Biology and Conservation of the Common Murre in California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia Volume 1: Natural History and Population Trends
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Biology and Conservation of the Common Murre in California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia Volume 1: Natural History and Population Trends Information and Technology Report USGS/BRD/ITR–2000-0012 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Geological Survey Technical Report Series The Biological Resources Division publishes scientific and technical articles and reports resulting from the research performed by our scientists and partners. These articles appear in professional journals around the world. Reports are published in two report series: Biological Science Reports and Information and Technology Reports. Series Descriptions Biological Science Reports ISSN 1081-292X Information and Technology Reports ISSN 1081-2911 This series records the significant findings resulting from These reports are intended for publication of book-length sponsored and co-sponsored research programs. They may monographs; synthesis documents; compilations of conference include extensive data or theoretical analyses. Papers in this and workshop papers; important planning and reference series are held to the same peer-review and high quality standards materials such as strategic plans, standard operating procedures, as their journal counterparts. protocols, handbooks, and manuals; and data compilations such as tables and bibliographies. Papers in this series are held to the same peer-review and high quality standards as their journal counterparts. Front cover photograph: Common murre (Uria aalge californica) in breeding plumage at the South Farallon Islands, California (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Farallon National Wildlife Refuge). Back cover photograph: Parent-chick pair of common murres (Uria aalge californica) at sea just minutes after departing from the colony at Three Arch Rocks, Oregon, 11 July 1989 (Photo by R. W. Lowe). Suggested citation: Manuwal, D. A., H. R. Carter, T. S. Zimmerman, and D. L. Orthmeyer, Editors. 2001. Biology and conservation of the common murre in California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Volume 1: Natural history and population trends. U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Information and Technology Report USGS/BRD/ITR– 2000-0012, Washington, D.C. 132 pp. Additional copies of this report may be obtained from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161 (1-800-553-6847 or 703-487-4650). Also available to registered users from the Defense Technical Information Center, Attn: Help Desk, 8725 Kingman Road, Suite 0944, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6218 (1-800-225-3842 or 703-767-9050). Information and Technology Report 2000-0012 January 2002 Biology and Conservation of the Common Murre in California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia Volume 1: Natural History and Population Trends Editors David A. Manuwal1, Harry R. Carter2, Tara S. Zimmerman3, and Dennis L Orthmeyer4 1 University of Washington, College of Forest Resources, Wildlife Science Group Seattle, Washington 98195 2 Humboldt State University, Department of Wildlife, Arcata, California 95521 3 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Birds, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97232 4 U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 6924 Tremont Road, Dixon, California 95620 U.S. Department of the Interior U. S. Geological Survey Washington, D. C. 20240 Contents Page Contents ................................................................................................................................................................................ iii Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1. Natural history of the common murre (Uria aalge californica) ............................................................... 1 Abstract .................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Methods .................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Overview of the biology of the common murre ............................................................................................................... 4 Reproductive ecology .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Breeding habitat .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Seasonal and daily colony attendance patterns .................................................................................................... 5 Timing of breeding ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Egg laying .................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Incubation and hatching ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Chick rearing and colony departure ........................................................................................................................ 8 Demography ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Adult and subadult survival ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Proportion of adults that breed ................................................................................................................................. 9 Hatching success ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Fledging success .......................................................................................................................................................10 Breeding success .......................................................................................................................................................12 At-sea chick rearing ............................................................................................................................................................13 Philopatry, recruitment, and intercolony movements ..................................................................................................14 Colony formation and irregular attendance ...................................................................................................................14 Predators ...............................................................................................................................................................................15 Foraging ecology ................................................................................................................................................................16 Diet ........................................................................................................................................................................................17 At-sea distributions.............................................................................................................................................................18 California ....................................................................................................................................................................18 Oregon .........................................................................................................................................................................19 Washington ................................................................................................................................................................19 British Columbia .......................................................................................................................................................19 Movements ...........................................................................................................................................................................20 Acknowledgments ..............................................................................................................................................................22 Literature cited ....................................................................................................................................................................22 Additional references .........................................................................................................................................................30 Unpublished data and personal communications .........................................................................................................32 Chapter 2. Population trends of the common murre (Uria aalge californica) ........................................................33