Black Oystercatcher Conservation Mendocino County, CA Final Report on Reproductive Monitoring

Home , MacKerricher State Park, Russian Gulch State Park, Van Damme State Park

Audubon California Collaborative Grant California State Parks – Mendocino Coast Audubon Society – U. S. Bureau of Land Management

Photo by J. Ossello – Mendocino Headlands State Park

November 2015

Prepared by:

Joleen Ossello, Regional Chapter Coordinator and Independent Contractor at Coast Biological Research

Table of Contents

Project Goals and Background - page 3

Project Timeline and Accomplishments - pages 3-4

Observations - pages 4-5

Results – page 5

Expenditures - page 5

Recommendations - page 5

Acknowledgments – page 6

Appendix A – Tables 1-5 and Figure A – pages 7-11

Appendix B – Site Maps of Survey Areas – pages 12-22

Project Goals and Background

The Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani, is a year-round shorebird along the rocky intertidal west coast of the United States. Listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a species of focal concern, the long term goal of the Black Oystercatcher Conservation Project is to apply gainful knowledge to current conservation efforts that will preclude the need for an Environmental Species Act listing. Oystercatchers are associated with healthy, productive marine intertidal habitat, which prescribes them as an indicator species of intertidal marine health.

The goal of the 2015 Reproductive Monitoring Project is to continue recording baseline data beginning in 2012 on habitat status including: nest success and fledging success trends in Mendocino County, California. The regional chapter coordinator advises volunteers and state park personnel on guidelines, protocol, data collection and public outreach. Weekly surveys are performed May through September at pre-selected sites of high species density. The following data is provided to Audubon California’s Seabird Program Manager and will be used to assist the United States Fish & Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) range-wide working plan in identifying the best conservation practices needed to address threats and reverse declines.

The project is directed and funded by California Audubon’s Collaborative Chapter Grant Program presented to Mendocino Coast Audubon Society (MCAS). Collaborative in-kind support is provided by California State Parks Department of Natural Resources and public outreach is funded by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s California Coastal National Monument Program (CCNM). A Seabird Ecologist joined the project this year on behalf of Audubon CA to develop and guide the science behind this state-wide project. Monitoring data sheets and codes have been modified from previous years as well as the final report.

Included within the report is the second year reproductive monitoring results at the Ten Mile State Marine Reserve (TMSMR). This is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) designated by the California Fish and Game Commission in December of 2012. The project is an extension of the Chapter Collaborative Grant through California Audubon funded by the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation’s (RLFF) Oceans, Coasts, and Fisheries Program. The goal is to benefit the MPA’s Monitoring Enterprise (ME) efforts to collect baseline assessment data and procure long term monitoring of Vital Sign Species to detect and interpret changes that may occur following MPA designation.

Project Timeline and Accomplishments

April –regional chapter coordinator conducted a three-hour volunteer training workshop for thirteen attendees. Audubon CA Environmental Engineer provided ArcGIS maps for in-field use

May – twenty-one volunteers, two state park environmental science personnel, and regional chapter coordinator began weekly surveys of pair/nest identification along thirty-four kilometers of coastline at the following sites of high density: Ten Mile State Marine Reserve, MacKerricher State Park, Noyo Headlands, Caspar Headlands State Natural Reserve, Point Cabrillo State Historic Park & Preserve, Russian Gulch State Park, Mendocino Headlands State Park, Mendocino Bay Overlook, Van Damme State Park, and Navarro Point Preserve

June – regional chapter coordinator held mid-season progress meeting for surveyors and submitted progress report to Audubon California

September – 1,345 survey hours were completed with conclusive monitoring of seventy-three territorial pairs, dissemination of seventy-eight public outreach magnets and contact with approximately 343 visitors

October – end of season meeting conducted by regional coordinator and Seabird Ecologist, Laurie Harvey, reviewing; preliminary results, data collection methods, and project feedback by surveyors

November – submission of final report and invoice by regional chapter coordinator

Updates (Appendix A) – Survey Sites/Table 1 – Mendocino County Survey Areas/Table 2 – Mendocino County Survey Site Access Summary

 Total linear survey included 34.09 kilometers  Noyo Headlands (Noyo survey area=GP survey area) opened this summer by the City of Fort Bragg to provide public access to a portion of the California Coastal Trail. Five nesting pairs were last surveyed along this portion of the coastline in 2012. This year, two nesting pairs were monitored. Public access to the entire length of the site opens in 2016.  Caspar Headlands State Reserve was part of the initial 2011 population study; by land and boat, but was not surveyed 2012-2014. A small portion of the reserve is accessible to the public and three nesting pairs were monitored by newly recruited volunteers.  Ten Mile State Marine Reserve (mostly bordered by private ranch land owners) continues to be surveyed, however, a small portion of the property is only accessible by vehicle and due to dry pasture conditions, a portion of the survey including two potential nesting pairs was discontinued. In this same pasture is a nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons that are disturbed and agitated by human presence.

Observations (Appendix A) – Survey Sites/Table 3 – Mendocino County Survey Effort, Outreach and Disturbance

 Nesting areas on the west side of offshore rocks continue in difficulty to conclusively monitor  Calm wind and seas, clear skies, and higher temperatures prevailed throughout the season  The general public continues to access and disturb nesting territories at low tide, especially at high day use sites such as MacKerricher State Park and Russian Gulch State Park.  The opening of Noyo Headlands, adjacent to MacKerricher State Park’s Glass Beach, allowed for new public access along the coastline. The increase in visitation to the trail, the bluffs, and the rocky shoreline multiplied exponentially inviting walkers, joggers, dogs, and recreational divers. On one low- tide morning, the regional coordinator counted more than seventy-five divers along the trail, with many still in the water and on the rocks.

Observations (Appendix A) – Black Oystercatchers/Table 4 – Mendocino County Attempts and Fledges

 Eighty-one nesting territories were monitored in all for pair activity with the majority of nesting attempts observed in the same territories as those in 2014  Of the eighty-one territories, seventy-three were identified as active  Six 2014 territories had no pair activity; MEN15-LP1, MEN15-MH1, MEN15-MH4, MEN15-MH6, MEN15- MH7, MEN15-LR6  Eleven 2014 nesting sites had a territorial pair, but no nesting attempt observed; MEN15-LP5, MEN15- GB7, MEN15-RG4, MEN15-RG10, MEN15-MH10, MEN15-MB1, MEN15-SR5, MEN15-SR8, MEN15-LR2, MEN15-NP2, MEN15-TM11  Two 2014 nest sites had inconclusive results; MEN15-PC2 AND MEN15-LR5

 Nesting territories were shared with Western Gull, Pelagic Cormorant, and Canada Goose with several pairs successfully fledging young within Western Gull colonies  Territorial displays consistent throughout breeding season and after fledging  Direct disturbance to nesting pairs by potential predators included; Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Common Raven, Peregrine Falcon, and Western Gull  Continued disturbance persists to nesting pairs by humans on both land and sea at high day use areas

Results (Appendix A) – Nesting Attempts and Fledges/Table 5 and Figure A

 Seventy-three territorial pairs were identified and monitored  Ten of those seventy-three territories had potential nesting pairs, but status could not be determined, therefore excluded from analyses.  A total of 68 nest attempts (eggs laid), including 5 relay attempts, by 63 pairs were documented  Two of the five relay attempts successfully fledged young  A total of 42 chicks fledged (n= 68 nest attempts and n=63 PAIRS)  Overall Fledging Success was 0.63 young fledged/nest attempt and 0.68 young fledged/pair  39% of nesting pairs succeeded in fledging young and 61% of nesting pairs failed

Expenditures

The independent contractor acting as the said regional coordinator will furnish upon request to Audubon CA or any other agency involved disclosure of project expenditures for services rendered.

Recommendations

 Continue to monitor existing sites with anticipation of returning to survey the Noyo Headlands site along the California Coastal Trail in 2016.  While additional nesting activity exists at various areas along the coast, ie. Jug Handle State Reserve, I suggest reviewing each site for final data quality prior to 2016.  Continue to provide participants with survey area maps through California Audubon’s GIS Specialist of previously recorded nesting sites. This ideally allows the surveyor to plot new nests or pairs in their specific area. That map can then be interpreted by the regional coordinator.  Modify data sheets to include volunteer field time including travel  Use data sheets or summary sheets “in the field” and re-inforce using “all” codes supplied and appropriate for up to date reporting. Review this protocol with participants at beginning of season workshop and mid-season meeting.  Create or suggest platform for ongoing communications among group; email, Yahoo groups, etc.  Continue to provide the public with project information in hand and through social media  Collaborate with California State Parks to establish specific areas of sea bird nesting signage  Submit group project volunteer waiver form to California State Parks

Acknowledgments

Thank you Anna Weinstein, Seabird Program Coordinator for Audubon California, for your determination in making this study possible since our initial excitement in 2011. Thank you to Katie Krieger, Environmental Engineer for Audubon California and Liling Lee, Environmental Engineer Intern for Audubon California, for developing state of the art maps. Thank you to Laurie Harvey of Sutil Conservation Ecology for taking on the scientific analysis and project support. Thank you Mendocino Coast Audubon Volunteers for taking on this summer commitment year after year and ultimately being responsible for the success of this citizen science project. With the collaborative support of Mendocino Coast Audubon Society, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and California State Parks, Sonoma-Mendocino Sector, this project is a successful endeavor. Thank you private landowners for allowing access to your area of the coastline on a weekly basis throughout the summer; the Jackson-Grube Family of the Inn at Newport and Sally Ottoson of the Pacific Winery.

Appendix A Table 1 – Mendocino County Survey Areas

Report Table for Black Oystercatcher Reproductive Monitoring 2015 Mendocino County Survey Areas Linear Survey Survey Area Nest ID Prefixes Same as previous years? # Nest surveys Distance (km) no, excluded Bruhel Point; survey Ten Mile State Marine Reserve (SMR) MEN15-10/MEN15-TM between #1 and #11 only 19 8.04 MacKerricher State Park/MacKerricher SMCA, Laguna Point MEN15-1/MEN15-LP yes 17 2.21 MacKerricher State Park/MacKerricher SMCA, Glass Beach (north of Pudding Creek) MEN15-2/MEN15-GB yes 18 2.65 MacKerricher State Park/MacKerricher SMCA, Glass Beach (south of Pudding Creek) MEN15-2/MEN15-GB yes 15 no; north half of trail closed to public Noyo Headlands (former GP Mill) MEN15-NO access 15 1.63 Caspar Headlands State Natural no; chose publicly accessible area Reserve MEN15-CA from 2011 population study 13 0.65 Point Cabrillo State Historic Park/Point Cabrillo SMR MEN15-3/MEN15-PC yes 15 3.38 Russian Gulch State Park/ Russian Gulch SMCA MEN15-4/MEN15-RG yes 13 south-16 north 6.48 no; additionally added nest on both Mendocino Headlands State Park MEN15-5/MEN15-MH north and south end 17 4.18 Mendocino Bay Overlook MEN15-6/MEN15-MB yes 6 0.47 Van Damme State Park, Spring Ranch MEN15-7/MEN15-SR yes 19 1.94 Van Damme State Park/Van Damme no; northern nest not consistently SMCA, Little River Headlands MEN15-8/MEN15-LR accessible 22 1.00 Navarro Point Preserve and Scenic Trail MEN15-9/MEN15-NP yes 16 1.46 Total Linear Survey Distance in Mendocino County 34.09

Table 2 – Mendocino County Survey Site Access Summary

Report Table for Black Oystercatcher Reproductive Monitoring 2015 Mendocino County Survey Site Access Summary

Survey Area Access Summary Approximately 90% of the area is privately owned with no public visitation. The Inn at Newport Ranch opened this year as a high end resort. Additional public will now be accessing the area, however, Ten Mile State Marine Reserve (SMR) disturbance will only be felt by the nesting PEFA pair. Medium public visitation exists at Bruhel Point/Vista Point where rocky shoreline is accessible. Some locals still fish in this newly designated MPA. No nesting was observed in this area. It is an area where 15+ birds congregate.

Area of high public use year round and especially in summer months, accessible boardwalk, main MacKerricher State Park/MacKerricher tidepooling area, fisherman, divers, nature enthusiasts, and visitors climbs on and around any accessible SMCA, Laguna Point rocks

MacKerricher State Park/MacKerricher Area of high public use year round and especially summer months as this is the "Glass Beach" visitors SMCA, Glass Beach (north of Pudding come to from all over the world. Users include divers, fisherman, dog walkers, nature enthusiasts, and Creek) visitors climb on and over any accessible rocks

Area of high public use year round and especially summer months as this is the "Glass Beach" visitors MacKerricher State Park/MacKerricher come to from all over the world. Due to recently opened and adjacent Noyo Headlands visitation has SMCA, Glass Beach (south of Pudding exploded with Park Interpreters experiencing 100+ visitors per hour during high day use times. Users Creek) include divers, fisherman, dog walkers, nature enthusiasts, visitors are able to climb on and over any accessible rocks

Area of extremely high public use year round and especially summer months. Low tide days can experience 100+ divers in water and around rocks. Users include bicyclists, dog walkers, divers, Noyo Headlands (former GP Mill) fisherman, and nature enthusiasts from all walks of life. This is the first year the area is accessible to the public since the garbage dumps closed in the 1960's. Prior private ownership was patrolled by Georgia-Pacific Lumber Company and is now part of the California Coastal Trail. Access somewhat secluded from general public inside a gated community. Visitation fairly low on land, Caspar Headlands State Natural Reserve but higher in the water and on the rocks. Users include kayakers, divers, fisherman, dog walkers, nature enthusiasts. A large sea lion haul out is present. May experience commercial urchin fishery presence. Area of high public use year round and especially in the summer months. Most of the nesting areas are Point Cabrillo State Historic Park/Point not accessible by the public as climbing along the rocky ledges is discouraged by PCLK, the cooperating Cabrillo SMR association. Users include historical and natural history enthusiasts and dog walkers. This area has been closed to all fishing and diving since the 1990's and not easily accessible by kayakers. Area of high public use year round and especially in the summer months. Most of the nesting areas are Russian Gulch State Park/ Russian Gulch not accessible by the public from land, however, divers, fisherman, and kayakers consistenty access and SMCA most likely disturb nesting birds. Area of high public use year round, some rocky areas accessible. Users include fisherman, divers, nature Mendocino Headlands State Park enthusiasts, and dog walkers a big presence.

Area of low public use. Visitors mainly park to lunch at the overlooks. Some fisherman access on Mendocino Bay Overlook occasion.

Area of regular use by locals and divers. Accessible by kayaks and boats from Van Damme State Beach. Van Damme State Park, Spring Ranch May experience commercial urchin fishery presence.

Area of gated private community from land. Van Damme State Beach is an area of very high public use Van Damme State Park/Van Damme year round and especially in the summer months. A kayak concessionaire provides to group tours SMCA, Little River Headlands almost every day of the year and this the most popular boat launch area along the coast. Users include; divers, kayakers, fisherman, boaters. Area of low visitation, adjacent to HWY One in remote area. Steep cliffs not accessible. May Navarro Point Preserve and Scenic Trail experience commercial urchin fishery presence.

Table 3 – Mendocino County Survey Effort, Outreach, and Disturbance

Report Table for Black Oystercatcher Reproductive Monitoring 2015 Mendocino County Survey Effort, Outreach and Disturbance Outreach and Disturbance Reduction Land Owner/Mean Area Area Lead High Tide Line Total Surveyors Total Survey Hours Magnets People reached Dist. Reduction County of Mendocino, Discontinued two nesting areas due to Will Jackson of Inn at PEFA nest; Pacific Winery does not allow Ten Mile State Marine Reserve Joleen Ossello Newport, Sally 2 162.75 11 25 patrons to access rocky areas; MPA closed (SMR) Ottoson of Pacific Star to fishing and diving as of 2012. USFWS Winery/USFWS installed MPA info panel at Bruhel Point.

MacKerricher State Seabird identification panel located at the Park/MacKerricher SMCA, Joleen Ossello CSP/USFWS 3 153.00 15 160 most southern overlook along the Laguna Point boardwalk.

Bird identification panel in the process of MacKerricher State being completed and implemented; Park/MacKerricher SMCA, Glass Joleen Ossello CSP/USFWS 3 135.00 6 10 location unknown. Dogs on leash only Beach (north of Pudding Creek) signs in some locations.

Bird identification panel in the process of MacKerricher State being completed and implemented; Park/MacKerricher SMCA, Glass Joleen Ossello CSP/USFWS 2 75.00 5 18 location unknown. Dogs on leash only Beach (south of Pudding Creek) signs in some locations.

City of FB erected wayside panel of Noyo Headlands (former GP nesting sea birds incl. BLOY. High density Joleen Ossello City of Fort Bragg 2 75.00 10 30 Mill) visitation both from land and offshore. Spoke with divers and interested public.

Caspar Headlands State Natural Joleen Ossello CSP 3 52.00 3 15 None Reserve

BLOY magnets have traditionallly been Point Cabrillo State Historic Joleen Ossello CSP/USFWS 3 135.00 2 25 placed inside the marine exhibit for public Park/Point Cabrillo SMR to take.

Russian Gulch State Park/ Presence 1-2 times weekly by Park Joleen Ossello CSP/USFWS 2 175.00 4 7 Russian Gulch SMCA Interpreter providing public interface.

Mendocino Headlands State Presence 1-2 times weekly by Park Joleen Ossello CSP 2 102.00 6 15 Park Interpreter providing public interface. Main disturbance from CORA colony that survive and multiply from the Stanford Inn Mendocino Bay Overlook Joleen Ossello County of Mendocino 1 5.00 0 0 compost pile across the highway. The Inn has attempted over the years to curb the access to pile without positive results.

Van Damme State Park, Spring Joleen Ossello CSP 2 123.50 5 13 Dog on leash only sign at main entrance Ranch

Van Damme State Park/Van Kayak concessionaire is aware of breeding Damme SMCA, Little River Joleen Ossello CSP/USFWS 2 55.00 0 0 birds and conveys this to patrons. USFWS Headlands MPA info panel recently installed.

Navarro Point Preserve and Joleen Ossello Mendocino Land Trust 2 96.00 11 25 None Scenic Trail Totals 29 1344 78 343

Table 4 – Mendocino County Attempts and Fledges Total chicks fledged from each nesting attempt in the Mendocino BLOY monitoring areas. Numbers in bold denote totals for each area. Row Labels 1 2 Grand Total CASPAR HEADLANDS 0 0 MEN15-CA1 0 0 MEN15-CA2 0 0 MEN15-CA3 0 0 GLASS BEACH 3 2 5 MEN15-GB1 1 1 MEN15-GB2 0 0 MEN15-GB3 0 0 MEN15-GB3R 2 2 MEN15-GB4 1 1 MEN15-GB5 0 0 MEN15-GB5R 0 0 MEN15-GB6 0 0 MEN15-GB8 1 1 LAGUNA POINT 4 4 MEN15-LP2 0 0 MEN15-LP3 2 2 MEN15-LP4 0 0 MEN15-LP6 2 2 LITTLE RIVER HEADLANDS 2 2 MEN14-LR3 2 2 MEN15-LR1 0 0 MEN15-LR4 0 0 MENDOCINO HEADLANDS 8 8 MEN15-MH11 0 0 MEN15-MH12 2 2 MEN15-MH13 1 1 MEN15-MH2 1 1 MEN15-MH3 2 2 MEN15-MH5 1 1 MEN15-MH8 1 1 MEN15-MH9 0 0 NAVARRO POINT PRESERVE 1 1 MEN15-NP1 0 0 MEN15-NP3 1 1 NOYO HEADLANDS 1 1 MEN15-NO1 0 0 MEN15-NO5 1 1 POINT CABRILLO 8 0 8 MEN15-PC1 2 2 MEN15-PC2 0 0 MEN15-PC3 3 3 MEN15-PC4 0 0 MEN15-PC4R 0 0 MEN15-PC5 1 1 MEN15-PC6 1 1 MEN15-PC7 1 1 RUSSIAN GULCH 5 5 MEN15-RG1 0 0 MEN15-RG11 0 0 MEN15-RG12 0 0 MEN15-RG13 0 0 MEN15-RG2 0 0 MEN15-RG3 0 0 MEN15-RG5 2 2 MEN15-RG6 0 0 MEN15-RG7 1 1 MEN15-RG8 2 2 MEN15-RG9 0 0 SPRING RANCH 4 4 MEN15-SR1 0 0 MEN15-SR2 0 0 MEN15-SR3 2 2 MEN15-SR4 1 1 MEN15-SR6 0 0 MEN15-SR7 0 0 MEN15-SR9 1 1 TEN MILE 3 1 4 MEN15-TM1 0 0 MEN15-TM10 0 0 MEN15-TM12 2 2 MEN15-TM2 0 0 MEN15-TM3 1 1 MEN15-TM4 0 0 MEN15-TM5 0 0 MEN15-TM6 0 0 MEN15-TM6R 1 1 MEN15-TM9 0 0 MEN15-TM9R 0 0 Grand Total 39 3 42 10

Table 5 – Results of Black Oystercatcher Reproductive Success

Mendocino BLOY reproductive success in 2015 # 1st Nest Total Attempts = # # Relay Total Chicks Fledged Total Chicks Fledged Chicks Area pairs Attempts FS/Pair (n) from 1st attempts from 2nd attempts FS fledged CASPAR HEADLANDS 3 3 0 0.00 0 GLASS BEACH 7 2 7 3 2 0.71 5 LAGUNA POINT 4 4 4 1.00 4 LITTLE RIVER HEADLANDS 3 3 2 0.67 2 MENDOCINO BAY OVERLOOK 0 nd nd nd MENDOCINO HEADLANDS 8 8 8 1.00 8 NAVARRO POINT PRESERVE 2 2 1 0.50 1 NOYO HEADLANDS 2 2 1 0.50 1 POINT CABRILLO 7 1 6 8 0 1.33 8 RUSSIAN GULCH 11 11 5 0.45 5 SPRING RANCH 7 7 4 0.57 4 TEN MILE 9 2 9 3 1 0.44 4 Grand Total 63 5 62 39 3 0.68 42

Figure A. Total Black Oystercatcher young fledged in the 12 monitoring areas in Mendocino County in 2015. Numbers above bars denote sample sizes (number of pairs).

Appendix B