[i NSERT] 570904- 157

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Lawrence, Kansas —

January 15, 1958

Mr. Ben fl. Thompson, Chief
Division of Recreation Reaource Planning
Rational Perk Service

Washington 25, D.C.
My dear Mr. Thompson:

a follewing information 1a sent in reepanse to ree Lette o§ January

 
   
 

1958, to Dr. &.R. Hall, requesting additional infopm n lon \why nine
itineas (or parts of islands) should be included in tite sib Islands National
Park, and supplements my report of Decenber 31 and Dr. Hal's statement of

that date. The islands you list are as follege

   

Dog Islend

Little &t. James Island
Great St. dames Ieland Paten Za ler

Kast end St. Thomas Island man Félare 8
fhateh Island

  
  
 
  
    

complete blajlog abe size of bielogieal area is anensaiaciy

important tq Sf. John Island in times of unfavorable climate and at times when

low pointe in dyelic fluctYatRons occur in populations. Hurricane damage,

for instance) chpld redugs egrtain animal populations on that smali island to
i ae e Apecies might not survive. Proteetlon of the biota

es-fict guarantee perpetuating wildlife; it could be
destroyed by sateen ferces.

Areag of adequate size for nesting, resting, snd feeding are necessary
in maintaining normal numbers of marine birds, especially colonial species.
Some of these have a minimum threshold of numbers prerequisite to successful
rearing of young. The brown booby ie an example. Colonies tec small result in
ineffective breeding. Although many of the islands and cays are not, at present
extensively used by marine birds, it is believed that under natural conditions,

they would be and that the ee support the normal complement of colonial
nesting birds. }ovenge Island, for example, formerly was used extensively for

nesting “7 the brown pelican. Now approximately 700 pelicans rest on the island
at night but only a few breed there beeause man has disturbed them.

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