EAC 26, Jordan, October-December 1967
Page 98
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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.