PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP
BULLETIN
Vol. 2 Spring 1975 No. 1
'V- . PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP
The Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) was formed in 1972 out of a need
for better communication among Pacific seabird researchers. The Group
acts to coordinate and stimulate the field activities of its members
and to inform its membership and the general public of conservation
issues relating to Pacific seabirds and the marine environment. Current
activities include the development of standard techniques and reporting
forms for colony cens using, pelagic observations and beached bird surveys.
Policy statements are issued on conservation issues of critical importance.
While the PSG's primary area of interest is the west coast of North
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
payable to the Secretary-Treasurer (address on back cover). Menbers
receive the PSG Bulletin.
The Pacific Seabird Group Bulletin is issued in the spring and fall
of each year and contains news of interest to PSG members. Regional
reports include a listing of current research and information on seabird
conservation. The Bulletin does not act as an outlet for the results of
scientific research but welcomes articles on seabird conservation,
seabird research or other topics that relate to the objectives of the
Group. Articles should be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer. Back
issues of the Bulletin (starting with spring 1974) are available from
the Secretary-Treasurer for $2, SO each.
Natl. Marine Fisheries Service College of Forest Resources
Marine Mammal Division University of Washington
Sand Point, NSA Bldg. 192 Seattle, WA 98195
Seattle, WA 98115
The 1975 meeting of the Pacific Seabird Group will be held at Asilomar
Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, California (near Monterey) on 12-14
December. Further information will be sent to members in August.
PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP BULLETIN
COMMITTEE COORDINATORS
Pelagic Observations
Gerald A. Sanger
Colony Census ing
David A. Manuwal
Beached Bird Surveys
Conservation
David G. Ainley
Box 8, Alder Rd.
Bolinas, CA 94924
Kenton D. Wohl
P. 0. Box 1159
Anchorage, AK 99510
PSG ANNUAL MEETING
n
R H. DAY
PACIFIC SEABIRD CROUP
BULLETIN
Volume 2
Spring 1975
Number 1
Contents
The Chairman's Page 1
Pacific Seabird Group News 2
Regional Reports
Alaska 6
British Columbia 9
Washi ngton ....... 10
Oregon ....... ..... . l ]
Northern California 12
Southern California ..... ..... 14
Mex i co 16
Hawaii 16
Japan 17
Policy Statement
Incidental Seabird Kills from Salmon Gillnet Fisheries 19
Lack of Study of Parasites of Seabirds. ........ 21
Oil Spill Preparations 24
Proceedings of the First* Annual Meeting of the Pacific
Seabird Group . . , . 26
Bulletin Board ^ 42
New Members : .. 44
THE CHAIRMAN'S PAGE
Over one hundred members attended our first meeting last
December in Seattle. It was especially gratifying to see so
many people at the meeting and to hear such a wide variety of
topics presented in the general papers sessions. I hope that
an even greater percentage of the membership will be able to
attend in 1975.
In response to comments received during and after the
meeting, the format for the 1975 meeting will permit more
lengthy question and answer periods after each paper and also
time for special interest groups to meet and discuss their
shared interests and problems. In addition, it will be
possible to present data in "poster sessions" which will
allow individuals to present more detailed charts and graphs
than could be done in the usual oral presentation. Details on
this technique will be given in the 1975 call for papers. I
hope that you will continue to give your input on meeting
format so that the meeting structure will evolve into the
form best suited to the special needs of our group.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. M.
D. F. Udvardy, Mr. Gerald A. Sanger and Dr. Timothy Myres,
outgoing Executive Council members, for their help in getting
PSG through its first two years. They have all played a
large role in the organization and promotion of our group
and although they no longer serve on the Executive Council
they continue to be active in PSG affairs.
We hope you will remember that the function of the
Executive Council is only to play an administrative role in
directing PSG activities. In order for the Pacific Seabird
Group to continue to be a viable organization and to play a
constructive role in the scientific community it is necessary
for all members to contribute both ideas and energy. If we
are to keep the world fully informed about Pacific seabirds,
we must first of all maintain communication among ourselves.
Let us hear from you!
J . Michael Scott
PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP NEWS
Executive Council Elections
Elections must be held this year to choose 1976-1977
council representatives from British Columbia, Oregon and
southern California, and to fill the three seats open to
persons not living on the west coast of North America. Our
present representat i ves from British Columbia and Oregon now
live and work a long way from those respective regions.
Elections are thus particularly important for members from
those regions. Nominations or volunteerings will be open
until 1 June 1975. Ballots will be sent out in June. We
had very good participation in the last election. Let's do
it again! David G. Ainley, Election Committee Coordinator,
Box 8, Alder Rd., Bolinas, CA 94924.
Dues
For the past year and a half the PSG has operated on two
grants from the National Audubon Society totaling $750 and a
$200 grant from the Western Oil and Gas Association. The Group
is deeply indebted for this support which has allowed the pub-
lishing of three Bulletins and the establishment of an
organi za t iona 1 framework. So that the Group will be self-
sufficient in the future, annual dues of $5.00 are being
assessed beginning with this Bulletin. Persons paying their
1975 dues by September can be assured of receiving the fall
number of the Bulletin and the announcement of the 1975
annual meeting. Prepayment of 1976 and 1977 dues will be
accepted with the payment of this year's dues.
Structure of Executive Council Modified
At the annual meeting in Seattle the Executive Council
voted to modify its structure so that areas away from the
west coast of North America have more representation on the
council. The eight regions of primary concern to the Group
(Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, northern
California, southern California, Mexico, and Hawaii) will
still be represented by single seats on the council. The
non-Pacific U. S. and Canadian seats have been dissolved and
the council will now have three " non-regi ona 1 " seats open to
anyone who does not live in one of the eight regions listed
above. These changes have been incorporated into the bylaws
that were distributed with this issue of the Bulletin. The
Executive Council will now have 11 members. To fill the
extra seat in the period prior to the elections the council
has asked Haruo Ogi to serve on the council. Mr. Ogi has
had a wide range of experience with Pacific seabirds and is
a most welcome addition to the council.
2
Natural Resources Council Announces ^Symposium
The Natural Resources Council of America, the U. S.
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service,
the National Audubon Society and the- National Wildlife
Federation are cosponsoring a symposium, "Conservation of
Marine Birds in Northern North America An International
Symposium", to be held in Seattle, Washington, 13-15 May
1975, according to Daniel A. Poole, Council Chairman. Other
conservation groups, including PSG, have contributed to the
planning of this meeting.
The objective of the symposium i s to identify problems,
basic information needs and action programs related to the
conservation of marine birds in northern North , Amer i ca . The
papers that are presented will later be published. Major
topics that will be treated include: (1) socio-economic
considerations of marine birds and their conservation; (2)
the marine environment of birds; (3) status of marine bird
populations on land and sea; (4) the biology and ecology
of marine birds in the North; (5) conflicts between the
conservation of marine birds and uses of other resources;
(6) programs and authorities related to the conservation
of marine birds; and (7) conservation of marine birds in
other lands. More than 40 persons regionally and topically
knowledgeable about these subjects will be participating.
The symposium will be held in the Seattle Hyatt House
immediately adjacent to the Sea ttl e-Tacoma International
Airport. Persons wishing additional information should
contact James C. Bartonek, Warren B. King, or David N.
Nettleship, Cochairmen of the Planning Committee.
PSG Conservation Symposium Postponed
Due in large part to the symposium announced above, the
conservation symposium planned for the 1975 PSG annual
meeting has been postponed. The 1975 annual meeting will
have a half-day session devoted to seabird conservation.
Papers at the session will be in the same general categories
as outlined on pages 3 and 4 of Vol 1., No. 2 of the
Bulletin. Persons wishing to present papers at the session
should contact Daniel W. Anderson, U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, P. 0. Box C, Davis, CA 95616.
International Seabird Meeting
During the 16th International Congress of Ornithology
in Canberra, Australia, there was a meeting called by the
Standing Committee for the Coordination of Seabird 1 Research
to discuss seabird matters on the evening of 15 August 1974.
Sir Robert Falla of New Zealand, Dr. W._ R. P. Bourne of.
3
Scotland, and Dr. J. F. van Tets of Australia acted as chair-
man, secretary, and convenor, respectively. About 60 people
attended. The topics discussed were: exchange of infor-
mation, sea cruises, sea watches, realistic census figures,
beach combings, wrecks, effect of anthropogene poisons,
monitoring of index species and specimen banks. It was the
general concensus of the participants that such regularly
repeated censuses that are carried out with the aid of
amateurs, e.g., sea watches and beach surveys, are very
valuable tools in the long run giving information about the
status or an index of seabird populations; their use should
be encouraged in all coastal countries. Specimen banks are
deep-frozen specimens properly stored, for the most part
collected from beach wrecks etc., but also sys tema ti ca 1 1 y .
These would serve in the future as comparative material just
as science today uses old egg collections for eggshell
thinning studies or old preserved fish for mercury contami-
nation studies. The participants unanimously passed a
resolution that the Standing Committee passed onto the
Congress for forwarding. This states that sea coastal
countries should, through their appropriate agencies
(museums, fish and game department, or others) establish
data and specimen banks for seabirds. M, D. F. Udvardy .
Conservation Committee
To deal with the rapidly growing number of conservation
issues relating to the marine environment a PSG Conservation
Committee was formed at the annual meeting in Seattle. Mem-
bership is open to any person interested in seabird conser-
vation who has the time and energy to devote to the
committee's activities. If you are interested in being a
member of this committee please contact the committee's co-
ordinator Kenton D. Wo hi at P. 0. Box 1159, Anchorage, Alaska
99501. The primary functions of the committee are: (1)
identify important seabird oriented conservation issues, (2)
factually document the issues involved, (3) keep the general
membership informed, and (4) prepare conservation policy
statements for consideration and issuance by the Executive
Council. People wishing to help the committee should send
the coordinator information on conservation issues in their
region. Documentation of an issue need be no more than a
newspaper clipping.
Col or-marki ng Schemes
In order to increase the number of returns to re-
searchers col or-marki ng seabirds in the Pacific and Atlantic,
the Pacific Seabird Group will publish and regularly update
a list of color-marking schemes involving seabirds. Anyone
who is currently co 1 or-mark i ng seabirds or has done so in the
past is asked to send the following information to the
Secretary :
4
Species
Type of marking: (bands, wing markers, streamers, etc).
Colors
Location of marking: which leg, wing, etc.
Banding location: country, state or province, specific
location.
Name and address of person to whom details of sighting
should be sent.
5
REGIONAL REPORTS
The following reports contain a listing of current and
recently completed research. Persons knowing of additional
research projects or conservation issues should contact the
appropriate regional representative.
Alaska
Current Research
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Aleutian Islands National
Wildlife Refuge”! P~. CL Box 5251 , Adak, AK 98791 ).
1. Aleutian Canada Goose restoration project. In its second
year, this project will involve the release of captive-
raised birds on Agattu Island and the continued study of
the wild population breeding on Buldir Island.
2. Beach surveys. Four 1-mile segments of Bering Sea beach
at Adak Island are walked regularly to provide baseline
data on the natural mortality rates of seabirds and
ma r i ne mamma 1 s .
Principal Investigator for above two studies: G. Vernon
Byrd .
3. Avifauna of Agattu Island. A general avifauna! survey,
including location, size and species composition of sea-
birdcolonies.
4. Breeding biology and behavior of the Red-faced Cormorant.
Principal Investigator for above two studies: John L.
Trapp.
5. Avifauna of Buldir Island. A general avifauna! survey,
including location, size and species composition of sea-
bird colonies.
6. Breeding biology of Fork-tailed and Leach's Storm-Petrels
at Buldir Island. Study to include breeding chronology
and population estimates.
Principal Investigators for above two studies: G. Vernon
Byrd, Chris Dau and Matthew Dick.
7. Breeding biology and behavior of the Pelagic Cormorant.
Principal Investigator: Matthew Dick.
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Ecological Services, P. 0.
Box 1 287, Juneau, AK 99802)".
Southeast Alaska coastal foundation studies. Location
and species composition of seabird colonies in the
Alexander Archipelago are noted during the course of
wildlife inventories.
Principal Investigators: Donald Montgomery and Ronald
Berg .
U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service ( Energy Del 1 very Systems ,
813 D. St., Anchorage, AK 99501).
Seabirds of the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound.
6
Aerial and at-sea observations are utilized to determine
species composition, distribution and seasonal abundance
Principal Investigator: Robert T. Eberhardt.
U, S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Izembek National Wildlife
Range, Pouch 2, Cold Bay, AK 995/1).
The migration, mortality and reproductive success of the
Black Brant. Reproductive success is studied on the
Izembek Range when the entire population is present in
the fall. Mortality and migration are studied along the
entire migratory route.
Principal Investigator: Robert D. Jones, Jr.
U. S, Fish and Wildlife Service (Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center , Laurel , . MD 2081 0 ) .
Eggshell thinning studies. Pacific seabirds being con-
sidered include: Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel , Leach's
Storm-Petrel, Common Murre, Thick-billed Murre, Black
Guillemot, Pigeon Guillemot, Ancient Murrelet, Cassin's
Auklet, Parakeet Auklet, Crested Auklet, Least Auklet,
Whiskered Auklet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Horned Puffin, and
Tufted Puffin.
Principal Investigators: Erwin E. Klaas and Harry M.
0 h 1 endorf .
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Systems and Planning,
813 D St., Anchorage, AK 99501).
Inventory of seabird resources associated with the pro-
posed Coastal National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska. The
density and distribution of seabirds adjacent to pro-
posed national wildlife refuges are being determined.
The information will be used to guide legislative
decision making in establishing the most biologically
sound offshore refuge boundaries and to guide master
planning for the proposed refuges.
Principal Investigators: David R, Cline and Edgar P.
Bailey.
University of Lethbridge (Dept, of Colloquium Study,
Lethbridge, Alberta T1 K 3M4),
Nesting ecology of the Black Brant in Alaska. In co-
operation with the U, S. Fish and Wildlife Service the
normal behavioral response of the Black Brant to its
breeding habitats is being studied on the Yukon-
Kuskokwim Delta.
Principal Investigator: John Eisenhauer.
Conservation Notes
Alaska Considers Beaufort Sea Lea^se . The State of
Alaska is considering an oil and gas lease in the Beaufort
Sea to provide funds before the Trans-Alaska Pipeline
7
begins production in July 1977. The Beaufort Sea is
covered by ice for approximately 9 months a year but from
June to October the open waters are a major miqratory path-
way and summering area for seabirds. Drilling would pose
major environmental problems because oil 'is not readily
degraded at the ambient water temperatures in the Beaufort
Sea. Recently elected Governor Jay Hammond is seeking
alternatives to the Beaufort Sea lease which was originally
proposed by the previous administration.
Other Alaskan News
Biologists Perish Du ring Seabird Survey . On 30 Septem-
ber 19747 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists Bob
Bergman, Larry Haddock and Leonard Boughton and pilot Bob
Johnson departed from Anchorage to conduct a seabird survey
in the Gulf of Alaska. They failed to arrive in Kodiak as
planned, and an intensive search failed to find any sign of
the missing aircraft. The three biologists had worked on a
number of projects relating to the impact of oil exploration
on seabirds. The seabird library in the Anchorage Office of
the Fish and Wildlife Service has been named in honor of
Bergman .
BLM Funds Seabird Studies in Alaska to Hasten PCS Develop-
ment oT Petroleum . The Bureau of Land Management has con-
tracted through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration for environmental studies related to OCS
leasing and development in Alaska in the amounts of $7.6
million in the last quarter of fiscal year 1975 (ending June
30, 1975) and $24.3 million in fiscal year 1976. Of these
amounts more than $1.1 million have been ear-marked for bird
studies in the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea and the Beau-
fort Sea. Additional funding will come for bird studies in
the Chukchi Sea during 1975 or 1976, with money for all areas
continuing from 3 to 5 years after the initial funding.
Universities, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game,
agencies of the federal government, and others will be parti-
cipating in the research. The newly formed Coastal Ecosystem
Program within the Office of Biological Services, U. S. Fish
and Wildlife Service Anchorage, has at the request of NOAA
assumed r e s pon s i b i 1 i ty for coordination and review of all
marine mammal and marine bird studies being contracted.
The objectives of the BLM environmental studies program
are: ( 1 ) to provide information for management decisions
regarding development of mineral resources, especially oil
and gas, (2) prepare environmental impact statements, (3)
establish bases for prediction of impacts of OCS activities
in frontier areas, and (4) acquire impact data that may re-
sult in modification of leasing regulations, operating
regulations or orders to permit for efficient mineral
resource recovery with maximum environmental protection.
Three major tasks related to bird studies were identi-
fied as being: (1) to summarize and evaluate existing
literature and unpublished data on the distribution,
abundance, behavior, and food dependencies of marine
birds; (2) to determine the seasonal density distri-
bution, critical habitats, migratory routes, and breed-
ing locales for principal marine birds species in study
areas; to identify critical species particularly in
regard to possible effects of oil and gas development;
and (3) to describe population dynamics and trophic
relationships of selected species at offshore and coastal
study sites. Other tasks addressed the needs for assess-
ment of acute and chronic effects of crude oil, its
component fractions, and other petroleum-associated
chemicals on physiological and behavioral mechanisms of
selected arctic and subarctic organisms of the marine
environment (including birds); determining levels of
trace metals and hydrocarbons in selected marine
organisms; and determining the incidence of disease in
birds for use in evaluating future impacts of petroleum-
related activity.
Although the support of these kinds of studies is
commendable (it is also a legal necessity under the
National Environmental Policy Act if petroleum develop-
ment is to take place) some Alaskans view the information
as coming too late to influence the selection of lease,
areas based upon their environmental values. In addition
to studies in OCS frontier areas of Alaska, the BLM is
considering similar lease programs with associated
environmental studies near the Baltimore Channel, Gulf of
Mexico and off southern California.
Regional representative for Alaska - George J. Divoky.
British Columbia
Current Research
British Columbia Provincial Mus-eum (Victoria, B. C.).
T; Inventory and cataloging of seabirds on the coast
of British Columbia.
2. Censusing of seabird colonies in the Strait of
Georgia and central and northern tip of Vancouver
Island.
3, Banding of G1 aucou s-wi nged Gulls. It is hoped that
age-class dispersal can be determined.
4 „ The collation of weathership seabird observations.
5. Pelagic field trips. Trips are being organized for
spri ng and fall.
9
Principal Investigators: C. J. Guiguet, R. W .
Campbell, and R . Y . Edwards.
Regional representative for British Columbia -
Spencer G. Sealy.
Washington
Curre nt R ese arch
University of Puget Soun d (Dept, of Biology, Tacoma, WA 98416)
Biology of an endangered population of Caspian Tern in
Grays Harbor, Washington.
Principal Investigator: Steven Penland.
University of Washington (Wildlife Science Group, College of
Forest Resources, Seattle, WA 98195)
Two of the three studies initiated in 1974 on
Destruction Island will be continued this year. These
include studies of the breeding ecology of the
Rhinoceros Auklet and the Black Oystercatcher. The
Rhinoceros Auklet continues to be the focal point of
research at the University of Washington. All three
major breeding colonies are now being studied. The
study on Protection Island is being initiated this year
by graduate student Ulrich Wilson. The major thrust of
this study is the effects of human disturbance on the
breeding biology of the Rhinoceros Auklet.
1. Population ecology of the Rhinoceros Auklet on Smith
Island National Wildlife Refuge.
2. Baseline survey of marine birds in Puget Sound.
Principal Investigator for above two studies: David A.
Manu wa 1 .
3. Ecology and competitive relationships of the Black
Oysterca tcher on Destruction Island.
Principal Invest i ga tor : David Nysewander.
4. Ecology of the Rhinoceros Auklet on Destruction Island.
Principal Investigator: Lora L. Leschner.
5. Effect of human disturbance on the biology of the
Rhinoceros Auklet on Protection Island.
Principal Investigator: Ulrich W. Wilson.
6. The present distribution and abundance of the Double-
crested Cormorant in Puget Sound and Gulf Island of
British Columbia.
Principal Investigators: David A. Manuwal and R. Wayne
Campbell (British Columbia Provincial Museum).
Conservation Notes
Oil tra ns port in Puget Sound and coastal Washington . 1 1
is evident that the oil issue in this state is going to be a
10
critical one to the welfare of existing marine bird
populations. Several proposals for transporting oil have
been made. These include tanker traffic directly to the
Anacortes area, construction of an underwa ter . pi pel i ne
from Port Angeles to Anacortes, a major facility at Port
Angeles, and offshore oil tanker terminals connected via
pipeline to Port Angeles. There are undoubtedly others.
At this point it is difficult to say just what is going to
happen.
Regional representa ti ve for Washington - David A. Manuwal
Oregon
Current Research
Audubon Society (Corvallis, OR 97330)
Pelagic field trips. Trips are scheduled at least twice
a year (spring and fall). For further information con-
tact Fred Ramsey, Dept, of Statistics, Oregon State
University, Corvallis 97331.
Oreqon State University (Corvallis, OR 97331)
1. Taxonomic and behavioral aspects of interbreeding be-
tween G1 aucous -wi nged and Western Gulls. Field work
is being done on Destruction Island, Washington;
Greater Chain Island, British Columbia; and Yaquina
Head, Oregon. Principal Investigators: Wayne Hoffman
and John A. Wiens (Dept, of Zoology), and J. Michael
Scott (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hawaii).
2. Resource allocation in Leach's and Fork-tailed Storm-
Petrels. Recently completed work.
Principal Investigators: William A. Pearcy (Dept, of
Oceanography ) andJ. Michael Scott (U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Hawaii).
3. Community organization and pelagic distribution of
seabirds off'Oregon. Manuscript in preparation.
Principal Investigator: J. Michael Scott (U. S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Hawaii).
4. Distribution and abundance of seabirds in Yaquina
Bay, Oregon. Weekly censuses of Yaquina Bay.
Principal Investigators: Robert E. Olson and Peter
Rothlisberg (Marine Science Center, Oregon State
University, Newport, OR 97365).
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (William Finley National
Wildlife Refuge, Route 2, Box T08, Corvallis, OR 97330)
Annual aerial census of marine bird colonies in Oregon.
Principal Investigator: Dick Rodgers.
Independent Studies
Distribution and abundance of Oregon birds. Presently
in preparation.
Principal Investi ga tor : M . Ralph Browninq (Bird and
flammal Laboratory, National Museum of Natural History,
Washington, D. C. 20560).
Personnel Change
C. Fred Zeillemaker, formerly of William L. Finley
National Wildlife Refuge, is now assistant refuae manager
of Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Regional representative for Oregon - J. Michael Scott.
Northern California
Current Research
California Department of Fish and Game (1416 9th St.
Sacramento , CA 95814)
1. Inventory of nesting birds on offshore rocks in
California.
2. Cormorant nesting studies.
3. Brown Pelican inventory.
4 Pelagic bird inventories.
Principal Investigator: Howard R. Leach.
California Department of Fish and Game (Marine Technical In-
formation Center, 350 Golden Shore, Long Beach CA 90802)
Seabird observations in the California current. Seabird
observations are made from research vessels and included
in the annual data report "California Cooperative Oceanic
Fisheries Investigations". Copies of the report can be
obtained from the Center's librarian.
California State University, Humboldt (Dept, of Bioloqy,
Areata, CA 9 5 521 )
1. Studies on the biology of s torm-petrel s .
Principal Investigator: Stanley W. Harris
2. Taxonomy of the Yel 1 ow-f ooted Western Gull ( Larus
occidental is 1 i yens ) in the Gulf of California.
Principal Investigator: Ron LeValley
3. Distribution and occurrence of birds off extreme northern
California.
Principal Investigators: Stanley W. Harris and Ron
LeVa 1 1 ey .
California State University, Moss Landing Marine Laboratory
(Moss Landing, C A 95039 )
1. Taxonomy of fossil marine birds of central California.
2. Distribution and occurrence of marine birds in Monterey
Bay .
Principal Investigators: G. V. Morejohn and students.
3. Diets of marine birds in Monterey Bay.
Principal Investigator: Don M. Baltz.
12
California State University, Sacramento (6000 J. St.,
Sacramento, CA 95819)
1. Functional anatomy in marine birds.
2 . Biol ogy of al ci ds .
Principal Investigator: M. D. F. Udvardy.
California State University, San^ Jose . ( San Jose, CA 95514)
Circannual and circadian rhythms in marine birds on the
Faral 1 on Islands. Studies are being conducted in con-
junction with the Point Reyes Bird Observatory.
Principal Investigator: L. R. Mewaldt
Point Reyes Bird Observatory (Box 321, Bolinas, CA 94924)
1. Studies on the marine bird community on and near the
Farallon Islands.
2. Beached bird survey of California.
3. Maintenance of Farallon Research Station for studies
(by other workers) on marine birds and mammals.
Principal Investigators: David Ainley and staff.
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (California State University,
Humboldt, Areata, CA 955215
Birds of coastal bays and estuaries.
Principal Investigator: Paul Springer.
University of California, Bodega . Mar i ne . Labora tor i es (P. 0.
Box 247, Bodega Bay, CA 94923)
Studies on pollutants in marine ecosystems and their
biological effects.
Principal Investigator: Robert W. Risebrough.
University of California, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA 95060)
T~. Behavi oral e c o 1 ogy of g u 1 Is.
Principal Investigators: R. Pierotti and K. Briggs.
2. Studies on the biology of marine mammals.
Principal Investigator: K. W. Norris.
Conservation Notes
Deep Water Tanker Port. A deep water oil tanker port
is being considered by Standard Oil of California for
positioning three miles off the California coast at Morro
Bay. Super tankers would discharge their oil at a buoy and
the oil would then be piped to refineries in the Richmond
area (overland route). Environmental impact statements are
now being drafted. Much local oppostion exists. There is
of course next to nothing known about .mari ne bird popu-
lations using that area. Volunteers in the Point Reyes
Bird Observatory 1 s beached bird census have been tallying
marine birds dead on at least one beach in the Morro Bay
area for four years.
13
Herring Fishery In Tomales and San Francisco Bays . During
the past two years an unregulated herring fishery was brought
under control by legislation authored by State Senator Peter
H. Behr. Much of the catch was being (is) shipped to Japan but
it is now limited to 600 tons annually. Legislation now being
considered would restrict the harvest to experienced herring
fishermen who own boats outfitted with the proper equipment.
Senator Behr is considering legislation to ban the fishery al-
together. Recent, yet to be published work completed by re-
searchers from Point Reyes Bird Observatory and the Museum of
Vertebrate Zoology (UC Berkeley) indicate herring to be part of
the diets of marine birds and mammals in the area but this work
does not include populations of these predators that use
Tomales and San Francisco Bays heavily. Casual observations
indicate herring eggs to be important for local populations of
larids durinq a very short period (herring spawning) each year.
Regional representative for northern California - David G.
Ai nl ey .
Southern California
Current Research
This time, current research will be broken down by general
topic. Hopefully, this will provide more interesting
reading.
Studies of the ye 1 1 ow- footed Western Gull
Judith Hand (Biology Dept., UCLA Los Angeles, CA) will
obtain sound recordings and other field data in the
vicinity of Cabo San Lucas and Bahia de Magdalena durinq
the field season of 1975. This is an area of possible
overlap between the wyman i and 1 i yens subspecies. Ron
LeValley (Dept, of Biology, Humboldt State University,
Areata, CA) will write up data obtained in 1974, and will
obtain more data from the Gulf of California in 1975.
Several manuscripts are being prepared by George Hunt,
(Dept, of Population and Environmental Biology, University
of California at Irvine) and Dan Anderson (U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, P. 0. Box C, Davis, CA) on the breeding
biology of this species.
Baseline studies for the evaluation of environmental impact
of offshore oil drilling .
For the past six months, much has been said and proposed,
but no studies were begun at the writing of this report.
The latest word is that by the end of February, BLM will
begin to let contracts for baseline studies. As yet, a
program manager for southern California has not been
designated. Hopefully, I can include a list of the
14
studies underway and their investigators in the next
PSG Bulletin . As it appears now, most baseline research
will be conducted by various universities and other re-
search agencies in southern California, and proposed
research is being reviewed now by BLM.
Studies of the California Brown Pelican .
Dan Anderson (USFWS) and Howard Leach (Calif. Dept, of
Fish and Game 1416 9th St., Sacramento CA) will con-
tinue surveys of breeding pelicans off the California
coast. Anderson will also conduct surveys of product-
ivity, numbers, and pesticide residues in the Gulf of
California. Jim Keith (USFWS, Bldg. 16, Federal Ctr.
Denver CO) will study the effects of food shortage and
pollutants on reproductive behavior of Brown Pelicans
in the Gulf of California.
Ecological studies of vari ous , seabi rd.. species .
George Hunt (UC, Irvine) will continue his studies of
supernormal clutches and female-female pairing in
Channel Islands Western Gulls. He will also supervise
a thesis study on Mandarte Is., B. C., of structure and
predation in cormorant colonies, Howard Leach (DFG) is
trying to coordinate an ecological study of Brandt's
Cormorants on San Nicolas Island. J. R. Jehl , Jr. (San
Diego Nat. Hist. Mus. P. 0. Box 1390 San Diego, CA)
will continue to survey pelagic birds off southern
California and Baja California.
Conservation Notes ,
European rabbits on San Martin Island .. San Martin has
had its problems! Brown Pelicans have nearly been elimi-
nated from there as a breeding bird by overenthus i as ti c
tourists and "scientific" curi os i ty- seekers . Human
disturbance seems to have been a major problem for other
nesting seabirds on that island, as well. Now, I
recently received an unconfirmed report from J. R. Jehl
that European rabbits have most likely been introduced
onto the island by a local fisherman. There have been
several sightings of rabbits recently, and an ex-
pedition is needed to confirm this. If true, action
should be taken to eliminate the rabbits from the
island.
Offshore oil development . This potential environmental
insult is proceeding at a rapid pace in southern Cali-
fornia, and the rapid development of offshore oil has
attracted the opposition of several high-level
politicians from California.
15
Proposed projects first require meaninaful environmental
impact s ta tements-- the statements, however, need to be
predicated on sound and thorouuh scientific data and
technical expertise. Then, to prevent environmental
damane, impacts that are envisioned, predicted, or sus-
pected in the impact statement are avoided in the actual
development of the resources utilization.
Controversy arises at all levels in this process. There
is concern in California (and in other oil lease areas)
that adequate research will not be accomplished for a
meaninqful impact statement. Too much research, in fact,
may cause delays in oil development that are unacceptable
to economic and political qoals. Environmentalists are
concerned that oil development will be pushed forward,
reoardless of potential impact, or that research spendinq
will skirt the real issues, satisfy the impact statement
requirements, but not the environmental issues. State
politicians feel the federal government is forcing this
upon the state, and that the state itself stands to lose
environmentally--and financially.
The oceanic ecosystem and all livinq ocean resources
stand to lose if proper research is not conducted, and
then if proper safeguards are not initiated. Regard inn
the initial phase of impact evaluation, I believe a cen-
tral issue in environmental protection here will be the
insti nation of adequate coordination of research activi-
ties, and how strong, authoritative, and knowledgeable
the coordinating agency will be. The issue itself is
undoubtedly a mixture of politics, eneray policy, and
envi ronmental concern. Where do the seabirds stand?
Regional representative for southern California -
Daniel W. Anderson.
Mex i co
No report was received.
Hawa i i
Current Research
Sea Life Park (Oahu, HI)
Rearing of Red-footed Boobies. Originally chicks were
collected from a nearby colony and raised in the park.
Now several pairs breed in the park each year. Program
in tenth yea r .
State University of New York at Buffalo (Dept, of Physiology,
Dept, of Medicine, Buffalo, NY 14214)
Eggshell permeability studies. Permeability of eggshells
is being determined to establish a baseline index so
that the effects of future environment pollution can be
measured.
Principal Investigator: Charles A. Paqanalli.
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (337 Uluniu St.,
Kailua, hi 96734) '
1. Status, abundance and distribution of the seabirds of
the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Continual monitoring of populations in the leeward
Hawaiian Islands.
2. Status, abundance and distribution of the seabirds of
Johnston and Rose Atoll and Baker, Jarvis, and Howland
Islands National Wildlife Refuges.
Principal Investigators: Palmer C. Sekora and C. Fred
Zeillemaker.
U. S. National Park Service (Haleakala National Park,
HTJ
Status and distribution of the Dark-rumped Petrel
( Pterodroma pheaopyg i a sandwi c hens i s )
Conservation Notes
Northwest Islands . Wilderness designation is be inn
held up by boundary negotiations with the state although
the President has submitted to congress a wilderness
proposal for approximately 1700 acres of exposed land.
The issue of ownership of submerged lands is complicated
by pressure to open inshore waters for commercial fishing.
Kaula Rock , This island lies off Niihan and is a
bombing target for the military. The outcome of con-
gressional hearings regarding Kahoolawe Island may
determine whether pressure for expanded use of alter-
nate sites (such as Kaula) will be a problem in the
future .
Regional representa t i ve for Hawaii - Robert Sha 1 1 enberger .
Japan
Current Research
Hokkaido University (Research Institute of North Pacific
Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University, Had od ate)
1. Food and feeding habits of alcids are being studied from
10 April to 31 May, 1975 in the Northern Pacific Ocean
and Bowers Bank in the Bering Sea by the RV Habomai flaru
No. 21. ‘ ~
2. Seabird observations around the Buldir Island by the RV
Haboma i Ma ru No . 21 .
Principal I nves ti qa tor : Tsuneyasu Hamanaka
Hokkaido University (Division of Food Science and Technology,
Faculty of Fisheries)
PCB concentration in seabirds.
Principal Investigator: Kozo Takaqi
Association for the Protection of Wild Ansers (983 Sendai -Shi,
Ha ra -Mac hi 1 -2-31 , M iyagi -Ken , Japan )
Goose observations on the northern migration route from
the overwi nter i ng area.
Principal Investigator: Yoshio Yokota
Regional representa t i ve for Japan - Haruo Ogi.
18
PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP POLICY STATEMENT
Incidental Seabird Kills from Salmon Gillnet Fisheries
The Danish salmon gillnet fishery off West Greenland has
been responsible for the incidental death annually of approxi-
mately one-half million Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia ) and
a smaller number of other seabirds. Hunting losses on the
Greenland coast account for an additional three-quarters of
a million birds annually. Deaths from natural causes, from
oil pollution and from an unknown amount of hunting on the
Newfoundland coast undoubtedly bring the total kill well above
1.5 million birds, the annual production of this species in
the western North Atlantic (Tull, Germain and May, Nature
237 ( 5349 ): 42-44 , 1 973). An agreement between the United States
and Denmark will curtail Denmark's gillnet salmon catch pro-
gressively until 1976, when only an inshore catch of 1,100
tons will be permitted.
In the North Pacific the Japanese salmon gillnet fishery,
operating since 1952, would be expected to have an even more
destructive effect on seabirds, considering that their annual
salmon catch is about one hundred times that off West Greenland.
The Japanese mothership fishery operates west of 175°W and
north of 46°N, the land-based fishery operates west of 175°W
and south of 46°N and the coastal fishery, made up of 1,380
short-haul vessels, operates off Hokkaido. Based on the 1970
landings of 108,982 metric tons, the relative salmon catches
of these three fisheries are 33.4%, 44.9% and 21.7% respectively.
Data recently collected on research vessels of the U. S.
National Marine Fisheries Service permit an estimate of the
magnitude of the seabird kill by the Japanese salmon gillnet
fishery for the mothership area and eastward to 165°W. The
Japanese salmon fishery is restricted to the waters west of
175°W by agreement with the United States. The estimate of
the total kill of seabirds in the mothership area may be made
by calculating the bird mortality per length of gillnet set
by research vessels, multiplied by the total length of gillnets
set by the 369 catcher-boats of the Japanese mothership
fishery. About 2,900 miles of nets are set and retrieved
daily during the 65 day (approximately ) fishing season. The
estimated annual mortality in the mothership area is 70,000 to
245,000 birds. The lower figure is based on data from 10
cruises west of 175°W. The higher figure is based on data
from 20 cruises, including those in the first figure, west of
165°W. Assuming similar seabird densities in the areas of
the land-based and coastal fisheries and knowing the fishing
effort in these two areas, the estimated annual mortality is
between 210,000 and 732,000 birds. Since 1952 as many as 4.7
million birds may have been killed by the Japanese salmon gill-
net fishery. It must be stressed that seabird densities are
19
not known to be similar for the three areas in question, so
that projection of bird kill figures from one area to all three
is highly speculative. Nevertheless, these figures point to
the potential magnitude of the problem.
In the mothership area and adjacent seas to the east, in
addition to murres (58% of birds killed), significant numbers
of shearwaters (27%), puffins (9%), and fulmars (5%) are killed,
as are lesser numbers of small alcids, albatrosses and storm-
petrels. The murres and puffins taken in the mothership area
are of U.S. and Russian origin, while the shearwaters come from
New Zealand, Australia and Chile. In the coastal fishery area
Japanese and Russian alcids are taken. Our knowledge of the
populations of the species affected is insufficient to suggest
whether their annual reproduction can tolerate such losses.
The birds suffering the qreatest mortality as a result of
the g i 1 1 net fishery are diving birds: Murres and puffins.
Diving birds as a group are also the most vulnerable to oil
pollution and have suffered heavy losses as a result of past
oil spills (J. Smail et al., California Birds 3:25-32, 1972;
W.R.P. Bourne, Ibis 112:44-51, 1970). In addition, most North
Pacific seabirds are at the height of their breeding season
during the salmon gillnet season and have their greatest
densities within 50 miles offshore from breeding islands and
headlands.
In view of this alarming situation, the Pacific Seabird
Group respectfully urges governments of nations with extensive
fishing fleets, and particularly the governments of Denmark,
Japan and Korea to undertake the following:
1. Immediately begin research on the best means of
reducing the mortality of seabirds from driftnets
without substantial harm to their fishing industries.
2. Eliminate gillnet fisheries within 50 miles of any
seabird breeding colonies.
3. Place observers aboard the gillnet boats to provide
more detailed information on the distribution,
abundance and annual mortality for seabirds in the
general area of the fishery.
20
LACK OF STUDY OF PARASITES OF SEABIRDS
Study of the ecology and biology of a species is incomplete
without inclusion of the parasites (both ecto- and endopara s i tes )
and their effect on populations. Admittedly, parasites generally
seem to have little effect on the health of the host, but many
parasites do, on occasion, cause pathological conditions,
and parasites add a constant stress which may overwhelm the host
when it enters an extreme situation.
Determination of the importance and effects of a particular
parasitic infection, a supposed parasitic epizootic for instance,
can be greatly aided by knowledge of the prevalence and intensity
of normal parasites of that host. This knowledge is lacking
for most aquatic (and terrestrial) birds in North America with
regard to reported helminth parasites. Fifty-one per cent of
freshwater species, but only 17% of marine species, have had
some parasite survey made; at the other end of the scale 20%
of freshwater species and 52% of the marine species have never
had even one specimen examined thoroughly (see table). The
most typically marine birds are the poorest known; 12 species
of alcids and 22 species of the tubed-nosed swimmers have
never been examined for parasites in North America.
All the possible aspects of parasite infections cannot
be recognized until the parasites have been collected. Conditions
of migration, sex, age, food habits, habitats, alternation of
habitats, associated host species, may all be reflected in the
parasites. Parasites from beached, diseased, or injured birds
and from healthy normal birds of all ages are needed. Preferably,
any category to be analyzed and compared should be represented
by about fifteen specimens as a minimum. Carcasses should be
fresh, or quick-frozen and maintained in frozen condition until
examination. Few specialists are available for such examination;
this area of study needs some new workers to fill an unexploited
gap of knowledge. Parasitologists should be urged to influence
students toward such studies, particularly where numbers of
beached and normal birds could be provided. The junior author
of this note is a specialist in this field and would be happy
to examine any specimens sent to him or to enter into cooperative
studies with other research workers.
Students of parasites of northern Pacific birds have the
advantage of a large amount of parasitological survey work
performed in Siberia. A series of Soviet helminthological
expeditions, many of several years' duration, covered Chukotka,
Kamchatka, Wrangel and Bering Sea islands, Sakhalin, Yakutia,
etc., examining thousands of birds for parasites. We have no
data for alcids and petrels from the area, but assume information
is relatively complete, as emphasis was placed on fish eating
21
birds and birds of potential economic importance, positive
or negative. In Yakutia (inland, unfortunately) helminths
listed average 24.2 per species in shore birds, 20.1 for gulls
and terns, 27.6 for loons, and 41.9 for waterfowl, many more
than known for these groups in North America.
There are no compact manuals or reference books for
identification of parasites of individual bird groups. The
senior author recently published a "Key to nematodes reported
in waterfowl" (Resource Publ. 122, Fish and Wildlife Service),
and hopes to make such keys available for other groups of
waterfowl parasites also. The junior author hopesto complete
an identification manual for parasites of marine birds.
Malcolm E. McDonald, Bear River Res. Station, Bo x 459, Brigham
City, Utah, 84302 and William Threlfall, Department of Biology ,
Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland
Canada, A 1 C 5S7 .
22
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OIL SPILL PREPARATIONS:
California Sets the Pace and Biologists Lag Behind
In 1937, thousands of aquatic birds perished in oil spilled
following the collision of a passenger steamer and the tanker
Frank H. Buck at San Francisco. The governmental response to
wildlife involvement in that spill was purely one of local
initiative. A lone wildlife agent walked many miles of beaches
with a shotgun and a large supply of ammunition in order to
humanely dispatch beached oiled birds. Two biologists, James
fioffitt and Robert Orr, decided to take advantage of the situa-
tion and collect bird skeletons. It occurred to them, somewhat
belatedly, that it might be to some benefit to census affected
birds but they did no more than note the species affected and
count dead murres along a short stretch of beach (Moffitt, J. and
R. Orr, Calif. Fish and Game 24:239-244, 1938). Another study
was conducted on that spill by E. C. Aldrich (Bird-Lore
40:110-114, 1938) but all studies were inadequate. Today the
California Department of Fish and Game is prepared to make an
effort to save oiled birds but the biologists are apparently
no more prepared now than they were 38 years ago for assessing
the impact of a spill on bird populations.
California has established an Oil Spill Response Team
composed of eight state agencies that is activated whenever
there is a sizable oil spill. Activation is facilitated by
a toll-free telephone number (800-852-7550) that anyone may
call, day or night, to report a spill. Immediately following
verification of an oil spill, people are dispatched to ascertain
extent, source and the toxicity of the oil. Cleanup operations
are initiated and the threat to local wildlife is estimated.
If needed, an operations center is established, complete with
telephones and radio communications equipment. If the spill
is in tidal waters, the responsibility for physical cleanup
goes to the Coast Guard, otherwise it becomes the responsibility
of the Environmental Protection Agency. Nearly all other
responsibilities, such as public health and wildlife and habitat
restoration, will be shouldered by the Oil Spill Response Team.
The leadership of the Team goes to the agency with the greatest
expertise in solving the major problems created by the spill.
For example, if the spill were on a highway (tanker truck
accident) the California Highway Patrol might assume team leader-
ship but the California Department of Health would direct the
Team if public safety were threatened by the spill. In most
cases, however, the California Department of Fish and Game
would lead the Team since the typical oil spill involves wild-
life and wildlife habitat.
Bill Clark of the Department of Fish and Game has established
several oil spill supply centers in California. Each supply
center has boxes (to transport oiled birds), cloth (to wrap
birds in transport), and barrels of cleaning fluid. One of
24
the supply centers is in the Central Valley to cover the
possibility of an oil spill along an interior waterway. In
the San Francisco Bay area there is a large two story building
on Coast Guard property that can house up to 5,000 birds.
California recognizes that volunteer citizen participation
in an oil spill is desireable providing sufficient thought
has been given to communications and management. All volunteers
that clean oiled birds in California must first register for
state employee compensation insurance at a bird cleaning
center. At that time the volunteers receive identification
cards that allow them to be admitted to the bird cleaning area.
This protects both the volunteers and the state in case of
personal injury. Volunteers can be trained with the help of
audio-visual aids (prepared by the IBRRC ) to clean birds and
prepare them for return to the wild. Recent advances in bird
cleaning techniques result in a small percentage of oiled birds
being returned to the wild within 24 hours. Most birds require
a few days and some need as long as three weeks.
Agencies in California, especially the Department of Fish
and Game, have come a long way since 1937. They are making
significant efforts to be ready to save oiled birds, whether
"game" birds or non-economic species. Biologists, on the other
hand, have made little progress in preparing to study birds
killed in an oil spill. What is needed initially is a
comprehensive program of beached bird surveys. This will
provide baseline information that will show the normal pattern
of mortality and allow the impact of spills and natural calamities
to be known. We know, for example, that there were larger
numbers of murre carcasses on central California beaches in
1973 than in previous years but there is little quantitative
information to tell us the actual magnitude of the die off.
Audubon chapters, environmental groups and schools need to
be educated on how and why these surveys are conducted so
that they may start their own. With regard to disasters,
either natural or man made, each region on the coast should
have a communications network so that enough people can be
mobilized to gather information on the extent, species compo-
sition and magnitude of bird mortality. People wishing to
start beached bird surveys in their area or wanting to help
the PSG develop a program for systema ti cal 1 y gathering infor-
mation on seabird disasters are asked to contact David G.
Ainley (Coordinator of the PSG Working Committee on Beached Bird
Surveys and Seabird Disasters at Box 8, Alder Rd,, Bolinas,
CA 94924) or the IBRRC. David C. Smith, I ntl . Bi rd - Rescue- ..
Research Center, 2701 8th St. , Berkeley, CA 94710 .-
25
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP
The First Annual Meeting of the Pacific Seabird Group
was held 6-8 December at the Providence Heights Education
and Conference Center in Issaquah, Washington. David A.
Manuwal of the University of Washington was Program Chairman.
Business Sessions
The Executive Council met on the evening of 5 December
and the morning of 8 December. The general membership
meeting was held on the morning of 7 December.
Election of Officers. - The Executive Council reelected
J Michael Scott as Chairman, Spencer G. Sealy as Vice-
Chairman and George J. Divoky as Secretary-Treasurer .
Bylaws. - The proposed bylaws were modified by the
Executive Council and will be submitted to the general
membershi p in 1975.
Correspond! ng members. - The Executive Council decided
to not appoint specific people as corresponding members
(persons who report on research and conservation in areas
away from the west coast of North America). Instead reports
from these areas will be obtained on an informal basis.
Working Committees. - Working committees were discussed
at an evening session on 7 December. Reports are being
prepared by the working Committee coordinators and forms
should be completed by 1976.
North American Seabird Group. - Paul Buckley proposed
that PSG work for the formation of a North American Seabird
Group Such an organization would allow PSG to remain
autonomous but would provide a unified voice for North
Americans interested in seabirds. It was decided that for
the present, PSG should devote its efforts to its own programs
but that at sometime in the future the PSG might want to
participate in a North American seabird organization.
Other business news is contained in the "PSG News"
section of this Bulletin.
Special Events, Social Events and Field Trips
On the evening of 7 December the following movies were
shown :
"Puffins, predators and pirates".
David N. Nettleship, Canadian Wildlife Service,
Ottawa, Ontario.
26
"Manana, island of birds".
Robert J. Shal 1 enberger , Hawaii Division of Fish
and Game, Honolulu, Hawaii.
"Farallon Light".
Richard Petersen and Point Reyes Bird Observatory,
Bol i nas , Cal i form' a.
A reception was held on the evening of 6 December. A
one-day field trip was conducted 8 December to Blaine, Wash-
ington to view seabirds and waterfowl.
Report of the Treasurer
1974
RECEIPTS
Grants-i n-ai d from National Audubon Society $500.00
Contribution from Western Oil and Gas 200. 00
Total Receipts $700.00
DISBURSEMENTS
Paci f i c Seabi rd Group Bulletin $370.28
Postage and Postal Service Fees 73.07
Stationery 52.20
Chairman's Expense 12.45
Annual Meeting Expense 69.64
Bank Charges 8. 34
Total Disbursements $585 . 98
Excess of Receipts over Disbursements $114.02
Attendance
Registration at the meeting totaled 75 people though
approximately 50 additional people attended most of the paper
sessions. Attendees were: Daniel W. Anderson, Gordon Alcorn,
Edgard Bailey, James C. Bartonek, Richard Bauer, Range Bayer,
Alex Benedict, Alice Benedict, Alice Berkner, Alice Bolten,
Francine G. Buckley, Paul A. Buckley, Malcolm Coulter, Matthew
Dick, George J. Divoky, Walter R. Donaghho, William Drury,
Clifford Fiscus, Warren L. Flock, David Frazer, William W. H.
Gunn, Jane M. Glass, Bob Garrott, Diane Garrott, Juan Guzman,
Judith Hand, Dennis Heinemann, Wayne Hoffman, Marshall Howe,
M. E. Pete Isleib, Steve Johnson, G. Kaiser, Paul Kelly, Jim
King, C. Eugene Knoder, Lora Lynn Leschner, Ron LeValley, Liz
Lindeman, David A. Manuwal, Naomi Manuwal, Roy Mason, E. Charles
Meslow, M. T. Myres, David N. Nettleship, David Nysewander,
27
Haruo Ogi, Steven Penland, Raymond Pierotti, Edward W. Pough,
Frank Richardson, Carroll Rieck, Ian Robertson, Sievert Rohwer ,
Gerald Sanger, John W. Schoen, Madeline Schouten, J. Michael
Scott, Spencer G. Sealy, David C. Smith, Ian Smith, Steve
Speich, Ken Summers, Jerry Tangreen, Eric Tull, William Twiet,
M.D.F. Udvardy, Robert L. Van Wormer, T.R. Wahl, John Ward,
Stuart Warter, Duff H.S. Wehle, Doug Weschler, Clayton White,
John Wiens, Floward M . Wight.
Paper Sessions
Symposium on the Biology of the Alcidae
prepared by
Spencer G. Sealy and M. D. F. Udvardy
Breedinq biology of the Rhinoceros Auklet on Cl eland Island ,
British ColTmbi a. KEN SUMMERS, Department of Zoology, University
of British - Co 1 urn b i a , Vancouver, British Columbia.
The breeding biology of Rhinoceros Auklets ( Ceror h i nca
monocerata) was studied on Cleland Island, B. C., in 1969 as
a byproduct of a project sponsored by Dr. R. H. Drent. The
island is a small seabird colony which then contained 375 to
450 breeding pairs of Rhinoceros Auklets.
Peak hatching was between 9 and 21 June after an incubation
period of about 42 days. The fledging per i od averaged 50 days.
Hatching success was 90%. Parents remained with chicks for
two days after hatching. The first meals consisted of pre-
digested fish, whole fish being accepted as they approached
half their peak weight. Feeding occurred once each night by
each parent. When the chicks were using the maximum amount
of fish that was brought by the parents, growth slowed down,
stopping at about 76% of adult weight. After a further 4.8
days they dropped to a weight of 358.5 grams or 69% of the
adult weight of 518 grams. The next night they fledged.
Fledging success was 72% of the chicks which hatched and the
overall success was 66%.
Character! sti cs of the breeding biology support the close
relationship of the Rhinoceros Auklet to the puffins.
ComDarative biology of the Rhinoceros Auklet in di f f erent
h^itTng environments. DAVID A. MANUWAL and LORA L. LESCHNER,
College oTTorest Resources, University of Washington, Seattle,
Washington.
This paper compares the biology of the Rhinoceros Auklet
on a typical coastal island (Destruction Island) and a more
inland site (Smith Island, Strait of Juan de Fuca). Breeding
population estimates for the two sites are 17,000 for Destruction
Island and 1,600 for Smith Island.
28
The two islands differ in climate, soil type, vegetation,
slope, and avifauna. The egg-laying period was from 7 May to
17 June on Destruction and 10 May to 6 June on Smith Island.
Breeding success was 67% on Destruction and 67% on Smith Island.
Desertion was high for both colonies. The average nestling
period was 54.3 days on Destruction Island and 48,3 days on
Smith. Fledging weight on Destruction Island was 521 g and
356 G on Smith. This represents 59.1% and 65.3% of adult weight
respecti vely . Adults brought at least four species of fish
to the young. Other aspects to be discussed are nest-site
selection, burrow occupancy, activity cycles, predation and
human disturbance.
Geoqraphic variation in the timinqof molt and b-reedi nq .i n the
Cassinis Auk let. STEVEN SPEICH, MIKLOS D. F. UDVARDY, DAVID A.
MANUWAL , and STEPHEN M . ALDEN, Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (Speich and Alden),
Department of Natural Sciences, California State University,
Sacremento, California, College of Forest Resources, University
of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Cassin's Auklet ( Ptychoramphu s aleuticus ) breeds from the
Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Baja California Sur, Mexico on
coastal islands. This paper considers the timing of breeding
and molt through that range. The sequence of these two events
and the variation in their relative occurrence are also con-
sidered. The data are derived from egg records, and adult
and juvenal skins. Similar data is presented from the Farallon
Islands, California breeding population.
Notes on the Craveri's Murrelet . DANIEL W. ANDERSON and L. R.
DEWEESE, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Davis, California.
Four years data on the breeding range, nesting and productivity,
flocking behavior, and feeding habits of Craveri's Murrelet
(Endomychura craveri) in the Gulf of California are summarized.
Craveri ' s Murrel ets experienced a breeding failure in the Gulf
in 1973 but indicated normal productivity in 1972 and near-
normal productivity in 1974. The 1973 failure was paralleled by
failures of other seabird species. Craveri's Murrelet is likely
distributed almost solely in the Gulf of California during
the breeding season, and there are few records to suggest any
major nesting sites outside that area. These murrelets exhibit
a pattern of post-breeding dispersal up the California coast
and likely also south along the west coast of Mexico, again
paralleling other nesting seabirds in the Gulf. This little-,
known species invites further, detailed, ecological studies.
Food and feeding habits of the Common Murre and Thick-billed
Murre in the Okhotsk Sea,, Northwestern Pacific Ocean and. Beri nq
Sea. H. OGI and T. TSUJITA, Research Institute of North Pacific
Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University, Hakodate,
Japan .
29
The predominant seabirds in the subarctic and arctic
oceans, the Common Murre ( Ur i a aa 1 ge ) and Thick-billed Murre
(Uria lomvia), spend most of their life in the ocean and depend
for t hei r survival upon the food supply of the oceans, except
during the breeding seasons. To clarify the food and feed-
ing habits in their oceanic life, the stomach contents of
drowned murres that were captured accidentally with gill-
netted Pacific salmon ( Oncorhyhchus ) are investigated.
A total of 1,855 stomachs of Common and Thick-billed Murres
obtained from the three sea areas were examined as follows:
(1) species composition of food organisms, (2) individual number
and weight of food organisms, (3) regional comparison of food
composition, (4) relation between food organisms and oceano-
graphic structure* and (5) comparison of the feeding habits
between the two species of murres.
Observations on th e pelagic biology of the Tuf ted Puff i n . GERALD
A7 SANGER, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries
Center, Marine Mammal Division, Sand Point Naval Supply Activity,
Seatt i e, Washi ngton .
Tufted Puffins, the most pelagic alcid species, were
observed during two winter oceanographic cruises, in the Gulf
of Alaska and off the California coast, and during an extensive
summer cruise across the southern Gulf of Alaska and south of
the Aleutian Islands.
In winter. Tufted Puffins were found virtually across the
entire Gulf of Alaska up to 800 km from the nearest land, with
densest concentrations occurring within a band extending 100-
200 km from land. Density was generally lower off California,
and although they were seen out to 200 km from the coast, the
highest conce n tra t i on s were within 50 km of land. In summer,
puffins rarely occur far at sea; south of Adak Island (Aleutians),
they ranged to nearly 300 km south, but most were within 100 km
of the island.
Tufted Puffins displayed a strong tendency to be solitary
at sea, especially in winter, e.g., of 170 birds seen in 135
sightings in the Gulf of Alaska, 65% were of single birds and
25% were in pairs. South of Adak in summer there was an in-
creased tendency for flocking, but most sightings were still
of single birds. The large majority of winter sightings were
of puffins sitting, while south of Adak in summer most were
flying, usually in a northerly or southerly direction, pre-
sumably enroute between breeding and foraging areas. Tufted
Puffins were occasionally observed following, pacing or cir-.
cling the ship, and were sometimes seen flying in mixed species
flocks with Horned Puffins or murres.
30
A preliminary analysis nf stomach contents generally sup-
port Bedard's thesis that puffins feed intermediately between
fish and invertebrates. Thirteen stomachs from south of the
Aleutians all contained squid remains, but only 5 had fish
remains also. In six stomachs from the eastern Berinq Sea
three contained fish only (probably Gadidae), one was very’
full of fish and amphipod crustaceans, one had amphipods
only, and one was empty.
Seasonal de ns it y and distributional patterns o f Alcidae in
iJ I g . near off sh ore waters of British Columbia . FAN ROBERTSON
Columbia 0 " 13 ' Protection Service, West Vancouver, British ’
From 1 June, 1972 to 31 March, 1973 regular aerial and
opportunistic motor vessel surveys were conducted in the near
offshore waters of British Columbia to determine density and
distribution patterns of alcids, as well as other pelagic
seabirds Although densities of different species varied
snerlps I’th!! T!^ 96 thS C0mm0n Murre WaS the "lost common
species in the study area. In summer, however, Cassin's
Auklet was recorded in the highest density. There was a
tendency for the density of most species to increase with
decreasing distance from shore. This was particularly pro-
nounced in summer. However, in Cassin's Auklet and .Tufted
uffin, there was a significant move offshore with the onset
of winter. U,:>CL
. Data . from these surveys permit estimates of numbers of
each species within the study area and these are presented.
A discussion of survey techniques for pelagic seabirds is
also presented, with special emphasis on the Alcidae.
The breeding distri bu tions and present status of alcid dodu-
IT VifTTi r~iH? St -™ North A me rica and west Greenland . ~DAVTn
N. NETTLESHIP, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Ontario.
Fact Rec ® nt surveys of alcid populations in Atlantic Canada,
Eastern Canadian Arctic, and West Greenland indicate that
several species are declining in numbers. In temperate
Ki?ic nS, ^ the pp haS been a lon 9 -term gradual decline of Razor-
bills and puffins towards the southern periphery of their
?hp e R^ 9 p| a F 9e H S ’ es P ec i a !^ in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and
the Bay of Fundy and vicinity. Common Murres have decreased
at certain locations (e.g. north shore of the Gulf of St
Lawrence) and either maintained their numbers (e.g. Labrador)
or increased dramatically (e.g. east Newfoundland) in olher
bins iVirl Jf?i S rS time per1od ' In arctic waters, Razol-
hl>! H flurres, Dovekies, and puffins appear to
have declined considerably since the 1949's and 1950's, al-
though reliable population data from earlier times are scarce
The occurrences and status of the Black Guillemot are un-
certain. Reasons for these declines are obscure- possible
prime causes are outlined and reviewed. possioie
31
Coexistence, coevolution and convergent evolution in sea -
bird communities: 1 a comment ." 33 BEDARD , Department de
Bioiogie, Faculte des Sciences, Universite Laval, Quebec,
Que.
A recent article paralleling two seabird (Alcidae)
communities of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic
oceans is reviewed critically. A careful reappraisal of
the literature cited reveals some looseness in the screen-
ing and interpretation of available facts. Furthermore, the
quantitative basis upon which the argument of parallelism
is based is demonstrated to be ethereal at best. Finally,
doubts are raised, on methodological grounds, about the
appropriatedness of comparing a fragment of a large North
Pacific community lacking many of its important elements
with an entire North Atlantic community.
The model of ecological segregation proposed for these
birds is burdened with shortcomings and cannot adequately
describe nor usefully model any significant trait of the
organization of the bird communities involved.
: Coexistence, coevolution and convergent evolution in
seabird communities by Martin L. Cody, Ecol ogy
54( 1 ) : 3 1 - 44 ( 1 973 ).
General Paper Sessions
Interspecific interaction in Brown Pelican feeding situations .
DANIEL W. ANDERSON, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Davis,
California.
Brown Pelican feeding interactions were observed over
the period 1971 to 1974 in the Gulf of California and off the
California coast. This period covered years of high to moder-
ate productivity as well as a year of nearly complete reprod-
uctive failure due to oceanographic changes.
Brown Pelicans feed more successfully when involved in the
interaction-situation (pileup), feeding with other species of
seabirds, sea mammals, and large, predatory fish. These
situations are compared to those where pelicans feed more or
less solitarily, and feeding success drops. The proportion
of the adult population that breeds each year as well as re-
productive success from year to year varied in relation to
the proportion and frequency of pileups that pelicans en-
countered during the breeding season, and probably prior to
it. Feeding interactions following breeding showed lower
feeding successes by both adults and younger birds, as well
as a greater proportion of solitary feeding. This is the period
when the population is most dispersed.
32
Piracy on pelicans by Heermann‘s Gulls was also more
successful in the pileup situation, but was never observed
to exceed less than 5 % success, even in pileups. Scavenging
in the pelican breeding colonies during feeding of pelican
young was much more successful for Heermann's Gulls, as well
as Western Gulls.
Competition between the Pel agio. Cormorant and B1 a c k-1 egged
Kittiwake and its possible effects . MATTHEW D I CK, Mar i n e
Col 1 ecti ons, Museum of Biol ogy , Uni versi ty of Alaska, Fair-
banks, Alaska.
The northern Pelagic Cormorant ( Phal acrocorax pel agi cus
pel agi cus ) and Black-legged Kittiwake ( Rissa tridactyla ) are
sympatric from the Kurile Islands to southeastern Alaska.
The Pelagic Cormorant nests among dense kittiwake concentra-
tions, scattered along cliffs away from kittiwakes, or in
monospecific or monogeneric colonies. It is the cormorant
closest in size and nest site requirements to the kittiwake.
At Cape Peirce, Alaska, 1970, a segment of the Pelagic
Cormorant population nesting among charadr i i f orm seabirds
showed twice the nest mortality of a segment nesting apart,
even though the latter was much closer to a Glaucous-winged
Gull concentration. This discrepancy may have been due to
1) incidental predation by gulls attracted to the seabird
concentration and 2) direct competition of cormorants with
kittiwakes for nest space and material.
At Buldir Island, Alaska, 1974, Pelagic Cormorants gen-
erally nested away from kittiwakes, whereas the larger and
earlier-nesting Red-faced Cormorants tended to nest among
them. This indicates a competition-related separation of
Pelagic Cormorants and kittiwakes.
The disruption of Pelagic Cormorant nest-building by
kittiwakes possibly selects for earlier building and laying
peaks in the northern race over the southern, P.p. resplendens ,
even though the environment of the northern is more severe.
The plumage sequence and voice of the Yel 1 ow-footed .Wes tern
Gull (Larus occidental is livens) wi th comments on the taxo -
nomic implications of these characters . RONALD R. LEVALLEY,
Department of Biology, Humboldt State University, Areata,
Cal i form* a .
The Yellow-footed Western Gull has been considered a race
of Larus occidental is since first being described by Dwight
in 1919. In 1925, Dickey and Van Rossem distinguished the
Western Gulls in the Gulf of California as being an endemic,
yellow-footed race, and predicted that the form would event-
ually be described as a distinct species. Since then few
data have been gathered to support this thesis. This invest-
igation is primarily concerned with an evident difference in
the plumage sequences of the forms of Western Gull and dif-
33
ferences apparent in the voices of these forms. These char-
acteristics suggest that the Yellow-footed Western Gull is
specifically distinct from the pink-legged races of Larus
occidental is . Speculation concerning the ancestors of Larus
occ i denta 1 i s livens , using these characters, can now be
discussed.
Intergradat i on between Western and G1 aucou s -wi nged Gulls.
WAYNE HOFFMAN, JOHN A. WIENS, AND J. MICHAEL SCOTT, Depart-
ment of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
Historical records indicate that Western and Glaucous-
winged Gulls have occupied breeding ranges similar to their
present ranges at least since 1900. Dawson (Birds of
Washington, 1909) observed numerous birds of intermediate
plumage. At the present time Glaucous- winged and Western
Gulls are i n terbreed i ng , with varying frequency, from Yaquina
Head, Oregon, north probably to the West coast of Vancouver
Island. Hybirds are fertile and successfully reproduce.
The present study compares the morphology of the Western
Gull population of the Farallon Islands, Calif, and the
G1 aucous -wi nged Gull population of the Chain Islands, off
Victoria, B.C. with the morphology of the breeding colony
on Destruction Island, in the area of overlap. The Destruct-
ion Island colony exhibits complete i ntergrada t i on in mor-
phology, which suggests that Western and Glaucous-winged
Gulls should be considered conspecific. However, field studies
indicate that mating patterns in the Destruction Island Colony
are far from random, so that the specific status is questionable.
Various species criteria are explored with references to this
prob 1 em .
Movements and mortality in the Western Gull (Larus occiden-
t a 1 i s ) dur i n g the no n-b reeding season . MALCOLM C . COULTER ,
Genetics Group, University of California, Davis, California.
Banding returns of the Western Gull from different col-
onies along the Pacific coast of the United States were
analyzed. Birds from the southern colonies were shown to have
dispersive rather than migratory movements. There was a
decline in dispersal tendency. Birds from the northern
colonies moved farther than those from the southern colonies.
Birds from Haystack Rock, the northernmost colony studied,
showed age-specific dispersal tendencies, the younger birds
moving farther. Mortality for the southern colonies was con-
centrated shortly after the breeding season; mortality for
Haystack Rock birds was concentrated during the winter. These
findings are related to increased demand on the environment
and decreased carrying capacity of the environment at the
end of the breeding season and during the winter. The situation
is compared with that found in other species of gulls.
34
Nesting of Caspian Terns on Grays Harbor, Washington . GORDON
D. ALCORN , Department of Biology, University of Puget Sound,
Tacoma , Washington.
The life cycle including the nidology and oology of a
colony on an island in Grays Harbor Co. in Washington will
be presented. The colony is about 20 years old and shows
quality of saturation in nesting habitat. A small spill-
over occurred in the breeding season of 1974 that probably
resulted from overpopulation on the main island. Brief
remarks will be made concerning limited records of banded
birds.
Biology of the Western Gull . RAYMOND PIEROTTI, Department
of Natural Sciences, California State University, Sacramento,
Cal ifornia.
While investigating the breeding behavior and ecology
of the Western Gull on Southeast Farallon Island in 1973 and
1974, I became aware of a conspicuous sexual dimorphism.
This dimorphism was primarily behavioral and ecological
rather than morphological , even though there was signifi-
cant evidence for the last as well. It appears that males
and females have specific and well-defined roles in reprod-
uction and parental care. In addition, there is considerable
evidence to suggest that males and females exploit quite
different food resources. Since to my knowledge this type
of situation has never before been reported in larids, I
feel this to be of significant interest. In addition, it
may suggest methods by which sexual dimorphism may arise in
more extreme forms.
Behavioral thermorequlatian in the Noddy Term (Anou-s .stall dus-h
ROBERT J. SHALLENBERGER, Hawaii Division of Fish and Game,
Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Noddy Tern on Manana Island, Hawaii nests in large
numbers under rigorous environmental conditions. Behavioral
and physiological adaptations in both adults and chicks per-
mit maximum utilization of available nest sites, despite high
levels of insolation. This investigation examines the .im-
portance of color, age, and behavior in thermoregulation,
as well as the role that and shade play in the survival of
this species. The utilization of select microclimates is
highly significant. Other selective factors are examined,
particularly In reference to color of chicks. Field and
laboratory data are presented on heating and cooling rates
under variable environmental conditions.
35
The association of seabirds with the Arctic pack. ice o ff
Alaska . GEORGE J. DIVOKY, Division of Wildlife Research,
U, S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks, Alaska.
Observations in the Beaufort, Chukchi and Bering seas
have shown that birds are more numerous at the ice edge than
in the open water south of the pack. The apparent reason for
this distribution is the concentration of organisms found
at the ice edge. Plankton blooms in and under the ice support
an under-ice fauna that is an important food source for certain
Arctic seabirds. While birds are found at the ice edge through-
out the year it is probably most important in winter when sur-
face waters in the Arctic are severely depleted of organisms.
The Ivory Gull and Black Guillemot spend much of the year
at the ice edge and are rarely found in pelagic areas away
from the ice. Ross' Gull may also depend on the under-ice
fauna for. much of its food since it apparently winters in
high Arctic areas feeding in leads in the ice. Species which
utilize the ice edge but are also frequently found away from
the ice include the Glaucous Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull,
Slaty -backed Gull, Black- legged Kitti wake and Common and Thick-
bill ed Mu r res .
G rowth of captive juvenile murres .. DAVID C. SMITH, International
Bird Rescue Research Center, Berkeley, California.
Several orphaned juvenile murres ( U r i a a a 1 g e ) were raised
in captivity at the International Bird Rescue Research Center
and measurements taken at irregular intervals. Growth curves
are plotted for six separate parameters and attempts are made
to match curves by adjusting their placement along the time
axis. Comparisons with measurements of museum specimens allow
crude estimations of absolute ages. The possibility that
growth rates in the wild differ from growth rates in capti-
vity could limit the utility of these measurements as tools
for aging wild juvenile murres.
Ora noc h I or i ne residues in eggs of Alaskan seabirds . . HARRY M.
OHLENDORF , JAMES C. BARTONEK, ERWIN E. KLAAS , and GOERGE J.
DIVOKY, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland,
(Ohleridorf, Klass) and Northern Prairie Wildlife Research
Center, Fairbanks Station, Alaska (Bartonek, Divoky).
Eggs of Double-crested Cormorant (Pnalacrocorax auritus ),
Gi aucous-wi nged Gul 1 (Larus g 1 aucescens ) , Black -legged Kitt-
wake (Rissa tr i dac ty 1 a ) , Common Murre ( U r i a aa 1 ge ) , and Tufted
Puf f i rT Ti-unda ci r rhata ) were collected from Shaiak Island and
Round Island (northern Bristol Bay), Amalik Bay, and Bogos-
lof Island in 1973. These eggs were analyzed for’ organ o-
chlorine chemicals. Maximum values for each chemical were
in eggs from Bogolof Island or Shaiak Island. The greatest
amounts of DDE (11.2 ppm, wet weight) and PCB's (6.26 ppm) were
in Glaucous-winged Gulls from Bogoslof Island. Tufted Puffins
36
had the greatest diversity of chemicals in their eggs. Kitti-
wakes had a lower DDE/PCB ratio than that in other species.
Common Murres sometimes had greater amounts of hexachloro-
benzene than of DDE or PCB's.
The significance of dredge spoil islands to col oni ally
nesting waterbirds in certain national parks . P. A. BuCKLEY
and F. G. BUCKLEY, National Park Service, North Atlantic
Regional Office, Boston, Massachusetts.
The first complete censuses of all colonies of breeding
waterbirds on Long Island, N. Y. and on the Outer Banks
of North Carolina revealed the hitherto unappreciated signifi-
cance of man-made dredge spoil islands as colony sites.
Begun as studies of the waterbird avifaunas of four National
Parks -- Fire Island National Seashore, Gateway National
Recreation Area, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and Cape
Lookout National Seashore, -- censusing was expanded to place
each of the parks breeding waterbird resources in regional
perspective. It was then apparent that avian use of these
islands -- up to 95% of all pairs of breeding birds were
located on them in Cape Hatteras National Seashore in 1973 --
indicated an aggressive program of censusing, protection and
management was needed. A series of recommendations based on
our observations and on recent studies of spoil island ecology
is made, applicable to most waterbird areas, and emphasizing
the urgency of similar habitat-use tabulations on regional
bases throughout the continent.
A pilot census of seabirds of New England . WILLIAM H. DRURY,
Massachusetts Audubon Society, Lincoln, Massachusetts.
A pilot census of the seabirds breeding in New England
was taken between 1971 and 1973. This survey included aerial
estimates made in June, 1972 and surface counts made from
boats or on the islands during all three years. Many other
counts have been made between 1962 and 1969 in the course
of numerous visits each year to about 30 i si ands ' dur i ng
studies of Herring Gull reproduction. Some comments are made
on the techniques used and the dependability of the data.
The numbers of individual seabirds at an island vary within
broad limits in response to events immediately around the
island and on the feeding grounds. For ideal results con-
sideration should be given to the tide and the state of the
sea. Photographs should be taken not only to supply a rig-
orous count, but to provide a record which can be reprocessed
later.
Alaskan pelagic bird observations, and a data. bank proposal .
JAMES G. KING, GEORGE MARSHAL, JAMES H. BRANSON, FRANCIS H.
FAY, and WILLIAM ALLEN, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Juneau, Alaska, National Marine Fisheries, Washington, D. C.,
37
National Marine Fisheries, Kodiak, Alaska (Branson, Allen),
and Arctic Health Research Laboratory, College, Alaska.
Simple instructions were developed for recording obser-
vations of birds from ships at sea. The method was followed
on eight cruises in Alaskan waters by 13 observers of various
levels of experience. Observations of 153,535 birds are dia-
grammed to show distribution and abundance by degree blocks
of latitude and longitude and by seasons. It is concluded
that a vast volume of data could be gathered by this method
if a proper data bank were established. Such a data bank
would be extremely valuable to resource managers and ornith-
ologists.
Model estimation of energy flow in Qregon coast al seabi rd
populations. JOHN A. WIENS and J. MICHAEL SCOTT, Department
of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
A computer simulation model is employed to explore the
patterns and magnitudes of population density changes and
population energy demands in Oregon populations of Sooty
Shearwaters, Leach’s Storm- Petrel s , Brandt’s Cormorants, and
Common Mur'res. The species differ in seasonal distribution
and abundances, with shearwaters attaining high densities
during their migratory movements through Oregon waters, and
rnurres exhibiting the greatest seasonal stability in popu-.
lation umbers, On a unit area basis, annual energy flow is
greatest to murre and cormorant populations, but because they
occupy a larger area during their transit, shearwaters dom-
inate the total energy flow through the four-species seabird
"communi ty " .
Consumption of various prey types is estimated by coup-
ling model output of energy demands with information on
dietary habits. This analysis suggests that during a year
ffiurres consume nearly twice as many herring as any other
prey type and consume relatively equal quantities of ancho-
vies, smelts, cods, and rockfish. Cormorants consume a
lelatively small quantity of bottom- swel 1 i ng fish, while
storm-petrels take roughly equal quantities of euphausiids
and hydrozoans. Anchovies account for 43% of the 62,500 met-
ric tons of prey estimated to be consumed by the four
species during a year, and 86% of this anchovy consumption
is by shearwaters. The consumption of pelagic fish within the
neritic zone by these four populations may represent as much
as 22 % of the annual production of these fish,
Di stri bu tion of seabird nesting colonies on the Washington ..
Islands Nat i onaT~WlTdl i f e Refuge: ROBERT L. '"REX H VAN WORMER,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Boise, Idaho.
Seabird nesting colonies of the Washington Islands Nat-
ional Wildlife Refuge extend from Grays Haroor to Tatoosh
38
Island along the Pacific Coast of Washington. They involve
26 known nesting islands and over 750 small rocks that are
used as loafing sites by adult breeding birds. Fourteen
species of seabirds use these islands; however not all islands
support all species of birds.
The refuge is divided into two sections with Destruction
Island forming an imaginary center line. The division is
based on variations in bird species with the dominant gull
species being the apparent controlling factor. The south
portion is dominated by surface nesting birds with Western
Gulls while the north is predominately burrow building birds
with Glaucous-winged gulls.
Ninety percent of all Common Murres nest on six islands ap-
proximately 16 miles south of Destruction Island. They share
the crowns of the islands with mixed Western Gull-Double-
crested Cormorant colonies while Pelagic Cormorants use the
perpendicular faces. North of Destruction Island, Tufted
Puffin, petrels and Cassin's Auklets use islands with suf-
ficient soil cover for burrow building. The two petrel species
are separated, Leach's on Carroll Island and the Fork-tailed
Petrel on Bodelteh Island 13 miles further north. All is-
lands or rocks with perpendicular faces support Pelagic Cor-
morants. Quillayute Needles contains a small Brandt's Cor-
morant colony. Black Oysterca tc hers and Pigeon Guillemot
are scattered throughout the entire refuge.
Destruction Island contains both Western and Glaucous-
winged Gull nesting colonies and an apparent growing colony
of Wes tern-Gl aucous -wi nged hybirds. Other than gulls, the
nesting population is restricted to burrowing birds; possibly
because of the G1 aucous- wi nged Gulls. It contains the only
Rhinoceros Auklet colony in the Refuge, and the largest pop-
ulation of Black Oysterca tchers as well as Tufted Puffin.
T he breeding seabird resource in the Rat Islands, Aleutians
with emphasis on the Alcidae . CLAYTON M. WHITE, Departent
of Zoology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
The Rat Island group is situated in the west-central
Aleutian Islands. It consists of nine major islands and one
small pyramidal shaped rock; together they have about 325
miles of coastline while the largest island has about 106
miles. Estimates indicate about the following nesting densi-
ties: 250 fulmar, 2,500 cormorants, 6,500 gulls, 40,00 kitti-
wake, 30,000 murre, 630,000 auklets and 28,000 puffins. The
islands will be discussed in terms of their physiography
and major contribution to the seabird resource. Comparisons
will be made with previous literature. Alcidae will be em-
phasized and the differential sizes of the colonies of various
species on the various islands will be discussed. A new Red-
legged Kittiwake colony on Buldir will be mentioned as will
findings on plastic particles in auklet stomachs in this group
of islands.
39
Monitoring overwater bird movements by. radar . WARREN L. FLOCK.
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado,
Boulder, Colorado.
A number of radar systems operated by civil and military
agencies provide coverage of coastal areas and allow monitoring
of overwater bird movements. Many of the ACW radars and all
of the DEW radars in Alaska are located along the coast and
capable of monitoring overwater movements. Of special interest
are the overwater flights between Asia and North America across
the Bering Strait and the north-south migrations in the same
area. The Tin City ACW radar is well located for monitoring
these migrations. A radar at Ft. Lawton, Seattle gives ex-
cellent coverage of part of puget Sound. The Cape Charles,
Virginia radar site is an example of one that provides good
coverage of a portion of the Atlantic Coast.
Factors limiting the capability of monitoring overwater
bird movements are the sea-clutter echoes and the limited
range for low-flying birds. The sea-clutter echoes themselves
are spiky and target-like and can be confused with bird
echoes. The limited coverage from land-based radars can be
extended by the use of shipborne radar. The conventional
surveillance radar has at best only a very crude ability to
identify birds as to type of size, but the recording of var-
iations in the amplitude of the radar echo from a bird may
allow such identification for a reasonable fraction of targets.
Proposed Alaskan seabird refuges . (slide presen ta t i on ) . EDGAR
P. BAILEY, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage Alaska.
Largely because of increased oil exploration and the tre-
mendous additional tanker traffic which will occur after com-
pletion of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the Fish and Wildlife
Service is focusing more attention on marine bird research
and habitat preservati on .
Approx i ma tely 48,000 acres of public lands and adjacent
waters have been recommended to Congress as the Alaska
Coastal National Wildlife Refuges. It is one of nine new
refuge proposals under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement
Ac t .
The Shumagin Islands, lying south of the Alaska Peninsula,
have over a million birds, primarily murres, kittiwakes, puf-
fins and cormorants. Marine waterfowl, sea otters, sea lions,
and seals also inhabit the area.
The Barren Islands, north of Kodiak Island, are inhab-
ited by puffins, murres, kittiwakes, Glaucous -winged Gulls,
cormorants, and Parakeet Auklets- Shearwaters are abundant
offshore.
40
Roughly, 2,000,000 seabirds nest at Capes Thompson and
Lisburne, site of the proposed Chukchi Sea Refuge and the
largest colonies along the Arctic coast. Murres, kittiwakes.
Horned Puffins, and Glaucous Gulls are the primary species.
Fairway Rock and Sledge Island, with an estimated 150,000
breeding pairs, will be added to the existing Bering Sea Refuge,
and numerous islets and rocks are planned additions to the
Kodiak Refuge.
Os teoarthri ti s in the Short-tailed Albatross : a crash -
landing syndrome ? STUART L. WARTER. California State
University, Long Beach, California.
Aleut middens excavated on Amchitka Island in the Aleut-
ian chain are rich in bones of seabirds. A high percentage
of Short-tailed Albatross bones exhibit arthritic involvement
of certain joints in the legs, hips, and shoulder girdle,
or show evidence of other past traumatic injuries. Taken
together these abnormalities might be interpretable as
constituting a pattern resulting from stresses received upon
hard landings and/or takeoffs. No similar phenomenon was
noted among remains of other seabirds.
Systematic Observations of birds off the Washington Coast.
TERRY WAHL, 3041 Eldridge, Bellingham, VIA; and DENNIS PAULSON
Burke Museum, University of Washington, Seattle.
A series of boat trips out of Westport, Washington, over
the past 7 years has allowed us to assess some aspects of the
distribution, abundance and seasonality of many species of
pelagic birds out to about fifty miles offshore. These trips
were concentrated in May and September but records are avail-
able from mid-April continuously through to mid-October. Al-
though the collection of data was not as objective as that
characteristic of many ocean cruises, primarily because we
sought concentrations of birds, comparisons within our data
are possible.
Most of the Procel 1 ari i formes can be found almost any time
from May to October, but Buller's Shearwater moves into the
area only from late August on and Leach's Storm-Petrel is
usually found only in mid- summer.
Gulls, terns, jaegers and phalaropes are most abundant in
spring and fall, as would be expected, but occasional indivi-
duals of these groups are encountered in mid-summer.
From our records, it would appear that September is the
month of peak numbers of most species, and of birds in general,
but this may be an artifact of our more frequent trips during
that month. Most high counts of at least certain species
(albatrosses, northern Fulmars, Flesh-footed and Pink-footed
Shearwaters, many gulls) were associated with fishing
boats, which attract many of these birds.
41
Bulletin Board
Translation Available
With the aid of student translators the paper by Claus
Schdnert entitled Zur Brutbiologie and Ethologie der
Zwerqseeschwal be (Sterna albifrons albrifrons Pallas) [The
breeding biology and ethology of the Little Tern ( Sterna
albifrons albifrons Pallas)] which appeared in Schi 1 dmacher ,
H., Beitrage zur Kennthis Deutscher Vogel, 1961: pp 131-187,
has been translated into English, Copies are on deposit,
in the Van Tyne Library of the Wilson Ornithological Society
at the University of Michigan and the reprint files of the
ornithology departments of the American Museum of Natural
History and the U.S. National Museum. Workers who are parti-
cularly interested in the biology and behavior of terns may
obtain a xerox copy, at cost, by writing Dr. Charles T. Collins
or Dr. Stuart L. Warter, Department of Biology, California
State University, Long Beach, Calif. 90840.
Employment Opportunities
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is undertaking
several studies to assess populations, distribution, pop-^
ulation dynamics, migration, trophic relationships, behavior,
and critical habitats of marine birds as related to the U.S.
Department of the Interior's plans for accelerated leasing
of outer continental shelf for petroleum development in the
Gulf of Alaska and in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas.
From April 1975 through at least September 1976 the Service
will have need for several qualified temporary employees to
assist project leaders and to conduct field studies with a
degree of i ndependency . Land-based studies will generally be
conducted from late April through September; however, some
will be conducted intermittently throughout the year. Ship-
board studies and of f i ce- 1 aboratory work will be conducted
throughout the year. Studies will be conducted from offshore
areas into and including littoral areas. In addition to
those species and groups that are tradi ti ona 1 1 y regarded as
being "seabirds", waterfowl and shorebirds will be studied
when in the marine environment. Persons wishing to be con-
sidered for temporary employment should complete a Civil
Service Commission Standard Form 171 "Personal Qualifications
Statement" (available at Post Offices) and write a letter,
stating periods of availability, any qualifications not listed
on SF 171, specific interests and conditions of employment
and send these to: Dr. Calvin J. Lensink, Activity Leader -
Coastal Ecosystems, Biological Services, U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 813 D Street, Anchorage, AK 99501. The U. S. Fish
and Wildlife Service is an equal opportunity employer.
42
Book Avai 1 abl e
The new edition of the Hawaii Audubon Society's field
guide, "Hawaiian Birds", will be available by 1 June. The
book has been considerably revised and expanded to include
new information and photos. Cost of the book is $2.50
and orders can be sent to Hawaii Audubon Society, P. 0. Box
5032, Honolulu, HI 96814.
43
NEW MEMBERS
The following is a list of persons who have joined the PSG since
Vol . 1, No. 2 of the Bulletin was issued. The list includes the member's
occupation and interests and/or studies relating to seabirds.
A. Binion Amerson, Jr.
Environment Consultants, Inc.
14325 Proton Rd.
Dallas, TX 75240
Robert T. Barrett
Marine Biological Station
N-9000 Tromso
Norway
John Alexander Bartle
Flat 1
1 Allenby Tee.
Wellington 1
Mew Zealand
Alice Benedict
1411-1/2 High St. Apt. D
Bellingham, WA 98225
Gerard Adrian Bertand, Jr.
Sea Grant Program
1800 University Ave.
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI 53706
Vertebrate Ecologist
Studies: Natural history of seabirds
on central Pacific Islands.
Interests: Seabird ecology and ecto-
parasites. Island ecology and bio-
geography.
Assistant in Marine Biology
Studies: Working on a graduate thesis
on factors affecting breeding success
of the Black-legged Kittiwake. Have
worked on general census work on sea-
bird colonies of northern Norway.
Scientist
Studies: Past work with breeding
biology of Pterodroma pycroft : . Current
work on seabirds in Cook Strait.
Interests: Breeding biology and popula-
tion ecology of all Procellarii formes.
Graduate Student-Western Washington
State College
Studies: Temperature regulation and
enzyme adaptations in feet of Rhino-
ceros Auklets. Preliminary work on
morphology of burrows of Rhinoceros
Auklets.
Interests: Physiological adaptation to
life in open sea and possible result-
ant specialization for life in spec-
ific areas.
Biological Oceanographer
Studies: Zona ti on and distribution
of seabirds on the central Oregon
coast. Feeding habits of migratory
seabirds.
Interests: Protection of coastal breed-
ing areas from interference.
44
T. R. Birkhead
Edward Grey Institute
Dept, of Zoology
South Parks Rd.
Oxford 0X1 3PS
England
Bayard H. Brattstrom
Dept, of Biology
California State University
Fullerton, CA 92634
Sherman D. L. Causey
Dept, of Population and
Environmental Biology
University of California,
Irvine
Irvine, CA 92664
S. Conant
3663 Alani Dr.
Honolulu, HI 96822
John Cooper
Percy Fitzpatrick Institute of
African Ornithology
University of Cape Town
Rondesbosch 7700
South Africa
E. H. Down
"Grey Plovers"
Hendon Wood Lane
Mill Hill
London N.W.7
England
Thomas J. Dwyer
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research
Center
Jamestown, ND 58401
Research Student
Studies: Population dynamics
breeding biology and social behavior.
Common Murre and other alcids on
Skomer Island, South Wales.
Interests: Population studies, eco-
logical segregation and social behavior.
Professor
Studies: Islas Revil lagigedo, Mexico.
Repopulation studies on San Benedicto
Island after 1952 volcano. General
natural history and ecology of sea
and other birds on the other islands
in the group. Socal behavior of seabirds.
Graduate Student
Studies: Socal behavior of Phala-
crocoracidae and Haematopodidae.
Interests: Behavioral ecology of
Pel ecani formes and Charadriiformes.
Research Associate - Hawaiian IBP Project
Interests: Distribution and behavioral
ecology.
Research Assistant
Studies: Thermoregulation, energetic
growth, energy budgets of South African
inshore birds (penguins, gannets, cor-
morants, gulls).
Company Director
Wildlife Biologist
Interests: Reproductive strategies of
alcids.
45
Todd Eberhardt
U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service
813 D. St.
Anchorage, AK 99501
Thomas and Cary n Eley
Dept, of Pathobiology
The Johns Hopkins University
615 North Wolfe St.
Baltimore, MD 21205
Erma J. (Mrs. Bradley) Fisk
Winter - 17101 SW 284 St.
Homestead, FL 33030
Summer - P.0. Box 308
South Orleans, MA 02662
Warren Flock
Dept, of Electrical Engineering
Univ. of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80302
Glen A. Fox
Toxic Chemical Section
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
Roger L. Gentry
Natl. Marine Fisheries Service
Marine Mammal Division
Sand Point, NSA Bldg. 67
Seattle, WA 98115
Harvey Gils ton
Chemin des Mouettes 16
1007 Lausanne
Switzerland
Wildlife Biologist
Graduate Student
Studies: Black Oystercatcher food
habits in Humboldt and Del Morte Co.,
California. Ecto- and endoparasites
of seabirds in Humboldt and Del Morte Co.
Interests: Ecology and behavior of sea-
birds and their parasites. Role of
seabirds in marine ecosystems.
Bird bander; Director, Natl. Audubon
Society; Board member, Cornell Lab of
Ornithology: Tern Warden, Cape Cod
Natl* Seashore.
Studies: Distribution and protection of
Least Tern and related colonies on the
Atlantic Coast. Roof-nesting seabirds.
Professor
Studies: Radar studies of bird mig-
gration along coastline of Alaska.
Interests: Migration of eiders. Snow
Geese, Black Brant, shorebirds and
seabirds in general.
Biologist
Interests: Pollution effects in sea-
birds and relationships between
F alco peregrinus peali .
Wildlife Biologist and Animal
Behaviorist
Studies: No formal studies but
frequent contact with seabirds during
research on seals.
Interests: Social behavior and ecology.
Retired
Interests: Field identification and
species habitats.
46
Tsuneyasu Hamanaka
Research Institute of North
Pacific Fisheries
Faculty of Fisheries
Hokkaido University
Hakodate, Hokkaido
Japan
Murray D. Hansen
2183 Calle de Vida
Tuscon, AZ 85715
M. P. Harris
Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
Hill of Brathens
Banchory
Kincardineshire AB3 4BY
Scotland
Dennis W. Heineman
2609 Jaeger St.
Bellingham, WA 98225
Yukio Higuchi
Town Office
1657-7 Nagashima
Kiinagashima-machi
Ki tamurogun. Hie
Japan
Hank Hosking
1000 South Hoyt
Anchorage AK 99504
W. J. Houck
Biology Dept.
Humboldt State University
Areata, CA 95521
Graduate Student
Studies: Heavy metal concentrations
in marine organisms, especially in
alcids.
Housewife
Studies: Presently engaged in study
of raptor migration routes (west of
100° meridian)
Interests: Colony censusing and beached
bird surveys.
Professional Ornithologist-
Natural Environment Research
Council
Studies: Reasons for the decline
in Common Puffin in Britain. The
impact of tourism on seabird populations
in the Galapagos.
Interests: Ecology of seabirds in
the widest sense - control of breeding
and populations of tropical species.
Biology Student-Western Washington
State College
Interests: Ecological isolating
mechanisms. Resource partitioning,
interspecific and intraspecific
competition and general distribution
of marine birds.
Public Service Employee
Studies: Life history of Japanese
Murrelet.
Interest: Conservation of Japanese
Murrelet and other Pacific seabirds.
Fishery Biologist
Professor
Interests: Systomatics and
distribution.
Marshall A. Howe
Natl. Fish & Wildlife Laboratory
Natl, Museum of Natural History
Washington, D.C. 20560
Michael J. Jacobson
LL $ .. Fish & Wildlife Service
P. 0. Box 1287
Juneau, AK 99802
Jorn Vestergaard Jensen
HoVtevej 13
DK-8GQ0, Aarhus C
Denmark
Calvin J. Lens ink
U, S. Fish & Wildlife Service
813 D St.
Anchorage, AK 99501
Bob Lu ter bach
2830 Lakeview Ave.
Regina, Sask. S4S 1G5
Pscer F Major
Division of Natural Sciences
Ap Sci 151
University of California
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Hike and Diane McBride
Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge
China Foot Bay
via Horner, AK 99603
Maicolm E« McDonald
Bear River Research Station
P 0 ftrw
Brigham" City, UT 84302
Ornithologist
Interests: Behavioral ecology
of breeding alcids, gulls and
cormorants in mixed colonies.
Biologist
Studies: Coastal zone studies in
southeast Alaska.
Interests: Primarily faunistic
and ecological. Especially interested
in the distribution of seabirds in
the Mediterranean and off tropical
west Africa,
Wildlife Biologist - Activity Leader,
Coastal Ecosystems Program, Fish
and Wildlife Service, Alaska
Studies. Bird populations of
the Yukon Delta,
Student
Interests: Photography and conservation.
Graduate Student
Studies: Flocking and predation
in shorebirds
Interests: Flocking, pelagic dis-
tribution in relation to meteor-
ological and oceanographic conditions.
Wilderness Lodge Owners
and Managers
Wildlife Bioloqist
Studies: Taxonomy and ecology of
helminth parasites of waterfowl.
Interests: Relation of parasitism
to populations, disease and mortality
of aquatic birds Maintain literature
file on all parasites reported in
aquatic birds in North America.
48
G. Victor Morejohn
Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Moss Landing, CA 95039
and
Biology Dept.
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA 95192
Professor
Studies: Beached bird survey.
Feeding habits of seabirds in
Monterey Bay. Bi-monthly
oceanic survey of pelagic seabirds
in Monterey Bay. Fossil seabird
avifauna of northern California.
Comparison of avifauna! components
of pre-Spanish times in California
coastal Indian middens with present
coastal avifauna.
E. Mortensen
Klokkaragota 24
3800 Torshaun
Faroe Island
via Denmark
Baker
Interests : Di str i buti on popul ati on
status and conservation.
Grace C. Nellis
20455 Cleo Ave.
San Jose, CA 95129
Student
Tsuneo Nishiyama
Research Institute of North
Research Associate in Ocean Ecology.
Faculty of Fisheries
Hokkaido University
Hakodate, Hokkaido
Japan
Studies: Competition for food
between seabirds and fish in the
northern North Pacific Ocean and
Bering Sea.
Interests: Bioenergetics of seabirds.
David L. Olsen
9417 Athens, Rd
Fairfax, VA 22030
Population Ecologist
Studies: Worked on Hawaiian Islands
Natl. Wildlife Refuge for five years.
Raymond Pierotti
Dept, of Biological Sciences
California State University
Sacramento, CA 95819
Graduate Student
Studies: Sexual roles in reproduction
in the Western Gull. Breeding
behavior of Pigeon Guillemots.
Behavior of pinnipeds. Ecology of
Western Gulls in different habitats.
Jim Rearden
P. 0. Box 313
Homer, AK 99603
Outdoors Editor, Alaska Magazine.
Studies: Popular articles for magazines
and newspapers.
Interests: Member of the Alaska
Board of Fish & Game. Formerly a
biologist with Alaska Dept, of Fish
and Game.
49
Robert Ricklefs
Dept, of Biology
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104
William G. Roe
614 Willow St.
Cranford, NJ 07016
Robert P. Russell, Jr.
1020 Ashland Ave.
Wilmette, IL 60091
Fred B. Samson
205 Forest Resources Laboratory
Penn State University
University Park, PA 16802
David Saunders
Sunnyhill
Rosemarket
Milford Haven
Pembrokeshire
'Wales
England
Madeline Schouten
14916 Thrift Ave.
White Rock, BC
Canada
Elinor B. Seelye
2264 Del Norte St.
Los Osos, CA 93402
Professor
Studies: Energetics and development
of young in Sooty Terns, Common Terns,
Laughing Gulls and Leach 1 s,
Storm-Petrels.
Attorney
Interests: Several pelagic trips and
two summers in Alaska.
Writer-Naturalist
Studies: Orientation in relation
to weather of Greater Shearwaters
off southwest Ireland.
Interests: Populations and feeding
patterns off the continental shelves.
Geographic distribution and limiting
factors of alcids.
Professor
Interests: Ecological significance
of colonial nesting in birds. Popula-
tion dynamics of colonial nesting
birds. Environmental pollution.
Author and Lecturer
Studies: Organizer of Operation
Seafarer 1969, a survey of breeding
seabirds conducted by the British
Seabird Group. Coauthor of Seabirds
of Britian and Ireland".
Interests: Breeding distribution of
North Atlantic seabirds. Man's
exploitation of seabirds past and present.
Physical Therapist
Studies: Attempting to coordinate
a beached bird survey. Pelagic trips.
Interests: Teaching bird identifica-
tion courses. Hoping to form a group
of people who could assist in the
event of a seabird disaster.
Retired
Interests: Conservation Chairman of
Morro Coast Audubon Society.
50
Stan Senner
c/o Fairbanks Environmental Center
P. 0. Box 1796
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Ian D. Smith
British Columbia Fish & Wildlife
Branch
Parliament Buildings
Victora, BC
John Sproul , Jr.
226 Russell Lab
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin 53706
Ronn Storro-Patterson
Natural Environmental Studies
UNEX -
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720
Lou Swenson
1527 Wintergreen St.
Anchorage, AK 99504
Richard R. Tenaza
Dept, of Biological Sciences
University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA 95204
Atsuo Tsuji
568 Matoba Issha Idaka-cho
Chikusa-ku Nagoya
Japan
Professional Conservationist
Inventory coordinator for
B.C. Fish & Wildlife Branch
Graduate Student
Studies: Surveying PCB, DDE,
and Di el dr in residues in Icelandic
marine birds.
Interests: Breeding and non-
breeding distribution, habitat
requirements and niche segregation.
Studies: Primary interest is with
cetaceans. The field work for this
provides the opportunity to work
with seabirds.
Interests: The associations of marine
mammals and seabirds.
Professor
Studies: Behavior and nesting success
relative to nest location in Adelie
Penguins. Study in progress on
adaptations to cliff nesting in the
Pelagic Cormorant,
Interests: social communication.
The ecology of social organizations
and the evolution of behavior.
Mathematician
Studies: Counting the number of shore-
birds in migration on the wetland
of Nabeta or Shiokawa.
Interests: Protection of wetlands
from reclamation projects.
Professor
51
Eric Tull
c/o LGL
#201
10110 124 St.
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
Masami Unemoto
2-32-2 Befu
Settsu, Osaka
Japan
Thomas Van't Hof
Bird Division
Museum of Zoology
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Kenneth L. Wilson
24 Hedgerow Lane
Jericho, NY 11753
Environmental Consultant
Studies: Pelagic distribution
of Atlantic seabirds. Murre mortality
in salmon nets.
Interests: Pelagic distribution and
environmental problems as they relate
to seabirds.
Student
Studies: Photographic work with
seabirds.
Research Assistant
Interest: Behavior and egg
temperature studies.
Student
Studies: Black Guillemots at Kent
Island N.B. Canada
52
PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP
DEDICATED TO THE STUDY AND CONSERVATION OF PACIFIC SEABIRDS
AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
1975
Chairman: J. Michael Scott, P. 0. Box 44, Hawaii National
Park, HI 96718
Vice-Chairman: Spencer G. Sealy, Dept, of Zoology, University
of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2
Secretary-Treasurer: George J. Divoky, U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 1412 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99 701 -|g:
Other Council Members:
David G. Ainley, Box 8, Alder Rd. , Bolinas, CA 94924
Daniel W. Anderson, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P. 0. Box C,
Davis, CA 95616
C. Eugene Knoder, National Audubon Society, 9250 West Fifth Ave.,
Lakewood, CO 80226
David A. Manuwal , College of Forest Resources, University of
Washington, WA 98195
David N. Nettleship, Canadian Wildlife Service, 2721 Highway 31,
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W1
Robert J. Shallenberger, Ahuimanu Productions, P. 0. Box 1166,
Kailua, Oahu, HI 96734 jj?
Bernardo Vi 11 a- Ramirez, Universidad Nacional Autonoma, Institute
Biologia, Laboratorio de Mastazoologia, Apartado Postal 70-153,
Mexi co 20 D. F. , Mexi co
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