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Transcription
Shearwater, and one Pomarine Jaeger were collected in the Grid on the
18th. A serum sample was taken from the Jaeger. No other collections
were obtained.
Eastern Grid Survey No. 17
Over the 686 miles and 74.3 hours of diurnal observations 793
birds of 20 species were recorded. Twenty-three birds of three species
were collected. Twenty-four marine mammal sightings were obtained.
Highlights
1. Absence of errant landbirds.
2. High numbers of Sooty Shearwaters moving south.
3. High numbers of Red Phalaropes in the eastern sections of the
Grid.
4. Unexpected decrease in Fulmar sightings.
The overall pattern of bird distribution within the Grid is again
similar to many previous surveys with the high density in the northeast
areas and low density in the opposite corner:
1.144 2.320 1.596
.158 .582 3.420
.057 .123 .189
Linear density in each section
3 11 9
6 5 7
2 7 4
# Species per section
The three major species - Sooty Shearwater, Leach's Storm Petrel,
and Red Phalarope - accounted for over 84 percent of the total observa-
tions. Loons, ducks, jaegers, and Herring Gulls each contributed about
three percent to the total. The remaining five percent included 11
species present in low numbers.
Species Accounts
Loon sp. # Obs. = 17
Loons (probably Arctics) were seen singly or in groups of 2 to 4
flying southeast across the northeastern corner of the Grid. One bird
followed the ship briefly.
Laysan Albatross
Diomedea immutabilis
# Obs. = 3
Single birds were seen on the 19th, 21st, and 22nd, in the south-
west part of the Grid. These are the first sightings since early May.
One bird followed the ship for over half an hour.