ANNUAL REPORT NOAA OCSEAP Contract No. 03-6-022-35210 Research Unit No. 460 ECOLOGICAL STUDIES OF COLONIAL SEABIRDS AT CAPE THOMPSON AND CAPE LISBURNE, ALASKA Principal Investigators Alan M. Springer David G. Roseneau Renewable Resources Consulting Services, Ltd. 3529 College Road Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 839 i CONTENTS I. Summary of objectives, conclusions and implications with respect to OCS oil and gas development 1 II. Introduction -> A. General nature and scope of study 3 B. Specific objectives 3 c. Relevance to problems of petroleum development 3 III. Current state of knowledge 9 Iv. Study area 9 v. Sources, methods and rationale of data collection A. Census 16 B. Phenology of breedirrgacttvities 18 c. Food habits 18 VI. Results A. Murres 19 B. Black-legged Kittiwakes 66 c. Horned Puffins 84 D. Glaucous Gulls 89 E. Pelagic Cormorants 94 F. Tufted Puffins 94 G. Guillemots 96 H. Raptors and Ravens 98 I. Cape Lewis 99 J. Other areas utilized by seabirds 101 K. Other observations 104 840 ii VII and VIII. Discussion and Conclusions 105 Ix. Summary of 4th quarter operations 111 x. Acknowledgements 113 XI. Literature cited 114 841 LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Murre census summary, Cape Thompson. 19 2. Murre census, Colony 1; Cape Thompson, 1977. 20 3. Murre census, Colony 2; Cape Thompson, 1977. 21 4. Murre census, Colony 3; Cape Thompson, 1977, 22 5. Murre census, Colony 4; Cape Thompson, 1977. 23 6. Murre census, Colony 5; Cape Thompson, 1977. 24 7. Score totals, Colonies 1-4. 25 8. Compensation counts of murres; Cape Thompson, 1977. 26 9. Murre census; Cape Lisburne, 1976. 27 10. Murre census; Cape Lisburne, 1977. 29 11. Compensation counts of murres; Cape Lisburne, 1977. 31 12. Testes volumes (in cubic centimeters) and diameters of largest ovarian follicles (in millimeters) of male and female Thick-billed Murres collected at Cape Thompson, 1977. 36 13. Brood patch development of Thick-billed Murres collected at Cape Thompson, 1977. 36 14. Phenology.of nesting activities of Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson, 1977. 39 15. Testes volumes (in cubic centimeters) and diameters of largest ovarian follicles (in millimeters) of male and female Thick-billed Murres collected at Cape Lisburne, 1977. 40 16. Brood patch development of Thick-billed Murres collected at Cape Lisburne, 1977. 40 17. .Proportions of male and female Thick-billed Murres collected during July at Cape Lisburne. 42 18. Average weights of male Thick-billed Murres collected during July at Cape Lisburne 42 19. Comparisons of body weights of Thick-billed and Common Murres at Cape Lisburne. 43 20. Food of Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne, Alaska. 44 21. Food of Common Murres at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne, Alaska. 46 22. Per cent occurrence of major food groups of Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson, 1976. 53 23. Per cent occurrence of major food groups of Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson, 1977. 53 842 iv 24. Per cent occurrence of major food groups of Thick-billed Murres at Cape Lisburne, 1977. 54 25. Black-legged Kittiwake census summary, Cape Thompson. 66 26. Black-legged Kittiwake census, Colony 2; Cape Thompson, 1977. 68 27. Black-legged Kittiwake census, Colony 3; Cape Thompson, 1977. 69” 28. Black-legged Kittiwake census, Colony 4; Cape Thompson, 1977. 70 29. Black-legged Kittiwake census, ColorIy 5; Cape Thompson, 1977. 71 30. Black-legged Kittiwake census, Cape Lisburne, 1977. 72 31. Phenology of nesting activities of Black-legged Kittiwakes at Cape Thompson. 75 32. Hatching dates of Black-legged Kittiwake eggs, 1977. 76 33. Food of Black-legged Kittiwakes at Cape Thompson arid Cape Lisburne, Alaska. 77 34. Per cent occurrence of major food groups of Black-1egged Kittiwakes, 1977. 79 35. Reproductive success of Black-legged Kittiwakes. 83 36. Growth rate comparisons of Black-1egged Kittiwake chicks. 84 37. Horned Puffin census summary at Cape Thompson. 84 38. Horned Puffin census, Colony 1; Cape Thompson, 1977. 85 39. Horned Puffin census, Colony 2; Cape Thompson, 1977. 86 40. Horned Puffin census, Colony 3; Cape Thompson, 1977. 87 41. Horned Puffin census, Colony 4; Cape Thompson, 1977. 88 42. Horned Puffin census; Cape Lisburne, 1977. 90 43. Nests of Pelagic Cormorants at Cape Thompson. 94 44. Populations of Tufted Puffins at Cape Thompson. 95 45. Populations of Tufted Puffins at Cape Lisburne. 95 46. Populations of Pigeon and Black Guillemots at Cape Thompson. 96 47. Populations of Pigeon and Black Guillemots at Cape Lisburne. 96 48. Cape Lewis census, 27 July 1977. 100 49. Black-legged Kittiwake nest and egg counts at Cape Lewis, 27 July 1977. 101 50. Observations of seabirds at headlands, bluffs and cliffs east and south of Cape Lisburne, 1976 and 1977. 102 843 v LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1. Locations of the Cape Thompson, Cape Lewis and Cape Lisburne seabird colonies. 10 2. Colony locations at the Cape Thompson study area. 11 3. Colony location at the Cape Lisburne study area. 13 4. Small seabird colonies located south of Cape Lisburne, Alaska. 14 5. Small seabird concentrations located east of Cape Lisburne, Alaska. 15 6. Diurnal activity patterns of murres at Cape Thompson. 32 7. Diurnal activity patterns of murres at Cape Lisburne. 33 8. Movements of murres between feeding areas and the colonies. 35 9. Testicular development of Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 37 10. Follicular development of Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 37 11. Brood patch development of male Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 38 12. Brood patch development of female Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 38 13. Relative occurrence of fish and invertebrates in stomach contents of Thick-billed Murres collected at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 49 14. Relative occurrence of fish and invertebrates in stomach contents of Common Murres collected at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 49 15. Seasonal utilization of fish and invertebrates by Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson, 1977. 50 16. Seasonal utilization of fish and invertebrates by Thick-billed Murres at Cape Lisburne, 1977. 50 17. Seasonal utilization of fish and invertebrates by Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson, 1976. 51 18. Seasonal utilization of Gadidae by Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 55 19. Seasonal utilization of Cottide by Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 55 20. Seasonal utilization of !ummodytes by Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 56 21. Seasonal utilization of Liparus and Zoarcidae by Thick- billed Murres at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 56 844 vi 22. Seasonal utilization of Decapods by Thick-billed Murres at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 57 23. Murre observations offshore of Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne, Alaska, August 1960 (adapted from Swartz 1967). 58 24. General murre foraging flight patterns observed during mid- June, July and August 1976 at Cape Thompson, and during late August 1976 at Cape Lisburne, Alaska. 59 25. General murre foraging flight patterns observed during July 1977 at Cape Thompson, Cape Lewis and Cape Lisburne, Alaska. 60 26. General murre foraging flight patterns observed during August 1977 at Cape Thompson, Cape Lewis and Cape Lisburne, Alaska. 61 27. Diurnal activity of Black-legged Kittiwakes at Cape Thompson. 74 28. Relative occurrence of fish and invertebrates in stomach contents of Black-legged Kittiwakes collected at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 80 845 -1- 1. SUMMARY OF OtiECTIVES, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS” WITH RESPECT TO OCS OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT A. Objectives The objective of this study is to provide current information on the ecology of seabirds nesting at Cape Thompson and at Cape Lisburne. The data obtained at Cape Thompson will be compared to recent historical studies h an attempt to describe “redevelopment” changes which may have occurred. Investigations at Cape Lisburne will further increase our understanding of seabird biology in the Chukchi Sea. By broadening the ecological data base, effects of resource development in this region may be more accurately rmasured. B. Conclusions Approximately equal numbers of murres occupy the cliffs at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. 2. The number of murres which were counted at Cape Thompson in 1976 and 1977 were essentially the same and were significantly lower than number reported for the early 1960’s. The cause of the decrease in not understood. 3. Results of food habit studies indicate that major differences exist between the trophic positions of Common and Thick-billed Murres. The results also suggest that annual and seasonal variations occur in the food base of murres at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne. The foraging radii of murres may be large and may change yearly and/or seasonally. Murres, however, also appear to exhibit a tendency to heavily utilize an area to the south and southwest of Cape Thompson and an area to the northeast and north of Cape Lisburne. 5. Food habit studies of kittiwakes reflect yearly and seasonal variability in prey. Variations in kittiwake productivity between years and between colonies might be related to the food differences. 6. 13ecause food availability changes between years and because particular prey appear to be more important in one season than in another, we can not list specific single critical links in the food chain of murres or kittiwakes. Prey which are probably of major importance, ‘on the average’, however, are cod, sculpin, Sand Launce and shrimp. 7. Populations of other seabird species inhabiting the Cape Thompson colonies appear to be essentially the same now as in 1960. c. Implications with respect to OCS oil and gas development The colonies at Cape Thompson and Cape Lisburne support most of the breeding seabirds in the eastern Chukchi Sea.