Figures & data
Fig. 1. Cruise track of the ice-breaker Oden during the Arctic Ocean 2002 expedition and daily averages of the number of ivory gulls observed per 10-min period during days when visibility was sufficient for observations. On 30 April and 25 and 30 May large localized aggregations were seen. No ivory gulls were seen in open-water areas although the observation effort was similar to that in ice-covered areas. Numbers indicate dates when a specific point in the cruise track was visited (26A is 26 April; all other dates are in May). The approximate extent of the ice (based on observations from the ship and analysis of satellite data received by the ship for navigation) when the ship passed is indicated.
Table 1. Summary of observations. Large localized aggregations were seen while the Oden was more or less stationary. The average number of ivory gulls seen per 10 min of observation refers to the forward sector while the ship was in motion, as distinct from birds actively following the ship and foraging in the wake.
Fig. 2. Distribution of arrival (N=724) and departure (N=704) directions of ivory gulls on migration off Scoresby Sound on 25 May 2002 (ca. 70°N, 22°W). At any one time 200–400 birds perched on the ice close to the ship.
