Bird and mammal observations aboard CalCOFI (1987-2015, ongoing), NMFS (1996-2015, ongoing) and CPR (2003-2006, completed) cruises.

The data included in this dataset are bird and mammal observations from aboard research cruises. There are six tables of data: a transect log and observation log pairing for each of the three types of cruises. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) cruises are conducted quarterly off the coast of southern and central California. National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) cruises are a part of the Rockfish Recruitment Survey off the coast of southern and central California. Data were also collected aboard North Pacific Continuous Plankton Recorder (NPCPR) cruises from June 2002 through May 2006. Observations of birds and mammals include both number and behavior in addition to temporal and spatial information recorded along the cruise transect. Data are collected in order to research the interdependent aspects of the marine environment, including the effects of natural and human based climate change, and the broad implications and influences of ocean currents, weather patterns, fishing practices and coastal development on marine food webs and ecosystem processes.

Species and behavior definitions for data codes are available in the "Supplemental Documents" section.