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Transcription
Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus)
Red-bills were never recorded commonly on the cruise. The distribution
was irregular and seemed to be influenced by the proximity of land as well
as by water type. Sightings were most frequent in the coastal waters with
all the remaining being south of the equator west of the Galapagos.
Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) 2 collected
All sightings were in the western half of the survey area with highest
densities between five and fifteen degrees North. Virtually every bird
seen was a subadult (based on bill and plumage characters) and only one
immature (less than one year old) was seen. No Red-tails were seen along
105 West where several were seen in August.
Blue-faced Booby (Sula dactylatra)
The observations on this cruise suggested that this is a land-oriented
species in the EASTROPAC area as all of the sightings were within 400 miles
of the coast.
Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)
Apparently a rigidly land-oriented species at this season. At the
peripheral portions of the species range both immatures and subadults were
more common than adults. Along the coast the adults were abundant with
many sightings of flocks flying out from the shore in the early morning
hours.
Red-footed Booby (Sula sula)
Like the other boobies, the Red-feet also appeared to be a land-
oriented species. Highest numbers were recorded in the eastern half of
the cruise area, and most were north of 10°.
Frigatebirds (Fregata sp.)
Recorded only in low numbers throughout the cruise except on 22 Nov-
ember when over 30 were seen in a large mixed flock just before sunset.
Unfortunately I was not able to identify any of the frigates to species.
Phalaropes (Phalaropus fulicarius and Lobipes lobatus)
Both Red and Northern Phalaropes were seen commonly along the southern
coastal portions of the cruise. In pelagic portions both species were
recorded only rarely.
Jaegers (Stercorarius pomarinus S. parasiticus, and S. longicaudus)
All three species of jaeger were identified with Pomarine being the
most common by a large margin. As is usually the case with jaegers, the
distribution indicated a preference for coastal waters with highest
occurrence in areas where overall bird density was high.