OBJECTIVES: Develop and maintain a capability to provide aerial
surveys of marine bird and mammal distribution and abundance for
oil spill response and post-spill injury assessment. TIME
PERIOD: June 1994 through October 1998 STUDY AREA: Coastal and
inland marine waters of California. METHODOLOGY: ... Aerial
surveys were conducted in a variety of California locales with
experienced observers and trainees. The aircraft used was a
Partenavia PN68 Observer provided by the Department of Air
Services, CDFG, flown at an altitude of 200' (60m) above ground
level and at a typical air speed of 90 kts. Two observers (at
least one experienced) occupied middle seats and searched a
corridor of 50m on each side of the aircraft. Width was defined
by clinometer and simple trigonometric functions. Species,
numbers, behavior and other information was described on hand-
held tape recorders for later transcription and computer entry.
The co-pilot position was occupied by a navigator/computer
operator. This individual recorded num