National Park Service Waterbirds of Alcatraz U. S. Department of Interior Golden Gate National Recreation Area

The Birds Return Alcatraz takes its name from the word, alcatraces, or seabirds, from the early Spanish explorers. Generations of seabirds occupied the island until it became a military fortress in the 1850’s. For the next hundred years, hardly any birds remained as the human activities of the fortress, military , and then federal penitentiary kept them away. Even The Birdman of Alcatraz, Robert Stroud, didn’t have any birds here. When the cellhouse closed in 1963, the lack of human disturbance and land predators, as well as island topography and location, led to the return of the birds. Today, this National Historic Landmark is a haven for over 5,000 nesting birds.

Creating Their Niche When the U.S. Army dynamited the island to build the fortress, the resulting steep cliffs and tide pools gradually became wildlife habitat. Garden plants that had been tended during the federal penitentiary years grew into dense thickets of cover for sensitive birds. Nests are even tucked within the rubble and concrete pipes left over from the era when correctional officers and their

families lived here. A diversity of wildlife Bancroft Library, Eadweard Muybridge Collection finds their niche within these man-made U.S. Army soldiers, Alcatraz 1869 habitats.

Birds of Warning Alcatraz waterbirds feed nearby when alert us to impacts to the ecosystem their chicks are helpless and growing that may affect our health as well. On fast. Most dive in the bay or wade along Alcatraz, National Park Service and PRBO shorelines and tide pools. But these birds Conservation Science staff, along with face increasing threats as less fresh water many dedicated volunteers, monitor the and more pollution, sewage, and shipping birds. Their scientific reporting and care traffic enters this estuary. make them the real bird men and women Researchers studying nesting birds can of Alcatraz! Oiled bird from spill

What Can You Do? • Keep oil, soaps, and other toxic • Volunteer! Be part of one of the largest substances out of storm drains. and most diverse volunteer programs in the National Park System. Call • Pick up litter before it gets carried into (415) 561-4755 or visit www.nps.gov. the water. • Buy recycled products and find This brochure was produced with the alternatives to plastic, such as filling generous support of the Golden Gate your own water bottles. National Parks Conservancy. To become • Eat sustainable fish and seafood. a member, call (415) 4R-PARKS or visit www.parksconservancy.org. • Make a donation to a conservation organization. Biologist observes nesting colony

(rev. 2/2010) Bay Water Tower

Recreation Main Road Yard

B Dock F Cellhouse A E

Pigeon Guillemots D C Brandt’s Cormorants Parade Ground Pelagic Cormorants

California Gulls

Western Gulls

Black-crowned Night Herons

Snowy Egrets

Nesting Waterbirds February–September Some areas of the island are closed seasonally because many birds are highly sensitive to disturbance and will abandon their nests, eggs, and chicks when people approach them. Other areas are closed year-round for your safety.

A “Birds of Water, Birds of D Black-crowned Shoo Fly Time on Warning” Exhibit Alcatraz! Night-Herons Starting in mid-August, Check out this fascinating Using binoculars you thousands of cormorant exhibit to learn more about can look down on the flies hatch from the bird the waterbirds of Alcatraz, rubble and shrubs colonies and swarm their connection to the to catch a glimpse of the sheltered dock history of the island—and these striking herons crowned by black area. Although a pesky to us. Children can enjoy a caps with delicate white plumes. These nuisance for visitors, surprising sneak-peak at the baby chicks shy creatures are extremely vulnerable to these flies do not bite. year-round! human disturbance.

B Pigeon Guillemots E Snowy Egrets These cheery black These lovely white seabirds sport white wing wading birds with patches easily seen near elegant plumes, the dock. Their comically or aigrette, were bright red legs, feet, and hunted to near mouths counter the fog and dark bay extinction for feathers on ladies’ hats. waters. Old drainage pipes along the This fueled the formation of the island’s edge are now nesting habitat, as Society (1886) and inspired the protection pigeon guillemots seek safe crevices to lay of many bird species. The egrets’ gargling their eggs and raise their chicks. squawks may surprise you on your visit.

C Western Gulls F Brandt’s Cormorants Where once the army Like most seabirds, practiced their drills, Brandt’s cormorants now gulls ply their spend their lives on the defensive skills as they open ocean, returning return each February in the spring to nest on to claim their territory and raise their islands and rocky coasts. young. Male gulls court the females In breeding plumage, the cormorants with gifts of regurgitated fish, becoming have brilliant blue throat patches that the lifelong mates and taking turns caring male shows off in a “sky pointing” display. Photos courtesy of PRBO for eggs and chicks. Alcatraz offers a rare Conservation Science, chance to witness a seabird nursery in except where noted. www.prbo.org action.

TM EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA www.nps.gov/goga