Aerial surveys of endangered whales in the Beaufort, eastern Chuckchi, and northern Bering Seas, 1982
Ljungblad DK, Moore SE, Van Schoik DR. 1983. Aerial surveys of endangered whales in the Beaufort, eastern Chuckchi, and northern Bering Seas, 1982. Naval Ocean Systems Center. San Diego. Technical Document 605
(Adapted from author's summary). This report summarizes the 1982 investigations of the distribution, abundance, migration, and habitats of endangered whales of the northern Bering, eastern Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas. Aerial transects and search surveys were flown in the study area from mid-April through May and from mid-July through October 1982. Sonobuoys were deployed to collect sounds, and photographs were taken to document distinctive markings on bowhead whales for possible identification and in an attempt to estimate whale sizes. Overall, 366 sightings of 755 bowhead whales were made. Three hundred forty-eight gray whales were seen between St. Lawrence Island and Pt. Barrow. Overall, 45% of gray whales were seen feeding. Additional sightings in 1982 included on minke whale, two narwhals, twenty-three polar bears, many ringed seals, bearded seals, and walruses.