Cruise Summary: NOAA R/V "David Starr Jordan", 06-30 October 1997
Itinerary: 06-14 Oct 97 -- CalCoFI; San Diego to San Francisco (El
Nino study) 15-30 Oct 97-- TTOP2; San Francisco to San Diego (Sperm Whale
research) Area: Mostly along and just off the Santa Lucia Escarpment (1800-2200
fathoms), ~50-75 nm off San Luis Obispo (SLO) and Santa Barbara (SB) Counties,
California (unless otherwise indicated). Sea surface temperatures average
~18 C (range: 16 -19 C). Interesting cruise off California (mostly ~60
nautical miles off SLO and SB Counties) off the Santa Lucia Escarpment
through October. This was specifically a sperm whale study. In these offshore
slope waters, "El Nino" birds didn't amount to much (if at all) and were
generally disappointing (Red-footed Booby was best, and perhaps not significant
enough on its own to be interpreted as being "El Nino" related, although
it may well be). Otherwise, it was pretty much "business as usual" in the
seabird department; sparse(!); birds tending toward colder water and Alaska
species (notably minus Black-legged Kittiwakes). There were a few obligatory
Red-billed Tropicbirds that always seem to be around in small numbers at
least in late summer and fall; other honorable mentions included Cook's
Petrel, and 7 species of storm petrels (including Wilson's and Band-rumped).
Alcids were generally extremely sparse. Surprising to me at least, was
the scarcity of Xantus/Craveri's Murrelets, however a single Parakeet Auklet
(!) was quite unexpected. Northern Fulmars were the most widespread and
frequently encountered species while Black-legged Kittiwakes were notable
in their complete absence. Inbound (San Diego) over and around Cortes Bank
on 10/29 was beautiful, calm, warm, and virtually birdless, save for a
handful of Western Gulls. Bummer. If a dispersion of "El Nino" seabirds
could be interpreted anywhere, it would have to be coastal. As Elegant
Terns wandered northward in coastal waters all the way to British Columbia
in unprecedented numbers during the summer, it seemed a shoe-in for nomination
as "poster bird" of the 1997 ENSO event. However, few or none seem to have
lingered in the Pacific Northwest after August or September. Perhaps, post-dispersal
southbound birds all collected in the San Francisco Bay area in mid-October.
A spectacular feeding frenzy of 1,650 Elegant Terns was observed as we
sailed into San Francisco at dawn on 10/14, all concentrated in rips between
the Golden Gate & Alcatraz. That stretch of track looked like a snow
storm. I counted and recounted and recounted, always coming up with the
same figure, plus or minus a few. Large concentrations of Black-vented
Shearwaters (4-5,000) were just off the SLO Co. coast on 10/08, comprising
90% of all seabirds attending two separate schools of "short-beaked" common
dolphins (Delphinus delphis). Scarce to virtually absent (compared to cruises
in the same area last Fall and in Feb '97), and now appears to be attributable
to "El Nino" were Northern Fur Seals. Dead and dying fur seal pups, 3-6
months of age, have been recently reported washing up on the beaches of
Marin Co., at a similar rate as occurred during the 1992 ENSO event. Our
cruise observations noting the absence of fur seals in the usual areas
off the central coast suggest that the adults have indeed had to abandon
their young and ventured further offshore for food.--Richard Rowlett <PAGODROMA@aol.com>