Ross's Gulls in the Central Arctic Ocean

Abstract

The central Arctic Ocean is difficult to access, the result, the bird fauna of the area, with its potential input from all around the circumpolar perimeter, is still only little known. The present paper contributes observations on the distsribution of Ross's gull (Rhodosethia rosea) made during the Arctic Ocean 96 expedition from mid-July to mid-September 1996, from the Swedish icebreaker Oden. Ross's gull was the most common bird in the central parts of the Arctic Ocean, with a grand total at least 131 individuals seen up to 87 30 N. Its absence further north was judged as due to an early freeze-up. A marked concentration was noted at the shelf-break north of Franz Josef Land in late July. Most Ross's gulls were observed as single birds or two together, but some small flocks were seen, the largest consisting of 10 birds. Most birds were adults, the proportion of immature (second-year) birds being no more than 10-15%.