Dedicated to the study and conservation of Pacific Seabirds and their environment.
2024 marked the 31st year of Beach Watch, the coastal monitoring program of Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries (GFNMS/CBNMS) and Greater Farallones Association. In 2024, Beach Watch monitored 60 survey sites over 5 counties in Northern California: Mendocino south to San Mateo counties. Volunteers and staff collect data on coastal birds, mammals,…
Applied California Current Ecosystem Studies (ACCESS) is a collaborative effort of GFNMS/CBNMS and Point Blue Conservation Science. Since 2004, the ACCESS scientists have collected at-sea data on birds, marine mammals, water column health and productivity, forage species for birds and mammals, and samples for ocean acidification, environmental DNA, and phytoplankton that can lead to harmful…
Laney White, Emma Kelsey, Gavin Haight, and Josh Adams (USGS Western Ecological Research Center; USGS WERC), with observer support from Alex Rinkert (California State Parks), continued long-term (1999–present) at-sea Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) surveys in Conservation Zone 6 in central California to estimate murrelet abundance reproductive output in 2024. This long-term monitoring project was previously…
Josh Adams and Emma Kelsey (USGS Western Ecological Research Center), in collaboration with David Pereksta (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; BOEM), have updated their index of marine bird vulnerability to collision and displacement with offshore wind energy infrastructure in the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf. The original report was published in 2017, and the new report is…
We have monitored Alcatraz seabird population size, breeding phenology, and productivity since the island was colonized by Brandt’s Cormorants in the early 1990s. Disturbance to wildlife is a concern because Alcatraz is the most heavily-visited tourist destination in Northern California. Island visitation returned to full capacity in 2022 following two years of reduced or no…
2023 ACCESS Summary for PSG Annual Report Applied California Current Ecosystem Studies (ACCESS) is a collaborative effort of Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries (GFNMS/CBNMS) and Point Blue Conservation Science that supports data collection to understand status and trends of sanctuary resources, ecosystem health, and response to climate change. This project supports several Office…
USGS WERC Seabird Studies Team: Northern California PSG Regional Report 2024 Jonathan Felis, Josh Adams, and Laney White (USGS Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)), with observer support from Alex Rinkert (California State Parks), continued long-term (1999–present) at-sea Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) surveys in Conservation Zone 6 in central California to estimate murrelet abundance and reproductive…
Humboldt Redwood Company, LLC (HRC) continued the conservation activities for the Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) under the company’s Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Project leaders were Sal Chinnici and Mark Freitas of HRC. The HCP requires tracking of murrelet occupancy and numbers over time using both radar and audio-visual (AV) survey techniques. Surveys were continued in…
Scott Moorhouse (High Arctic Gull Research Group) is continuing his studies of Iceland Gulls (Larus glaucoides thayeri), including completing additional work on the occurrence, distribution, abundance, habitat use, and behavior of wintering L. glaucoides thayeri in central California. Fieldwork was completed in March 2023 and a paper on the work was accepted for publication by…
Northwest Forest Plan Marbled Murrelet Effectiveness Monitoring Program The goal of the Marbled Murrelet Effectiveness Monitoring Program (EMP) is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) in maintaining and restoring marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus; MAMU) populations and nesting habitat within the NWFP area, from the Canada–Washington border south to northern California. The…
Marine Ornithology is an open access journal that is published through a partnership of the African Seabird Group, Australasian Seabird Group, Dutch Seabird Group, Japanese Seabird Group, and Pacific Seabird Group.
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The objective of the Conservation Fund is to advance the conservation of seabirds in developing countries primarily in or bordering the Pacific Ocean by providing funds for conservation and restoration activities, and building within-country seabird expertise. Learn More »
