BOWFEST
The Bowhead Whale Feeding Ecology Study (BOWFEST; Interagency Agreement Minerals Management Service (MMS) 4500000120) was a multiyear MMS-funded study started in 2007 that focused on late summer oceanography and prey densities relative to whale distribution over continental shelf waters within 100 miles north and east of Point Barrow, Alaska. Through NOAA's cooperative institutes and contracts, researchers were included from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, University of Rhode Island, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Washington, Oregon State University, and the North Slope Borough's Department of Wildlife Management. Field work was coordinated with the North Slope Borough, Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, Barrow Whaling Captains' Association, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Department of Interior's MMS.
Aerial surveys conducted by NMML, acoustic monitoring, and boat-based surveys provided information on the spatial and temporal distribution of bowhead whales in the study area. Oceanographic sampling helped identify sources of zooplankton prey available to whales on the shelf and the association of this prey with physical characteristics (hydrography, currents) which may affect mechanisms of plankton aggregation. Results of this research program may help explain summer occurrences of bowheads in the Western Beaufort Sea (U.S. waters), well west of the typical summer feeding aggregations in the Canadian Beaufort Sea. Increased understanding of bowhead behavior and distribution is needed to minimize potential impacts from petroleum development activities.
Contracted Reports
The daily reports provided on this site constitute preliminary field data and should not be cited without permission. The reports have undergone a review for technical accuracy prior to posting on this site. However, additional processing and review after the field season may identify further changes that need to be made. Additional information on data or report quality and dissemination is available in the AFSC Disclaimer Statement and on NOAA's Office of the Chief Information Officer & High Performance Computing and Communications web page
2011 Daily Reports
Current BOWFEST Aerial Survey Daily Reports (PDF - Adobe Acrobat or Reader Required):
| 2011 Aerial Surveys (Flights Begin in August) | ||||
| Date | Flight | Daily Report | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-09-17 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-09-16 | 13 | Flight13 Summary | ||
| 2011-09-15 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-09-14 | 12 | Flight12 Summary | ||
| 2011-09-13 | 10&11 | Flight10&11 Summary | ||
| 2011-09-12 | 8&9 | Flight8&9 Summary | ||
| 2011-09-11 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-09-10 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-09-09 | 7 | Flight7 Summary | ||
| 2011-09-08 | 6 | Flight6 Summary | ||
| 2011-09-07 | 5 | Flight5 Summary | ||
| 2011-09-06 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-09-05 | 3&4 | Flight3&4 Summary | ||
| 2011-09-04 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-09-03 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-09-02 | 2 | Flight2 Summary | ||
| 2011-09-01 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-08-31 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-08-30 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-08-29 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-08-28 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-08-27 | 0 | No Flight | ||
| 2011-08-26 | 1 | Flight1 Summary | * Indicates updated daily report | |
Click Here for the 2010 Aerial Survey Daily Reports
