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Posted by Carlos Sanchez on 17:14:39 12/02/11
In Reply to: Re: Eider sighting? posted by Steve McConnell
The DeSoto Canyon south of the Pensacola area is exactly where we had nearly all of our tubenoses for the entire one month trip in August -- about a dozen individuals total composed of Cory's and Great Shearwaters. I don't think anyone is suggesting that there aren't any birds in the gulf as much as densities are very low. However, we were discussing the Gulf of Mexico relative to the rest of the Atlantic in terms of productivity.
We have to keep everything in perspective.
Although North Carolina may be the best place in terms of numbers and diversity on the eastern seaboard of the USA, it pales in comparison to some of the truly rich and productive pelagic waters such as the Humboldt Current off of Peru and Chile or the East Australia Current off SE Australia or the Benguela Current off South Africa. Here, there are is a constant stream of pelagic birds at all times during pelagic trips of hundreds if not thousands of birds. Waters are rich enough to support endemic cormorants, diving-petrels, penguins, and pinnipeds (seals, sea lions). The last two especially need very productive, rich fishing grounds to exist (not counting relatively solitary monk seals). The Gulf of Mexico is pretty low on the totem pole as far as productivity for birds and mammals is concerned.
That said, we should continue to support pelagic trips in the gulf to add to our overall understanding of the oceans and pelagic bird species. They are all important pieces to a greater puzzle.
Carlos
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