PRELIMINARY REPORT EASTERN GRID SURVEY 8 30-31 May 1967 Survey Period : 0657, 30 May to 0708, 31 May 1967 Survey Personnel: Richard D. Chandler Support Vessel : USNS SHEARWATER T-AG-177 This report summarizes observations made on a single north to south transect through the extreme eastern side of the Eastern Grid Area. The survey was included as a portion of Eastern Area Cruise #13 en route from San Francisco to the Panama Canal. The vessel entered the Grid at point "Ash" and proceeded SSE to point Oak. The track passed 11-24 miles to the west of the remaining eastern points. (See Figure 1.) Diurnal coverage included the north, central, and south sections. (See Table 1.) Seventy birds of six species were observed over the 96-mile Grid track. Storm Petrels accounted for 63 percent of the total birds, Phalaropes 22 percent, and Black-footed Albatrosses - 12 percent. The remaining 3 percent consisted of 1 Red-billed Tropicbird, 1 Pomarine Jaeger, and 1 Tern. Unusually high winds and seas made for poor observing conditions. The watch was held from the bridge. No BT drops were made in the Grid due to the rough following seas. No nocturnal watch was held. No birds were collected. Except for the reduced watch coverage necessitated by a single observer, other survey methods were as per previous cruises. SPECIES ACCOUNT Black-footed Albatross Diomedea nigripes - 8 At least two of the birds were noted as having white rumps. Statistically, dealing with this species is somewhat frustrating and no fool-proof method of handling Albatross data is at hand. Early morning observations suggest that birds gradually build up to a peak after only a few hours, after which the count of birds following the ship levels off for the rest of the day. It seems most feasible that a dynamic turnover of birds is taking place constantly and that a saturation level is reached which is dependent on the actual density of the area. Peak day counts on the whole, are the most satisfactory way to report Albatross occurrence although the number is lower than the number of individuals actually seen. White-rumped Storm Petrel 42 Storm Petrel sp. 2 44 With fair certainty all Storm Petrel sightings can be taken as Leachs