Abstract
We collected data on the distribution and abundance of seabirds on twenty-two research cruises over the shelf waters of the eastern United States between August 2008 and February 2013. We had two primary research objectives. The first of these was to identify “hotspots” of seabird abundance, where hotspots are intended to represent those areas characterized by elevated abundance of seabirds that persist through time, either seasonally or interannually. Our second objective was to contrast estimates of abundance made by us in 2008 to 2012 to those made by surveys of similar areas during 1975 to 1990 by the Manomet Bird Observatory. Having this knowledge in hand will allow us to determine changes in abundances and have greater ability to determine the factors influencing these changes--such as changing climates, changing prey bases, or the development of wind facilities.