 298).

The n e x t day t h e r e l i e f p a r t y e r e c t e d a house 20 f e e t by 1 2 f e e t w i t h a c o r r u g a t e d i r o n r o o f , p l a c e d w a t e r t a n k s , and

sowed s e e d s of a l e g e r o b a , p r i d e of I n d i a , Kamaui, monkey pod, noouki, and o h i a t r e e s . They r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e i s l a n d i s now b a r r e n of t r e e s w i t h a s t u n t e d v e g e t a t i o n . The t r u n k of a t r e e f i f t e e n i n c h e s i n d i a m e t e r and f o u r f e e t h i g h was found s t a n d i n g on t h e i s l a n d . On 21 o r 22 September t h e W a i a l e a l e l e f t t h e a t o l l .

A p p a r e n t l y i n

1889

C a p t a i n Johnson of t h e

Norma

v i s i t e d Kure b e f o r e going t o Midway t o r e s c u e t h e Wandering M i n s t r e l

castaways (Cameron, 1 9 2 8 ) . He found t h a t t h e b u i l d i n g had blown down and was mostly b u r i e d i n t h e sand.

There were a l s o two v i s i t s i n t h e l a t e 1 8 8 0 ' s o r 1 8 9 0 ' s f o r which d e t a i l s a r e l a c k i n g . John Cameron of t h e

Ebon

r e - p o r t e d t h a t t h e i s l a n d was sandy and b a r r e n w i t h a v e r y exposed anchorage (Cameron,

9. e.).

He went a s h o r e t o s e e t h e

b u i l d i n g e r e c t e d by t h e Hawaiian Government in

1886

b u t found o n l y s h e e t s of c o r r u g a t e d i r o n , which he t o o k back t o t h e s h i p , s c a t t e r e d a b o u t . He r e p o r t e d t h a t h e had h e a r d t h a t a p a r t y of Japanese f e a t h e r h u n t e r s had s t o l e n t h e p r o v i s i o n s .

I n t h e Log of t h e Kaalokai (1909) Captain F.D. Walker r e - p o r t s t h a t t h e p r o v i s i o n s from t h e s h e l t e r were s t o l e n l e s s t h a n twelve months a f t e r it was e r e c t e d . He a l s o h a s a p i c t u r e of t h e remains of t h e s h e l t e r and of t h e lagoon. No mention of any v i s i t was made i n t h e t e x t .

On

15

February 1894 t h e North P a c i f i c Phosphate and F e r t i - l i z e r Company l e a s e d Kure A t o l l f o r 25 y e a r s a t a r e n t a l of a d o l l a r a y e a r . The company was a l s o g r a n t e d t h e e x c l u s i v e r i g h t s t o mine t h e phosphate d e p o s i t s t h e r e o n , provided a r o y a l t y of 50 c e n t s

a

t o n was p a i d t o t h e Hawaiian Government.

However, i f mining was n o t begun w i t h i n f i v e y e a r s of t h e s i g n i n g of t h e c o n t r a c t , t h e l e a s e would be withdrawn. S i n c e e v i d e n t l y no guano was mined a t Kure, t h e l e a s e e x p i r e d i n February

1919.

Kure A t o l l was a c q u i r e d by t h e United S t a t e s of America a s p a r t of t h e T e r r i t o r y of Hawaii on

7

J u l y

1898.

20th Century

I n c o n t r a s t t o t h e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y , most 2 0 t h c e n t u r y v i s i t s t o Kure were p u r p o s e f u l . The f i r s t s y s t e m a t i c b i r d o b s e r v a t i o n s were made

i n

March

1915

and A p r i l 1923 ( B i o l o g i c a l Survey S e c t i o n ) .

On

18

May 1905 t h e U.S.S. I r o q u o i s , L t . Commander A.P.

Niblack commanding, v i s i t e d t h e a t o l l f o r about s i x hours, s e n t a b o a t a s h o r e , found no people, and t h e n l e f t f o r Midway ( R G 24 Log of t h e U.S.S. I r o q u o i s 1 9 0 5 ) . An e q u a l l y b r i e f v i s i t was

made on 23 J a n u a r y

l 9 l O

by t h e T h e t i s , C a p t a i n W.V.E. Jacobs commanding (RG 26 Log of t h e T h e t i s 1 9 1 0 ) . A p a r t y landed on both i s l a n d s , found a number of s e a l i o n s , numerous b i r d s , no people, and no s i g n t h a t people had landed t h e r e r e c e n t l y .

Kure A t o l l became p a r t of t h e Hawaiian I s l a n d s R e s e r v a t i o n on

3

February 1909 when P r e s i d e n t Theodore Roosevelt signed E x e c u t i v e Order

l O l 9

r e s e r v i n g Kure A t o l l f o r t h e use of t h e Department of A g r i c u l t u r e a s a p r e s e r v e and breeding ground

f o r n a t i v e b i r d s .

A p a r t y from t h e U.S.S. Hermes, L t . John T. Diggs com- manding, was unable t o l a n d due t o heavy s u r f on

15

^September

1918.

T h i s was u n f o r t u n a t e s i n c e t h e y were o b s e r v i n g b i r d s . They r e p o r t e d :

Ocean I s l a n d s c o n s i s t s of t h r e e i s l a n d s , l y i n g f i f t y - s i x m i l e s west of Midway and reminds one v e r y much of Midway i n formation, w i t h a n o t h e r n a t u r a l r e e f breakwater i n c l o s i n g them, about f o u r t e e n and t h r e e q u a r t e r m i l e s i n circumference.

Green I s l a n d , t h e f i r s t of t h e t h r e e approached, i s a b o u t twenty f e e t above t h e s e a l i n e a t i t s h i g h e s t end and i s covered w i t h shrubbery a l o n g t h e t o p l e v e l . It i s about one and a h a l f m i l e s l o n g by t h r e e q u a r t e r s of a m i l e wide and appears a l i v e w i t h b i r d s of a b o u t t h e same s p e c i e s t h a t

i n h a b i t t h e o t h e r i s l a n d s . The Laysan A l b a t r o s s , White Tern, White-breasted P e t r e l , b o o b i e s , Black- f o o t e d A l b a t r o s s e s were observed f l y i n g around t h e v e s s e l .

To t h e westward of Green I s l a n d a p p e a r two more I s l a n d s composed of sand, t h e westernmost of which i s a b o u t t e n f e e t above s e a l e v e l , upon which no v e g e t a t i o n could be observed (RG

45

Report of Com- manding O f f i c e r t o Commandant 1 4 t h Naval D i s t r i c t ) .

The U.S.S. Marblehead, Capt. H.K. Cage commanding, passed by t h e a t o l l on

24

A p r i l 1 9 2 8 and r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e r e were no s i g n s o f h a b i t a t i o n o r wrecks on t h e r e e f (RG 8 0 Log of t h e Marblehead 1928).

During t h e 1 9 3 0 ' s and e a r l y 1 9 4 0 ' s s e v e r a l s h i p s v i s i t e d t h e a t o l l b r i e f l y . As p a r t of t h e United S t a t e s Navy's F l e e t Problem XVI, t h e U.S.S. Dobbin v i s i t e d Kure from 1 2 t o 22 May 1935 and t h e U.S.S. Ramsay was t h e r e

15

^and

16

^May

1935

^{(RG 24}

Logs of t h e Dobbin and Rameay 1 9 3 5 ) .