Above ground artifact search?

[Jeffrey Pearce]

Yes, Malcolm, that is what I also read. I just don't have enough knowledge, personally, to allow me to rule out this bird on Nikumaroro in 1937.

[Jeffrey Pearce]

There is another aspect to thievery or intimidation and that is the territorial aspect. A bird may be doing whatever it can to protect its territory. An arrival of newcomers to a location that hasn't been visited in quite some time could be troublesome. The longer the newcomers stay the more aggravating the situation may get for the birding community.

[Jeffrey Pearce]

The crow/raven is known to protect its territory in some interesting ways. Steal cigarettes in the Maldive Islands, a woman's ring carried to a rooftop but then amazingly enough returned to the owner. Also take a woman's pair of underwear. Rubber seems to be of interest. Windshield wipers missing from automobiles. Rubber molding around an entire windshield. Rubber radar absorbent material at Naval Air/Weapons Station China Lake, California.

[Jeffrey Pearce]

I think I should mention this now because, as time passes, it may get more difficult to determine. One way to determine whether or not thievery could have occurred on Nikumaroro is to ask previous residents or visitors to the island if they experienced or heard about such events happening.

[Jeffrey Pearce]

I have made an initial contact of a university that has a very good ornithology department. I am requesting this university's assistance regarding the bird population on Nikumaroro Island in 1937.

[Jeffrey Pearce]

The average lifespan of a palm tree can be up to 150 years. Palm trees on Nikumaroro Island that were living in 1937 can still be standing today. The question is, of the palm trees living on Nikumaroro Island, which ones were living in 1937.

[Jeffrey Pearce]

Several of the very last pictures taken of Amelia show a band on her left wrist. If this is a watch, the watch dial itself is on the inner side of her wrist. If the dial reflects light and this was seen, as it probably would have been, by a bird that has the interest and ability to retrieve the watch, then, the watch may well be somewhere else and possibly much higher in a nearby tree.

[C.W. Herndon]

Several of the very last pictures taken of Amelia show a band on her left wrist. If this is a watch, the watch dial itself is on the inner side of her wrist. If the dial reflects light and this was seen, as it probably would have been, by a bird that has the interest and ability to retrieve the watch, then, the watch may well be somewhere else and possibly much higher in a nearby tree.

Jeffrey, that is indeed a watch as shown in the picture below which was found here.

[Jeffrey Pearce]

Thanks very much, Woody. She did wear her watch with the dial on the inside of the wrist. I have been going through some of the other threads and I noticed the remark that things like belt buckles, watches, and buttons, among other things, have not been found. The watches, as I have previously mentioned, along with a belt buckle and buttons could attract a bird's interest. Were these items carried off by the birds?

[Jeffrey Pearce]

Is there a metal detection device, positioned just above a palm tree or other tree, that will zap the entire tree top with authority? A visual inspection would also be in order.

[Jimmie Tyler]

  It is interesting to think about Mr. Pearce, but the top of a tree 75 years ago would not be the top presently. Exp with palm trees. They constantly de boot themselves and shed growth. I have 70 foot palms on my property. I pick up at least one or two fronds on a daily basis. Coconut palms that are on Niku may not shed as frequently, but tree tops def will change over the years. Have you researched the Buka trees that are on Niku? Wonder what there life span is? Another thing to think about is the weather. I imagine there is alot of natural pruning that occurs on Niku due to the winds.

[Jeffrey Pearce]

Jim, thank you very much. I have done just a little research on the lifespan of the Buka tree. I have not found any information as of yet. There is a Buka forest near the Seven Site. There is another tall tree of a different kind very near the Seven Site. Trees do grow as you mentioned. Does this mean that they eject foreign objects? If so, these objects may be somewhere beneath the tree. Trees of 1937 need to be found. Should these trees be analyzed?

[Jimmie Tyler]

 Jeffrey, your welcome. I honestly do not know if a foreign object would be ejected from a tree top, due to growth. I have seen where oak trees will grow around and envelop wire fences, and other tree's for that matter. I think I have seen photo's of TIGHAR expedition member's climbing trees on Niku.  :o   I'm still feeling bad for the poor fella that lost his Rolex on the green!!! Yikes!!  ;)

[Jeffrey Pearce]

Poor fella, indeed! Maybe more than one because I was told "Rolex watches". I'd like to go find those myself. Yes, eject or consume the foreign object. The task of hunting down an artifact taken by a bird could be complicated? I have connections to the current World Hot Air balloon Champion and the current United States Hot Air Balloon Champion. They happen to be brothers! They are from my hometown. I think I can say that a hot air balloon or a gas filled balloon could possibly be utilized to search the treetops. Their mother was awarded the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship and was presented the same, in person, by Muriel Earhart Morrissey.

[Jeffrey Pearce]

Below is an email I just received:

Hi Jeff,



I was not here the first time you posed the question.  On reading it this week, I did the requisite quick search on Google to see exactly where we were talking about...this led me to the video  (quite well done, I thought) of the person doing the flyover of the island, giving some history, and then some speculations about the subject which you are addressing below. And I realize that NatGeo has recently explored the topic as well.



We don't have much historical information for birds there.



The bird populations in the Phoenix Islands were and are quite healthy due to absence/eradication of ground predators.  I don't believe Nikumaroro itself harbored or harbors vast colonies, owing to the types of habitat available, but there certainly would have birds in the area at the time who might have been able "steal" things.   The stealing of golf balls in particular seems to be related to their similarity to eggs—It is hard to imagine that the birds would steal all traces of a human castaway—but then there couldn't have been too much man-made that she (and her navigator?) would have possessed



The unending quest for the truth of reality is powerful driver... sorry I can't offer more than a passing though on the subject



Best of Luck,

Marc





Marc Devokaitis

Public Information Specialist



Cornell Lab of Ornithology

159 Sapsucker Woods Rd

Ithaca, NY 14850