Seabird Surveys Research Articles

The rise and fall of cliff-breeding seabirds in Sør-Varanger, NE Norway, 1970-2002

Surveys of seabirds breeding along the coast of Sør-Varanger, NE Norway were carried out in 1989, 1996, 1999 and 2002 as a continuation of a monitoring study started in 1970. Until 1983, by which time 47 colonies were occupied, there had been a rapid increase in numbers of Black-legged Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla and European Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis breeding in the area while the Great Cormorant P. carbo population had first increased and then declined. Between 1983 and 2002, the Kittiwake and Shag populations declined by ca. 60% and 85% respectively while that of Cormorants first continued to decline and then recovered to levels recorded in the 1970s. The decline in Common Guillemot Uria aalge and Razorbill Alca torda numbers recorded since 1970 culminated in 1989 when no birds were seen in the region. Since then, one individual Common Guillemot was seen in 1999. In 2002 approximately 7500 pairs of Kittiwake, 770 pairs of Cormorant and 15 pairs of Shag bred in 23 colonies. Possible causes for the main population changes are briefly discussed.

Pre-eradication updated seabird survey including new records on Amsterdam Island, southern Indian Ocean

Pre-eradication updated seabird survey including new records on Amsterdam Island, southern Indian Ocean

Mapping seabird vulnerability to offshore wind farms in Norwegian waters

IntroductionOffshore wind energy development (OWED) has been identified as a major contributor to the aspired growth in Norwegian renewable energy production. Spatially explicit vulnerability assessments are necessary to select sites that minimize the harm to biodiversity, including seabird populations. Distributional data of seabirds in remote areas are scarce, and to identify vulnerable areas, species, and seasons it is necessary to combine data sets and knowledge from different sources.MethodsIn this study, we combined seabird tracking data, data from dedicated coastal and seabird at-sea surveys, and presence-only data from citizen science databases to develop habitat suitability maps for 55 seabird species in four seasons throughout the Norwegian exclusive economic zone; in total 1 million km2 in the Northeast Atlantic. The habitat suitability maps were combined with species-specific vulnerability indicators to yield maps of seabird vulnerability to offshore wind farms (OWFs). The resulting map product can be used to identify the relative vulnerability of areas prospected for OWED with respect to seabird collision and habitat displacement. More detailed assessments can be done by splitting the spatial indicators into seasonal and species-specific components.Results and discussionAssociated with higher diversity of seabirds near the coast, the cumulative vulnerability indicator showed a strong declining gradient from the coast to offshore waters while the differences in vulnerability between ocean areas and seasons were negligible. Although the present map product represents the best currently available knowledge, the indicators are associated with complex uncertainties related to known and unknown sampling biases. The indicators should therefore be used cautiously, they should be updated regularly as more data become available, and we recommend that more detailed environmental impact assessments based on dedicated seabird surveys, tracking of birds from potentially affected populations and population viability analyses are conducted in areas ultimately selected for OWED.

Population surveys of burrow-nesting seabirds on the St Kilda archipelago: results and insights from the 2019 Seabirds Count census

Population surveys of burrow-nesting seabirds on the St Kilda archipelago: results and insights from the 2019 Seabirds Count census

The results of seabird survey in Pangpang Bay, East Java, Indonesia

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Burrow-Nesting Seabird Survey Using UAV-Mounted Thermal Sensor and Count Automation

Seabird surveys are used to monitor population demography and distribution and help us understand anthropogenic pressures on seabird species. Burrow-nesting seabirds are difficult to survey. Current ground survey methods are invasive, time-consuming and detrimental to colony health. Data derived from short transects used in ground surveys are extrapolated to derive whole-colony population estimates, which introduces sampling bias due to factors including uneven burrow distribution and varying terrain. We investigate a new survey technique for nocturnally active burrow-nesting seabirds using unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) and thermal sensor technology. We surveyed a three-hectare short-tailed shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris) colony in Tasmania, Australia. Occupied burrows with resident chicks produced pronounced thermal signatures. This survey method captured a thermal response of every occupied burrow in the colony. Count automation techniques were developed to detect occupied burrows. To validate the results, we compared automated and manual counts of thermal imagery. Automated counts of occupied burrows were 9.3% higher and took approximately 5% of the time needed for manual counts. Using both manual and automated counts, we estimated that there were 5249–5787 chicks for the 2021/2022 breeding season. We provide evidence that high-resolution UAV thermal remote sensing and count automation can improve population estimates of burrow-nesting seabirds.

Differential response of seabird species to warm- and cold-water events in a heterogeneous cross-shelf environment in the Gulf of Alaska

We used seabird surveys and concurrent oceanographic observations in the Northern Gulf of Alaska during spring 1998-2019 to evaluate how seabirds responded to temperature variability, including a protracted marine heatwave, in a highly heterogeneous ecosystem. We examined temporally changing distributions of seabirds along the Seward Line, a 220 km transect across the shelf and slope, and evaluated relationships between water-mass properties and seabird abundance. Environmental factors associated with abundance include depth, water-column temperature and salinity, and surface-current velocities. Environmental responses of alcids and gulls contrasted with those of procellariiform (tubenose) seabirds, and their trajectories suggest a possible shift in community composition under future climate warming. Changes in seabird distribution and abundance associated with a shift from cold to warm conditions were especially pronounced over the middle- and outer-shelf domains, which are transitional between coastal and oceanic water masses. The abundance of tubenoses increased during and after the heatwave, whereas alcids and gulls shifted inshore, exhibited reproductive failures, and experienced mass mortalities due to starvation. Tubenoses appear well-adapted to periods of lower productivity during warming events because of their flight efficiency, allowing them to search widely to locate prey patches. In contrast, alcids, which forage by diving and have energetically expensive flight, appear sensitive to such conditions.

A Survey of Summer Breeding Seabirds on Elba National Park Islands, the Red Sea, Egypt

A Survey of Summer Breeding Seabirds on Elba National Park Islands, the Red Sea, Egypt

МОРСКИЕ КОЛОНИАЛЬНЫЕ ПТИЦЫ ОСТРОВА МЕДНОГО (КОМАНДОРСКИЕ ОСТРОВА)

The results of colonial seabird surveys on Medny Island were presented and the changes in numbers and distribution over the past 20–30 years were analyzed. The number of colonies on the island has not changed. The total number of individuals belonging to19 species is more than 200 thousand pairs. The colonies are distributed on the island relatively evenly along the whole coast and are based on five species – northen fulmar Fulmarus glacialis,black-legged kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, red-legged kittiwake Rissa brevirostris and two species of guillemots. The most numerous species is Northen fulmar. The abundance of the common guillemot Uria aalge has noticeably increased. The glaucous-winged gull Larus glaucescens, the crested auklet Aethia cristatella, the moth horned puffin Fratercula corniculata and the tufted puffin Lunda cirrhata has increased less. The number of parakeet auklet Cyclorrhynchus psittacula has decreased. There was not found significant changes for the rest of species.

Shapeshifting attachment: Exploring multi‐dimensional people–place bonds in place‐based citizen science

Abstract Research on citizen science programmes has highlighted that they can foster science content and knowledge gain, enhance pro‐environmental behaviour and cultivate civic action among participants. Especially in the case of place‐based citizen science, which requires hands‐on repeated activity in an out‐of‐door setting through a scientific lens, evidence suggests that some of these outcomes may be linked to the unique people–place relationships and interactions afforded by such programmes. Even still, studies that empirically examine the influence of place on citizen science participant and programme outcomes are scant. This is due, in part, to the methodological challenges involved in interrogating complex aspects of a person's sense of place—aspects like place attachment—the emotional bonds between people and place. Here, an adapted three‐dimensional model of place attachment is proposed as a theoretical framework from which place‐based citizen science experiences and outcomes might be empirically examined in depth. The model, which posits personal, social and natural environment dimensions of place attachment is contextualized with research findings from the US‐based Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) citizen science programme. Data from COASST suggest that participants do exhibit place attachment in all three dimensions of attachment, categorized within seven unique constructs, although questions remain regarding the unique intensity, make‐up (shape) and scale (spatial, social and nature‐science) of individual‐level attachment along the three central dimensions. Critically, more research is needed to investigate whether the unique place attachment ‘profile’ of participants is a function of personal, social or programmatic variables pre‐ and post‐programme participation. To encourage further scholarship on potential links between the experiences, exposures and programme components of place‐based citizen science and the place attachment profiles of participants, this paper includes a brief review of the research opportunities presented by the adapted three‐dimensional place attachment model discussed. Advancing this line of inquiry is an important component of broader efforts to understand how sense of place is altered via place‐based citizen science and whether or not that is linked to specific programme outputs or participant outcomes in science knowledge, ecological understanding and civic engagement. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

HEMATOLOGY AND PLASMA CHEMISTRY VALUES IN BEACHED MAGELLANIC PENGUIN (SPHENISCUS MAGELLANICUS) IN NORTHERN ARGENTINA DURING THE NONBREEDING SEASON.

Seabirds have been widely used for monitoring the health of the oceans in diverse marine regions. Among low-cost survey strategies, systematic surveys of seabirds beached on coasts have been developed since the 20th century. However, these studies do not always address blood aspects. The assessment of the health status of birds based on the analysis of hematological and plasma chemistry is crucial to evaluate the overall health status profile of live organisms. Here, the authors study the variability of blood parameters by sex, age class, and year of beached Magellanic Penguin during the nonreproductive period in northern Argentina. Of 44 penguins, 77% were categorized as younger juveniles and the rest as older juveniles, and were captured and studied in coastal areas of Buenos Aires Province during the summers of 2017 and 2018. The mean body weight of beached penguins was affected by the age class of the individuals; most of the younger juveniles showed poor condition in terms of body mass (1,761 ± 235 g). No significant differences were observed in body weight between years and sex. Still, there were significant differences between years for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values. Twelve of the 20 blood parameters analyzed differ significantly with the age class of the beached penguins; younger juveniles were in a state of inanition. Our results may serve as a necessary first step in improving the conservation status of the Magellanic Penguin in nonbreeding grounds of Argentina, and call for a better knowledge of the health status of the species along its annual cycle.

Contrasting assemblages of seabirds in the subglacial meltwater plume and oceanic water of Bowdoin Fjord, northwestern Greenland

AbstractIn Greenland, tidewater glaciers discharge turbid subglacial freshwater into fjords, forming plumes near the calving fronts, and these areas serve as an important foraging habitat for seabirds. To investigate the effect of subglacial discharge on the foraging assemblages of surface feeders and divers in a glacial fjord, we conducted boat-based seabird surveys, near-surface zooplankton samplings, and hydrographic measurements at Bowdoin Fjord, northwestern Greenland in July. Foraging surface feeders (black-legged kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, glaucous gull Larus hyperboreus, and northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis) aggregated within a plume-affected area in front of Bowdoin Glacier. This area was characterized by highly turbid subglacial meltwater and abundant large-sized zooplankton including Calanus hyperboreus, chaetognaths, and ctenophores near the surface. Surface feeders fed on these aggregated prey presumably transported to the surface by strong upwelling of subglacial meltwater. In contrast, divers (little auk Alle alle, thick-billed murre Uria lomvia, and black guillemot Cepphus grylle) foraged outside the fjord, where turbidity was low and jellyfish and Calanus copepods dominated under the influence of Atlantic water. Our study indicates spatial segregation between surface feeders and divers in a glacial fjord; surface feeders are not hindered by turbidity if taking prey at the surface, whereas divers need clear water.

Response of colonial Peruvian guano birds to flying UAVs: effects and feasibility for implementing new population monitoring methods.

BackgroundDrones are reliable tools for estimating colonial seabird numbers. Although most research has focused on methods of improving the accuracy of bird counts, few studies have evaluated the impacts of these methods on bird behavior. In this study, we examined the effects of the DJI Phantom 3 drone approach (altitude, horizontal and vertical descent speeds) on changes in the intensity of behavioral response of guano birds: guanay cormorants (Phalacrocorax bougainvilli), Peruvian boobies (Sula variegata) and Peruvian pelicans (Pelecanus thagus). The breeding and non-breeding condition was also evaluated.MethodsEleven locations along the Peruvian coast were visited in 2016–2017. Drone flight tests considered an altitude range from 5 to 80 m from the colony level, a horizontal speed range from 0.5 to 15 m/s, and a vertical descent speed range from 0.5 to 3 m/s. The intensity of the behavioral response of birds was scored and categorized as: 0-no reacting, 1-head pointing to the drone (HP), 2-wing flapping (WF), 3-walking/running (WR) and 4-taking-off/flying (TK). Drone noise at specific altitudes was recorded with a sound meter close to the colony to discriminate visual from auditory effects of the drone.ResultsIn 74% of all test flights (N = 507), guano birds did not react to the presence of the drone, whereas in the remaining flights, birds showed a sign of discomfort: HP (47.7%, N = 130), WF (18.5%), WR (16.9%) and TK (16.9%). For the drone approach tests, only flight altitude had a significant effect in the intensity of the behavioral response of guano birds (intensity behavioral response <2). No birds reacted at drone altitudes above 50 m from the colony. Birds, for all species either in breeding or non-breeding condition, reacted more often at altitudes of 5 and 10 m. Chick-rearing cormorants and pelicans were less sensitive than their non-breeding counterparts in the range of 5–30 m of drone altitude, but boobies reacted similarly irrespective of their condition. At 5 m above the colony, cormorants were more sensitive to the drone presence than the other two species. Horizontal and vertical flights at different speeds had negligible effects (intensity behavioral response <1). At 2 m above the ground, the noise of the cormorant colony was in average 71.34 ± 4.05 dB (N = 420). No significant differences were observed in the drone noise at different flight altitudes because the background noise of the colony was as loud as the drone.ConclusionsIt is feasible to use the drone DJI Phantom 3 for surveys on the guano islands of Peru. We recommend performing drone flights at altitudes greater than 50 m from guano bird colonies and to select take-off spots far from gulls. Likewise, this study provides a first step to develop guidelines and protocols of drone use for other potential activities on the Peruvian guano islands and headlands such as surveys of other seabirds and pinnipeds, filming and surveillance.

Bivalves boost biodiversity

Bivalves boost biodiversity

Hoping for optimality or designing for inclusion: Persistence, learning, and the social network of citizen science

The explosive growth in citizen science combined with a recalcitrance on the part of mainstream science to fully embrace this data collection technique demands a rigorous examination of the factors influencing data quality and project efficacy. Patterns of contributor effort and task performance have been well reviewed in online projects; however, studies of hands-on citizen science are lacking. We used a single hands-on, out-of-doors project—the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST)—to quantitatively explore the relationships among participant effort, task performance, and social connectedness as a function of the demographic characteristics and interests of participants, placing these results in the context of a meta-analysis of 54 citizen science projects. Although online projects were typified by high (>90%) rates of one-off participation and low retention (<10%) past 1 y, regular COASST participants were highly likely to continue past their first survey (86%), with 54% active 1 y later. Project-wide, task performance was high (88% correct species identifications over the 31,450 carcasses and 163 species found). However, there were distinct demographic differences. Age, birding expertise, and previous citizen science experience had the greatest impact on participant persistence and performance, albeit occasionally in opposite directions. Gender and sociality were relatively inconsequential, although highly gregarious social types, i.e., “nexus people,” were extremely influential at recruiting others. Our findings suggest that hands-on citizen science can produce high-quality data especially if participants persist, and that understanding the demographic data of participation could be used to maximize data quality and breadth of participation across the larger societal landscape.

Seabird surveys of globally important populations in the British Virgin Islands

Abstract: The British Virgin Islands is home to two globally important and eight regionally important populations of breeding seabirds, distributed across the 60 islands that make up the territory. Here, we re-survey key sites within the islands to assess breeding numbers of the globally important Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) and Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) populations. Our 2013–2014 surveys suggest that both these populations have declined since 1995, with the Roseate Tern population showing the steepest declines. We identify potential threats facing these populations, including those from invasive species and entanglement with fishing line. This study highlights the need for regular, systematic seabird surveys across the territory and the neighboring territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, to ensure any population declines or threats facing populations are identified, and appropriate conservation management practices implemented.&#x0D; Keywords: Fregata magnificens, Magnificent Frigatebird, Roseate Tern, seabird census, Sterna dougallii&#x0D; Resumen: Muestreos de poblaciones de aves marinas de importancia global en las Islas Vírgenes Británicas—Las Islas Vírgenes Británicas son el hogar de dos poblaciones nidificantes de aves marinas de importancia global y de otras ocho poblaciones importantes a nivel regional; que están distribuidas a través de las 60 islas que conforman el territorio. Remuestreamos los sitios claves dentro de las islas para estimar el número de parejas nidificantes de las poblaciones de Fregata magnificens y Sterna dougallii, que son importantes globalmente. Nuestros muestreos de 2013–2014 sugieren que ambas poblaciones han disminuido desde 1995 siendo las poblaciones de Sterna dougallii las que mostraron un declive más marcado. Identificamos las amenazas potenciales que enfrentan estas poblaciones, que incluyen las especies invasoras y los enredos con sedales o líneas de pesca. Este estudio destaca la necesidad de muestreos regulares y sistemáticos de aves marinas a lo largo de todo el territorio y de áreas vecinas como las Islas Vírgenes de Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico, para asegurar que cualquier amenaza o decline poblacional a la que se enfrenten estas poblaciones es identificada y se implementan las prácticas de manejo apropiadas para su conservación.&#x0D; Palabras clave: Fregata magnificens, muestreo aves marinas, Sterna dougallii&#x0D; Résumé: Études des populations d’oiseaux marins d’importance mondiale dans les îles Vierges britanniques—Les îles Vierges britanniques abritent deux populations d’oiseaux marins nicheurs d’importance mondiale et huit d’importance régionale, réparties sur les 60 îles qui composent le territoire. Ici, nous étudions de nouveau les sites clés des îles pour évaluer le nombre de couples reproducteurs des populations de Frégate superbe (Fregata magnificens) et de Sterne de Dougall (Sterna dougallii). Nos relevés de 2013-2014 suggèrent que ces deux populations ont diminué depuis 1995, la population de Sterne de Dougall affichant le plus fort déclin. Nous identifions les menaces potentielles auxquelles font face ces populations, y compris celles provenant d’espèces envahissantes et celles causées par l’enchevêtrement avec des lignes de pêche. Cette étude souligne la nécessité d’effectuer des relevés réguliers et systématiques des oiseaux marins sur le territoire des îles Vierges britanniques ainsi que sur les territoires voisins des îles Vierges américaines et de Porto Rico, afin de s’assurer que tout déclin de la population ou toute menace à laquelle les populations sont confrontées est identifié et que des pratiques de gestion et de conservation appropriées sont mises en œuvre.&#x0D; Mots clés: dénombrement des oiseaux marins, Fregata magnificens, Frégate superbe, Sterna dougallii, Sterne de Dougall

Citizen Science as a Catalyst for Place Meaning and Attachment

Over the past two decades, citizen science has grown in popularity and complexity as a means to expand the scope and scale of scientific inquiry and enhance science and environmental literacy among participants. And yet, the relationships between the people and places in which citizen science occurs have largely been overlooked in projects aimed at assessing program outcomes and impacts. While most citizen science initiatives are experienced in specific sites, contexts, and relational networks, the influence of these programs on people-place relationships and their material and symbolic encounters is often underappreciated. The aim of this study is to explore how citizen science experiences shape participant sense of place. Using a qualitative methodology to explore the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) citizen science program, findings stress the multidimensionality of place attachment and meaning. Results highlight how citizen science can serve to deepen place meaning and catalyze place attachment by providing context, directing focus, facilitating repetition, and inspiring purpose.

Marine birds and mammals as ecosystem sentinels in and near Distributed Biological Observatory regions: An abbreviated review of published accounts and recommendations for integration to ocean observatories

Marine birds and mammals can act as sentinels to shifts in ocean ecosystems, due to their (i) reliance on finding aggregated prey for efficient foraging, (ii) need to respond to biophysical signals in support of successful seasonal migrations, and (iii) capacity to reflect changes in marine food webs. Here we present an abbreviated review of recent published accounts of marine bird and mammal responses to biophysical features of the ocean ecosystem in and near sampling regions of the Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO). The review is meant to provide both context for seabird surveys and marine mammal watches conducted in conjunction with DBO sampling and support for the inclusion of marine bird and mammal research, either by direct sampling or collaboration, in the protocols of other ocean observatories. The review is framed by the ocean processes imbedded in the Arctic Marine Pulses conceptual model, with the overarching goal to promote the routine integration of data on marine birds and mammals during the development of marine ecosystem models for Arctic regions.

Evaluating Native American Bird Use and Bird Assemblage Variability along the Oregon Coast

ABSTRACTNative American use of birds on the Oregon coast is not well known and has never been synthesized to present a regional understanding. We rectify this by analyzing data from 26 zooarchaeological assemblages, including three previously unpublished bird assemblages: Umpqua/Eden (35DO83), Whale Cove (35LNC60), and the Dunes Site (35CLT27). We employ a series of non-parametric randomization tests to directly evaluate patterns of taxonomic diversity, correlations with nearby breeding colonies, and broader procurement strategies discussed in ethnohistorical accounts. We compare the assemblages to contemporary surveys of naturally beached birds as observed by COASST (Coastal Observation Seabird Survey Team) and evaluate whether archaeological specimens were scavenged from the beach. While 71% of the identified bird remains belong to just three families (Anatidae, Alcidae, and Procellariidae), closer analysis reveals the incredible diversity of birds used by Oregon coast Native Americans. The assemblages vary considerably in terms of taxonomic diversity and composition, leading us to conclude that people used birds opportunistically, likely incorporating multiple strategies, including hunting, collecting beached carcasses and targeting cormorant colonies. We hope that the methods and approaches employed here will inspire other archaeologists to devote more attention to bird assemblages, and how their study can inform conservation efforts.

Visualising the aspect-dependent radar cross section of seabirds over a tidal energy test site using a commercial marine radar system

The long-term monitoring of seabirds around proposed marine renewable energy (MRE) sites is vital to assess the large-scale and long-term environmental impacts of MRE installations. Marine radar could be a valuable tool to augment traditional seabird surveys but the problem of aspect dependency of the generic radar cross section (RCS) of live birds in flight must be understood before radar data is correctly interpreted. A marine radar multiple target tracking algorithm (‘GANNET’) was applied to data from an un-calibrated, horizontally polarised, 10kW X-band marine radar sited at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) tidal renewable energy test site, Scotland U.K. From 24days of data over 1.84million target readings were recorded. For each target reading the radar aspect angle (bearing of radar beam incident on target), range and non-dimensional echo magnitude were derived allowing a view to be generated of the variation of echo magnitude with aspect angle for all tracked targets. The resulting polar diagram shows a significant change in echo magnitude with range between side-on and head/tail-on aspects indicating a large contribution of the RCS from the wings of birds in flight. The species-unspecific detectability of seabirds, especially at long range, is found to be strongly dependent on aspect angle. This has direct implications for the use of marine radar equipment for avian monitoring at proposed and active marine energy sites and must be taken into account if data from these radars are to be used to augment traditional bird abundance and area use surveys conducted by human observers.