PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP ■n 5 ■ ... s-\ : <„?* -twJrr** jQpgfl^ Winter 1976 •' *!•»••• HM PACmC SEABIRD GROUP The Pacific Seabird Croup (PSG) vaa formed in 1972 out of a need for ^ better communication among Pacific aeabird researchers. The Group acta- " ^ to coordinate and atiaulate the field activities of its aeabara and to inform its membership and the general public of conservation issues re- £ latlng to Pacific seabirds and the marine environment. Current actlv- ities Include the development of standard techniques and reporting forms for colony censusing, pelagic observations, and beached bird surveys. Policy statements are Issued on conservation issues of critical import- ance. While the PSG v s primary area of interest Is the West Coast of Worth America and adjacent areas of the Pacific, it is hoped that seabird enthusiasts in other parts of the world will join and participate in the Group. Annual dues for membership in the Group are $5.00 and are pay~> able to the Secretary or Treasurer (addresses on back cover). Members rec- eive the PSG Bulletin, PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP BULLETIN • - ^ -V The Pacific Seabird Group Bulletin is issued in the spring or summe: sad fall of each year and contains news of interest to PSG members li g tonal reports include a listing of Current research and information cw seabird conservation. The Bulletin does not act as an outlet for the results of scientific research but welcomes articles on seabird censer* vation, aeabird research, or other topics that relate to the objective* of the Group. Articles should be submitted to the Editor. Back issues of the Bulletin (starting with spring 1974) are available from the Treasurer for $2.50 each. COMMITTEE COORDINATORS Pelagic observations ; Gerald A. Sanger 0. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 800 A Street, No. 110 Anchorage, Alaska 99501 David G. Ainley Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory 4990 State Route 1 Stinson Beach, Calif . 94970 David A. Manuwal College of For eat Resources University of Washington Seattle, Washington 98195 30 January 1977 Dear PSG Member, Attached is the last number of the 1976 PSG Bulletin . Since PSG is still in the growing stages, you may be receiving a bulletin for which you paid no subscription or dues. If this is so, please take this as a "gentle hint" for your 1976 dues. PSG is growing, and we need your support. Mem- bership dues are $5.00 per year. f According to our records, your dues are paid through /o . The following checked box applies to you: We are sending along the last 1976 number as a final request for 1976 dues. Your 1977 membership fee is due. Your subscription is an institutional one. Receipt of the PSG Bulletin is a matter of courtesy; however, if your agency or institution can afford it, please forward $5.00. IMPORTANT : Check your records against ours in the membership list of this issue of the PSG Bulletin . Address all inquiries on any discrepancies to Joan Scott, the Treasurer. IMPORTANT : Dues payments and address changes should be sent to Joan Scott as well. DUES PAYMENT/ ADDRESS CHANGE FORM TO: Treasurer, Pacific Seabird Group 1) Dues for are enclosed, @ $5. 00/year = $ 2) Payment for back issues for is enclosed @ $2. 50/year * $ Total Amt. Enclosed = $ OLD ADDRESS: NEW ADDRESS: I Joan Scott, Treasurer PSG Post Office Box D ( ■ Tyndall AFB, FLORIDA 32401 [ * i Address label PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP BULLETIN ? VOLUME 3 WINTER 1976 NUMBER 2 CONTENTS THE CHAIRMAN’S PAGE.. 1 IN MEMORY OF EINAR BRUN .2 PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP NEWS.. 3 Committee Report, Pelagic Observations. 3 Treasurer’s Report, 1976 4 Pacific Seabird Group Membership List 5 ITEMS OF INTEREST.. .18 International Conference 18 Colonial Waterbird Group 18 Colony Catalogue , Alaska 18 BULLETIN BOARD 19 Specimens Wanted. 19 Seabird Photos Wanted 20 Banding and Color-marking Gulls in Alaska 20 Marine Bird Interest in Australia 21 REGIONAL REPORTS 21 Alaska .21 British Columbia 22 Washington 23 Oregon 24 Northern California ...24 Southern California 24 -i- CONTENTS (Continued) Mexico 26 Hawaii 26 GENERAL NOTES ON SEABIRD CONSERVATION 28 The Living Resources of the Southern? Ocean : An International Conference. David G. Ainley 28 Update on Seabird Mortality from Salmon Driftnets. Gerald A. Sanger 30 Global Murre Watch. Kees Vermeer 33 Short- tailed Albatross Population Increasing. Gerald A. San- ger .36 -ii- THE CHAIRMAN'S PAGE There have been few people studying seabirds in North America who have not been affected by the current wave of funding for environ- mental studies on the outer continental shelf. These studies are be- ing conducted in order to obtain sufficient information to write en- vironmental impact statements prior to oil and gas lease sales. The program being run by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Admin- istration in the United States was forced to fund a large number of studies with little time allowed for planning. This resulted in the funding of a number of projects whose relationship to oil and gas de- velopment was questionable. Recently, the Alaskan OCS program began taking an ecosystem approach to its studies so that the final environ- mental impact statement will be the result of a number of integrated studies rather than a series of disjointed, esoteric research units. An ecosystem approach also has the benefit of making a major contri- bution to science and not simply fulfilling a governmental require- ment. The funding has had a number of effects on seabird studies. One of the immediate results has been to channel researchers into ecolog- ical studies. People who might have conducted behavioral, taxonomic, or physiological studies are instead working on breeding biology and feeding ecology. The impact of OCS funding will be seen in the liter- ature in the next five to ten years. It is likely that future ornith- ologists will see the 1970 T s as the great leap 'forward in seabird re- search. The major contributions that the OCS programs will make may not be apparent until sometime after most of the fi*eld work is done, and the impact statements have been written. The OCS programs have a vast geographic range and will thus provide a huge data base. The data managers running the programs cannot be expected to use the in- formation for its best purpose, which is to provide an overview of seabird biology on the West Coast of North America. In a few years, it will be possible to analyze breeding success and pelagic densities from southern California to northern Alaska. It will take a broadly based group like the PSG to ask the important questions that the OCS data can answer and then organize symposia to address the questions. The structure of the PSG is well suited for such a task and the Group can look forward to playing a major role in what could prove to be the most meaningful work on northern Pacific seabirds. George J. Divoky Chairman, 1976 - 1 - EINAR BRUN Ornithology has suffered an irreplaceable loss in Einar Brun, Pro- fessor of Zoology and Director of the Marine Biological Station at Tromsoe University, North Norway. He was born in Sandefjord in 1936 and obtained his first degree in 1963. He then came to Britain as warden of the Calf of Man Bird Observatory and completed a PhD. on the biology of echinoderms at the University of Liverpool's Marine Biological Station at Fort Erin, Isle o^ Man in 1969. He was appoint- ed head of the Zoology Department at Tromsoe University the following year, and Professor of Marine Biology in 1972, and was currently working on the life and artificial production of salmon. While pur- suing his successful career he also organized a more thorough survey of Norwegian seabirds than we have yet managed for Britain, reporting the results in a long series of papers on individual species, places and topics from the early 1960’s which are fortunately reviewed in his contribution to the proceedings of the Seattle conference on nor- thern American seabirds last year. He eventually turned his univer- sity department into a key location for ornithological studies, help- ing to develop the journal, Qrnis Scandinavica to promote them in the process. Recently he has been concerned with the assessment of the hazard presented by oil exploration to seabirds, and bought his own Piper Cub to carry out aerial surveys for this purpose. He was killed when his aircraft crashed into the Vega Sea after he encountered bad weather approaching Bardufoss Airport in Troms on the evening of July 13th, 1976. He was a pleasant, stocky, determined character with a neat beard, of vast energy, knowledge, ability and daring concealed behind a quiet, modest demeanor, with whom it was a pleasure and pri- velage to deal. I regard a trip I made to watch him count the birds on the great cliffs around Bear Island from a little rubber boat in the summer of 1972 as one of my most rewarding ornithological exper- iences. While he did not take foolish risks, he fearlessly explored the boundaries of human achievement, and it is a tradgedy that eventu- ally his luck has failed. He should be remembered as the nearest thing we had to a hero in modem ornithology. W. R. P. Bourne The British Seabird Group September 1976 - 2 - PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP NEWS I • Committee Report , Pelagic Observations . The reason for existence, but elusive goal of the pelagic committee has been the production of a manual which would attempt to standardize pelagic methods. While the commit te has pursued this goal in fits and starts, but mostly stops, the NOAA-Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Out- er Continental Shelf Energy Assessment Program (OCSEAP) has come roaring upon the pelagic scene, catching the committee sleepily with their meth- ods and forms down. However, this has proven beneficial to the committee who suddenly find their manual being written for them. Concurrent with others on the Pacific Coast, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Anchorage, Alaska, has been deeply involved in these OCSEAP pelagic studies. They are putting the final touches on a pelagic methods manual for use by their own personnel in conducting pel- agic studies. It will contain, among other things, sections on ship- board and aerial observing methods, seawatch methods, and the identifi- cation of difficult species and species groups at sea. This manual will be modified to fit the generalized requirements of a PSG manual and sub- mitted for comments and criticism to the original pelagic committee mem- bers and others on the Pacific Coast who have recently been particularly active in pelagic work. A "final” PSG pelagic manual will hopefully be available for general distribution by the 1977 field season, A bulletin board display and a pelagic methods working session high- lighted committee activities during the 1975 Asilomar meeting. Gerry Sanger moderated the working session, which was attended by about 30 people. Active participants in the session were Jim Bartonek, Juan Guz- man, Dennis Heinneman, Wayne Hoffman, and Jay Quast, who have been dir- ectly or indirectly involved with OCSEAP pelagic bird studies in Alas- kan waters, and Ken Briggs and George Hunt, who have been conducting similar studies in Southern California. David Nettleship briefly re- viewed the Canadian PIROP program (Program for Integrated Research on Pelagic Birds) in the North Atlantic. All observers seemed to be doing basically the same type of pelagic observing: identifying and counting birds as their ship or aircraft traveled in a straight line (equivalent to transect lines on land) . The PIROP program thus far has reported and analyzed their pelagic data in terms of relative abundance (number of birds seen per 10-minute observation period) , while virtually all West Coast workers routinely estimate actual abundance (number of birds seen per unit area of sea surface) . Useful and sometimes lively discussion was generated during the session by differences in opinion on how to measure or estimate transect widths, the time and distance needed for a transect, the relative merits of shipboard and aerial censuses, and pro- bably more than anything else, what should be included as standard data and how resulting data should be computerized and managed. Preceeding the 1975 PSG meeting and the working session by a couple of days, and perhaps even overshadowing it, were meetings organized by NOAA-BLM, OCSEAP data and program managers, which attempted to organize and standardize the collection and management of all types of marine bird data from the various OCSEAP projects, including pelagic studies. The pelagic meeting was quite useful in reconciling differences of opinion - 3 - on pelagic methods and data management. It further provided a point of departure for the PS G working session, which tended to be rather more casual and philosophical. Gerald A. Sanger Coordinator, Pelagic Committee June 1976 y II. Treasurer 's Report , 1976 : RECEIPTS 1975 Annual Meeting $1726.62 Membership Dues 1447.68 Sale of Back Issues of PSG Bulletin 10.00 Interest in Savings Account 3.39 Total Receipts $3187.69 DISBURSEMENTS 1975 Annual Meeting 1426.75 PSG Bulletin (printing, postage, freight'* 468.35 Returned Checks 12.50 Treasurer's Expenses (postage, supplies) 82.10 Total Disbursements $1989.70 Excess of Receipts over Disbursements $1197.99 GENERAL CASH FUND Checking Account 894.60 Savings Account 303.39 Balance in all accounts as of December 31st, 1976 $1197.99 David A. Manuwal Treasurer, PSG December 1976 -■ 4 - Ill . Pacific Seabird Group Membership List . The year 1976 saw a major increase in Pacific Seabird Group mem- bership. The following list is current through January 1977. DUES NAME ADDRESS-AFFILIATION PAID THRU AINLEY, David G. Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory, ‘ Box 8, Alder Road, Bolinas, CA 94924. 1977 ALCORN, Gordon D. Dept, of Biology, Univ. of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, 98416, 1975 ALDERSON, George 323 Maryland Ave., NE, #5, Washington, DC, 20002. 1976 ALLEN, Jeffry POB 2871, Kodiak, AK, 99615, 1975 AMARAL, Michael Wildl. Sci. Group, Coll, of Forest Res., AR-10, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, 1977 AMES, Jack Dept. Fish and Game, 2201 Garden PI. , Monterey, CA, 93940. 1976 ANDERSON, Daniel W. Div. Wildlife/Fisheries, Univ. Calif., Davis, CA, 95616. 1977 ANDERSON, Kathleen S. Manomet Bird Observ. , Manomet, MA, 02345. 1976 ARNESON, Paul D. Alaska Dept. Fish/Game, 333 Raspberry Rd., Anchorage, AK, 99502. 1978 ARVEY, William POB 1457, Homor, AK, 99603. 1975 AUKE BAY FISH. LAB POB 155, Auke Bay, AK, 99821. 1976 BAILEY, Edgar P. 813 D St., Anchorage, AK, 99501. 1977 BAILEY, Stephen F. Mus, Vert. Zool. , Univ. of Calif., Berkeley, CA, 94720. 1977 BALTZ, Donald M. Div. Wildlife/Fisheries, Univ. Calif., Davis, CA, 95616. 1977 BARNFIELD MARINE STA. Bamfield, BC, V0R IBO. 1976 BARRET, Robert T. Marine Biol. Sta. , 9000 Trom- s«S, NORWAY. 1977 BARTLE, J. A. National Mus. New Zealand, Private Bag, Wellington, NEW ZEALAND. 1977 BARTONEX, J. C. U. S. F. W. S. , 800 A St. , Suite 110, Anchorage, AK, 99501. 1977 BAYER, Range 423 SW 9th, Newport, OR, 97365. 1977 BEAM, John 1105 Spear Ave., Areata, CA, 95521. 1976 BEDARD, Jean H. Dept, de Biologie, Univer- sity Laval, Qudbec, QUE. 1977 BERGEN, James 242 Sierra Vista, Ridgecrest, CA, 93555. 1977 BERKNER, Alice Aqualec Park, Berkeley, CA, 94720. 1976 - 5 - BERTO, Frances 10 Ash Ave., Apt. A, San An- selmo, CA, 94960. 1976 BERTRAND, Gerard CEQ, Exec. Off. of the Pres- ident, Wash., DC, 20006. 1975 BLICK, James Div. Biol., Univ. Mich., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109. 1977 BLOKPOEL, Hans CWS, 2721 Hwy . 31, Ottawa, ONT, KIA 0H3. 1977 BOERSMA, Dee Inst. Environ. Studies, Univ. Wash., Seattle, WA, 98195, 1976 BOURNE, W. R. P. Zoology Dept., Tillydrone Ave., Aberdeen, SCOTLAND, AB9 2TN. 1977 BRADLEY, Stephen W. 9904 87th Ave., Edmonton, ALTA. 1976 BRADSTRAT, Michael S. W. POB 117, Port Rowan, ONT, NOE IMO. 1977 BRATTSTROM, Bayard Dept. Biol., Calif. State Univ., Fullerton, CA, 92634. 1977 BRIGGS, Kenneth T. Coastal Mar. Lab, Univ. Calif., Santa Cruz, CA, 95064. 1975 BROWN, R. G. B. CWS, Mar. Ecol. Lab., Bedford Institute, Dartmouth NSCOTIA. 1976 BROWNELL, Robert L, , Jr. Div. Mammals, NHB398, Smith- sonian Inst., Wash., DC, 20560. 1977 BROWNING, M. Ralph 4303 N Pershing Dr., Apt. 2, Arlington, VA, 22203. 1976 BRUCE, Charles Route 1, POB 325, Corvallis, OR, 97330. 1977 BUCK, Slader 23155 Dolorosa St., Woodland Hills, CA, 91363. 1976 BURCHAM, Dirk 2230 Home Dr., Apt. B, Eur- eka, CA, 95501, 1977 BURKE, William F. Dept. Zool. , Univ. Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, 96822. 1976 BURRELL, Galen 11525 32d Ave. NE, Seattle, WA, 98125. 1977 BUTLER, John 5194 Galt Way, San Diego, CA, 92117. 1977 BYRD, Vernon Aleutian Ids. Nat. Wildl. Refuge, POB 5257, Adak, AK. 1977 CAIRNS, David Dep. de Biologie, Univer- sity Laval, Qudbec, Qud. 1977 CANADIAN WILDL. SERVICE Eastern Reg. Libr., 2721 Hwy, 31, Ottawa, ONT, KIA 0H3. 1977 GARINS, M. POB 156, Civic Square, ACT 2608, AUSTRALIA. 1977 CAUSEY, Sherman D. Dept. Ecol./Evol. Biol., Univ. Calif., Irvine, CA, 97664. 1977 CHANDIK, Theodore A. 4238 Ruthelma Ave., Palo Alto, CA, 94306. 1977 CHEESEMEN, Douglas, Jr. Biol. Dept., DeAnza College, 21250 Stevens Cr, Blvd., Cu- pertino, CA, 95014. 1976 CHU, Ellen 137 Applied Sciences, Univ. Calif., Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, 1977 CHURCH, Jane P, 4990 State Rt. 1, Stinson Beach, CA, 94970. 1977 - 6 - CLAPP, Roger B. Natl. Fish. & Wl. Service, Natl. Museum Natural History, Washington, D.C., 20560. 1976 CLINE, Dave POB 1445M, SRA, Anchorage, AK, 99502. 1976 COGSWELL, Howard L. Dept. Biol. Sci., Calif. State Univ., Hayward, CA, 94542. 1976 COLLIER, Gerald 4311 Miriam PI., La Mesa, CA, 92041. 1977 COLLINS, Charles T. Dept. Biol, jf Calif. State Univ., Long Beach, CA, 90840. 1976 COLORADO State Univ. Libr. , Serials Section, Fort Collins, CO, 80521. 1977 CONANT, Sheila 3663 Alani Drive, Honolulu, HI, 96822. 1977 CONNORS, Peter POB 247, Bodega Bay, CA, 94923. 1977 COOPER, John Percy Fitzpatrick Inst. African Ornithology, Univ. Capetown, Rondebosch 7700, SO. AFRICA. 1976 COULTER, Malcolm 443 5th St. NE, Washington, D.C., 20002. 1977 COWAN, Ian Me Taggart 2088 Acadia Rd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6T IR5. 1977 CRAIGHEAD, Lance Dept. Wldl. Ecol. , Univ. Wise., Madison, WI, 53706. 1978 CRAIG, Robert Brice Dept. Zool., Univ. Calif., Davis, CA, 95616. 1976 CROCKETT, David E. 21 McMillan Ave. , Kamo, Northland, NEW ZEALAND. 1975 CURL, Herbert Jr. Rx4 0CSEAP Office, ERL/NOAA, Boulder, CO, 80302. 1977 CUSTER, Thomas W. Patuxent Wildl. Res. Ctr., Laurel, MD, 20811, 1977 DAU, Christian POB 346, Bethel, AK, 99559. 1977 DAY, Robert H. Div. Life Sci., 203 Bunnell, Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, 99701. 1976 DEPT. FISH & GAME Nongame Wildl. Investigations, 1416 Ninth St,, Sacramento, CA, 95814. 1977 DEPT. OF GAME (Library) 600 No. Capital Way, Olympia, WA. 1977 DeWEESE, Lawrence R. 1328 E. Mulberry, Fort Collins, CO, 80521. 1975 DICK, Matt POB 825, Kodiak, AK, 99615. 1976 DILLON, Bill 28480 Mission Blvd. #201, Hayward, CA, 94544. 1977 DINNEFORD, Bruce 4237 Lark Ellen Ave., Cuvina, CA, 91722. 1975 DIRECCION GENERAL Departamento Fauna Silv. , Aquiles Serdan #28, Mexico , D . F . , MEX , 1977 DIVOKY, George J. Alaska Dept. Fish & Game, 1300 College Rd . , Fairbanks, AK, 99701. 1977 - 7 - DONAGHO, Walter R. c/o Rt. 7, Box 485 A, Olympia, WA, 98506. 1977 DOOLEY, Peggy Coop. Wildl. Res. Lab., So. 111. Univ. , Carbondale, IL, 62901. . 1975 DORAN Associates, Ltd. 2230 Yukon St, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Y 3P2. 1976 DRURY, Wm. H. College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, Maine, 04609. 1978 DUFFY, David C. Dept. Biol. ,? Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ, 08540. 1976 DUNBAR, W. Patrick 2001 Central Ave. , Apt. F, Alameda, CA, 94501. 1975 DUNN, Erica H. P0B 160, Port Rowan, Ont,, Canada, NOE 1M0. 1975 DWYER, Thomas J. USF&WS , West. Alaska Ecol. Sci., 813 D St., Anchorage, AK, 99501. 1975 ECOLOGY Center 2179 Alls ton Way, Berkeley, CA, 94704. 1977 ELLIOT, Bruce G. 485 Manzanita, Felton, CA, 95018. 1976 ENGLE, Helen 4011 Alameda Ave . , Tacoma , WA, 98466. 1976 ENO, Amos Stewart Asst. Sec., Int. Dept., Washington, D. C., 20240, 1975 EPPLEY, Zoe 1969 Loring St., San Diego, CA, 92109. 1977 FETTEROLF, Peter M, Jr. Dept. Zool., Ramsay Wright Zool. Labs, Univ. Toronto, Toronto, Ont,, Canada, 1975 FISCUS 9 Clifford H. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv,, Mar. Mammal Div. , Nav. Sup. Act. Bldg. 192, Seattle, WA, 98115, 1977 FITZNER, Richard E. Ecosystems Dept., 6652 I Bldg, 600 Area, Batelle Northwest Labs, Richland, MA, 99352. 1975 FLOCK, Warren L. Univ. Colo., Dept. Elec. Engr. Boulder, CO, 80309. 1976 FORSEL, Douglas J, 298 Drexel Ave., Ventura, CA, 93003. 1977 FRAZER, David A. 49 West Cramona, Seattle, WA, 98119. 1976 FREEL, Mae ton 6412 Crescent Ave., No. 12, Buena Park, CA, 90620. 1976 FRICKIE, Donald W. POB 346, Bethel, AK, 99559. 1976 FRINGS, Hubert Dept. Zool., Univ. Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 79369. 1977 FRIEDRICHSEN, Gary L. POB 890, Areata, CA, 95521. 1976 FROKE, Jeff Wildl. Mgt. Dept., Humboldt State Univ., Areata, CA, 95521. 1976 GARRETT, Ronald 1543 Patricks Pt. Dr., Trinidad, CA, 95570. 1978 GERSTENBERG, Ron Reedley College, Reedley, CA, 93654. 1977 GILSTON, H. Ch. des Mouettes 16, 1007 Lausanne, Lausanne, SWITZERLAND 1977 8 - GILL, Robert Jr. USF&WS, 800 A St., Ste. 110, Anchorage, AK, 99501. 1977 GNAGY, Joseph 2326 E. Girard PI., Spokane, WA, 99203. 1977 GOULD, Patrick USF&WS, OBS, 800 A St., Ste. 110, Anchorage, AK, 99501. 1980. GRANT, Gilbert Dept. Biol., Univ. Calif., Los Angeles, CA, 90024. 1977 GRAU, C. R. Dept. Avian Sci. , Univ. Calif., Davis, CA, 95616. POB 247, Bodega Bay, CA, 94923. 1976 GRESS , Franklin 1976 GROVES , Sarah Dept. Zool. , Univ. British Col., Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6T 1W5, 1977 GRUBB, Thomas Rt. 3, Box 91A, Marengo, OH, 43334. 1975 GUZMAN, Juan 1012 Varley Dr. NW, Calgary, ALTA, Canada T3B 2V5. 1977 HALVORSEN, Sigurd N-4260 , Torvastad, NORWAY. 1977 HAND, Judith Latta Dept. Biol., Univ. Calif. Los Angeles, CA, 90024. 1975 HANDEL, Colleen POB 163, Kasilof, AK, 99610. 1977 HARDWICK, James Calif. Dept. Fish & Game, 2201 Garden Road, Monterey, CA, 93940. 1977 HARPER, Charles A. POB 3965, San Francisco, CA, 94119. 1977 HARPER, Peter C. 43 Rimu Rd., Raumati Beach, NEW ZEALAND. . 1975 HARRINGTON, Brian POB 0, Manomet, MA, 02345, 1976 HARRIS, M. P. Institute Terrestrial Ecol., Banchory Res. Sta., Hill of Brathens, Glassel Banchory, Kincardineshire AB3 4BY, UNITED KINGDOM. 1975 HARRIS, Stan Dept Wildl. , Humboldt State Univ., Areata, CA, 95521. 1978 HARRISON, Craig USFWS , OCS, OBS, 800 A St., Suite 110, Anchorage, AK, 99501. 1976 HARRISON, Ed. N. West. Found. Vert. Zool., 1100 Glendon Ave. , Los Angeles, CA, 90024. 1976 HARVEY, Thomas E. 2923 Marina Dr., Alameda, CA, 94501, 1976 HASEGAWA, Hiroshi Dept. Zool., Faculty of Sci., Kyoto Univ. , Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606, JAPAN. 1977 HATLER, Davids POB 3250, Smithers, BC, Canada VOJ 2N0. 1976 HEINEMAN , Dennis Dept. Zool., Ore. State Univ., Corvallis, OR, 97331. 1976 HICKEY, Joseph J. Dept. Wildl. Ecol., Univ. Wise., Madison, WI, 53706. 1976 HIGUCHI , Yukio Town Office, Kiinagashima Machi, Mie, JAPAN 5A-32. 1977 HIRSCH, Katherine 208 Cecil St., Minneapolis, MINN, 55414. 1977 HOB ERG, Eric Dept. Vet. Microbio., Univ. Sask. » Canada, Saskatoon, Sask, , S7N, 0W0. 1978 - 9 - HOBERG, Max IMS, Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, 99701. 1978 HOFFMAN, Wayne Dept. Zool. , Ore. State Univ. , Corvallis, OR, 97331. 1977 HORN, Michael H. Dept. Bio., Calif. State Univ., Fullerton, CA, 92634. 1975 HOUT, Jerry L. POB 346, Bethel, AK, 99559. 1976 HOWARD, Paul M. Jr. 555 Audubon PI., Sacramento, CA, 95825. 1976 HOWE, John G. 1822 Apple Ln. , Davis, CA, 95616. 1977 HOWELL, Thomas R. Dept. Bio., TJniv. Calif., Los Angeles, CA, 90024. 1976 HUBBARD, Joel 120 So. 35th St., Boulder, CO, 80303. 1977 HUBER, Harriet Pt. Reyes Bird Obs,, Bolinas, CA, 94924. 1976 HUNT, George Dept. Ecol. & Evol. Bio., Univ. Calif., Irvine, CA, 92717. 1977 HYATT, Herb BLM, Pacific OCS Off., Rm, 7127, 300 N. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA, 90012. 1976 ISLEIB , Pete POB 13.9, Cordova, AK, 99574. 1978 JACOBSEN, Michael J. POB 1287, Juneau, AK, 99803. 1978 JAMES, Paul C, 2342 Caledonia Ave., North Vancouver, BC, Canada. 1978 JEHL, Joseph R. Jr. POB 1390, San Diego, CA, 92112. 1976 JENSEN, J^m Vestergaard Holtevej 13, DK-8000 Aarhus C, DENMARK. 1977 JOHNSON, Oscar W. Dept. Bio., Moorhead State Coll., Moorhead, MN, 56560, 1977 JOHNSON, Stephen R, 10110 124th St., Edmondton, ALTA, T5N 1P6 , 1978 JOLLY, Jon B. 10119 51st SW, Seattle, WA, 98146. 1977 JONES, Lee Univ, Calif., Sch. Med,, Dept. Physiol., Los Angeles, CA, 90024. 1977 JONKEL, George M. USF&WS, Mig. Bird Mgmt., Laurel, Md., 20811. 1977 JUDGE, Debra S. Div. Wildl. & Fish. Biol., Univ. Calif., Davis, CA, 95616, 1977 KAISER, Gary W. POB 125, Delta B.C., Canada V4K 3N6. 1977 KATZ, Sue 910 F St., Davis, CA, 95616. 1977 KAWASHIMA, Sigeuki 24-1 3-chome Nakaochiai, Shinguku-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN. 1977 KEITH, James 0, 1771 S. Welch Circle, Lakewood, CO, 80228. 1977 KESSEL, Brina POB 80211, College Station, Fairbanks, AK, 99708. 1977 KIFF, Lloyd West, Found. Vert, Zool., 1100 Glendon Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90024. 1976 - 10 - KING, James G. POB 1287, Juneau, AK, 99801. 1977 KING, Kirke A. POB 2506, Victoria, XX, 77901. 1977 KING, Rodney J. POB 52, Cordova, AK, 99574. 1977 KING, Warren B. 871 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, VA, 22101. 1975 KIRKPATRICK, Ralph D. 7552 S. 350 E. Osage Farm, Jonesboro, IN, 46938. 1977 KLUDT, Larry R. POB 184, San Martin, CA, 95046. 1977 KNODER, C. Eugene West. Environ. Sci. Prog., Nat . Audubor^ Soc . , 9250 W. 5th Ave. , Lakewood, CO, 80226. 1976 KOOYMAN, Gerald L. 12998 Via Grimaldi, Del Mar, CA, 92014. 1976 KRASNOW, Lynne D. 1375 Orange Ave., San Carlos, CA, 94070. 1976 LAND IN, Mary Collins POB 631, Vicksburg, MISS, 39180. 1977 LARSON, James W. Nat. Park Ser., 540 W. 5th Ave., Anchorage, AK, 99501. 1977 LARSON, Robert C. 3356 Dale St., Ketchikan, AK, 99901. 1975 LEACH, Howard Calif, Fish & Game Dept., 1416 Ninth St., Sacramento, CA, 95814. 1979 LEDDY, Mathew 116 Cuesta Dr., S San Francisco, CA, 94080. 1977 LENT, Peter USFWS, c/o UCS Prog. 0ff.Rx4, NOAA Environ. Res. Lab., Boulder, CO, 80302. 1976 LESCHNER, Lora 11525 32 Ave. NE, Seattle, WA, 98125. 1977 LeVALLEY, Ron Pt. Reyes Bird Obs., 4990. State, Rte. 1, Stinson Beach, CA, 94970. 1977 LEVEQUE, Raymond Station omithologique suisse, CH-6204 SEMPACH, SWITZERLAND. 1979 LIBRARY of Congress Exchange & Gift Div. (IO) , Washington, D.C., 20540. 1977 LIBRARY Edward Grey Inst. Fid. Omith. , 1977 South Parks Road, Oxford, ENGLAND, 0X1 3PS LIBRARY Patuxent Wildlife Res. Ctr., USDI, Laurel, MD, 20811, ATTN: Lynda Garrett, Librarian 1977 LIBRARY Dept. Wildl. & Fish., Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, 99701, 1977 LIBRARY Wildl. Res. Ctr., USF&WS , Fed. Ctr. Bldg. 16, Denver, CO, 80225. 1977 LOS ANGELES Public Library, Serials Sci-Tech, 630 West 5th, Los Angeles, CA, 90071. 1977 LOWE, Roy III 1507 Oakleaf Ave. , Healdsburg, CA, 95448. 1977 MAJOR, Peter Dept. Biol. Sci. , Simon Frazer Univ., Burnaby, BC, V5A 156. 1976 11 - MAKISHIMA, Kugene 40117 Santa Teresa Common, Fremont, CA, 94538. 1977 MAN ION, Bruce Univ. 111. Med. Ctr., Dept. Anatomy, POB 6990, Chicago, IL, 60680. 1976 MANUWAL, David A. Wildl. Sci. Grp., College Forest Resources ’AR10, Univ, Washington, .Seattle, WA, 98195. 1977 MARSHALL, Mac Dept. An thro. , Univ. Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242. 1975 MATTHIESEN, Diana G. Dept. Biol. Sci., San Jose State Univ., San Jose, CA, 95192. 1975 MATTOCKS, Philip W. Jr. 10109 NE 24th, Bellvue, WA, 98004. 1977 McCASKIE, Guy 1310 14th St., Imperial Beach, CA, 92032. 1976 McCORMICK, Kevin J. Nat. Parks & Wildl. Office,, Jelan Kertak, Kuching, Sarawak,- E. MALAYSIA. 1976 McCRIMMON, Donald A. Cornell Lab Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. , Ithaca, NY, 14853. 1977 MCDONALD, Malcolm E. US Nat. Fish & Wildl. Serv. , 1976 Health Lab, Univ Wise. , Vet. Sci. Madison, WI, 53706. » McGILL UNIV. MacDonald Coll., Library, McGill Univ., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3C 3G1. 1977 McHUGH , Kenneth c/o Peace Corps, POB 158, Koror, Palau, WEST. CAROLINE ISLAND, 96940. 1975 mcmillan, Hugh Salisbury, CONN 06068. 1975 MELVILLE, David Agr. & Fish. Dept., 393 Canton Rd., Kowloon, HONG KONG. 1977 MESLOW, E. C. Ore. Coop. Wildl. Res. Unit, Ore. State Univ., Corvallis, OR, 97331. 1975 MacINTOSH, Richard POB 1561, Kodiak, AK, 99615. 1977 MEWALDT, Richard Avian Biol. Lab. , San Jose State Univ., San Jose, CA, 95192. 1975 MICKELSON, Peter Dept. Wildl. & Fish., Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, 99701. 1977 MILLER, Gregg 2168 Emerson St., Berkeley, CA, 94705. 1977 MOBERG, Eric 2521 Carson St., Redwood City, CA, 94061. 1977 MOE, Allen Ambler, AK. 1976 MONTGOMERY, Donald Rt. 5, Box 5658, Juneau, AK, 99803. 1976 MOREHOUSE, Keith A. Joint State/Fed, Fish & Wildl. Advisory Team, 628 F St., Anchorage, AK, 99501. 1975 MORE JOHN, Victor POB 223, Moss Landing, CA, 75039. 1976 - 12 - MORTENS EN, Erik Klokkaragota 24, 3800 Torshavn, Faroe Island via DENMARK. 1977 MYRES, M. T. Dept Biol., Univ. Calgary, Calgary, ALTA, Canada, T2N 1N4. 1977 NELSON, Harvey 2431 Riviera Dr. , Vienna, VA, 22180. 1975 NELSON, Jay POB 1916, Sitka, AK, 99835. 1977 NELSON, R. Wayne Dept. Biol., Univ. Calgary, Calgary, ALTA, Canada, T2N 1N4. 1976 NETTLESHIP, D. N. Canadian Wi^dl. Serv. , Mar. Ecol. Lab., Bedford Inst. Ocean., Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, B2Y 4A2. 1976 NORTON, David W. NOAA-OCSEP Arctic Pro j . Off., Geophys. Inst., Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, 99701. 1975 NYSEWANDER, David R. USF&WS, 800 A St., Anchorage, AK, 99501. 1977 OAKLEY, Karen S.R. Box 20195, 2-mile Goldstream Rd., Fairbanks, AK, 99701. 1976 OHLENDORF , Harry Patuxent Wildl. Res. Ctr., Laurel, MD, 20811. 1978 OLSEN, Bergun Kagsakollegiet 161, 2730 Herlev, DENMARK. 1977 OSBORNE , Timo thy 1510 W. Carriage Dr. , Santa Ana, CA, 92704. 1977 PACE, Gary c/o PRBO, 4990 State Rt. 1, Stinson Beach, CA, 94970, 1977 PARCELLS, Steve 4137 24th St., Apt. 4, San Francisco, CA. 1977 PATLA, Susan M. 7415 Olivetas St., La Jolla, CA, 92037. 1977 PATTEN, Samuel M. Jr. Dept. Pathobio., John Hopkins Univ. , 615 No. Wolfe St. , Baltimore, MD, 21205. 1975 PAULIK, Edgar 762 Heather St., Richmond, BC, Canada, V64 2P9. 1976 PAYNE, Elaine 726 E. Laguna Ave, , Santa Maria, CA, 93454. 1976 PEARCY , William G, Sch. Oceanography, Ore State Univ., Corvallis, OR, 77331. 1976 PERCY FITZPATRICK Inst. African Ornith., Univ. of Cape Town, Rondebosch, CPS AFRICA. 1977 PETERSEN, Aevar Edward Grey Inst. Ornith., Dept. Zool., South Parks Rd., Oxford, ENGLAND 0X1 3PS. 1977 PETERSON, Margaret R. PEYTON, Leonard POB 250, Suisun, CA, 94585. Inst. Arctic Biol., Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, 99701. 1976 PHILLIPS, Mark 2092 Palomino Ln. , Areata, CA, 95521. 1977 PIEROTTI, Raymond 370 26th Ave,, Santa Cruz, 1976 CA, 95062. - 13 - PITELKA, Prank A. Mus. Vert. Zool. , Univ. Calif., Berkeley, CA, 94720. 1976 PITMAN, R. L. 8720 Harness St., Spring Valley, CA, 92077. 1976 PORTNOY, John W. 515 Gardere Ln. , Baton Rouge, LA, 70808. 1976 POUCH, Edward W. POB 286, Lewes, Delaware, 19958, 1975 POUCH, Richard H. 33 Highbrook Ave., Pelham, NY, 10803. 1977 POWERS, Kevin 7 Jones St. Worcester , MASS, 01604. 1976 PYLE, Robert L. 741 N. Kalaheo Ave., Kailua, HI, 96734. 1975 QUAMMEN, Mellicent Dept. Biol. Sci., Univ. Calif., Santa Barbara, CA. 1977 QUAST, Jay Rt. 5, Box 5694, Juneau, Alaska, 99801. 1977 RAMSEY, Fred L, 2504 NW. Mulkey, Corvallis, OR, 97330. 1976 REARDEN, Jim Outdoors Ed . , Alaska Mag . , POB 313,' Homer, AK, 99603. 1976 RICE, Robin C. Dept Entom. , Univ. Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, 96822. 1975 RICKLEFS, Robert Dept. Biol., Univ. Penn., Philadelphia, PA, 19174. 1977 RIECK, Carroll State of Wash,, Dept. Game, 600 No. Capitol Wy. , Olympia, WA, 98504. 1976 RIEGER, John P. 4123% Wilson Ave., San Diego, CA, 92104. 1977 RISEBROUGH, Robert W. Bodega Mar. Lab., POB 247, Bodega Bay, CA, 94923. 1977 ROBBINS , Chandler S . US Fish & Wildl. Ser. , Migratory Bird & Habitat Res, Lab., Laurel MD, 20811. 1975 ROBERTSON, Ian 6267 Thorne Rd., Burnaby, BC, Canada, V3N 2V2. 1976 ROBERTSON, William Everglades Nat. Park., Homestead, FL, 33030. 1976 ROCKWOOD, Stephen M/V Tustemena, POB 66, Seward, AK, 99664. 1976 ROE, William G, 2318 E. Elm St., Tucson, ARIZ, 85719. 1977 ROUDYBUSH, Tom 2950 Portage Bay #223, Davis, CA, 95616. 1978 RUOS , James L, 7145 Deer Valley, Highland, MD, 20777. 1977 RYDER, Oliver A, Dept. Reproductive Med., C-015, Univ. Calif. San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037. 1976 RYDER, Ronald A, Dept. Fish. & Wildl. Biol., Colo, State Univ., Fort Collins, CO, 80523, 1976 14 - SANGER, Gerald A 1976 US Fish & Wildl. Serv. , Off. Bird Serv., 800 A St., Anchorage, AK, 99501. SANTA BARBARA HUS . NAT . HIST., 2559 Puesta Del Sol Rd., Santa Barbara, CA, 93105. 1976 SAUNDERS , David Sunnyhill, Rosemarket, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales, GREAT BRITAIN. 1976 SCHAMEL , Douglas U of A Wildl. Mgt . , Univ. Alaska, Faii^banks, AK, 99701. 1976 SCHLATTER, Roberto Institute de Zoologia, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, CHILE. 1976 SCHOUTEN, Madelon 14916 Thrift Ave., White Rock, BC, Canada, V4B 2J9. 1977 SCHREIBER, Ralph W. Omith. , Nat. Hist. Mus., 900 Exposition Blvd., Los kngeles, CA, 90007. 1976 SCHWARTZ, Doug 13402 Eton PI., Santa Ana, CA, 92705. 1977 SCOTT, Joan AFCED/EV, Tyndall AFB, FL, 32401. 1976 SCOTT, Michael POB 44, Hawaii Nat. Park, HI,* 96718. 1977 SEALY, Spencer G. Univ Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 1976 SEARING, Gary LGL Lt *d. , 10110 124th St,, Edmonton, ALTA, Canada. 1976 SEDGEWICK, G. E. 5 Benita Way Martinez , CA, 94553. 1976 SEKORA, Palmer C. 337 Uluniu St., Kailua, HI, 96734. 1976 SENNER, Stan Wildl. Res. Unit, Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, 99701. 1977 SERIALS DEPT. McGill Univ. Libraries, 3459 McTavish St., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1Y1. 1977 SERIALS SECTION The Libraries, Colo. State Univ., Fort Collins, CO, 80521. 1977 SCHALLENBERGER, Robert J. Ahuimanu Productions, POB 1166, Kailua, Oahu, HI, 96734. 1975 SMITH, David C, c/o Bird Rescue Ctr. , Aquatic Park, Berkeley, CA, 94710. 1977 SMITH, Susan M. Depto. de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, Cuidad Universitaria, COSTA RICA. 1976 SOWL, L. W. 5107 Southampton Dr., Annandale, VA, 22003. 1977 SOWLS, Arthur L. c/o USF&WS-OBS , 800 A St., Suite 110, Anchorage AK, 99501, 1977 SPEICH, Steven 1250 West Philadelphia Ave. , Ontario, CA, 91761. 1977 SPRINGER Paul F. Migratory Bird Res. Sta., USF&WS , c/o Humboldt State Univ., Areata, CA, 95521. 1976 - 15 - SPROUL, John Jr. 8413 Buckingham Dr. , El Cerrito, CA, 94530. 1976 SPRUNT, Alexander IV 115 Indian Mound Trail, Tavernier, FL, 33070. 1976 STALLCUP, Richard 7481 Woodrow Dr., Oakland, CA, 94611. 1977 STENZEL, Lynne 4990 State Rt. 1, Stinson Beach, CA, 94970. 1977 STEWART, Robert PRBO, 4990 Shoreline Hwy, , Stinson Beach, CA, 94970. 1977 ST. LOUIS, Martin 4848 Angelus, Areata, CA, 95521. 1977 STRANG, Carl A. Dept. Biol. Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, 17013. 1977 STRONG, Helen Box 8, Alder Rd., Bolinas, CA, 94924. 1977 SWEET, Nathan C. Jr. POB 1388, Cambria, CA, 93428. 1976 TAYLOR, Lawrence J, 4679 William St. , Omaha, NB, 68106. 1976 THOMPSON, Max C. Southwestern College, Winfield, KS, 67156. 1976 THOMAS , Dana 825 NW 23rd, Riveria Apts. #51, Corvallis, OR, 97331. 1977 THORESEN, Asa C. Box 147 Andrews, Berrien Springs, MI, 49104. 1976 THRELFALL, William Dept. Biol. , Memorial Univ. , St. John’s NFLD, Canada, A1C 5S7. 1976 TODD, Frank S. Sea World, 1700 So. Sho es Rd. , San Diego, CA, 92109. 1976 TRAPP, John L. Aleutian Islands NWR, POB 5251, Adak, AK, 99695. 1977 TULL, Eric 10110 124th St., Edmonton, ALTA, Canada, T5N 1P6. 1977 TWEIT, William H. Rt. 3, Box 944, Olympia, WA, 98506. 1976 UC-DOCUMENTS DEPT. Serials Dept., Gen. Libr., Univ. Calif., Berkeley, CA, 94720. 1977 UC-DOCUMENTS DEPT. Serials Dept., Gen. Libr., Univ. Calif., Davis, CA, 95616. 1977 UDVARDY, M. D. F. Dept. Biol. Sci. , Calif. State Univ., Sacramento, CA, 95819. 1977 VAN CLEVE, G. Bernard 304 So. Winebiddle St., Pittsburgh, PA, 15224. 1977 VAROUJEAN, Daniel Dept. Wildl. & Fish. Bio., Univ. Calif., Davis, CA, 95616. 1977 VASSALLO, Marilyn 215 Walnut St., Pacific Grove, CA, 93950. 1977 VERMEER, Kees 8968 Mainwaring Rd., Sidney, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, V8L 1J7. 1977 VILLA-RAMIREZ, Bernardo Privada de San Lucas No, 9, Coyoacan, Mexico 21, D, F, , Mex. 1976 VOLLERTSEN, John T. Dept. Biol., Univ. New Mex., Albuquerque, NM, 87131. -16- 1977 WAHL, Terrence R. 3041 Eldridge, Bellingham, WA, 98225. 1977 WALTERS, Michael P. Sub-Dept. Ornith. , British Mus. Nat. Hist., Tring Mus., Tring, Hertfordshire, ENGLAND, 1975 WALTON, Brian J. CRBI, POB 2565, Santa Clara, CA, 95053. 1976 WARD, John G. 10110 - 124th St. , Edmonton, ALTA, Canada. 1977 WARHAM, John Zool. Dept.,? Univ Canterbury,' Utrist church, NEW ZEALAND. 1976 WARTER, Stewart Dept. Biol., LBS, Long Beach State Univ., Long Beach, CA, 90840. 1976 WATSON, Jay F. 9325 SW Parkview Loop, Beaverton, OR, 97005, 1977 WATSON, Louisa 4323 Cathedral Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 20016. 1978 WEBB, Morgan C, Dept. Biol., Morningside College, Sioux City, IA, 51106. 1975 WEHLE, Duff 202 BunAell, Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, 99701. 1977 WESTON, Henry G. Jr. Dept. Biol., San Jose State Univ., San Jose, CA, 95192. 1977 WHITE, Clayton Dept. Zool,, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, Utah, 84601. 1978 WIENS, John A. Dept. Zool., Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR, 97331. 1977 WILBUR, Sanford R. 405 Park Rd., Ojai, CA, 93023. 1975 WILSON, Graham Biol. Dept. , Memorial Univ. St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada. 1977 WOHL, Kent POB 1159, Anchorage, AK, 99510. 1976 WOLK, Robert G. Nassau Co. Mus., Seaford, NY, 11783. 1975 WOODLEY, Robert E. 1935 Hetrick Ave., Richland, WA, 99352. 1975 WOODWARD BIOMEDICAL LIBR. Serials Div,, Univ, British Columbia, 2075 Wesbrook PI., Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1W5. 1977 WOOLINGTON, Dennis W. Wildl. Res. Fid. Station, Humboldt State Univ., Areata, CA, 95521. 1975 YESNER, David R. Univ. Alaska, 2533 Providence Ave., Anchorage, AK, 99504. 1976 YOCUM, Charles Dept. Wildl., Humboldt State Univ., Areata, CA, 95521. 1977 ZEILLEMAKER, C. Fred USFWS, Hawaiian Is. NWR, POB 87, Kilauea, HI, 96754. 1977 - 17 - IV. Items of Interest. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE , THE CHANGING SEA-BIRD POPULATIONS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC — An international conference, sponsored by the BOU, BTO, RSBP, British Seabird Group, Scottish Ornithologists 1 Club, and Wildfowl Trust was scheduled for 26-28 March 1977 at Aberdeen University, Scot- land, to enable the many workers on sea-birds in Europe and on the east- ern seaboard of North America to meet and find out about each other’s research. Members of the sponsoring societies, and others interested in the subject, were encouraged to attend. 5 Morning sessions were devoted to in depth topics and afternoons to invited and offered papers on current research. Morning topics were as follows : Saturday: POPULATION ECOLOGY Auks and gulls were selected as the two groups to be covered. Sunday: HUMAN INFLUENCES Fisheries, oil development, and chemical pol- lution. Monday: SURVEYS Birds at sea and the use of aerial techniques. Correspondence about the program should be sent to Chris Mead, British Trust for Ornithology, Beech Grove, Tring, Herts. HP23 5NR, who is secretary of the organizing committee (Professor George Dunnet, Dr. Christopher Perrins, and Clare Lloyd). COLONIAL WATERBIRD GROUP— A Colonial Waterbird Group (CWG) was formed at the North American Wading Bird Conference on 16 October 1976. The group combines the North American Wading Bird Group and the Seabird Group from eastern North America. Preliminary objectives of the CWG are: 1) to encourage and coordinate standardized surveys of colonial waterbirds, 2) to assist efforts by conservationists related to protection and manage- ment of wetland and coastal ecosystems, and 3) to act as a clearinghouse of information for on-going research and research opportunities. The group has established a newsletter as a channel of communication among the CWG members and plans a meeting *late in 1977. Chairperson of the pro tempore Steering Committee for CWG is John C. Ogden, editor of the Newsletter is Mitchell A. Byrd, and Secretary- Treasurer is Joanna Burger. All those interested in joining are urged to contact Joanna Burger, Department of Biology, Livingston College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903. Dues for 1977 are $5.00. COLONY CATALOGUE , ALASKA — OBS-CE is engaged in a project of cataloging seabird colonies along the coastline of Alaska, a distance of over 34,000 miles, most remote and seldom visited. The cataloging effort was begun about seven years ago by FWS employees Jim Bartonek, LeRoy Sowl, George Divoky , Palmer Sekora, Ed Bailey, Vern Byrd, Larry Haddock, Jim King, and Dan Gibson; but it received a revitalizing boost with OCS funds from BLM through a NOAA-contracted study. - 18 - The catalog is an open file of information on each of thousands of colonies within the state. Colony records, maps, and photographs are kept at our office and are available for use to anyone. Certain basic information about each colony is being computerized to assist in analyses of oil spill risks, relationships between pelagic distribution and breeding sites, identification of critical habitats, and assessing changes in population status from whatever cause, and dispensing information. A preliminary catalog of the colonies should be published by the end of 1977 and made available for distribution. We recognize that the data in this catalog will vary in quality and precision of estimates, but nonetheless it will provide the base from which information can be added, upgraded, or corrected. Anyone wishing more information or having comments or data to contribute is encouraged to write or stop by our office at any time. Forms and instructions used in this catalog are available upon request. Remember that a preliminary catalog will be published by the end of this year, and your data are needed. All data will be properly credited. Arthur L. Sowls U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Biological Services - Coastal Ecosystems 800 A Street - Suite 110 Anchorage, Alaska 99501 November 1976 V. Bulletin Board . SPECIMENS WANTED — The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Section of Ornithology, will act as repository for any and all dead birds. We are particularly interested in birds which can be sexed, either through examination of the gonads or plumage characteristics, and desire to build up the skeleton and alcoholic collections through aquisition of birds found dead and in a reasonably fresh condition. We are particulary inter- ested in marine birds but will accept any and all wild birds, and certain captives. We suggest freezing the specimens and encourage you to label the specimen with date and place and wrapping it in clear plastic bag which is tightly closed. Call us when you need to ship the specimens to Los Angeles, Ralph W. Schreiber Los Angeles County Museum 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, Calif. 90007 AC 213, 746-0410 October 1976 - 19 - SEABIRD PHOTOS WANTED — For my forthcoming field guide of the western birds I still need a few color slides of less often photographed species. The publishers. Chanticleer Press of New York pay $75 for single use of one 35 mm (2by2 ,f ) color slide. Following are needed: All North Pacific Shearwaters Laysan Albatross Leach/ s Storm-petrel Black Storm-petrel Pacific Eider (drake) ? Black Turnstone (1 or more, flying) Ross 1 Gull Aleutian Tern Cassin*s Auklet Kittlitz Murrelet Marbled M, (summer plumage) Xantus* Murrelet Craveri’s Murrelet Paraqueet Auklet Please contact by letter, giving your phone number. Miklos D. F. Udvardy Dept. Biol. Sciences Calif. State University Sacramento, CA 95819 December 1976 BANDING AND COLOR-MARKING GULLS IN ALASKA— One of the major projects of Sam and Renee Patten has been the color-marking and banding of gulls in the Cordova area. They are concluding their second year on a study of breeding ecology of the Gulf of Alaska Herring Gull group (Larus argentatus x Larus glaucescens) . The purpose of this research has been to investigate the reproductive success of this gull group prior to the development of oil resources, obtain some idea of the diseases resident in this bird population, study migration routes, ascertain the evolutionary status, and examine the potential of these gulls to serve as an indicator species for environmental decline. Thirty adult gulls have been dyed yellow and wear conspicious leg bands. On one leg the gulls have a large aluminum band (with yellow tape in 1976), and on the other leg is a large orange plastic band with the codes COO to C99 in black letters. Seventy-five juvenile gulls from the Egg Island study area also wear bands with this combination. The juvenile gulls are otherwise unmarked. The Pattens have banded some 4500 other gulls during the course of this NOAA project. Anyone seeing yellow adult gulls or recovering gull bands please notify them c/o Forest Service, P.0. Box 280, Cordova, AK 99574. Sam Patten Dept. Pathobiology John Hopkins Univ, 615 N. Wolfe Street Baltimore, MD 21205 December 1976 - 20 - II. British Columbia. ITEMS OF INTEREST — (1) The regional representative of British Colubmia has recent communication with Dr. N, Litvinenko from Vladivostok. According to Dr. Litvinenko there are only five Russian ornithologists seriously engaged in seabird work .in the Pacific Region, They are : E. A, Mihtarjyants, who investigates the breeding biology of the Alcidae at the Komandor Islands. Ju, V. Shibaev, who is interested in the breeding biology of Alcidae of South Primorye and the distribution of seabirds in Prime rye and Khabarovsk Region. A. G, Velizhanin works on seabirds from the Kuril Islands and problems of origin of the insular fauna, L. V, Phirsova, an ornithologist from Leningrad who collects information on gulls at the Komandor Islands, M. Litvinenko is interested in the breeding biology, food habits and migration of seabirds in the Peter the Great Bay. There are seabird colonies of Larus crass irostris , Cepphus carbo , Uria aalge , Synthliboramphus antiquus , Cerorhinca monocerata , Oceanodroma mono rh is . Puff inus leucomelas , Phalacrocorax f ilamentosus and P. pelagicus in Peter the Great Bay. (2) A limited number of bibliographies on the effects of oil pollution on birds and aquatic organisms have recently been reprinted. Copies can be obtained from Kees Vermeer. The bibliographies are: R. Vermeer and K. Vermeer. 1974. Oil pollution of birds: an abstracted bibliography. Canadian Wildlife Service. Pesticide Section. Manuscript report 29:1-68. R. Vermeer and K. Vermeer. 1974, The biological effects of oil pollution on aquatic organisms: A summarized bibliography. Canadian Wildlife Service. Pesticide Section. Manuscript Report 31:1-67. Kees Vermeer Regional Representative British Columbia -22 MARINE BIRD INTEREST IN AUSTRALIA — I am a member of the Australasian Seabird Group, living 100 metres from the shores of the South Pacific in South East Queensland. We came here to retire from the U.K. some 3 years ago and are very active in promoting interest in local ornithology as I have been involved in amateur ornithological field work in the U.K., Europe and on world trips for nearly 40 years, I have made special studies of sea birds and would like to exchange news and views with any of your members who have the time and the inclination to do so — bird movements, local publications, etc. I T^ave detailed notes of sea bird movements off the coast locally — we get very large flocks up to 350,000 of the Short Tailed Shearwater in Nov, and Dec. Also several thousand Fluttering Shearwaters in addition to the usual influx each summer of the waders from Siberia and Mongolia. Maurice Glasman 14 Ocean Sound Broadbeach Q4217 Quensland, Australia December 1976 REGIONAL REPORTS I . Alaska . The summer of 1976 saw the largest seabird research effort in the history of Alaska. Work was conducted on Forrester Island in extreme southeast Alaska, on the westernmost Aleutian Islands and on the Arctic coast as far east as the border with Canada. Few areas in between these points were missed as ship, boat and aerial censusing as well as site specific work were carried out by a number of investigators. Most of the field research was funded by the Outer Continental Shelf Energy Assessment Program. The preceding issue of the Bulletin contains a listing of the various projects and investigators. Reports from the field of large scale failure at many breeding colonies and normal to good production at other colonies prompted the OCS program to hold a meeting of all investigators in order to see how dif- ferences in nesting success and chronology might be explained. Weather and ice investigators presented information that might explain some of the bird phenomena. A summary of the major findings of the meeting will be included in the next PSG Bulletin. George J, Divoky Regional Representative Alaska - 21 - IV. Oregon . Apparently there is no active seabird research being conducted on the Oregon coast this year. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife (Oregon Islands Refuge management) conducted their annual aerial survey of the offshore breeding colonies in June. The Corvallis Audubon ‘Society made one pelagic birding trip in August. A group of people from the OSU Marine Science Center and the Oregon Fish Commission Laboratory, Newport Oregon are conducting monthly censuses of the Yaquina Bay Estuary. ? ITEMS OF INTEREST — Oregon is presently involved in a major political battle over land use planning. A group of citizens asking for "local control" are attempting to repeal the state f s Land Use Planning Laws. If this move is successful, the result will be to return all zoning authority to local governments. On the Oregon coast the likely result is a free hand for the Developers, at least until the state legislature can come up with some other means of frustrating them. V. Northern California , No significant developments in the area to report. Offshore oil studies will hopefully be funded in 1977, and a major research thrust should begin soon. Hopefully, future developments will warrant a report in the next issue. David G. Ainley Regional Representative Northern California VI. Southern California . CURRENT RESEARCH — University of California, Irvine (Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Irvine, California) (1) A major project is the Bureau of Land Management sponsored baseline study of marine seabirds utilizing the Southern California Bight area. Studies include breeding biology of nesting birds, distribution and seasonality of non-breeders, foraging areas and foods of all species. These studies are designed to identify areas that would be particularly sensi- tive to oil resource development off southern California. Breeding species being studied closely are Western Gull, Cassin's Auklet and Xantus* Murrelet. Also investigated, though less intensely, are Brandis, Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorant, Pigeon Guillemot, Ashy, Leach* s, and Black Storm-Petrels. The latter being recorded as a breeder in the United States for the first time this year. Principal investi- gator: George L. Hunt, Jr., with Ken Briggs and David Lewis (University of California, Santa Cruz) and Steve Speich and Robert Pitman at University of California, Irvine, (2) Molly and George Hunt are continuing their study of super- normal clutches and lesbian pairing of Western Gulls on the Channel Islands . - 24 - III. Washington . CURRENT RESEARCH— (1) University of Washington (Wildlife Science Group, College of Forest Resources) . Completed Studies: 1. Reproductive biology and activity of the Rhinoceros Auklet on Protection Island, Washington. Ulrich W. Wilson (MS thesis, 1977). 2. Breeding biology of the Rhinoceros Auklet on Destruction Island. Lora L. Leschner (MS thesis, 1976). 3. The comparative biology of the Tufted and Homed Puffins in the Barren Islands, Alaska, Michael Amaral (MS thesis, 1977) . 4. The breeding ecology of the Fork-tailed Storm Petrel on the Barren Islands, Alaska. Dee Boersma and David A. Manuwal. 5. Habitat utilization and activity patterns of the Parakeet Auklet in subarctic Alaska, David A. Manuwal and Naomi J, Manuwal. (2) University of Washington (Department of Zoology) Studies in progress: Effects of foraging by seabirds on intertidal marine invertebrate populations. John Landahl (Ph.D, thesis) . (3) University of Puget Sound (Department of Biology) Completed Studies: Biology of an endangered population of Caspian Terns in Grays Harbor. Steven Penland (MS thesis) . ITEMS OF INTEREST— The Pacific Northwest Bird and Mammal Society held an informal workshop on seabird research and conservation on 26 November 1976 at the British Columbia Provincial Museum. Correspondence regarding the workshop should be directed to: Dr. Kees Vermeer, Canadian Wildlife Service, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, B. C . , V4K 3N2 or Mr. Wayne Cambell, B. C. Provincial Museum, Victoria, B. G. The Pacific Northwest Bird and Mammal Society encourages the publication of seabird research of regional significance in its publication The Murrelet . Manuscripts should be sent to the Editor, Dr. Richard E. Johnson, Department of Zoology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163. David A. Manuwal Regional Representative Washington 23 - VII. Mexico. No report received. Bernardo Villa-Ramirez Regional Representative Mexico VIII .Hawaii . CURRENT RESEARCH — To my knowledge, f no new seabird research projects have been initiated in Hawaii since the last report (vol, 3, #1). However, a report of a short physiological study of the Sooty Tern has been published as a Technical Report (#60) of the International Biological Program in Hawaii — "Oxygen Consumption, Evaporative Water Loss and Body Temperature in the Sooty Tern, Sterna fuscata (1975) by Richard E. MacMillen, G. Causey Whittow, Ernest A. Christopher and Roy J. Ebisu. Limited copies of this report may be available through the IBP, Dept, of Botany, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822, CONSERVATION NOTES — Three conservation issues of significance to Hawaiian seabirds were discussed in Vol. 3(1), This report will serve as an update on the earlier information, (1) Oahu's offshore islets — Proposed regulation changes for offshore seabird refuges have been delayed by violent opposition of local fishermen to the inclusion of certain islets that are traditional fishing grounds. Compromise proposals, including permitted camping on certain islets, have been suggested, but the fisher- men refuse to bend. Fortunately, the most controversial islets are of least significance to seabirds and some changes in the proposed regulation are possible without losing its effectiveness. Resolution of the conflict will probably take several months, I have suggested that the Division of Fish and Game undertake a census program on the islets in the proposed regulation, but it may be some time before this happens. (2) Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge — The boundary dispute involving this Refuge is still very much undecided, but nego- tiations for a three party (Hawaii Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Marine Fisheries Service) cooper- ative study are underway. Mr. Brent Giezentanner , of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has recently moved to Hawaii, where he will be spearheading cooperative research in the Refuge. Mr, Ed Bryan, of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, has been con- tracted to prepare an annotated bibliography of Hawaiian and central Pacific seabirds as a preliminary effort in this study. Active research projects may begin as early as next summer. Also, Merlin Perkins visited the Refuge for his Wild Kingdom show during this last summer. The segment on the Refuge is expected to air sometime this winter. An article in National Geographic about the Leewards is expected to appear in Spring, 1977. 26 - (3) Millicent Quammen, a graduate student at U.C. Irvine is con- ducting a study of the effect that small shorebirds have on their food supply while feeding on intertidal mudflats. Upper Newport Bay and Mugu Lagoon are the sites where these studies will be carried out. ITEMS OF INTEREST— (1) Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Ralph W, Schreiber has been appointed Curator of Birds, replacing Kenneth E, Stager, who has retired, Schreiber has conducted extensive research on pelicans, gulls, and other marine birds and looks forward to continuing his research on the west coast and in the tropical Pacific. (2) San Diego Natural History Museum J, R. Jehl, Jr, is continuing a long-term study of birds on Los Coronados. Earlier this year the Mexican government announced that, for the first time in many years, tourist groups may be permitted access to the islands. The effect of this policy will be closely followed. (3) Sea World Frank Todd, Curator of Birds, reports that Sea World had rehabilitated approximately 40 pelicans this fall, with birds being received from as far away as Las Vegas and Tucson. This high figure may indicate that Gulf of California birds enjoyed a favorable nesting season. (4) Recent literature: The following ornithological literature published in the Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History, may be of interest. Copies may be ordered through the Library, Natural History Museum, P.0. Box 1390, San Diego, CA 92112. Jehl, J. R., Jr. and S. I. Bond. 1975. Morphological variation and species limits in murrelets of the Genus Endomy chra . Vol. 18, no. 2. Jehl, J, R. , Jr. 1975. Pluvianellus socialis : biology, ecology and relationships of an enigmatic Patagonian shorebird, Vol. 18, no. 3, Storer, R. W. 1976. The bahavior and relationships of the Least Grebe, Vol, 18, no, 6, Jehl, J, R, , Jr, and M, A, E. Rumboll, Notes on the avifauna of Isla Grande and Patagonia, Argentina. Vol. 18, no, 8. DeWeese, L, R, , and D, W. Anderson. 1976, Distribution and breeding biology of Craveri^s Murrelet. Vol, 18, no. 9. Joseph R, Jehl, Jr, Regional Representative Southern California - 25 - (3) Kaula and Kahoolawe — The controversy involving the return of Kahoolawe Island to the State of Hawaii is still unresolved. As long as the issue remains undecided, the future of Kaula Island as a bombing target will be uncertain. Biologists from the Fish and Wildlife Service and the State Fish and Game visited the Island again in early September for censusing activities. There has been no document published by either agency regarding the impact of ongoing bombing activities on seabird populations. Nor has there been any attempt to include biologists from outside Federal or State agencies on any of the Kaula visits, despite repeated requests. Robert J, Shallenberger Regional Representative Hawaii - 27 - the Antarctic and Subantarctic, and an estimate of krill consumption by birds. Calculations indicated there to be on the order of 188 x 10® birds in the southern ocean (south of the subtropical convergence) with a bio- mass of some 577,000 metric tons. Sixty-five percent of the birds and 55% of th.e biomass is in the Subantarctic; 65% of total stocks and 90% of the biomass is comprised by penguins. The greatest importance of birds to south polar ecosystems (marine) comes largely through their role as consumers and competitors with mammals (including man) . It was estimated that birds consume 38 x 10^ tons of food per year making them about equal in importance to both pinnipeds and cetaceans. It came out in another part of the meeting, a discussion of a computer simulation model of the Ross Sea pelagic ecosystem (by K. A. Green, Texas A & M University), that penguins are possibly among the most sensitive indicators of eco- system state and much less expensive to monitor than invertebrates.... quite a concession coming from biological oceanographers! When more complete data are put into the model, particularly on birds, we will be very interested to see where birds then stand. - 29 - GENERAL NOTES ON SEABIRD CONSERVATION THE LIVING RESOURCES OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN? AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE by f David G. Ainley Point Reyes Bird Observatory 4990 State Route 1 Stinson Beach, CA 94970 If the primary predator of a community is destroyed, then surely this leaves a "surplus” of prey for its former competitors. Or at least that is the basic premise, based only on theory, that propels fisheries organizations to look ever harder at the feasibility of harvesting krill (Euphausiids , particularly Euphausia superba ) in the Subantarctic and Antarctic. Now that harvest of southern whales has just about become economically unfeasible, fishing interests are eyeing the whales f food as a resource needing exploitation. Some researchers have gone so far as to say that krill now represents the largest single untapped fishery resource on Earth. For several years the Japanese, and to a much lesser degree the Russians, have been conducting experimental fishing of krill; in 1975, West Germany and Poland organized their first Antarctic expeditions with the sole purpose being to conduct experimental fishing in the Antarctic, particularly on krill. The growing pressure and interest in further economic exploitation of antarctic living resources led the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) , both of the ICSU (International Council of Scientific Unions) , to organize an effort to (1) assess the present state of knowledge on the stocks and biology of potentially harvestable organisms in the southern oceans, and (2) to draw up a proposal for coordinated research on the marine communities of that region. The main thrust of this effort came in a meeting at Woodshole, Massachusetts, during mid-August 1975, hosted by the National Academy of Sciences. It was attended by about 60 scientists from 13 countries; these persons conferred mainly within the following working groups: krill; squid and other invertebrate resources; fish; marine mammals and birds. All in all a valuable exchange of information resulted. There is at least some indication that biological research will be coor- dinated in coming years, and that it will move in a common direction, hopefully, in a total ecosystem approach. Since I wrote this report for the PSG it seems a summary is due on how birds fared in the meeting. Seabirds were represented primarily by Jean Prevost (France), John Croxall (U.K.) and myself, David Ainley (U.S.A.). We prepared and presented an estimate of seabird biomass in 28 - 121 copies of the statement to major west coast and other U.S, newspapers, to pertinent individuals in the Danish, Korean and Japanese embassies in Washington, to several national and local Japanese newspapers, to key NOAA, Interior Department, and state, government officials and to U.S. Congressmen. Although the problem received publicity from a variety of sources, the PSG policy statement was a major factor in bringing it to a head, particularly the mailing of individual copies. At least one Japanese newspaper, "Hokkaido Shinbun," printed the statement (translated into Japanese, of course) . A note appeared in the highly-regarded scientific/ trade newsletter "Ocean Science News," and other U.S. newspapers no doubt gave the issue due publicity. The Danish government replied to the state- ment with a polite letter explaining that their North Atlantic gillnet fishery was ending after 1975 (which it has) ; but until this most recent development, the Korean and Japanese embassies were conspicuously silent. Replies to the policy statement from several U.S. Congressmen ranged from "thanks for letting me know about the problem," to the concrete action of Rep. Robert L. Leggett (California), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment, of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Along with Dillon Ripley* s action, Leggett* s interest and response to the statement was a key factor in getting the Interior and Commerce Departments to pass the ball to the Department of State where it can now do some good. • The recent passage of the extended coastal jurisdiction law by the U.S. Congress (the U.S. has claimed sovereignty over all ocean waters within 200 miles of all continental and insular U.S. shores), due to become effective spring 1977, could have beneficial effects on curtailing or at least reducing the gillnet mortality. If fisheries managers include protective measures for marine birds in any agreement to foreign fishing within U.S. jurisdiction, the gillnet mortality would be reduced substan- tially. Thankfully, many fisheries managers appreciate the value of maintaining the balance of the entire oceanic ecosystem, so they will be receptive to ideas for conserving marine birds. However, although fisheries managers are concerned about the gillnet kill, bird resource managers are uncertain of what the best protective measures might be. Despite the great conspicuousness of marine birds, an adequate knowledge of their habits at sea remains quite elusive. Recent bird research connected with petroleum exploration and development on the North American outer continental shelf is beginning to shed some light on this, but specific studies addressed to the gillnetting problem are needed. A much better knowledge of how far and where marine birds range seaward from breeding colonies is needed, as is a knowledge of how these ranges vary seasonally. We have vague ideas that some species range farther seaward than others, and we believe that the range seaward for a given species may vary from colony to colony, but this needs to be pinned down with confidence and precision. A wide-ranging program of banding, color marking and radio telemetry on several colonies, backed by an exten- sive monitoring program at sea should reveal the answers to many of these questions. The result would be that marine bird managers could then intelligently recommend seasons and areas when gillnet fishing should be restricted. - 31 - UPDATE ON SEABIRD MORTALITY FROM SALMON DRIFTNETS by Gerald A. Sanger U.S , Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Biological Services Anchorage, Alaska 99501 A recent deluge of publicity on seabird mortality from salmon gillnet fisheries in the North Pacific, aided by the Pacific Seabird Group’s recent policy statement (Policy Statement No. 2, "Incidental Seabird Kills from Salmon Gillnet Fisheries," PSG Bull, 2(1): 19-20), has gained the attention of government officials at a level high enough to do some good. A recent telegram from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to the Department of State in Washington, D.C. reads in part: "Foreign office (Saito) called 3/16 to give a ’tentative’ reply to Embassy*^ inquiry about GOJ willingness to cooperate in exchange of views on seabird/gillnet problem. Almost verbatim answer was: GOJ is willing to approach the problem in a rational and practical manner in cooperation with USG. The GOJ would like to become better informed on the nature of the problem and therefore would appreciate receiving data on seabird mortality rates and details of the measures which USG might propose to alleviate problems. Word ’tentative 1 above is construed by Embassy to mean ’informal,’ or ’interim*. When asked if GoJ is prepared to meet with U.S. side, Saito said that GOJ would prefer to study written material requested and would then be in better position to decide how to proceed further." Accordingly, pertinent written material was forwarded to the Japanese Government. They will hopefully respond by agreeing to discuss the matter with U.S. officials and others; this will hopefully lead to protective action. This favorable development is a result of nearly two years of international publicity. The first public awareness of the problem in the North Pacific came in August 1974, when Warren B. King brought it to the attention of the International Council for Bird Preservation (ICBP) at their meeting in Canberra, Australia. The American Ornithological Union (AOU) aired the situation in January 1975 in the annual report of their Conservation Committee (AUK, 92(1) :126-136) . During the spring and early summer of 1975, however, the publicity intensified even more. S. Dillon Ripley (Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution) published a review of the issue in the April issue of Smithsonian magazine, and in June 1975, in his capacity as the president of the ICBP, Ripley urged the Department of State to look into the problem "....as a likely violation of the U.S. -Japan Migratory Bird Treaty of 1973...." During the Inter- national Symposium on Conservation of Marine Birds in Northern North America in May 1975, Warren King again aired the problem in a scientific paper. The PSG got into the act by publishing their policy statement in the spring 1975 issue of the Bulletin . In mid- June, ex-PSG Chairman Mike Scott (aided mightily behind the scenes by his wife, Sharon) mailed out 30 - Another fruitful avenue of research would be to place observers aboard fishing vessels to monitor the actual extent of gillnet mortality. The only information we now have on the extent of the mortality is based on extrapolations of numbers of birds caught during salmon research gillnetting in areas outside traditional high seas commercial gillnetting areas. Despite future conservation measures, some marine birds will in advertently be caught whenever gillnets are fished. Notwithstanding the legal problems, consideration might be given as to how these drowned birds could be salvaged for use as fertilizers, or perhaps even for human consumption. ? Finally, although the problem has gained the attention of high government officials, biologists, resource managers and others interested in the welfare of marine birds need to remain vigilant. Marine birds will not become in fact safe from detrimental gillnet fishing until protective measures are effected and enforced. - 32 - Comparison of estimated breeding numbers and biomass CQ •3 RJ i— I RJ *H C o r— I o a co T3 C RJ rH d OJ RJ O 4-1 CO RJ D£ C3 RJ R) *0 RJ a RJ O 44 O m 00 CO 1— 1 • 6 RJ A B 4-t a O RJ 0 O R3 RJ CQ 44 CO d . -O RJ U 4-t .c CQ OJ T3 O 43 H rl 0 H M 40 A 44 00 C C ^ C RJ CQ JH T3 CM *H On O' O' t CU -H 0 0) fr. > 0 RJ rH RJ O O RJ O rH * 43 rH 44 V H H *0 H RJ < 44 43 44 'RJ RJ RJ 'RJ RJ RJ • 3 RJ RJ PQ PQ « pq PQ w Q < & a CO d 6 rl >N RJ w * 13 U a) rj /-"S /*S ^ O 1< He /-s 0 00 N CQ m <* RJ 00 6 RJ rH > iH RJ a, < 0) CQ > 'w' n ON 00 H M h d 4h 3 CQ &H rH rH 3 <1 CQ RH PH rj rH 3 rH *H a 0 3 rH *H H 2 -H 3 CQ M PH O RJ a *H 43 RJ U ■H - QJ *H 44 a; 40 d 1 *H d d 0 TJ 44 0 Q. U O M ^ M O rl O RJ d H CO O B O RJ O rl CQ d 44 RJ N g rl > C5 O CQ *H 4H rH RJ O 42 O H d U H Q ffl l<3<§ 3 H 44 < 34 - Measured by author on Triangle Island, British Columbia. 80 (average weight: 754.6 grams) measured by Wehle on Buldir Island, Aleution Islands, Alaska; 7 (average weight: 755.7 grams) measured by author on Triangle Island. Dr. D. A. Manuwal and Mr. D. H. S. Wehle are gratefully acknowledged for providing body weight data on Cass in* s Auklets and Tufted Puffins, respectively. GLOBAL MURRE WATCH by Kees Vermeer Canadian Wildlife Service 5421 Robertson Road Delta, British Columbia, Canada V4K 3N2 In a recent article (Vermeer, 1976) it has been pointed out that colonial auks may serve as the best indicators of the effects of oil pollution on seabird populations in the northern hemisphere as their colonies can be relatively easily surveyed, and as accurate parameters on their breeding populations, reproductive success and population turn- over rates can be measured. Since murres are widely distributed, are among the most numerous, conspicuous and largest of the auks, and are highly vulnerable to oil it is suggested here that a GLOBAL MURRE WATCH should be initiated by marine ornithologists. If such a WATCH would be kept there would be exact breeding population data available over the years for at least one group of seabirds against which the effects of oil pollution, and perhaps other effects such as gillnetting, can be measured on a world-wide scale. Murres constitute 86% of Canada* s and West Greenland *s colonial auks and 95% of their biomass (Table 1). Canada's Atlantic, Eastern Arctic and West Greenland's breeding populations are calculated from Brown et al,‘ 1975 and those from Canada's west coast are from unpublished data of the writer. Preliminary population figures shown in Table 1 will change with more accurate estimates, discovery of new colonies, and with better understanding of population fluctuations. Biomass figures will be improved with more quantitative information on body weights of local races of auks. Ornithologists wishing to participate in a GLOBAL MURRE WATCH should notify the writer. LITERATURE CITED BEDARD, J. 1969a. Histoire naturelle du Gode, Alca torda dans le golfe Saint - Laurent, Province de Quebec, Canada. Etude du Service Canadien de la Faune. No. 7, 77pp. BEDARD, J. 1969b. Adaptive radiation in Alc'idae. Ibis 111: 189-198. BELOPOLSKII, L. 0. 1961. Ecology of sea colony birds of the Barents Sea. (English translation by Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem, 1961, 346 pp.). BROWN, R. G. B., D. N. NETTLESHIP, P. GERMAIN, C. E. TULL and T. DAVIS. 1975. Atlas of eastern Canadian seabirds. Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Canada, 220pp. JOHNSON, R. A. 1935. Additional Dovekie weights. Auk 52: 309. - 33 - SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS POPULATION INCREASING by Gerald A. Sanger U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Biological Services Anchorage, Alaska Those interested in the endangered Short-tailed Albatross (Diomedea albatrus) , the largest North Pacific seabird, will be glad to learn that their population has been increasing, albeit slowly. From an estimated world population of "...perhaps as high as 75-100-birds" (Sanger, 1972, Biol . Conserv . , 4(3) : 189-193) based on a 1967 breeding ground count and estimated numbers at sea, the population had increased to a count of 11 fledged chicks and an estimated 57 breeding pairs on the Torishima Island colony in May 1973 (Tickell, 1973, Sea Swallow , 23:1-4). Since immatures spend all or most of the breeding season at sea, the total world popu- lation must then be well over 125 birds. This is a heartening indication indeed, considering that only 25 birds total were estimated on Torishima in 1955 (Ono, 1955, Tori , 14:24-32). A report of a pioneering colony of 12 Short- tails on Senkaku-Rettd Island (550 km SW of Torishima and 200 km NE of Formosa) is intriguing, but it may be suspect (W. L. N? Tickell, personal correspondence). Tickell plans to verify this report by visiting the Senkakus during a future breeding season. If the report is true, however, the species has gained yet another toehold on existence and would seem to be less threatened by the recurring volcanic activity on Torishima, the only confirmed breeding colony for the species. - 36 - NETTLESHIP, D. N. 1972. Breeding success of the Common Puffin (Fratercula arctica L.) on different habitats at Great Island, Newfoundland. Ecological Monographs 42: 239-268. SEALY, S. G. 1972. Adaptive differences in breeding biology in the marine bird family Alcidae. Ph.D. thesis. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 283pp. VERMEER, K. 1976. Colonial auks and eiders as potential indicators of oil pollution. Marine Pollution Bulletin 7: 165-167. - 35 - EDITOR S NOTES: I am grateful to my wife, Irene Trautt Anderson, foiE$g& doing the ink drawings of Alaskan seabirds, and for typing this Issue ^ of the PSG Bulletin . Her time has been entirely voluntary. Donald M. Baltz also aided in compiling and organizing our membership list, no " easy task, The P 3G Bulletin solicits help (typing, artistry, etc.) for future bulletins. We can offer free PSG memberships to those who aid signif- icantly in producing PSG Bulletins . - ■ >* Bulletin also accepts short articles or notes on marine or waterbird conservation. Please submit them to me in the form of the articles of this issue. Mill PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP DEDICATED TO THE STUDY AND CONSERVATION OF PACIFIC SEABIRDS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 1976 Chairman : George J. Divoky, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks aska 99701 Wildlife Servics nbia V4K 3N2. Robertson Road, Delta, Br Jig iSS jj §§ iSjl gjj Treasurer : David A. Manu David G. Alnley, Ft. 1 Road, Bolinas, Calif o William H. Drury, Col Maine 04609. mmm Joseph R. Jehl 0. Box 1390, S ‘.'OiL .j 96734 mmM