Seabird Research and Monitoring on Machias Seal Island RESEARCH PROTOCOLS Atlantic Laboratory of Avian Research University of New Brunswick Fredericton, N.B. Canada Edited by A.W. Diamond April 2013 1 Preface The Atlantic Laboratory of Avian Research (ALAR – then known as ACWERN), at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) began a long-term seabird monitoring and research program on Machias Seal Island (MSI), New Brunswick, in the spring of 1995. Initially, as part of the research for K.D. Amey’s M.Sc. at UNB (Amey 1998), field methods were employed that were acquired from a variety of sources, such as previous work experience on other seabird projects, personal communications with seabird authorities, colleagues in the Gulf of Maine Seabird Working Group (GOMSWG) and the literature. These methods have been refined subsequently to increase efficiency and minimize disturbance to the birds (Paquet and Diamond, 1998b). For the sake of year-to- year comparisons, it is important that a long-term monitoring program use the same methods each year (Diamond 1997). Therefore the primary purpose of this document is to provide details of the methods which have been developed for this specific field site and its seabirds. This document provides the research protocols that will be followed while collecting data on MSI. The protocols are subdivided according to species. This document also includes additional sections which deal with collecting environmental data and other research activities. Large sections of this document were incorporated from previous versions of the MSI protocol and future versions will likely draw heavily on this one. Although not listed here, numerous individuals have contributed over the years to establishing appropriate guidelines for the research on MSI and have spent many hours documenting proper methods. Their hard work is greatly appreciated. The current version is particularly indebted to extensive revisions by Travis Clarke, Kirsten Bowser, Kevin Kelly, and Lauren Scopel. 2 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................. 3 MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND .............................................................................................................................. 5 Island Background ................................................................................................................................. 5 RESEARCH PROTOCOLS ........................................................................................................................ 6 GENERAL RESEARCH PROCEDURES AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................................ 7 Demographic Studies ............................................................................................................................. 8 Productivity Studies ............................................................................................................................... 8 Feeding Studies ...................................................................................................................................... 8 THE ISLAND LAYOUT ................................................................................................................................. 9 Banding and Processing Puffins ...........................................................................................................12 Ageing Puffins ................................................................................................................................................ 15 Recording Banding and Measurement Data .................................................................................................... 16 Demography ..........................................................................................................................................19 Recording Demography/Re-sight Data ........................................................................................................... 20 Productivity ...........................................................................................................................................20 Recording Productivity Data ........................................................................................................................... 23 Chick Growth ........................................................................................................................................23 Ageing Chicks ................................................................................................................................................. 27 Scheduling Burrow Checks ............................................................................................................................. 28 Banding ........................................................................................................................................................... 28 Feeding .................................................................................................................................................29 Trapping Puffin Chicks .........................................................................................................................30 Abbreviations for Seabird Finder, Puffin Banding sheets and Puffin Re-sight sheets ..........................31 Band Type ....................................................................................................................................................... 31 Band Colour .................................................................................................................................................... 31 Special Features .............................................................................................................................................. 32 Band Wear ...................................................................................................................................................... 32 Age .................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Sex .................................................................................................................................................................. 33 Proximity ........................................................................................................................................................ 33 Trap Method.................................................................................................................................................... 33 Puffin Behaviours ........................................................................................................................................... 33 RAZORBILL ................................................................................................................................................34 Banding .................................................................................................................................................34 Razorbill Measurements and Banding Sheet ................................................................................................... 35 Demography ..........................................................................................................................................37 Productivity ...........................................................................................................................................38 Feeding .................................................................................................................................................40 Trapping Razorbill Chicks ....................................................................................................................41 COMMON MURRE ......................................................................................................................................42 Banding .................................................................................................................................................42 Egg Counts ............................................................................................................................................43 COMMON EIDER ........................................................................................................................................45 GULLS .......................................................................................................................................................47 Gull Count .............................................................................................................................................47 Gull Scaring ..........................................................................................................................................47 Trips to Gull Rock .................................................................................................................................48 LEACH’S STORM-PETREL ..........................................................................................................................49 Banding and Processing Petrels ...........................................................................................................49 ARCTIC AND COMMON TERN .....................................................................................................................50