Live bird oiling observations on Gulf of Mexico waters from May 2010 through March 2011

This report contains live bird oiling observation data and provides additional context for the posted dataset, including information about the collection, analysis, and organization of the data. Characteristics of this dataset include the following:  This live bird oiling observation dataset focuses only on information related to live bird oiling observations, which were collected under multiple studies.  This dataset includes data collected cooperatively with the Trustees as well as one study performed independently by consultants for BP. BP has been working to produce and organize these cooperative and independent data and perform data verification checks. As a result, these data have not been previously publicly accessible.  This dataset combines results from nine NRDA studies.  Before posting, extensive work was done independently by BP contractors to verify some aspects of the posted data (e.g., positional coordinates and field data). The focus of this data posting is live bird oiling observations conducted visually by study personnel in vessels on state or federal Gulf of Mexico waters. Over 500,000 bird observations, made from May 2010 through March 2011 are included in this publication. These observations were collected during nine studies and can be classified into two general categories:  NRDA Cooperative – Studies conducted as part of the NRDA investigations agreed to and executed cooperatively by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), other Trustees, and BP.  BP NRDA Independent – Studies conducted by BP independently to develop data to support and inform the NRDA. This dataset includes data associated with field observations including observation date, location, species, counts, observed oiling, behavior, and condition.