DOCSLIB.ORG

Reports 05–06 Another Record-Breaking Year for COASST

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

C OA S TA L O BSERVATION AND S E A B I R D S U RV E Y T EAM Breaking News Reports 05–06 Another record-breaking year for COASST. Is there Oregon North any other kind?!­ Nearly 350 volunteers spent 4900 Over the years we’ve had a number of suggested hours walking more than 9500 kilometers roundtrip; improvements to the COASST datasheet, but Kathleen just over 900 surveys were completed on 206 and Steve Confer from Oregon Mile 286 had the best beaches!­ And it doesn’t stop there—with the increase addition thus far: “We saw three people walking three in survey effort, COASSTers found more than 2800 llamas on the beach—no place to count llamas on the carcasses of 76 different species. We also added our survey :-)” Mary Holbert and John Burton might add— first Alaska beaches this year. no place to count goats, either—like “Plum” and “Legs,” A great year for COASST, translated into a bad their faithful Agate Beach survey partners. year for Cassin’s Auklets, Rhinoceros Auklets and Nearly as rare as a llama sighting, Jann Luesse, Lori Western Grebes. Your efforts during the winter and Sinnen and Pat Reynolds found a banded Black-footed early-spring surveys helped document these unusual Albatross in December on Oregon Mile 327. Both die-offs, as well as substantiate some of the usual this Black-foot and the one found by Sue Nattinger patterns. Oregon South It was as if prevailing winds had completely changed direction when Anne Caples, Mary Lou Letsom, Val Knox, Cindy Burns, and Diane and Dave Bilderback found a couple of land birds—a Winter Wren and a Wilson’s Warbler—on their September survey of Oregon Mile 75. Perching bird species compose quite a small percentage of the total birds found by COASST—less than 2% in any given year. Despite the low numbers, migratory songbirds are frequently blown off course over the ocean, and these exhausted individuals land on any available surface, as fishermen will testify. Exhausted southern Oregon surveyors were P & S MacRobbie looking for a place to land during the Rhinoceros Pat and Stu MacRobbie found these nets on Kalaloch South Auklet die-off in March this year. On a stretch of beach about .6 km long (~ mile), Bill and Jolene in February. They reported that “many would fill a full-size Poppe found 9 Rhinos in one survey of Tenmile pick-up,” and lamented that “one industry is sustainable— Creek beach (same with all the folks on Mile 75)!­ beach trash.” nov 6 nov Blaine Marine Pk Semiahmoo Marina Semiahmoo S Semiahmoo Spit Fox Point Birch Bay Cherry Point Point Hammond Sucia Dr N Sucia Dr S North Beach Gooseberry Pt Locust Ave N Crescent Beach AN UANS STRAIT S J Eastsound East Clark Pt Fishing Bay Shipwreck Pt 1 Blaine Marine Pk Seiku River W Dungeness Spit 2-3 SemiahmooGuemes Marina Island Dungeness Spit 1-2 Shannon Pt Hoko W Semiahmoo S Semiahmoo Spit FoxWe Pointstsound Hobuck Beach Middle Pt Dungeness Spit 0--1 Birch Bay Cherry Point Pearl Island West Obstruction Sooes N March Point Point Hammond Slip Pt Dungeness Bluffs SuciaCape Dr N McCurdySucia Dr SPt NorthSouth Beac hObstruction Sooes S Ediz Hook GooseberryGeorge Pt 2 Locust Ave N Yellow Island Crescent Beach Shi Shi Is View Whiskey Cr Tongue Pt Pt Wilson 1 Wedding Rocks Deep Creek Elwha Blyn Warm Beach N EastsoundSwifts Bay East Sand Point N Twin River Freshwater Bay Clark Pt Fort Flagler County Park North Fishing Bay S Swifts Bay Sand PShipwreckoint S Pt Lyre Creek Hollywood 1 GuemesFort IslandFlagler E County Park South Jackson Beach Norwegian Memorial Seiku River W Dungeness Spit 2-3 Indian Island S Picnic Pt Ennis Creek 3 Crabs Admiralty InletShannon Pt Spencer Spit Hole in the Wall Ellen CreekHoko W BagleDungenessy Creek Spit 1-2 Meadowdale Deadman Bay Westsound Hobuck Beach Rialto JettyMiddle Pt Dungeness Spit 0--1 Olympus MarchBrackett’s Point Landing Pearl Island West Obstruction FirstSooes Beac Nh DungenessJamestown Bluffs ORTH Second Beach GoodmanSlip Creek Pt Gray’s Marsh PCapeoint No Point McCurdyEdmonds Pt Marina False Bay Griffin Bay South Obstruction N Sooes S Port WilliamsEdiz N Hook George 2 Richmond Beach Yellow Island ThirShid BeacShi hIs View Whiskey Cr Tongue Pt GoldenPt Wilson Gardens Eagle Cove 1 Ruby Beach Beach 3 Port WilliamsElwha Blyn Discovery Pk N Indian Beach Wedding Rocks Deep Creek W Sequim Bay 3 Warm Beach Grandma’s Cove N Swifts Bay COAST Sand PointKalaloch N N Twin River DiscoveryFort Pk FlaglerS County Park NorthSouth Beach W Watmough Bay Kalaloch S BeachLyre 2 CreekFreshwaterTravis Bay Spit Alki S Swifts Bay Sand Point S Beach 1 Hollywood Indian IslandLincoln S Fort Pk Flagler E County Park South JacksonSout Beach Beachh E Norwegian Memorial EnnisThompson Creek 3 SpitCrabs Seahurst PkPicnic Pt Ellen Creek Diamond Pt N Admiralty4 Inlet SaltwaterMeadowdale St Pk Deadman Bay Spencer Spit Hole in the Wall Rialto Jetty Bagley Creek First Beach JamestoDiamondwn Pt E Olympus Dash PointBrackett’s St Pk Landing Raft River Gray’s Marsh Owens Beach Edmonds Marina False Bay SecondPoint Beac Grenvilleh GoodmanPacific Creek Beach Point No Point BrownsRichmond Pt NBeach Griffin Bay RooseveltThird Beac Beachh WalkerPort Williams County N Pk GoldenBrowns Gardens Pt S Eagle Cove RuCopalisby Beac Rocksh Beach 3 Port Williams Discovery Pk N Indian Beach W Sequim BayTolmie St Pk W Tolmie St3 Pk E Middle Waterway Grandma’s Cove Kalaloch N Discovery Pk S South BeachAla W Spit Watmough Bay Kalaloch S BeachS Taurus 2 Travis Spit Priest Pt Alki S Butterclam Beach 1 Lincoln Pk Coupeville Beach South Beach E Damon Point E Thompson Spit Seahurst Pk Marine View Drive Diamond Pt N 4 Saltwater St Pk Madrona N Jetty Westhaven Raft River Diamond Pt E PUGETDash Point St Pk Hastie Lake Rd S 2 English Boom Preserve OUTH Point Grenville Pacific Beach Owens Beach Browns Pt N S Roosevelt Beach Perego’s Lagoon Walker County Pk Browns Pt S Ebey’s Landing Long Beach N Copalis Rocks SOUND Lagoon Point OAST Oysterville N Tolmie St Pk W Tolmie St Pk E Middle Waterway Fort Casey C S Surfside N Surfside Ala Spit Country Club N Ocean Park N S Taurus Priest Pt Keystone Spit S S Butterclam Coupeville Beach Mabana MarineOcean View PDriveark S DamonKlipsan Point Beach E N Lagoon Westhaven MadronaSummerland N Jetty North Head Lighthouse N Hastie Lake Rd S 2 North Head Lighthouse S Pratt Bluff EnglishElger Bay Boom Preserve Perego’s Lagoon Long Beach N Ebey’s Landing Maxwelton Oysterville N Fort Casey PossessionLagoon Point Beach SORMI Surfside 327 N Surfside Country Club N Ocean Park N Keystone Spit S Ocean Park S Klipsan Beach N Lagoon Mabana Arcadia Beach Summerland ORMI 309 North Head Lighthouse N North Head Lighthouse S Pratt Bluff Elger Bay ORMI 300 Fay Bainbridge ManzanitaMaxwelton Possession Beach ORMI 327 ORMI 286 Pt White 3 NORTH Arcadia Beach Lynwood Ctr Ft Ward St Pk ORMI 309 OREGON ORMI 266 ORMI 300 Fay Bainbridge ORMI 255 Manzanita ORMI 254 Point Vashon S McCleod BeachPt White 3 ORMI 286 Beals Point Cove S KVI Beach ORMI 241 Lynwood4 Ctr Ft Ward St Pk Portage E ORMI 266 Point Robinson Jensen Point Sandy Shores ORMI 255 Spring Beach Docton N Agate Beach Burton Beach S ORMI 254 McCleod Beach Point Vashon S MagnoliaBeals Beach Point Cove S KVI Beach ORMI 241 4 ORMI 196 Portage E Point Robinson Jensen Point Sandy Shores ORMI 175 Spring Beach Docton N Agate Beach Burton Beach S ORMI 168 Magnolia Beach SOUTH ORMI 196 OREGON ORMI 175 Tenmile BeachORMI 168 Bastendorff Seven Devils Wayside The COASST map has grown. Bullards Beach We’ve moved on to page 3! This year’s ORMITenmile 96 ORMI Beach 99 Bastendorff map includes all beaches reporting from Seven Devils Wayside June 2005 through May 2006. For a Bullards Beach ORMI 96 ORMI 99 more detailed look at the San Juans and Puget Sound island communities, see insets 1-4. 2 host Northwest Cable News on a July survey of North Jetty. As luck would have it, they came across a real stumper, something even COASST had never seen before—a South Polar Skua. SOUTHEAST North Coast ALASKA Great Skate!­ A host of non-feathered finds washed ashore on North Coast beaches this year, starting with Egg Island the longnose skate Sharon Gearhart found on Roosevelt BERING Beach last August, a black bear skin found by Sharon SEA in April, and a raccoon found by Sasha Sicks on Sooes North in September. An equally surprising find showed up in October South Bulldog Cove on Pacific Beach—a juvenile gull that apparently didn’t ALEUTIAN Pederson Peninsula know its limits when it attempted to chow down a ISLANDS North Verdant Cove Northwestern Spit humongous rockfish. Ben and Flora Watson suspect it wasn’t advised about the “never eat anything bigger GULF OF than your head” rule. ALASKA There was no absence of birds on Hobuck Beach this year—Mary Sue Brancato and Barbara Blackie found 48 and Coleman Byrnes on Shi Shi Beach near Neah birds, not counting refinds. Hats off to Heidi Pedersen, Bay, Washington, in August were originally banded on Tina and Rodney Lipman and Rosie Zwanziger who Tern Island, as part of the Hawaiian National Wildlife helped Barb and Mary Sue find a Parakeet Auklet in Refuge’s ongoing program to track the albatross February—the third one found on the outer coast that populations of the North Pacific. month. COASST wasn’t the only one seeing Parakeet South Coast Among several major storms that brought huge waves rolling into Westport last February, Craig Zora stumbled upon COASST’s first Parakeet Auklets—two in one survey on Westhaven.
Recommended publications
  • In the Native Plant Garden

    In the Native Plant Garden

    The Mountaineers: Seattle Branch Naturalists Newsletter March 2019 Naturalists ONE STEP AT A TIME Contents • In the Native Plant Garden .......1 In the Native Plant Garden • February Hikes .............................2 The native plant garden is now enjoying much needed care and rejuvenation thanks to the Washington Native Plant Society local chapter, who are providing • Upcoming Hikes ...........................5 leadership in the garden in terms of care, planting and a vision of the garden. With leadership from George Macomber. The garden is benefitting from their • Lecture Series ..............................5 experience in native plant care and propagation. • Native Plant Society ...................6 The Native Plant Society is having work parties and we will be invited to • Odds and Ends .............................7 participate. Their hand is already showing in the careful pruning, cleaning and clearing and many of our plantings will benefit. Check out the garden. It is just • Photos ............................................11 by the climbing rocks on the north end of the Seattle clubhouse. • Intro to Natural World ...............12 • Contact Info .................................13 JOIN US ON: Facebook Flickr Red flowering current Pruning work at the garden 1 The Mountaineers: Seattle Branch Naturalists Newsletter February Naturalist Hikes MOSS WORKSHOP FIELD TRIP – REDMOND WATER PRESERVE Mossbacks OLD SAUK RIVER TRAIL – FEB 2 As we discovered this is arguably the best moss laden trail we’ve ever been on. It was covered with
  • Wood Warblers of North America Kitsap Great Give Www

    Wood Warblers of North America Kitsap Great Give Www

    APRIL 2019 Kitsap Audubon Society – Since 1972 KingfisherTHE April 11, 2019, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Poulsbo Library Wood Warblers of North America Photographer Robert Howson Our presenter, will focus on wood warblers from his Robert Howson, photographic collection of more than developed an early 500 North American, tropical and interest in birds while European bird species. still in grade school. The wood-warblers of North This interest continued America present a challenge to the throughout high school birders across our country. Even and into college where though they are a colorful group, he graduated with a identification can be a challenge. Not triple major in biology, only do certain members of the group history, and religion. make themselves difficult to see as He earned a Masters in they flit among the highest branches of history and worked on our tallest trees, but especially in fall, a Doctorate in religious their plumages can be confusing. They education. He has make up one of our largest families, taught on various levels, outnumbering plovers and sandpipers including elementary, combined. The same is true if you secondary, and college combine gulls and terns into a single ranks. Most recently he unit. Warbler species even outnumber was the chairman of the the total number of sparrow species history department at Townsend’s Warbler by found on our continent. We invite you Cedar Park Christian School in Bothell, Robert Howson. to attend a photographic presentation Washington. which deals with this delightful family. He and his wife Carolyn have Bring your identification skill along lived in Kirkland for the last 40 years.
  • PSE's Avian Protection Program Special Thanks

    PSE's Avian Protection Program Special Thanks

    FEBRUARY, 2020 Kitsap Audubon Society – Since 1972 KingfisherTHE February 13, 2020, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Poulsbo Library PSE’s Avian Protection Program For 40 years, Puget Sound Energy has worked to preserve bird habitats and prevent eagles, osprey, hawks, trumpeter swans and other birds from coming into contact with power lines and utility equipment. Puget Sound Energy’s Avian Protection Program promotes a consistent avian-safe system across our eight-county electric service area. While it is not possible to prevent all injurious contact between birds and electric equipment, PSE makes significant investments to reduce the number of incidents. For over 45 years Mel Walters has helped keep birds safe from man-made structures and electrical facilities. As an environmental biologist and consultant he provides expertise in wildlife and wetland The Kingfisher is printed on recycled mitigation, endangered species, paper by Blue Sky Printing and osprey habitat, erosion control mailed by Olympic Presort, both and avian protection. family-owned local businesses. Special thanks . to our Bainbridge Island members and friends for generously designating Kitsap Audubon for a portion of their ONE CALL FOR ALL contributions. Is it okay to feed birds? - Gene Bullock The January snows were of bird seed every year; and a reminder that when we more people watch birds than encourage birds to depend on watch football, baseball and all us for food, we have a special other public sporting events responsibility to them when combined. Some 18 million of snow, ice and sub-freezing us travel to watch birds. Bird temperatures make food harder Watching and related businesses to find.
  • Shoreline Inventory and Characterization 2010

    Shoreline Inventory and Characterization 2010

    KITSAP COUNTY FINAL DRAFT SHORELINE INVENTORY AND CHARACTERIZATION Prepared for and by Kitsap County Department of Community Development, Environmental Programs 614 Division St. Port Orchard, WA 98366 FINAL DRAFT: NOVEMBER 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................................... i 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 SUMMARY OF REPORT CONTENTS AND REFERENCES ........................................... 1 1.1.1 Background ................................................................................................... 1 1.1.2 Characterization Areas .................................................................................. 1 1.1.2.1 Marine Shoreline Summaries (by drift cell) .................................. 2 1.1.2.2 Freshwater Shoreline Summaries (by water body) ...................... 7 1.1.3 1. Recommendations and Management Options ........................................ 11 1.1.4 Public Access and Shoreline Use Analysis ................................................. 11 1.1.5 Characterization Data Gaps ........................................................................ 12 1.1.6 Appendices ................................................................................................. 12 1.2 GLOSSARY and ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................
  • Breeding Biology of the Horned Puffin on St. Lawrence Island, Bering Sea, with Zoogeographical Notes on the North Pacific Puffins I

    Breeding Biology of the Horned Puffin on St. Lawrence Island, Bering Sea, with Zoogeographical Notes on the North Pacific Puffins I

    Pacific Science (1973), Vol. 27, No.2, p. 99-119 Printed in Great Britain Breeding Biology of the Horned Puffin on St. Lawrence Island, Bering Sea, with Zoogeographical Notes on the North Pacific Puffins I SPENCER G. SEALY' THE HORNED PUFFIN (Fratercula corniculata) is one of six species ofalcids which regularly nest on Sevuokuk Mountain, 3 km east of Gambell on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska (Fig. 1). During the summers of 1966 and 1967, I conducted on this island a study of the breeding ecology of three of these species, the Parakeet Auklet (Cyc/orrf?ynchuspsittacula), Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella), and Least Auklet (A. pusilla) (see Sealy, 1968). During these summers some ob­ servations on the breeding biology of the Horn­ ed Puffin were obtained and are reported here. The only life history study ofthis species which spans the entire breeding season is that of Swartz (1966) in the Cape Thompson region, Alaska, some 560 km north of St. Lawrence Island (Fig. 2). Numerous studies of the biology of the con­ generic Common Puffin (Fratercula arctica) of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans are available (e.g., Lockley, 1953; Be1opol'skii, 1957; Uspen­ ski, 1958; Myrberget, 1959, 1961, 1962; Kartas­ chew, 1960; Nettleship, 1972; and others) and some of these will be utilized here for compara­ tive purposes. When available, comparative ob­ servations on the breeding biology of the other Pacific puffins, the Rhinoceros Auklet (Ceror­ hinca monocerata), which is actually a puffin (Storer, 1945), and the Tufted Puffin (Lunda cirrhata) will also be included. DISTRIBUTION The breeding distribution of the Horned Puffin has been mapped recently by Udvardy (1963: 105).
  • PICES-2012 Program and Abstracts

    PICES-2012 Program and Abstracts

    PICES-2012 Program & Abstracts Image: “The Itsukushima Shrine from the sea”, November 25, 2010, watercolour, by Satoshi Arima, retiree of the National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Hiroshima, Japan. Permission to reproduce this artwork was kindly granted by Mr. Arima. Prepared and published by: North Pacific Marine Science Organization PICES Secretariat P.O. Box 6000 Sidney, BC PICES-2012 V8L 4B2 Canada Tel: 1-250-363-6366 Fax: 1-250-363-6827 Program and Abstracts E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.pices.int October 12-21, 2012 Hiroshima, Japan PICES-2012 Effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors in the North Pacific ecosystems: Scientific challenges and possible solutions North Pacific Marine Science Organization October 12-21, 2012 Hiroshima, Japan Table of Contents Notes for Guidance � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �vi International Conference Center Floor Plan � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � vii Meeting Timetable � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �viii Map of the International Conference Center Area � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � xii Keynote Lecture � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1 Schedules and Abstracts S1: Science Board Symposium Effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors in
  • SHOREBIRDS (Charadriiformes*) CARE MANUAL *Does Not Include Alcidae

    SHOREBIRDS (Charadriiformes*) CARE MANUAL *Does Not Include Alcidae

    SHOREBIRDS (Charadriiformes*) CARE MANUAL *Does not include Alcidae CREATED BY AZA CHARADRIIFORMES TAXON ADVISORY GROUP IN ASSOCIATION WITH AZA ANIMAL WELFARE COMMITTEE Shorebirds (Charadriiformes) Care Manual Shorebirds (Charadriiformes) Care Manual Published by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in association with the AZA Animal Welfare Committee Formal Citation: AZA Charadriiformes Taxon Advisory Group. (2014). Shorebirds (Charadriiformes) Care Manual. Silver Spring, MD: Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Original Completion Date: October 2013 Authors and Significant Contributors: Aimee Greenebaum: AZA Charadriiformes TAG Vice Chair, Monterey Bay Aquarium, USA Alex Waier: Milwaukee County Zoo, USA Carol Hendrickson: Birmingham Zoo, USA Cindy Pinger: AZA Charadriiformes TAG Chair, Birmingham Zoo, USA CJ McCarty: Oregon Coast Aquarium, USA Heidi Cline: Alaska SeaLife Center, USA Jamie Ries: Central Park Zoo, USA Joe Barkowski: Sedgwick County Zoo, USA Kim Wanders: Monterey Bay Aquarium, USA Mary Carlson: Charadriiformes Program Advisor, Seattle Aquarium, USA Sara Perry: Seattle Aquarium, USA Sara Crook-Martin: Buttonwood Park Zoo, USA Shana R. Lavin, Ph.D.,Wildlife Nutrition Fellow University of Florida, Dept. of Animal Sciences , Walt Disney World Animal Programs Dr. Stephanie McCain: AZA Charadriiformes TAG Veterinarian Advisor, DVM, Birmingham Zoo, USA Phil King: Assiniboine Park Zoo, Canada Reviewers: Dr. Mike Murray (Monterey Bay Aquarium, USA) John C. Anderson (Seattle Aquarium volunteer) Kristina Neuman (Point Blue Conservation Science) Sarah Saunders (Conservation Biology Graduate Program,University of Minnesota) AZA Staff Editors: Maya Seaman, MS, Animal Care Manual Editing Consultant Candice Dorsey, PhD, Director of Animal Programs Debborah Luke, PhD, Vice President, Conservation & Science Cover Photo Credits: Jeff Pribble Disclaimer: This manual presents a compilation of knowledge provided by recognized animal experts based on the current science, practice, and technology of animal management.
  • Submarine Foraging Behavior of Alcids in an Artificial Environment

    Submarine Foraging Behavior of Alcids in an Artificial Environment

    Zoo Biology 6:373-378 (1987) Submarine Foraging Behavior of Alcids in an Artificial Environment David Cameron Duffy, Frank S. Todd, and W.R. Siegfried Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa (D.C.D., WR.S.); Hubbs Sea World Research Institute, San Diego, California (F.S. T.) We used an artificial environment at Sea World, Inc, San Diego, to study under­ water foraging behavior of a1cids. Larger birds dove longer and had greater wing­ beat frequencies. The pigeon guillemot Cepphus columba was the only species to use both feet and wings for propulsion; all others used just wings. Aggressive interactions underwater were common. Competition among alcids in the wild may occur primarily underwater, and artificial environments may be the best means to study such interactions. Key words: captivity, competition, diving, foraging INTRODUCTION The study of foraging by seabirds in their natural environments is extremely difficult as they can rarely be observed directly below the surface. Inferences con­ cerning foraging, based on surface observations, may lead to ambiguous results. For example, Cody [1973] concluded that differences in foraging range, rather than diet or foraging depth, facilitated partitioning of food resources between species in alcid communities off the Olympic Peninsula, Washington, and off Iceland. Bedard [1976] questioned Cody's findings but did not present alternative explanations for possible partitioning of resources. We suggest that, because alcids normally capture prey below the surface of the sea [Ashmole, 1971; Bradstreet and Brown, 1985], studies of the birds' submarine foraging behavior are needed. We report here an initial study of foraging by seven alcid species kept at Sea World, Inc, San Diego, in an artificial enclosure that attempts to simulate their natural environment.
  • Marine Ecology Progress Series 382:211

    Marine Ecology Progress Series 382:211

    Vol. 382: 211–219, 2009 MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Published April 30 doi: 10.3354/meps07997 Mar Ecol Prog Ser Seabird seasonal trophodynamics: isotopic patterns in a community of Pacific alcids W. E. Davies1, 3, J. M. Hipfner1, K. A. Hobson2, R. C. Ydenberg1,* 1Centre for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Blvd., Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada 2Environment Canada, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada 3Present address: Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada ABSTRACT: We measured δ15N and δ13C values in the blood of breeding adults and nestlings of 5 species of alcids at Triangle Island, British Columbia, to estimate the extent to which these seabirds alter their foraging ecology across successive breeding stages. Considerable intraspecific (stage-to- stage) and interspecific variation was found. Two species—common murre Uria aalge and pigeon guillemot Cepphus columba—fed consistently at high trophic levels (i.e. diets of fish) in inshore or benthically linked habitats. The foraging ecology of 3 others—Cassin’s auklet Ptychoramphus aleu- ticus, rhinoceros auklet Cerorhinca monocerata and tufted puffin Fratercula cirrhata—was more variable. Tufted puffins exhibited especially dramatic trophic and habitat shifts between early and late-season diets. With the exception of tufted puffin, the diet of provisioning adults differed from that fed to their nestlings. Trophic level of the community as a whole increased as the season progressed due to the combination of trophic shifting by rhinoceros auklets and tufted puffins, and earlier breed- ing by zooplanktivorous Cassin’s auklets than by piscivorous murres and guillemots.
  • Adjustment of Provisioning According to Nestling Age and Mass

    Adjustment of Provisioning According to Nestling Age and Mass

    Flexible effort in breeding seabirds: adjustment of provisioning according to nestling age and mass Douglas F. Bertram, Clive V.J. Welham, and Ronald C. Ydenberg Abstract: We examined whether rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocarata) parents are able to adjust their provisioning effort in response to chick demand. A fostering experiment in which nestlings of different ages and masses were exchanged between burrows was employed to examine parental provisioning effort before and after the exchange. Daily mass increments of the nestlings were used to estimate the amount fed on the previous night, using a model based on data from captive chicks raised on a controlled diet. Our results demonstrate that rhinoceros auklet parents somehow assess and respond to the needs of their chicks by delivering more to older and larger fostered chicks and less to younger and smaller fostered chicks. Our results confirm and extend a growing body of information which shows that seabird parents can adjust provisioning effort when feeding young. We highlight how studies to date have differentially manipulated nestling age and hunger, thus complicating a comparative approach. Testing for interspecific differences in parental ability to res'pond to chick demands will require studies that employ comparable types of manipulations for a variety of seabird species. RCsumC : Nous avons tent6 d'Ctablir si, chez le Macareux rhinoceros (Cerorhinca monocarata), les parents sont capables d'ajuster leurs efforts d'approvisionnement de nourriture aux exigences de leurs oisillons. Nous avons procCdC B un Clevage expkrimental dans lequel des oisillons de masses et d'8ges divers ont CtC interchangks d'un terrier B l'autre et nous avons mesurC les efforts d'approvisionnement des parents avant et aprks 1'Cchange.
  • Comparative Reproductive Ecology of the Auks (Family Alcidae) with Emphasis on the Marbled Murrelet

    Comparative Reproductive Ecology of the Auks (Family Alcidae) with Emphasis on the Marbled Murrelet

    Chapter 3 Comparative Reproductive Ecology of the Auks (Family Alcidae) with Emphasis on the Marbled Murrelet Toni L. De Santo1, 2 S. Kim Nelson1 Abstract: Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) are breed on the Farallon Islands in the Pacific Ocean (Common comparable to most alcids with respect to many features of their Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Cassin’s Auklet, Rhinoceros Auklet, reproductive ecology. Most of the 22 species of alcids are colonial and Tufted Puffin) are presented by Ainley (1990), Ainley in their nesting habits, most exhibit breeding site, nest site, and and others (1990a, b, c) and Boekelheide and others (1990). mate fidelity, over half lay one egg clutches, and all share duties Four inshore fish feeding alcids of the northern Pacific Ocean of incubation and chick rearing with their mates. Most alcids nest on rocky substrates, in earthen burrows, or in holes in sand, (Kittlitz’s Murrelet, Pigeon Guillemot, Spectacled Guillemot, around logs, or roots. Marbled Murrelets are unique in choice of and Marbled Murrelet) are reviewed by Ewins and others nesting habitat. In the northern part of their range, they nest on (1993) (also see Marshall 1988a for a review of the Marbled rocky substrate; elsewhere, they nest in the upper canopy of coastal Murrelet). The Ancient Murrelet, another inhabitant of the coniferous forest trees, sometimes in what appear to be loose northern Pacific Ocean, has been reviewed by Gaston (1992). aggregations. Marbled Murrelet young are semi-precocial as are Alcids that nest in small, loosely-aggregated colonies, as most alcids, yet they hatch from relatively large eggs (relative to isolated pairs, or in areas less accessible to researchers, have adult body size) which are nearly as large as those of the precocial not been well studied.
  • The Curious Case of the Puffin Face by Morgan Barnes When Most Birds

    The Curious Case of the Puffin Face by Morgan Barnes When Most Birds

    The Curious Case of the Puffin Face By Morgan Barnes When most birds hear the word “winter”, they think of migrating several thousand miles to the warm tropics, or finding a nice, well-stocked bird feeder...but not the puffin. For these birds, winter means something a little different: part of their face is going to fall off! While that may sound concerning, it’s actually a normal part of the puffin’s life history. Before we delve into how and why these birds lose part of their face, let’s learn a bit An adult Horned Puffin in breeding plumage; inset: more about puffins. adult Horned Puffin after shedding bill, and losing breeding plumage. There are four species of puffin: the Photo credit: Morgan Barnes Atlantic Puffin, Horned Puffin, Tufted Puffin, and the Rhinoceros Auklet. These birds live a double life, spending their summers nesting on rocky cliffs and islands, and spending their winters foraging out to sea. Puffins are round, stocky birds, often described as “flying footballs”. During spring and summer, puffins display their characteristic brightly colored bills, with oranges, yellows and reds. Their feathers, called plumage, are a handsome solid black, with varying amounts of white plumage that differs between species. Unlike many birds, both male and female puffins show this combination of brightly colored bill and contrasting body plumage. When puffins return from the open ocean in spring, their colorful bills can only mean one thing: it’s time to settle down and raise a chick. After a swim together, a pair of puffins will touch beaks.