50272-101 



REPORT DOCUMENTATION 

 PAGE 



l._ REPORT NO. 



"FWS/OBS-81/36 



4. Title and Subtitle 



Pilot Study of the Marine Mammals, Birds, Turtles in OCS areas 

 of the Gulf of Mexico 



7. Author(s) 



Thomas H. Fritts and Robert P. Reynolds 



3. Recipient's Accession No. 



5. Report Date 



September 1981 



8. Performing Organization Rept. No. 



9. Performing Organization Name and Address 



U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 



Denver Wildlife Research Center 



New Orleans Field Station 



Tulane University Museum of Natural History 



Belle Chasse, LA 70037 



10. Proiect/Task/Work Unit No. 



11. Contract(C) or Grant(G) No. 



(o 14-16-009-79-951 



(G) 



12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address 



13. Type of Report & Period Covered 



Bureau of Land Management 



and the Office of Biological Services 



U.S. Fish & Wildlife service, Department of the Interior 

 Washington, D.C. 20240 



Survey 1979 



14. 



15. Supplementary Notes 



16. Abstract (Limit: 200 words) 



The report discusses techniques for collecting data on marine animals in OCS areas. 

 Aerial surveys of mammals, birds and turtles were conducted in 4 study sites in the 

 Gulf of Mexico, at altitudes of 91 and 228 m, in August and December 1979. The aerial 

 survey method is described. Weather and physical factors, altitude, distance, depth, 

 observer bias, species, and species group size are analysed as sources of error in 

 aerial surveys. Also discussed are seasonal and daily variations in abundance of 

 species. Twelve mammal, 35 bird, and 5 turtle taxa were observed, and are listed in 

 the report. The report also contains maps documenting the locations of the sightings. 

 The study will be used as a base for future marine surveys in the gulf. 



17. Document Analysis a. Descriptors 



Turtles, birds 



b. Identlfiers/OpenEnded Terms 



Aerial survey, outer continental shelf, Gulf of Mexico, 

 sea turtles. 



e. COSATI Field/Group 



Marine mammals, marine birds 



18. Availability Statement 



Unlimited 



19. Security Class (This Report) 



Unclassified 



20. Security Class (This Page) 



Unclassified 



21. No. of Pages 



150 



22. Price 



(See ANSI-Z39.18) 



*US GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1981 775 137 



See Instructions on Reverse 



OPTIONAL FORM 272 (4-77) 

 (Formerly NTIS-35) 

 Department of Commerce 



