Ornithology of the Marshall and Gilbert Islands

Amerson, A. Binion (1969). "Ornithology of the Marshall and Gilbert Islands". Atoll Research Bulletin. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. 127: 1–348. doi:10.5479/si.00775630.127.1. ISSN 0077-5630.

Abstract: This work, authored by A. Binion Amerson, Jr. and issued as an Atoll Research Bulletin of the Smithsonian Institution in 1969, compiles and interprets records of the birdlife of the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. It assembles occurrence data from field observations and specimen holdings to document distributions, status, and frequency of both resident seabirds and visiting migrants across multiple atolls and islands in the two archipelagos. The report organizes species accounts with special attention to seabirds and rare or accidental visitors, enumerating unusual records that include Reef Heron, Snow Goose, Mallard, Common Teal, and Gadwall. It integrates locality-based notes drawn from places such as Ourukaen and Namu and references contributions by collectors and observers, including Morrison and Traylor, to anchor specific sightings and specimen records. The coverage spans named islands in the Gilbert group such as Abemama, Kuria, Aranuka, and Nonouti, and situates these within a broader regional treatment that compares distributions across neighboring islands. A substantial analytical component addresses factors influencing occurrence patterns, using zone-based tabulations and coded summaries to quantify totals, frequencies, and averages, including summaries for the Gilbert group. The treatment of accidentals and migrants evaluates spatial and seasonal variability, while the zonal data provide a framework for comparing island-specific and archipelago-wide patterns. Together, the observational records, specimen citations, and quantitative tables establish a consolidated baseline for the ornithology of the Marshall and Gilbert Islands and clarify the rarity, regularity, and ecological context of the region’s avifauna.

Extra details:

MAG: 2171401998
OpenAlex: W2171401998
QID: Q57568931