Purpose:
The purpose of this program is to monitor population trends of either
summer or winter resident species rather than migrations around Puget Sound.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Data correction Mar 14, 2006: Wrong ITIS number for
Unidentified [Large|Small] Gulls 180297 -> 176802. The nearshore strata were
sampled in two fashions: 1) in nearshore habitat that was relatively narrow,
the plane flew
... parallel to the shoreline generally 100 meters from the high
tide line; 2) in nearshore habitat with broad extensive shallow areas such as
river estuaries, the plane flew in an S-pattern to sample a larger proportion
of the habitat available in that locality. The offshore strata were sampled in
a crisscross pattern that zigzagged back and forth across depth contours, with
an attempt made to cut across most all banks and similar major underwater
bathymetric features. There was no attempt made to survey during the same tidal
stage in these areas. The survey always began in the southernmost study areas
and proceeded to the northern portions; therefore the same areas were usually
sampled during the same time of month each year, give or take a week. The last
two summer surveys (1997-98) did not include the southern and central portions
of Puget Sound, due to budget cuts. These areas were chosen to be continued on
a less frequent basis because low and consistent numbers of birds were seen
there during the July survey window in the previous five summer surveys. Effort
data is provided in separate files.
CURRENTNESS REFERENCE: ground condition
SPATIAL REFERENCE INFORMATION - GEODETIC MODEL
Horizontal Datum Name: D_WGS_1984
Ellipsoid Name: WGS_1984
Semi-major Axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 298.257224 
