Since I spent 12 years of my career doing ecological research on islands, I would like to pint out benefits of observations made on Smith Island. One of the central questions of conservation is: "how many species can a given area support?" By compiling records of birds breeding and/or visiting Smith Island, data helping answer that question can be compiled. This, in turn, will help us make better decisions about the acquisition of protected areas, not just islands but also unique ecosystems of various sizes. If anyone is interested in the fundamental concepts, I recommend MacArthur & Wilson (1967) "The Theory of Island Biogeography" Princeton University Press.