Locality: . Bikini Atoll, Amen,
Romuk and Uru islets.
Date:
August 19,
Weather:
1964
Water conditions:
Personnel:
Calm.
Same 14.
Cloudy--rains.
Heliopora,
Porites,
Fungia,
and a few others.
Siltation and
debris indicate conditions like those on Runit Island at
Eniwetok Atoll.
Jackson--no rats,
Trap line was set across eastern half of
island Amen in morning and removed in late afternoon.
Virtually
all the traps had been sprung by hermit crabs.
There was no indication of rats being present on the island.
At the east end where the vegetation is most dense and bunkers are
present would be the most likely site.
No burrows,
feces,
runways,
or other signs of rats could be found.
While nocturnal observations
were not made, there seems little possibility that there are any
rats on these islands
(Amen and Romuk)
or the several islands to
the west.
Lowman--Birds on these islands were nesting and rearing
young.
Fairy terns,
crested and noddy were abundant.
fairy and crested terns and a bristle thigh curlew.
Collected
Observed
both wandering tattlers and ruddy turnstones in numbers.