Storm Petrels 
WRSP 94 
DRSP 15 
Storm Petrel sp. 9^ 
4 
All birds observed, with one exception, are believed to be Leach's- 
type Storm Petrels; the exception being a small, all-dark bird observed 
on 31 August at 32°30' N, 123°19' W. This bird represents the first pos¬ 
sible record of a Leach Petrel ( Halocyptena microsoma ) in the Grid. 
I 
The distribution of storm petrels during the survey did not appear 
- random. Densities were high in the north and southern sections of the 
Grid. Density in the central section appears low; however, these data 
may be misleading. Seas were choppy during the survey of the central 
portion and generally smooth during the survey on the northern and 
southerly sections of the Grid. It is possible that sea conditions such 
as encounteiedin the central section reduce the radius of visibility 
enough to explain the low numbers recorded. It is well known among field 
observers that storm petrels are difficult to see in choppy seas (6-8 ft.), 
but it is not possible to assign a quantitative adjustment factor to 
these data to account for environment changes. 
The high linear density of storm petrels in sector 7 is discussed 
earlier in the report. In summary of that discussion the recorded den¬ 
sity is higher than actual densities due to smooth seas and observations 
from the skiff. Both factors increased the radius of visibility yielding 
greater numbers of birds recorded. 
Red-billed Tropicbird 
Two birds were recorded in sector 9 °^ the Grid 0 
Red Phalarope 
Sixty-nine percent of the phalaropes were recorded in the northern 
section of the Grid. Birds were again recorded in the vicinity of slicks 
believed to be indicative of oceanographic fronts. These slicks were 
found in the east side of sector 2, as was the case on EGS 11. 
The nocturnal abundance of phalaropes in the central section is of 
interest. On the night of 3 August, after seeing no phalaropes during 
the day, ca_. 25 birds were recorded during 2-l/2 hours of nocturnal ob¬ 
servation. The birds are attracted to the ship at night given proper 
overcast conditions. But on this night the ship was drifting (essentially 
remaining in one area) and such high numbers are difficult to explain. 
Do the birds move primarily at night and stay on the water during the 
day, or is there another explanation? 
Jaegers 
Parasitic Jaeger 
Long-tailed Jaeger 
Jaeger sp. 
1 
1 
21 
