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apparently are undergoing a more rapid rate of change than noted during
the summer and early fall. The areas of slicks and upwellings in the
northeast corner of the Grid appear to be dispersing and the general
shift of bird density within the Grid has been toward the south. The
south-center sections "V" and "Y", for the first time in the last half
year, appeared to be regions of good food density and consequently high
bird numbers.
Grid Species Accounts
Western Grebe
Aechmophorus occidentalis
# OBS = 2
A pair of birds was observed well on the water in section "V" on 3
November. They were calling and diving. Shortly before this sighting
a flock of 22 "waterfowl" was seen flying southeast in a broken formation.
Possibly this flock was also this species.
Black-footed Albatross
Diomedea nigripes
Total # OBS = 22
High Max. Daily count = 5
Low Max. Daily count = 0
Median Daily Max. = 2
Mean Daily Max. = 2.4
The hypothesized increase anticipated this cruise was anything but
realized. This survey was the lowest density yet recorded for albatrosses.
The 7th of November is to my knowledge the only full day spent on the Grid
without a single albatross sighting. What effect the low winds have on
sightings is uncertain, but it appeared that birds tended to follow for a
relatively shorter time period. Of the 12 birds recorded with rump color
no all White-rumped birds were seen; Nine (75%) were all dark, and 3 (25%)
were mottled white. No density pattern within the Grid itself appears
evident.
Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialis
# OBS = 19
3 6 2
1 7 0
0 0 0
# seen in each section
An increase over the last survey is evident. No birds were recorded
in the southern third and the birds in the north appeared in the center
sections, occasionally being associated with the slicks in that area.
Birds occasionally showed a tendency to follow the ship. One light phase
bird was seen, the remainder being dark types. At long distances this
species can often not be safely told from Sooty Shearwater. When this
occurs the sighting was entered as "Shear-Pet - Sooty/Fulmar." No cons-
istent directional movement was noted.
Slender-billed (?) Shearwater
# OBS = 1
Sooty Shearwater
# OBS = 23
Sooty/Slender-billed Shearwater
# OBS = 5