SEA‐BIRD OBSERVATIONS OFF SOMALIA

Abstract

SUMMARYThe oceanography of the coastal waters of eastern Somalia was investigated by R.R.S. ‘Discovery’ during August and September 1964. The oceanographic findings are briefly described. Although upwelling was in progress north of 8oN, plankton, sea‐birds and other signs of a high rate of organic production were notably scarce.Previous knowledge of the marine ornithology of the Somali coast is poor and some unpublished notes ot ine late M. E. W. North are given in full.In 1964 both the warm Somali current and the upwelling area between Ras Mabber and Cape Guardafui supported few sea‐birds, though they were largely different species. The only area with abundant sea‐birds was at the boundary between the cool upwelled water and the warm water spreading from the Gulf of Aden. It is suggested that the former may sink before the final stages of the ecological succession are reached, so that food for sea‐birds is scarce.Summaries of the distributions of each species are given and these are compared with previous observations.