EAC 10, Rockaway, January-March 1967
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Transcription
During the period 31 January - 23 March 1967 the USCG Rockaway was engaged in oceanographic research in the Eastern Pacific Ocean as part of the EASTROPAC project. The ship departed Rodman Naval Base in the Panama Canal Zone heading west to 5°N-88°W, then north to La Union, El Salvador. The ship then proceeded south to 20°S - 92°W, west to 20°S-98°W and then north to Acapulco. From Acapulco the ship headed west to 12°N - 105°W, then east to 12°N - 95°W, before heading south to 5°N and then back to Panama. In the course of the trip environmental data were collected at approximately 20 mile intervals and weather data were recorded continuously. As part of this program, bird and mammal observations were made by me for a total of 43 days. This report summarizes those observations. A total of 348.9 diurnal hours of observation was recorded while the ship travelled 2,840 miles. No nocturnal observations were made. A total of 8, 180 birds of 28 species was seen. TABLES 1 - 7 summarize all of the observations made and FIGURE 1 shows the cruise track. Species distribution maps have been combined with those derived from Bulmer's data from the JORDAN cruise (1 February-22 March 1967) and may be found in that cruise report. METHODS Watches were maintained for an average of 8.11 hours per day between sunrise and sunset. All observations were made from the flying bridge, which provided the best view of the surrounding ocean. DISCUSSION For the purpose of analysis, the survey area has been divided into five sections as follows: A) Panama to 12°N to 5°N; B) 5°N to 5°S along 92°W, near Galapagos); C) 5°S to 20°S (along 92°W and 98°W); D) 5°S to 5°N