BULLETIN Volume 15 Number 2 PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP BULLETIN Volume 15 1988 The Editor's Page The Chair's Page Regional Reports Alaska Central California Inland Region Northern California Additional Abstract from the Fourteenth Annua! PSG Meeting, 1987 Conservation News Report from the Marbled Murrelet Technical Committee International Council for Bird Preservation The Washington Report David Gaines 1947-1988 In Memory of Ralph W. Schreiber Bibliographies New Publications Bulletin Board Number 2 70 71 73 73 75 77 78 80 81 87 89 90 92 93 95 96 98 69 EDITOR'S PAGE During the last few years, I have enjoyed the cooperation of working with many Pacific Seabird Group members in producing the Bulletin. It is appropriate to thank two people who contribute tremendously to the Bulletin. Esther Goodyear, our typist, is responsible for the attractive text and correcting many errors that I so frequently miss. She worked with Joe Strauch when he was editor and continued with me. She has done a wonderful job. Jean Coleman, of SR EL, is responsible for the layout. Before each issue, Jean and I work out the pagination and illustrations, followed by the lengthy paste-up, frequently into the night. Jean has done a great job and has been extremely generous. I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that the Bulletin belongs to all the members of the PSG and depends on you in order to continue providing information on seabirds to all the members. It is up to you to send me material that is important and should be available to other members. I look forward to receiving material from you. Malcolm C. Coulter 70 THE CHAIR'S PAGE As I write this message, I am situated on Middleton Island in the north-central Gulf of Alaska, which is the summer home of some 80,000-100,000 Black-legged Kittiwakes. Lately, kittiwakes are not doing too well in these parts.They raised few or no young in four of the last five years on this island, and the story is the same throughout much of the species' Pacific range. Nevertheless, the sheer numbers and beauty of these birds in a picturesque setting is enough to erase all negative thoughts and to restore my commitment to a uniquely rewarding profession. (Whether one's involvement with seabirds is a job or an avocation is probably unimportant in this respect). As PSG Chair this year, I naturally want to encourage all members to devote a little of their time and energy to furthering the goals of the Group. But I would also urge the following: do not let a year go by without spending a bit of "quality time" in an outdoor activity that features seabirds. Spend some time at the coast with binoculars and spotting scope, take a pelagic trip or view a breeding colony if possible. That is the best way, I think, to ensure the continued vitality of this society and the achievement of its goals. Along with the privilege of enjoying seabirds in a healthy marine environment comes the responsibility of working to protect the well-being of both. In the area of conservation issues affecting marine birds, the PSG has a strong record, and our leadership continues at present with new involvement in the area of management problems confronting the Marbled Murrelet. On the heels of the murrelet workship at Asilomar, a couple of information/policy letters went out to numerous forest and wildlife management agencies and other interested groups. The response so far has been encouraging. With the formation of a new Marbled Murrelet Technical Group, PSG is in a position to offer continuing guidance and expertise in this area. A September inter-agency meeting in Portland and an occasional newsletter on matters concerning the Marbled Murrelet are a couple of the activities in the offing. Those with something to contribute to these efforts should contact the Technical Group's Chairperson, Lora Leschner. PSG has also taken action recently on the question of marine bird and mammal by-catches in gill nets off the Washington coast. We sent a letter highlighting the issue and soliciting all rele- vant information to nearly 200 individuals, government agencies, legislators, companies and conservation groups. Our position is basically that too little is known at present to say whether the problem has become a serious one or not. Some careful fact-finding seems in order. My thanks to Steve Speich for most of the groundwork in this area. Treasurer Doug Siegel-Causey is stepping down, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Doug, on behalf of all of us, for five years of outstanding service to the PSG. I would also like to thank Ellen Chu for her willingness to take on this important job. Another change on the Executive Council is the addition of our colleague and former President of the Colonial Waterbird Society, Bill Southern, who has agreed to serve as regional representative for the Great Lakes area. Preparations are proceeding apace for the joint CWBS/PSG meeting in Washington, D.C., in October. Don't miss this meeting if you can possibly be there. Not only does it promise to be most rewarding from a scientific standpoint, but the U.S. capitol has got to be one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit (at least for those of the American persuasion). Martha and ! took a week out last spring just to do all those touristy things one does in Washington and vicinity and had an immensely enjoyable time of it. For those who have not done the same, I would urge you to allow a few extra days either before or after the meeting to see the sights. See you there! Scott A. Hatch 71 72 REGIONAL REPORT ALASKA, JOEL HUBBARD Personnel from two branches of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (AMNWR) and the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center (AFWRC) again are involved in a Rhino's share of the research effort directed at Alaskan seabirds and coastal species this year. As usual, investigators are widespread around the state with studies taking place in the Beaufort, Chukchi and Bering Seas, Aleutian Islands, Alaska Peninsula, and northern Gulf of Alaska. Colony Studies George Divoky (Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks) is continuing to monitor the breeding phe- nology, behavior and success of his marked black guillemot population on Cooper Island (Beaufort Sea), funded in part by the North Slope Borough. Art Sowls (AMNWR, Homer) is monitoring kittiwake and murre populations and productivity at Cape Lisburne (Chukchi Sea) as well as these species and horned puffins at Chamisso NWR (Kotzebue Sound). Scott Hatch and John Piatt (AFWRC, Anchorage) are monitoring kittiwake and murre populations, productivity and food habits at Cape Thompson (Chukchi Sea) for Minerals Management Service; this study also includes offshore surveys of prey species from the USFWS vessel TIG LAX. Ed Murphy and Jay Schauer (Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks) are monitoring kittiwake, murre and cormorant numbers and reproductive chronology and success at Bluff (Norton Sound). Brian McCaffery (Yukon Delta NWR, Bethel) is monitoring seabird populations for change on Nunivak Island (Bering Sea). Lee Hotchkiss (Togiak NWR, Dillingham) is monitoring kittiwake, murre and cormorant population trends and productivity at Cape Peirce (Bristol Bay). George Hunt, Beth Flint and Margaret Rubega (Univ. of Calif., Irvine) are continuing studies of distribution and abundance of kittiwakes and murres and their prey species near the Pribilof Islands, as well as reproductive energetics of these species. They also are investigating effects of colony size on reproductive performance. Ian Jones (Queen's Univ., Kingston, Ontario) is studying behavior of least and crested auklets on St. Paul in the Pribilofs. Art Sowls and Don Dragoo (AMNWR, Homer) are carrying out the annual population and productivity monitoring of kittiwakes, murres and cormorants in the Pribilof Islands. Scott Hatch and Bay Roberts (AFWRC, Anchorage) are studying kittiwake survival and body weight dynamics in breeding kittiwakes on Middleton island (Gulf of Alaska). Mike Nishi- moto (AMNWR, Homer) is monitoring populations of kittiwakes, gulls and cormorants at localities in Kachemak Bay, Cook Inlet, and Kodiak Island, marbled murrelets in Kachemak Bay, and storm-petrels in the Barren Islands (W. GoA). Ed Bailey (AMNWR, Homer) is monitoring seabird numbers on several islands in the Gulf of Alaska where foxes recently have been removed; he will be mounting a new effort in the Pavlov Islands (W. GoA). Vern Byrd, Jim Fowler, Lisa Climo and Colleen Baggot (AMNWR) are investigating the possible relationship between puffin population changes and reproductive success and gill net mortality on Agattu and Buldir Islands (W. Aleutians). They also are monitoring kittiwake, murre and cormorant population levels, reproductive success and food habits on these islands, and auklet and bald eagle populations on Kiska Island where introduced foxes recently have been removed. John Piatt (AFWRC, Anchorage) is investigating temporal and spatial patterns of alcid and prey associations, and relating these to oceanographic parameters in the western Aleutians. 73 Coastal Studies Dirk Derksen (AFWRC, Anchorage) and other USFWS and Texas A&M Univ. personnel are studying the effect of aircraft on behavior, habitat use and reproductive success in Pacific black brant at Teshekpuk Lake on Alaska's North Slope, jointly funded by BLM, MMS and USFWS. Cathryn Moitoret and David Densmore (USFWS, Fairbanks) are monitoring common eiders, glaucous gulls, arctic terns and black guillemots on Beaufort Sea barrier islands for long-term population trends in relation to oilfield development. Jerry Hupp (AFWRC, Anchorage) is investi- gating distribution, habitat use, energetics and disturbance by aircraft associated with petroleum development of snow geese staging on the Arctic Coastal Plain. Margaret Petersen (AFWRC, Anchorage) is examining migration, staging area habitat use and mortality of emperor geese on the Alaska Peninsula. Dave Ward, Dirk Derksen, Cal Lensink and staff of the AFWRC (Anchorage), in a study jointly funded by the Minerals Management Service, are investigating behavior, move- ments, habitat use and migration energetics of staging Pacific black brant in response to aircraft overflights at Izembek Lagoon on the Alaska Peninsula. Radio-tagged brant have been used to distinguish movement patterns. Bob Gill and Colleen Handel are investigating population status and demography of the bristle-thighed curlew on the Seward Peninsula and several island groups in the South Pacific. Reports and News The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration will soon publish the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas Coastal and Ocean Zones Strategic Assessment Data Atlas. This con- tains an excellent series of maps showing seasonal use areas, breeding areas and migration corridors for marine birds and mammals. A Wildlife Protection Working Group has been formed in Alaska, chaired by the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service, for the purpose of formulating the steps that would be taken to protect wildlife during an oil spill. Vern Byrd is now stationed at Adak Island in the central Aleutians as refuge biologist for the Aleutian subunit of the Alaska Maritime NWR (Vern is fond of overcast skies and horizontal rain). 74 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, JEAN E. TAKEKAWA University of California , Davis Dan Anderson is investigating recent Brown Pelican die-offs in central California and is involved in the California Department of Fish and Game study on pelican disease interactions and prevalence. He is continuing long-term monitoring studies on the seabirds of the Gulf of California. Deborah Jaques is finishing her Master's research with Dan Anderson on Brown Pelican communal roosting behavior and habitat use during the nonbreeding period. Darcy Hu began her Master's research with Dan Anderson on age-related reproduction in Red-footed Boobies. Frank Gress is completing long-term studies of pollutants and Brown Pelican population fluctuations in southern California. University of California , Santa Cruz Ken Briggs is analyzing results of two studies: associations between seabird species and between seabirds and marine mammals along the California coast from 1975-1983 and alcid distribution in central California relative to ocean optics measured by ship, aircraft and satellites. He has completed a MMS-funded research project on the feeding ecology of Cassin's Auklets and Common Murres in central California with David Ain ley. Final project reports may be obtained by writing Gordon Reetz, U.S. Minerals Management Service, Pacific OCS Office, 1340 West Sixth Street, Los Angeles, California 90017-1297. Point Reyes Bird Observatory A. Farallon Islands and Gulf of the Farallons. Bill Sydeman, Steve Emslie and Peter Pyle continue to monitor breeding seabirds and conduct demographic studies on Western Gulls and Brandt's Cormorants on southeast Farallon island. A book by David Ainley and Bob Boekelheide summarizing 13 years of breeding ecology of Farallon seabirds will be pub- lished in 1988. David Ainley and Larry Spear continue to investigate pelagic distribution of seabirds in relation to prey in the Gulf of the Farallones. B. Coast and Estuaries. Lynne Stenzel, Gary Page, Harry Carter and David Ainley completed a report summarizing 14 years of beached bird censuses along the California coast. Harry Carter and Gary Page completed an oil spill contingency plan for assessing damage to seabirds in central California. Snowy plover research includes: Gary Page and Lynne Stenzel continue to monitor breeding success and juvenile dispersal of wild and captive-reared birds along coastal central California; and conduct winter population surveys along the west coast, including Baja California (note: any sightings from Baja California will be gratefully received); Dave Shuford, Gary Page and Nils Warnock will be monitoring the interior popu- lation. Dave Shuford, Gary Page, Lynne Stenzel and Jules Evans completed a report on waterbirds in Point Reyes estuaries. 75 C. San Francisco Bay. Gary Page, Lynne Stenzel and Dave Shuford began a shorebird ecology project, starting with a bay-wide census in 1988. Jules Evans, Phil Henderson and Gary Page completed surveys of Black Rails throughout the Bay. Hary Carter and Gary Page are investigating breeding success and population levels of Double-crested Cormorants on the Richmond-San Rafael bridge. D. Mono Lake. Jan Dierks, Gary Page and Dave Shuford continue studying breeding success and population size of California Gulls. E. Antarctica and Other Regions. David Ainley and Wayne Trivelpiece are conducting studies of penguins as indicator species to monitor krill abundance in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Wayne Trivelpiece, Susan Trivelpiece, G. Geupel and J. Kjefmyr continue demo- graphic studies of penguins at King George Island. David Ainley, Larry Spear and B. Fraser continue studies of pelagic seabird communities in the equatorial Pacific Weddell Sea. Wayne Trivelpiece is investigating the breeding strategy of the Magnificent Frigatebird at Barbuda. USFWS/Pacific Coast Field Station Harry Ohlendorf is conducting research on contaminant residues in wintering Canvasbacks in San Francisco Bay. Roger Hothem will be analyzing California Least Tern egg contaminant residue levels from San Francisco Bay and the San Diego area. He is also conducting studies in the Grassland on reproductive success in waterfowl and shorebirds in relationship to agricultural drainwater. Joe Skorupa is investigating reproductive success in many species of waterfowl and shorebirds in the Tulare Basin in agricultural drainwater areas. US FW S/San Francisco Bay NWR Louise Accurso is beginning her Master's research on the distribution and abundance of wintering waterfowl in San Francisco Bay. This project is led by the FWS Northern Prairie Field Research Station in Dixon. Refuge biologists continue cooperative aerial surveys with PRBO of Common Murre breeding populations of the Farallon NWR and almost all other California murre colonies. Refuge biologists continue contaminant monitoring studies in the Bay, Salinas River NWR and the vicinity of the Farallon islands. Samples being analyzed include California Clapper Rail eggs, wintering waterfowl and eggs, invertebrate prey species and Common Murres (collected by PRBO). Tom Harvey completed an assessment of California Clapper Rail populations, based on surveys through the early 1980s. San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory Peg Woodin and Kathy Hobson continue to monitor colonial nesting birds in south San Francisco Bay. Jan Dierks is conducting her Master's research in cooperation with SFBBO on chick diet of California Gulls. Harry Carter and Deborah Jaques assisted in compiling this regional report. 76 INLAND REGION, PAUL JAMES Canadian Wildlife Service The Prairie Shorebird Survey initiated in 1987 will be repeated in 1988 by Loney Dickson. A 1987 spring total of over 340,000 birds was counted in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Highlights were the discovery of 14,000 Sanderlings and 17,000 Baird's Sandpipers at Chaplin Lake, Saskatchewan, and 27,000 Red-necked Phalaropes at Manito Lake, Saskatchewan. The fall migration was less spectacular with about 44,000 birds being counted. A preliminary survey of nesting Long-billed Curlews in Saskatchewan was begun by Ed Driver in 1988. Phil Taylor and Bert Poston continue their bird surveys of federal wildlife sanctuaries on the prairies. University of Saskatchewan Barb Hanbidge continues to write her M.Sc. thesis on the feeding ecology of the Doubie- crested Cormorant at Dore Lake, Saskatchewan. Provincial Museum of Aiberta Phil Stepney reported on the migration, wintering distribution and mortality factors in White Pelican populations from Alberta at the AOU meeting in San Francisco. University of North Dakota Mark Colwell completed his doctoral thesis on the mating system of Wilson's Phalarope at Last Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan. Dave Delehanty is now investigating the role of clutch size in this species, Susan Haig reported on the distribution and dispersal of Piping Plovers at the AOU meeting. University of Missouri Mark Ryan and others reported on the habitat use and population ecology of Piping Plovers in the northern Great Plains at the AOU meeting. University of Rhode Island John Anderson reported on cooperative foraging behavior by White Pelicans in western Nevada at the AOU meeting. Central Michigan University Michael Hamas reported on the inland migration of shorebirds in central Michigan at the AOU meeting. World Wildlife Fund In 1987, the White Pelican was delisted as a threatened species and the Mountain Plover was listed as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. 77 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA/OREGON, ROY W. LOWE Oregon State University Dr. Eric P. Hoberg of the College of Veterinary Medicine is continuing his studies of host- parasite coevolution, biogeography, and historical ecology. He is presently concentrating his efforts with collections from alcids and larids in the North Pacific and from seabirds in the western Antarctic. By invitation from the Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Magadan, USSR (Academy of Sciences of the USSR), Dr. Hoberg will be working on Talan Island in the northern Sea of Okhotsk with Dr. Alexander Kondratiev from June-September 1988. Field studies to be conducted there involve trophic ecology and parasitology of alcids, larids and cormorants. University of California , Berkeley Douglas A. Bell is continuing his study of the mechanisms and extent of hybridization between Western and Glaucous-winged Gulls in California, Oregon and Washington. Major objec- tives of the study are: (1) ascertain the extent of inter- and intraspecific variation in the two species, (2) observe behavior in nesting colonies with pure and mixed species-pairs, (3) determine the distribution and mating success of pure and hybrid birds in the zone of hybridization. Kenneth I. Warheit is conducting morphometric and biochemical comparisons between Common Murres nesting in central California and central Oregon. Other ongoing research includes a complete systematic revision of the "Bony-toothed Birds" (Peltcaniformes: Pelagornithidae), an extinct group of fossil seabirds, global in distribution and surviving for over 50 million years, from 55 million years ago to 5 m.y.a. This work is being conducted with Dr. Storris L. Olson, Smithsonian Institution. Ken is also working to complete his Ph.D. dissertation on the systematic and morphometric review of extinct and extant Sulidae. Oregon State University Kim Nelson is conducting an investigation to determine the most effective and efficient techniques for censusing marbled murrelets in the coastal forest breeding habitat in Oregon. Various census techniques will be tested at 12 known use sites including soliciting responses with tape recorded calls. This is a cooperative study contracted through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and funded by ODF&W, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the National Council of the Paper Industry for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI). Lewis & Clark College Dr. Donald S. Mckenzie is continuing his study of the breeding biology, population dynamics and activity time budgets of Western Gulls at Yaquina Bay, Newporl, Oregon. Birds are being color marked with oil base paint pellets (red-orange-blue-green-yellow) fired from a CO gas operated color marking pistol. Some birds will also be trapped and banded. U.S. Forest Service The Redwood Science Laboratory, U.S. Forest Service, Areata, California, has initiated a land-based, statewide survey of Marbled Murrelets in California. The only previous survey in California was done at sea and concluded that about 2,000 birds occur in the state. Because it 78 is believed that Marbled Murrelets can only nest in old-growth redwood stands in California, there is concern that continued harvesting of these stands could limit this species' ability to breed. Funding for this cooperative study is being provided by the California Department of Fish and Game, National Park Service (Redwood National Park), U.S. Forest Service (Six Rivers National Forest) and Save-the-Redwoods-League. The survey will be conducted by Peter Paton and C. J. Ralph of the Redwood Science Laboratory, Harry Carter of Point Reyes Bird Observatory, and Larry Fox of Humboldt State University. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The Western Oregon Refuge Complex will be conducting a statewide census of nesting seabirds along the Oregon coast (not including marbled murrelets) this spring and summer. The survey is being conducted by Roy W. Lowe, coastal refuge biologist and temporary biologists Jon Anderson and Dan Matthews. This is a cooperative study with partial funding by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Upon completion of the fieldwork, the data will be combined with all historical data (including the statewide survey of 1979) and published as the Oregon Seabird Colony Catalog. Other work to be done includes: (1) conduct nearshore at-sea transects of Marbled murrelets; (2) continue beached bird mortality transects; (3) conduct aerial brown pelican survey from Smith River, California, to Grays Harbor, Washington; and (4) continue observations of Aleutian Canada Goose use of nearshore coastal rocks in Oregon, Biologists with San Francisco Bay and Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuges will be conducting aerial photographic surveys of all northern California Common Murre colonies north of Cape Mendocino. Unless very obvious changes in colony sizes are noted, the photographs will be archived and not counted at this time. Others Daniel H. Varoujean and Wendy Ann Williams are again working under contract to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife studying marbled murrelets along the central coast of Oregon. Their study includes capturing murrelets at sea with a modified net gun and placing radio transmitters on birds suspected of breeding. Radio-tagged birds will then be tracked in an attempt to locate nesting sites. Range Bayer is continuing his long-term beached bird mortality transects north of Newport, Oregon. Bob Loeffel is continuing his long-term beached bird mortality transects (11th year) south of Newport, Oregon. 79 ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT FROM THE FOURTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING, 1987 A very interesting paper on diets of Tufted Puffins was presented by Herron Baird at the last annual meeting, but was unfortunately not abstracted in the PSG Bulletin 15,1. The abstract is included below. COMPARISONS OF DIETS AMONG ADULT BREEDERS AND NONBREEDERS AND CHICKS INTHETUFTED PUFFIN Baird, P. Herron (Kahiltna Research Group, P. 0. Box 14581, Long Beach, CA 90803-1170) Diets of Tufted Puffin adults (breeders and nonbreeders) and chicks were compared over two years. Concurrent collection lessened the normally confounding factors of temporal and spatial variation of prey. Fish were the preferred prey for all groups. There was little overlap in adult prey in years of abundant food, and much overlap in years of scarcer prey. Nonbreeders ate more invertebrates than did breeders, and chicks consumed the highest portions of fish of any group. Chicks ate types of prey different from both of the adult groups. Diet differences suggested that nonbreeders which ate much pelagic prey foraged in different areas from breeders which ate more inshore prey. These data are consistent with the hypothesis of limited prey num- bers near colonies and the subsequent division of resources by central place foragers. This division may be explained in part by differences in energy and nutrient demands and to competition. 80 CONSERVATION NEWS Conservation issues - Oregon The experimental Thresher Shark giilnet fishery begun in Oregon in 1986 will be continued in 1988 with new changes in regulations being adopted to further minimize marine mammal entanglement. Changes which should benefit marine mammals include a later starting date of July 15 (July 1, 1987) and no fishing within 20 miles of shore (5 miles, 1987). Only two marine mammals drownings were documented in 1987 but onboard observer coverage was limited to a few vessels. Another new regulation states that all vessels must take an observer if requested and must have valid liability insurance. Permits will be revoked if either of these two stipulations are violated. Initially it was feared that seabird entanglement may be a problem with this fishery; however, large mesh size of the nets and location of the fishery offshore have resulted in no known entanglement of birds. Conservation issues - oil and gas ieases Lease Sale 91 - The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is proposing to conduct an oil and gas lease sale in February 1989 that would allow 1.1 million acres off Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California, to be open for development. Last February, the MMS held a public hearing on the proposed Lease Sale 91 at Fort Bragg, California, and this small coastal community was invaded by more than 2,500 people who showed up for the meeting. The meeting room held only 500 so more than 2,000 people jammed the streets and a nearby church where the meeting was broadcast by loudspeakers. Approximately 750 people signed up to testify at the meeting and, in the end, critics of the lease sale outnumbered supporters 10 to 1. The Lt. Governor of California, Leo McCarty, stated that, "Lease Sale 91 has incited an anger as intense as surely would arise at the paving of the Grand Canyon or demolition of the Statue of Liberty." While the truth of this statement hopefully will never be known, the MMS staff must be scratching their heads as they respond to the more than 2,000 written comments they have received on this proposal. It is unknown just how much recoverable oil and gas exists in the planning area but some of the lower estimates indicate that the total recoverable resources would fuel the nation for only two weeks. Many people feel that the threat of oil spills, contamination/disruption of marine food chains, impacts to commercial fishing and degradation of scenic views is too great considering the amount of oil and gas to be recovered. As with any development of this nature, there is a potential threat to seabird resources; therefore, PSG members in northern California should become involved in this planning process. Lease Sale 132 -The MMS is proposing to conduct an oil and gas tease sale in April 1992 that covers 18,450 square miles from Cape Flattery, Washington, south to the Oregon/California border and out to a depth of 900 meters. Lease Sale 132, known as the Oregon and Washington tease sale is currently in the second year of the Five Year OCS Lease Sale Program. The proposed Oregon/ Washington lease sale has not received the widespread opposition that has been expressed in northern California; however, some very serious problems do exist. Both the Governors of Oregon and Washington have expressed the views that they are not opposed to the lease sale provided the proper research is conducted prior to the sale and the results of that research indicate no major adverse environmental and economic impacts will occur. The State of Oregon reviewed the Draft EIS in 1985 and the Final E IS in 1987 and determined that key information was missing and the analyses to be poorly done. As a result, in August 1987, Oregon joined three other states and a number of environmental organizations to challenge the 1987-92 Five Year Lease Sale Program. 81 In March 1988, briefs were filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. The principal brief, filed jointly by the plaintiffs, challenges the program on five points, -The Final Environmental Impact Statement fails to consider alternatives to OCS leasing, such as a national energy policy that includes conservation, to meet the nation's energy needs, -The program contains no criteria to determine which areas to exclude from lease consideration. -The program fails to base OCS leasing regions on geographic and geologic criteria, as requested by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act {OCS LA), and therefore fails the OCSLA "balancing" test. -The program fails to meet cost-benefit analysis requirements by either ignoring certain analyses or undervaluing certain costs in 10 of 22 areas in the program. -That it was illegal for either the Secretary of the Interior or the President to lower the minimum bid from $150 to $25 per acre, rather than assuring fair market value for tracts in the upcoming lease sale. Oregon and Washington filed their own joint brief. In it, the states argue that the decision to include the Oregon/Washington "frontier area" was based solely upon oil and gas potential and ignored other lawfully protected values. The brief argues that, since the EIS lacks adequate data about environmental risks in the region, the Secretary could not lawfully determine the environmental risks posed by the development. In May 1988, the MMS held a conference/workshop on recommendations for studies in the Oregon and Washington planning area relative to offshore oil and gas development. While many agencies, groups and individuals were pleased to have input to this process via the workshop, there were serious questions and concerns as to the timing of the workshop since one and a half years of the five-year program had already passed and the MMS had already completed planning for studies to be conducted through 1989. Also, in May 1988, the MMS released an RFP which essentially calls for aerial surveying of marine birds and mammals in the coastal waters off Oregon and Washington out to 100 nautical miles. This study had been widely recommended since very little is known about at-sea distribu- tion and abundance of these resources in Oregon and Washington. Unfortunately, most felt that such a study should cover all months of the year for a minimum of three years but the RFP calls for an 18-month study with flight time not to exceed 400 hours. The adequacy of this study will surely be questioned. The planning process continues, and PSG members are urged to participate in the public process. Antarctic Penguin Harvest There have been reports that an Argentinian meat packing company has proposed to harvest penguins in the Antarctic and export the meat to the United States as dog food. 82 Marion Island , Antarctic Ocean The proposal to build an emergency landing facility at sub-Antarctic Marion Island has been turned down, to the great relief of everyone concerned. After a thorough environmental impact assessment which came out strongly against the proposal for both environmental and economic reasons, the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs announced that the project would not go ahead. John Cooper Mexico's New Environmental Law As of 1 March 1988, a General Law for Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protec- tion is in effect for Mexico. This law improves and broadens former environmental legislation with ,,'ovisions that not only regulate environmental pollution and permit sanctions against environ- mental violations but also authorize preventative measures as well. Some of the features of the new law are that it: - acts as a framework integrating previous environmental legislation - authorizes state and municipal governments for the first time to establish local policy; act upon certain environmental emergencies; create local land reserves and to work to control air, water, noise and other forms of pollution - calls for environmental impact analyses prior to development activities - encourages public participation in surveillance - establishes a National Ecology Commission membership from both the governmental and non-governmental sectors - requires that environmental sciences be taught in all elementary schools and labor training programs - outlines and restricts the handling of hazardous materials - reorganizes the penalties for violations to correspond to the nature of the violation. This law is significant because it is based firmly on sound ecological principles and considers environmental protection from a holistic perspective. Intecol Newsletter Saunder's Gull: Breeding Site Discovered The Oriental Bird club bulletin No. 6 announced the discovery of two breeding sites for this rare and rather enigmatic gull. David Melville reports that, when he attended the International 83 Crane Workshop in China in May 1987, he presented a poster about this gull in the hope that some of the 200 Chinese ornithologists attending the meeting might shed further light on this species. This paid off. Mr. Shi Ze Rong has discovered the gull breeding in both coastal Jiansu Province and on a lake in Heilongjiang Province. WWF Hong Kong is now developing a joint project with Chinese scientists to study the breeding biology and feeding ecology of this rare gull. The Seabird Group 84 Mexico: coastal marshes on The Sea of Cortez The coastal marshes of Baja California are rarities. Thanks largely to the inacessibility and aridity of the peninsula, they have been spared the "development" that has destroyed so much marshland north of the border and are still in near-pristine condition. Their value as natural resources can best be understood by looking at the situation in California where only 5% of the saltmarsh that was present 100 years ago exists today, and an uphill battle is being fought to save and restore those remnant acreages that were somehow spared. In Northwestern Baja, the two vast saltmarshes at Ensenada and San Quintin are complete ecosystems harboring native flora and fauna that are disappearing elsewhere from the west coast. They are major stopovers for birds on the Pacific flyway and serve as wintering grounds for a host of shorebirds and waterfowl. They also serve as models for California's restoration projects and act as reservoirs for U.S. endangered species (that do not acknowledge political boundaries). For example, the population of Light- footed Clapper Rails in each of these marshes is larger than the entire U.S. population. But the era of isolation and non-development appears to have ended, and there have been two major threats to Estero de Punta Banda in Ensenada in the 1980s. One was a project by the Bose-Pacific Co. to dike and drain 2/3 of the marsh to create pads for assembling oil drilling platforms, principally for sale to the U.S. Their plan was scaled down considerably and thus far only about 12 acres of marsh have been lost. Although the next phase of this project has been approved and would entail more marsh destruction, it is rumored that the company has run into financial difficulties and the expansion will not proceed. However, another enterprise is now posing a possibly even more serious threat to the marsh. A partially built, never-used hotel on the barrier sandspit has been refurbished this past year and is about completed. It is a time-share resort directed at U.S. vacationers. A marina is planned that would require deep dredging of the main channel in the estuary. Although an EIS was reportedly submitted in April to the Col. Mistros Federales in Mexicali, by the time of its submission a dike had already been built out into deep water for the marina, and all dune scrub vegetation for a square mile around the hotel bull- dozed and removed. There is a major question about release of wastes from the hotel into the bay. The impacts of dredging and pollution on the local fishery and of high-speed boats on birds and other wildlife are of concern. It was difficult initially for biologists from CICESE or interested U.S. scientists to get any information or even establish communication with the Koster Group, developers of the resort. Now our activities are beginning to show results. The issue has been the subject of several news- paper write-ups in Ensenada and California. Dr. Ibarra has been allowed access to the EIS and made extensive comments on it to SEDUE, the Mexican agency charged with environmental protection. We are pleased to announce the formation of a new group, a grass-roots conservation organi- zation devoted to preserving the integrity of the coastal marshes of Baja California, Mexico. It is called pro Esteros and is being incorporated in Mexico with a U.S. affiliate. The need for such an organization became clear in the spring of 1988 when Mexican and U.S. biologists who study the ecology and native species of the esteros in Ensenada and San Quintin became aware of several grave and imminent threats to those marshes. Dr. Silvia Ibarra from CICESE, Ensenada, and I decided to call a meeting and invite biologists and conservationists from both countries to discuss means of dealing with these threats. On 20 May, 35 interested participants met at San Diego State University and decided to form pro Esteros. Dr. Ibarra and I agreed to serve as co-chairs until the organization is established. 85 We hope, through this new organization, to find effective means of saving Estero de Punta Banda from destruction and to have input into any plans for development at Bahia de San Quintin. Long-range goals include the establishment of coastal reserves in Baja California such as there are on mainland Mexico, topographic maps of the esteros, inventories of their natural resources and encouragement of research projects that would increase our knowledge of estuarine ecology. We invite you to become a charter member of pro Esteros. The annual dues will be $10 U.S., a small amount so that many can participate. Initial costs for establishing the group will be several thousand dollars, including legal fees for incorporation papers, mailings, and international telephone calls. So if you wish to contribute seed money in addition, it will be most welcome. Our first contribution came from El Dorado Audubon Society, the Long Beach CA chapter of National Audubon, which gave us $300 to get underway. This money will be used to file incor- poration papers in Mexico. Send membership fees and contributions to Barbara Massey, Co-chair, Pro Esteros, 1825 Knoxville Ave., Long Beach, CA 90815. 86 REPORT FROM THE MARBLED MURRELET TECHNICAL COMMITTEE Two letters regarding Marbled Murrelet management were sent to government and private concerns. The first letter was sent to 19 offices of federal, state and provincial forestry or park agencies in Alaska, B.C., Washington, Oregon and California. It offered PSG's recommendations for interim management actions to protect Marbled Murrelets. A modified version of the same letter was sent to two Native corporations with large holdings of forested land in Alaska. The second letter was sent to 23 agencies and called for the formation of an interagency committee for Marbled Murrelet management. It was mailed to the same forestry agencies and also to wildlife management agencies from Alaska to California. PSG suggested that the existing Washington-Oregon Interagency Wildlife Committee (IWC) could establish a sub-committee on Marbled Murrelets. Thirteen of the recipients answered the letters. Some of the recipients identified the current Marbled Murrelet management in their respective agencies. Both Alaska Native corporations requested additional information on Marbled Murrelets. Some respondents expressed support for the Interagency Committee idea. However, the consensus and the decision of the Washington- Oregon IWC was to leave the interagency coordination to PSG. PSG will be responsible for the coordination of Marbled Murrelet research, inventories and the dissemination of information. A PSG Marbled Murrelet Technical Committee (MMTC) has been formed. Representatives were selected because (1) experience with Marbled Murrelets and (2) they represented various agencies, organizations and universities. Members include Lora Leschner (Chair), Steve Speich, Harry Carter, Spencer Sealy, Peter Paton, C. J. Ralph, Dan Varoujean, Kim Nelson, Brian Sharp, Dave Marshall, Eric Cummins, Barry Troutman, Tracy Fleming, Art Sowls and Rudolph Becking. The MMTC has drafted several documents regarding Marbled Murrelets. Paton, Ralph and Carter developed a Marbled Murrelet Survey and Inventory Handbook. Varoujean drafted a Nest Site Sampling Protocol. Speich drafted Research Guidelines for the Marbled Murrelet in California, Oregon and Washington. Marshall and M. Coulter prepared a statement on conservation of Marbled Murrelets for the International Council on Bird Preservation (ICBP) (see ICBP below). Many members of the MMTC participated in the development of these documents. Washington Department of Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) hosted workshops on research and management of Marbled Murrelets in Oregon and Washington. These workshops followed the interagency meeting and workshop held at the PSG meeting in December 1987. They were used to exchange information, discuss inventories, research priorities and funding, volunteer possibilities and to urge all agencies and organizations to plan inventories in 1988 and 1989. Research was conducted in Washington, Oregon and California in 1988. Brian Sharp, USFWS, provided funds to all three states. In ail cases, the funds and personnel were provided by cooperative effort of several agencies. Cooperating agencies included U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), Washington Department of Wildlife (WDW), Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO) and NCASI. In Washington, Eric Cummins and Barry Troutman (WDW) directed volunteers in the search for nest groves in Washington. Pam Miller (WDOE) arranged for funding the volunteers on the 87 surveys. Steve Speich and Tracy Fleming (NCASI), along with Lora Leschner and Steve Jefferies (WDW) worked on capture techniques and radio trasnmitter design. Kitty Nelson, Seattle Aquarium, has been observing and caring for two captured Marbled Murrelets. In Oregon, Dan Varoujean continued his studies on the use of radio telemetry to locate Marbled Murrelet nests. Kim Nelson, Oregon State University, searched for nesting groves. Harry Carter (PRBO), Peter Paton and C. J. Ralph (USFS) and Larry Fox {Humboldt State University) cooperated on research in California. They are preparing a status report and surveying public and private lands for Marbled Murrelets. In addition to funding from CF&G and USFWS, they received funds from Redwood National Park and Save-the- Red woods- League. Rudolph Becking, Humboldt State University, is conducting research on the nesting ecology of Marbled Murrelets in California. He is testing techniques to locate nesting areas. Researchers will present the results of the field season at the 1988 Workshop and Inter- agency Meeting in Portland, Oregon 27-28 September 1988. Agency and organization representa- tives as well as the public are invited. There will be workshops on research guidelines, management concerns, radio telemetry techniques, nesting grove surveys, at-sea surveys and volunteer opportu- nities. The roles of the different agencies in funding, inventories and management will be discussed. Lora L. Leschner 88 INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR BIRD PRESERVATION Marbled Murrelet Statement The International Council for Bird Preservation - U.S. Section ( ICBP-US) met on August 15 at the recent American Ornithologists' Union meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We discussed the concern of PSG and other groups about the status of the Marbled Murrelet. A draft statement had been prepared by Dave Marshall, Lora Leschner and Harry Carter. The draft was subsequently modified by the ICBP-US Seabird Committee and at the August meeting to support the concerns of the PSG and other groups. It is presented below: STATEMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR BIRD PRESERVATION, U.S. SECTION, REGARDING THE MARBLED MURRELET The Marbled Murrelet ( Brachyramphus marmoratus ) is unique to the North Pacific. On the Alaskan tundra it breeds in rock crevices and on the open ground. South of the tundra it nests on large flat moss-covered limbs of old-growth conifers along the coast and up to 35 miles inland. Most old-growth forest within a large portion of the range of the Marbled Murrelet along the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington has been converted to second-growth forest. Much of the old-growth forest that remains is scheduled to be logged within the next 10 to 20 years. The International Council for Bird Preservation-U.S. Section (ICBP-US) shares the concern shown by the Pacific Seabird Group, National Audubon Society, National Audubon Society chapters in the Pacific Northwest and others that current and planned habitat destruction threatens the continued existence of viable populations of species of old-growth forests, including the Marbled Murrelet. ICBP-US further recognizes that the species is also locally threatened by gill-net fishing mortality, and is highly susceptible to oil pollution. The impact of aquaculture on the species in British Columbia and Washington must be determined. ICBP-US concurs with the groups cited above that the Marbled Murrelet should be afforded special consideration in management decisions, including special legal protection for its nesting habitat. Furthermore, ICBP-US supports the petition of the National Audubon Society and the local chapters requesting listing of the species as threatened in Washington, Oregon and California. ICBP-US commends state and federal agencies and private organizations that have provided funding on short notice for the 1987-1988 research efforts, and urges these and other organiza- tions to provide funding and implement a full-scale research effort in the coming years. 89 WASHINGTON REPORT, DAPHNE GEMMILL The participants of Earth Day 1970 probably never dreamed that 18 years later environ- mental issues would be a part of the Presidential campaign. In fact, two debates focused on environmental issues. All the Democratic contenders at the time attended. The sophistication of their environmental analysis was impressive. The candidates talked about the environment and Third World debt, upper atmospheric chemistry, tropical deforestation and global warming. The election is only a few months away. Where do the candidates stand on the environment? The following summaries of the environmental positions of the remaining three candidates for President as of May 1988 are taken from the League of Conservation Voters report, "The Presidential Candidates 1988: Records and Positions on Energy and the Environment." If you would like a copy of their entire report, write to League of Conservation Voters, 2000 L Street, N.W., Suite 804, Washington, D.C. 20036. GOVERNOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS (Democrat) Although Dukakis is not a prime mover behind environmental bills in the Massachusetts legislature, he almost invariably supports them. He supported measures to improve water resource management and opposed needless river diversions, lobbied for the Administrative Penalties Law to help the state go after toxic polluters, helped pioneer an energy efficiency law for appliances, and he fought in the courts to protect the New England coast from offshore oil drilling. Despite the good intentions and good policies, Massachusetts environmentalists were often frustrated with Governor Dukakis in the past. The Governor's implementation of environmental programs was considered only fair, sometimes even poor, largely because of a few weak appoint- ments to key environmental positions, fear of antagonizing business and a failure to give his environmental program enough funding in his budget recommendations. For example, in the fight over Sweeden's swamp, the Dukakis administration approved a permit for a giant shopping mall and set off a national battle over wetlands policy (the mall was finally blocked by EPA). Dukakis has also approved some big high rise waterfront development which will add to the severe pollution and traffic congestion in downtown Boston. Environmental leaders also suspect that pollution enforcement would have been stronger, had it not been for pressure from municipalities and businesses. As a Presidential candidate, Dukakis seems very well informed and has taken good positions on most national environmental issues. VICE PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH (Republican) Vice President Bush has not yet outlined his environmental policies as Presidential candi- date. Will he follow the path he took as a Texas Congressman and Ambassador to the UN or as a Reagan administration team player? As a Texas Congressman almost 25 years ago, Bush had a good environmental record. He introduced the first and largest bill to preserve the Big Thicket in Texas as a National Park. He led an effort to prevent the channelization of the Buffalo Bayou near Houston. He was a sponsor and advocate of the first federal family planning legislation to authorize research and grants for state programs. 90 As a Presidential candidate in 1980, however. Bush had begun to shift his ground. As Vice President, he has not been willing to be a voice of moderation. He has been the voice of the Reagan Administration. In a series of press conferences, Bush announced the new Administration was going to drastically revise EPA programs for pesticide registration, the entire program for regulation of hazardous wastes and various air pollution regulations. He also supports oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Despite his generally negative record as Vice President, Bush still earns higher marks on environmental issues than any of the other Republican Presidential candidates. An avid sportsman. Bush is generally more sympathetic to the traditional land and wildlife conservation issues than on health issues. He has at least given a lot of thought to environmental and natural resource problems. SCORECARD Based on in-depth interviews and reviews of the candidates' records and positions, the League of Conservation Voters qave the active March candidates the following grades for their environmental performance. Democrats Governor Michael Dukakis B Republicans Vice President George Bush D+ Environmental issues are just one subject area to consider as you go to vote, but DO VOTE on November 8, 1988. 91 DAVID GAINES 1947-1988 MUCH MORE THAN A SCIENTIST In January 1988, David Gaines, the spiritual leader of the movement to save Mono Lake from ecological collapse due to water diversions of its tributary streams, was killed in a tragic auto accident near his home in Lee Vining. Mono Lake, one of North America's oldest, most produc- tive, life-supporting lakes, sits in awesome splendor at the edge of California's Great Basin Desert at the base of the steep eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada. It has become legendary among biologists for its huge California Gull colony, second in size only to that at Great Salt Lake, and for the hundreds of thousands of Eared Grebes and phalaropes that pause there during their molt migrations in fall. Few biologists or citizens of the world at large would currently be aware of Mono Lake had it not been for the passion and dedication of David Gaines. After turning from a promising career in German literature to one in biology, David graduated from the University of California at Davis in the early 1970s with a Masters degree in Ecology. His early scientific studies focused on the endangered Yellow-billed Cuckoo (its image later inlaid on the back of Dave's favorite mandolin) which lead him to voice concern over California's diminished riparian avifauna. Dave was first introduced to Mono Lake on childhood trips with his family. He later became intimate with the Lake through numerous field trips to the Sierra and through involvement with other ecologists in the Mono Basin Research Group, funded by a student NSF grant, which published the first multidisciplinary study of the Lake's ecology in 1977. At the same time, Dave's dedication to science was overshadowed by the stark reality that Mono Lake's ecosystem was on a downslide to disaster unless water diversions were curtailed soon - a prescient viewpoint now exhaustively documented by two recent reports by some of the nation's leading scientists based on studies mandated by federal and state governments. Dave promptly joined with friends to form the Mono Lake Committee and shortly thereafter moved to Lee Vining to launch his environmental cam- paign and raise his family on the shores of the lake he hoped to preserve for future generations. It appears to me that by stepping back from direct involvement in science that Dave was able to use science as a much more powerful tool than he would have otherwise. The Mono Lake Committee has always prided itself on conservation arguments based on scientific fact and has lobbied vigorously for additional independent scientific research. This has resulted in a positive feedback loop by which outcrys for the Lake's preservation beget more research which in turn fuels further efforts to save the lake, and so on. No matter which side of the political fence one sits, it is clear to all that David Gaines was the catalyst that focused scientific expertise on the problems at hand. David's brilliance went well beyond the environmental realm as he was a true renaissance man. Amid the harried life of a conservationist, he was also an inspirational writer, broadbased naturalist, teacher, publisher, peace activist, musician, and foremost, a dedicated family man. His inquiring scientific mind was also still among the keenest as a reading of his posthumously published Birds of the Yosemite and East Slope will readily attest. Like the full moon reflected off Mono's waters, the rays of Dave Gaines' life will continue to ever broadeningly radiate the message that one caring person's life can make a difference. Dave Shuford 92 IN MEMORY OF RALPH W. SCHREIBER Ralph W. Schreiber, noted ornithologist, curator and head of the Bird and Mammal Sections at the Natural History of Los Angeles County, and long-time member of the Pacific Seabird Group, died on March 29, 1988, after a short illness. He was 45 years old. During Ralph's relatively short life, he contributed substantially to our knowledge of seabirds, to our efforts to conserve seabirds and to our efforts to educate people as to their value. Those of us who knew Ralph as a friend and those of us committed to similar goals will miss him. Ralph was born in Wooster, Ohio, in 1942. He graduated from the College of Wooster in 1964 and went on to the University of Maine where he completed a Masters of Science in 1966. While at Maine, Ralph studied the behavior and population dynamics of Herring Gulls. After completing his masters program, Ralph joined a research team from the Smithsonian Institution and, as part of the Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program, carried out studies of breeding sea- birds and mammals on islands of the central Pacific Ocean. The experience must have left a pro- found mark on Ralph as tropical and subtropical seabirds became his life's avocation. Following his stint in the central Pacific, Ralph enrolled as a doctoral student at the University of South Florida in Tampa under Glen Woolfenden. He chose the Brown Pelican as the subject of his dissertation, and the resulting studies solidified Ralph's reputation as a solid researcher. Notably, this work and some earlier work in California were important in identifying DDT as a cause of reproductive failure in Brown Pelicans. As a result, Ralph became active in the fight to ban DDT. Florida also figured importantly in Ralph's personal life for it was there that he met and married Betty Anne. Betty Anne supported and shared in most of Ralph's personal and profes- sional activities from then on. In 1978, they co-founded Seabird Research Inc., a non-profit research and educational organization that dealt primarily with seabirds in Florida. In 1976, Ralph took the position of curator of Ornithology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, an affiliation he maintained until his death. In 1984, he was promoted to the position of Section Head for birds and mammals at the museum, at the same time retaining his duties as Curator of Birds. Ralph was responsible for supervising the collections, planning and implementing research and overseeing the exhibit and museum programs. Ralph and Betty Anne still found time to carry out extensive field studies on tropical seabirds in the Central Pacific on Johnson, Midway and Christmas Islands. Most significantly, these latter studies have contri- buted greatly to our knowledge of how seabird populations respond to and are affected by periodic El Ninos. Ralph was a member of 12 scientific societies, including the Pacific Seabird Group. He was an elected member and fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union, served as vice-president (1982-1983) and president (1983-1985) of the Cooper Society and was chairman of the Pacific Seabird Group in 1979 and 1980. He was a member of and consultant to the recovery team for the Eastern Brown Pelican from 1975 to 1983. Ralph co-founded a consulting company in Florida in 1971 and frequently consulted with organizations in need of expertise on seabirds. He was affili- ated as an adjunct professor in the past at the University of South Florida and more recently at the University of Southern California. As a measure of his scientific output, Ralph's resume lists 88 scientific articles and two books, many of which were co-authored with his wife. In addition, Ralph edited two volumes, produced many technical reports and published 15 reviews. Ralph was committed to education. 93 as evidenced by more than 15 articles in the popular press. His latest goal was the building of a great hall for birds at the museum. Although Ralph did not live to see that dream fulfilled it is now under construction with completion of the 17,000 square foot exhibit planned for late next year. Summarizing the highlights of a man s life is not an easy task; conveying an impression of the man more difficult. Ralph was a large man, both in stature and in his dedication to his chosen work. He had a good sense of humor and a deep laugh. That he enjoyed life and what he was doing was clearly evident. I vividly recall his well-targeted sarcasm and his love of classical music. He possessed the patience to deal effectively with bureaucracy. That my favorite memories of Ralph are of him in the field will come as no surprise to those who knew him. Picture Ralph swooping a Sooty Tern from the sky with a dip net in. the Dry Tortugas or reaching up to grab a nestling Pelican in a mangrove while straining to avoid the ^blessings" from above. ..with mixed success. Seabirds and their habitats are surely in better shape, thanks to Ralph W. Schreiber. The Pacific Seabird Group has lost an important member. Contributions in the memory of Ralph Schreiber can be sent to the Ornithology Research Fund, Natural History Museum, 90 Exhibition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007. Anthony R. DeGange 94 BIBLIOGRAPHIES Hooper, T. D., K. Vermeer and I. Szabo. 1987. Oil Pollution of Birds, an Annotated Bibliography. Tech. Rep. Ser. No, 34. Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific and Yukon Region, Vancouver. This bibliography is an update of an earlier version by R. Vermeer and K. Vermeer (1974). The work includes 606 references taken from the international literature from 1922 through 1986. Free copies can be obtained by writing: The Canadian Wildlife Service, P. 0. Box 340 Delta, British Columbia, Canada V4K 3Y3. Malcolm C. Coulter NEW PUBLICATIONS Baird, R. 0. 1988. Oiled Birds: How to Search for and Capture Oiled Birds at Oregon Intertidal Area. Studies in Oregon Ornithology Number 5. Gahmken Press, Newport, Oregon. This volume, as the title states, is a guide on searching and capturing oiled seabirds, it does not attempt to discuss the subsequent treatment of captured birds. In treating handling of cap- tured birds, it is very detailed, covering the equipment needed, how to handle birds to minimize injuries, etc. It is precisely these details that are important when dealing with volunteer efforts after oil spills. It will be very helpful to those dealing with birds after an oil spill, but should be read in detail. Copies are available for $3.50 postpaid from Gahmken Press, P. 0. Box 1467, Newport, Oregon 97365. Malcolm Coulter Garcia, Jose A. D. 1988. Encuesta sobre Captura de Aves Marinas en Artes de Pesca. Asociacion Asturiana de Amigos de la Naturaleza, Uria, 16-2., 33003 OVIEDO, Spain. This report shows the results of an European Economic Community funded survey under- taken among the commercial fishery associations of Asturia. In 1987, over 5,000 seabirds were found caught both on fishing hooks and in nets. Fifty percent of captured birds were Puffinus gravis and Puffinus griseus, 40% Sula bassana and the remaining 10% included Alca torda, Uria aalge, Phalacrocorax carbo, Phalacrocorax aristoteiis land Larus cachinnans. News from Medmarvis Hooper, T. D., K. Vermeer and I. Szabo. 1987. Oil Pollution of Birds, an Annotated Bibliography. Tech. Rep. Ser. No. 34. Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific and Yukon Region, Vancouver. This bibliography is an update of an earlier version by R. Vermeer and K. Vermeer (1974). The work includes 606 references taken from the international literature from 1922 through 1986, Free copies can be obtained by writing: The Canadian Wildlife Service, P. O. Box 340, Delta, British Columbia, Canada V4K 3Y3. Malcolm C. Coulter Vauk, G., and J. Pruter. 1987. Mowen - Arten, Bestande, Verbreitung, Probleme. Jordsand-Buch Nr. 6, Niederelbe-Verlag H. Huster. 303 pp. [in German] . This treatise seems to be a large description of the ecology of 10 species of gulls in northern Europe, Unfortunately, I cannot read German and so cannot review the manuscript in much detail. However, it seems to include a great deal of information, including much on geographic variation. It is organized with chapters on each species, followed by a general chapter on the gull problem. Malcolm C. Coulter 96 REED FERRIS' 1930-1943 BIRD BANDING RECORDS AND BIRD OBSERVATION FOR TILLAMOOK COUNTY, OREGON Bayer, R. D., and R. W. Ferris. 1987, Reed Ferris' 1930-1943 Bird Banding Records and Bird Observations for Tillamook County , Oregon . Studies in Oregon Ornithology No. 3, Gahmken Press, Newport, Oregon. 131 pp., 13 b&w plates, 3 figures, 42 tables and an index. $6.50 plus $1 .25 shipping. This monograph, researched and written by Bayer and reviewed and edited by Ferris, gives a brief biography of Reed Ferris and discusses his life and his interests while he was a cheese- maker at the Beaver cheese factory in Tillamook County, Oregon. The monograph tells of Ferris' contact with other (now famous) ornithologists of his time in Oregon including Stanley Jewett, Ira Giabrielson, J. C. Braly and his fellow co-worker and friend, Alex Walker, whom the publication is dedicated to. From 1930-1943, Ferris banded nearly 33% of all birds banded along the Oregon Coast that were later recovered. He banded 8,000 seabirds in Tillamook County (including 4,996 gulls and 2,820 Common Murres) and 3,103 terrestrial birds (including 1,089 Dark-eyed Juncos). Except for the gulls, details about the recoveries of all birds banded by Ferris are given. In addition to banding data, details are also given about Ferris' observations of birds in the area. His observations lend historical importance to understanding current bird populations and distribution. Items of interest include reports of the once common practice of harassing and shooting of seabirds by fishermen at Haystack Rock near Pacific City and harassment and reproductive impacts caused by Ferris' own banding activities within breeding seabird colonies. Observation reports range from the everyday mundane type to an incredible report of 29 Lewis' Woodpeckers being shot out of one apple tree on a single morning in 1929. The black and white plates are graphic proof of the quality of photographs that could be taken during this period and may be as good as any that could be taken now even with all of the fancy equipment available today. This document is a good example of the wealth of information that exists outside "the literature" in field notes and personal journals, and Bayer has done a thorough job of organizing and compiling Ferris' data and notes. The monograph will be of equal interest and importance to the biologist and the historian alike. Roy W. Lowe 97 BULLETIN BOARD Colonial Water birds Colonial Waterbirds , the journal of the Colonial Waterbird Society, will have a new editor beginning with Volume 12 (1989). Effective immediately, all manuscripts for consideration of publication in the journal should be forwarded to Ralph D. Morris, Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, Saint Catherines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada. International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean Sea The 31st Congress of the International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean Sea will be held from 17 to 22 October 1988. The meeting will include several workshops dealing with fauna and flora of small islands, as well as marine pollution. For more information, please contact ICSEM, 16 Boulevard de Suisse, 98030 Monaco. Second Mediterranean Seabird Symposium MEDMARVIS, the Mediterranean Seabird Group, will hold its second symposium on Status and Conservation of seabirds: Ecogeography. Mediterranean Action Plan from 21 to 26 March 1989, in Mallorca. The main themes of the conference will include the distribution and status of seabirds. If funds are available, the scope of the geographic area covered will be expanded to include the Black Sea and nearby Atlantic Islands, such as the Canaries and Selvagen. The meeting will close with a session on conservation, at which an attempt will be made to develop a Mediterranean Action Plan. As additional information on the meeting becomes available, it will appear in future PSG bulletins. XIX Congress of International Union of Game Biologists This congress will be held in Trondheim, Norway, from 8 to 13 September 1989. The meeting will emphasize wildlife management in the third world, adaptations to arctic and alpine habitats and marine environments. Seabirds will be given a special emphasis in symposia on adapta- tion to selected environments and on population dynamics. If enough seabird biologists attend, a special seabird discussion session will be included. For additional information, contact: Secretariat of the XIX IUGB Congress, Tungasletta 2, N-7004 Trondheim, Norway. Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network This Network is a voluntary collaboration of government and private organizations that are committed to shorebird conservation. It identifies and gives international recognition to critically important shorebird habitats and promotes cooperative management and protection of the sites as part of an international reserve network. This is the product of dedication of many individuals from many organizations, including the Canadian Wildlife Service, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Manomet Bird Observatory, the National Audubon Society and the World Wildlife Fund, as well as people of the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Suriname. The organization has produced its first newsletter, Network News , to continue promoting communication among shorebird researchers. J. P. Myers is chairman of the Network. Their address is: Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, National Audubon Society, 550 South Bay Avenue, Islip, New York 11751. 98 Coastal Barrier Resource System (CBRS) Expansion Two new bills have been introduced that would expand protection of critical coastal areas under the CBRS program. This marks a "first" for the CBRS. Two areas are of interest: (1) Great Lakes - Senate Bill 1955 - Great Lakes Coastal Barrier Act of 1 987- - Introduced by Sen. John Glenn (D-OH) and referred to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. This strong bill charges the Secretary of the Interior to re-map the Great Lakes areas eligible for CBRS designation and recommend inclusion of appropriate areas within 90 days of passage. Congress then has 90 days to review the maps and amend the recommendations, after which these areas are automatically included within the system. In parallel with the Senate bill, Representative Robert Davis (R-MI) introduced a similar bill in June 1987, referred to the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. This bill (H.R. 2810) also directs the Interior Secretary to remap unprotected, undeveloped coastal areas of the Great Lakes. Within 6 months, recommendation would be made for inclusion of appropriate units in the CBRS System. Congress then acts on the recommendations. Passage of H.R. 2810 would not include any Great Lakes units directly within the System; a second bill would be required to do that. Conservationists are urged to write Rep. Davis to ask him to amend H.R. 2810 so that it uses the same one-b|ll approach in S. 1955. What you can do - If you live in a Great Lakes state, write your Senators and Congressman to urge them to support legislation for Great Lakes barrier protection. Ask Congressmen to push for amending Davis' bill to make it a one-bill process like S. 1955. Urge your Senators to cosponsor Sen. Glenn's bill $. 1955. (2) Pacific Coast - A congressional delegation has been working with the National Wildlife Federation to generate support for addition of Pacific coastal barriers in the System. Representatives from the Pacific Coast have been urged to sign a collective letter to Interior which asks the Department to revise its 1985 maps of eligible units and hold hearings to educate the public about the need for CBRS protection on the West Coast. So far, nine representatives have signed (Washington - Bonker, Lowry, Miller; Oregon - DeFazio; California - Bates, Boxer, Lagomarsino, Lantos and Miller). What you can do - For West Coast residents, write your representative and urge him/her to support initiatives to include the Pacific shoreline within the System. Address letters to: The Honorable The Honorable U. S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D. C. 20510 Washington, D. C. 20515 This notice is a condensed version taken from the National Wildlife Federation's "Barrier Islands Newsletter." For further information, contact Elise Jones, Coastal Barrier Project, NWF, 1412 Sixteenth St., N.W., Washington, D. C. 20036 (202) 637-3730. Submitted by Michael Erwin 99 100