Orben et al. (2025)

Author Information

Rachael Orben, Adam Peck-Richardson, Alexa Piggott, Will Kennerley, Luke Stuntz, Colton Veltkamp, Maria Nanau: The Seabird Oceanography Lab, Oregon State University

Aya Attal: National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Intern

Travolis Williams: Oregon State University, Vanguarding an Inclusive Ecological Workforce Fellow

Hanna Motta: Environment for the Americas Intern

Allen Evans, Nathan Banet, Helen Kreuger, Danielle Devincenzi, and Quinn Payton: Real Time Research Inc

Lisa Ballance, Leigh Torres, and Dawn Barlow: Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University

Eliza Wesemann: Utah State University

Sara Maxwell and Isaiah Taylor: University of Washington Bothell

Don Lyons: Oregon State University and National Audubon Society Seabird Institute

Keenan Yakola: Oregon State University PhD candidate

Yaquina Head Seabird Monitoring: 2024 marked the 18th consecutive year of seabird monitoring at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in Newport, Oregon, and the 4th consecutive year of monitoring at Pirate Cove in Depoe Bay, Oregon. Will Kennerley (Faculty Research Assistant, Oregon State University; OSU), Aya Attal (National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Intern), Travolis Williams (OSU Vanguarding an Inclusive Ecological Workforce (VIEW) Fellow), Hannah Motta (Environment for the Americas Intern), and Rachael Orben (OSU) conducted reproductive monitoring for Common Murres (Uria aalge) and Brandt’s and Pelagic cormorants (Urile penicillatus and U. pelagicus). Diet composition data for murres were also collected. Heavy Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) predation again delayed murre reproduction at Yaquina Head and few murres managed to fledge chicks at this site. In contrast, at Pirate Cove—where eagle disturbance is minimal—murres maintained high productivity. This long-term study is funded in-part by the Bureau for Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Science Foundation (NSF), and OSU.

Columbia River Salmonids & Piscivorous Waterbirds: In 2024, the OSU Seabird Oceanography Lab (Rachael Orben, Adam Peck-Richardson, Alexa Piggott, and Will Kennerley) worked with Real Time Research, Inc. (Allen Evans, Nathan Banet, Helen Kreuger, Danielle Devincenzi, and Quinn Payton) on the long-term monitoring of Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum), American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), and gull populations in the Columbia River Basin. The 2024 objectives were to (1) assess the distribution and size of piscivorous waterbird colonies, (2) estimate colony-specific predation/consumption rates on Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed salmonid populations, and (3) estimate cumulative effects of predation on juvenile salmonid survival. Monitoring of colonies was conducted from the air, by boat, and/or from shore. Three aerial surveys were conducted during May and June. Colony size was estimated using high-resolution aerial imagery corresponding with the peak in nesting activity at each colony and enumerating visible birds using ArcGIS. Predation rates were estimated by scanning for smolt passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags deposited on bird colonies. This project was funded by Bonneville Power Administration and Grant County Public Utility District via oversight and approval from the Priest Rapids Coordinating Committee.

Marine Offshore Species Assessments to Inform Clean Energy (MOSAIC) Project: The Seabird Oceanography Lab, in collaboration with OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute, completed the last of six, two-week cruises for pelagic seabirds off Oregon and Northern California in April 2024. Now, Rachael Orben and Will Kennerley are working with researchers from OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute (Lisa Ballance, Leigh Torres, and Dawn Barlow) to construct species distribution models around proposed offshore wind areas. This project was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Tufted Puffin Chick Diets: Eliza Wesemann (Utah State University undergraduate), with support from Rachael Orben and Will Kennerley, performed a third complete season of Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) bill load photography at the Haystack Rock colony in Cannon Beach, Oregon. This work continues OSU’s efforts to document Tufted Puffin prey in response to the drastic decline of this species’ breeding population in the state. Funding support came from the Oregon Wildlife Foundation and Friends of Haystack Rock.

Predators of Leach’s Storm-petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous): The Seabird Oceanography Lab (Luke Stuntz, Colton Veltkamp, Maria Nanau), in collaboration with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, conducted monitoring of terrestrial predator activity at important storm-petrel colonies along the southern Oregon coast from March 2024 through February 2025. We deployed on-island camera traps, conducted monthly predator sign surveys on the islands and adjacent mainland areas, and analyzed the contents of mustelid scat to track trends in seabird predation. Both river otters and American mink were major predators of Leach’s Storm-petrels in 2024, with smaller amounts of predation on gulls, cormorants, and various alcids. Non-invasive genotyping was used to estimate the size, structure, and movements of river otter groups active at these seabird islands. Results from this project are expected to be published in 2025.

Oregon Seabird Tracking: The Seabird Oceanography Lab (Rachael Orben, Will Kennerley, Luke Stuntz, Colton Veltkamp), with Sara Maxwell and Isaiah Taylor (University of Washington Bothell), Don Lyons (Oregon State University and National Audubon Society Seabird Institute) and Keenan Yakola (Oregon State University PhD candidate) expanded seabird tracking work on the southern Oregon Coast. GPS tags were deployed on Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis), Rhinoceros Auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata), and Leach’s Storm-petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous) breeding on Hunter’s Island, near potential offshore wind development areas. Funding in part came from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Audubon Society’s Seabird Institute and the University of Washington’s Royalty Research Fund. We are expecting to continue similar work in 2025 with Rhinoceros Auklets and Leach’s Storm-petrels.