NODC Standard Format Marine Birds from Coastal Alaska and Puget Sound Data (1974-1982): Feeding Flock (F037) (NCEI Accession 0014157)

Feeding Flock (F037) is one of a group of seven datasets related to Marine Birds from Coastal Alaska and Puget Sound Data (1974 -1982). Each dataset uses the NODC Taxonomic Code to indicate species.

Feeding Flock (F037) data type contains data from field observations of marine bird feeding flocks made during air or ship surveys. These data are collected to provide information on marine bird feeding dynamics, community structure, and trophic relationships. Start and end positions, date and elapsed time, course, speed, distance, altitude, platform type and observing techniques are reported for each survey. Environmental information may include meteorological and sea surface conditions, distances to the shoreline and shelf break, ice characteristics, and surface debris, including oil slicks. Flock information may include flock height and dimensions, number of species, number of individuals per species, distance to land, species and number of associated marine mammals, flock behavior, interaction with other species, and arrival/departure activities. These data were collected in 1975 - 1976 for coastal Alaska.