Offshore Seabird Distributions during Summer and Autumn at West Greenland:Ship Based Surveys 1977 and 1992-2000

• Main Authors: Boertmann, D., Mosbech, A.
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: National Environmental Research Institute 2001
• Subjects: seabirds; West Greenland; distribution; phenology; Fulmar; Greenland; little auk; thick-billed murre
• Online Access: https://pure.au.dk/portal/da/publications/offshore-seabird-distributions-during-summer-and-autumn-at-west-greenland(0164a040-7e9d-11dd-a5a8-000ea68e967b).html; http://www.dmu.dk/1_viden/2_Publikationer/3_fagrapporter/rapporter/FR370.pdf

This report presents the phenological and distributional results of seabird surveys carried out by ship in West Greenland waters. In 1977 observations were carried out from stationary platforms (oil exploration supply ships) and in the period 1992 to 2000 observations were carried out from sailing ships. The results from 1977 are presented as observations per 5-day periods and give an impression of the species temporal occurrence. The 1992-2000 results are presented as distribution maps. These show densities for more numerous and widespread species, and actual observations for the less numerous species. Seabirds mainly fulmar, kittiwake and more locally great shearwater are numerous and widespread during summer. Concentrations do occur, but rather rarely. Presently the knowledge on the factors governing these concentrations is limited, except that operating shrimp trawlers may play a major role. During the autumn the numbers of seabirds increase as migrants from local and international populations of mainly thick-billed murre and little auk arrive to spend the winter in West Greenland waters. Huge concentrations of thick-billed murres, common eiders and king-eiders may occur then, and such concentrations are vulnerable to oil spills. A crude estimate of the numbers of thickbilled murres present in the areas surveyed in 1992-2000 in September-October reach 693,000 birds.