WEGU

  • Thayer & Barnes (2025)

    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…

  • Orben et al. (2025)

    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)…

  • Haight et al. (2025)

    Gavin Haight, Josh Adams, Laney White, and Emma Kelsey (USGS Western Ecological Research Center; USGS WERC), in collaboration with David Pereksta (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; BOEM), are working to expand the Motus Wildlife Tracking System in central and southern California with a focus on increasing tracking capacity for seabirds and bats off southern-central California…

  • Moorhouse (2024)

    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…

  • Post & D’Amico (2024)

    Maggie Lee Post, Julie Thayer (Farallon Institute), and Lidia D’amico (National Park Service, Golden Gate National Recreation Area) continued the long-term monitoring of breeding seabird colonies on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. Brandt’s Cormorants (Urile penicillatus) nested in the highest numbers (n=4825) ever observed in the time series. Though heavy rain storms in early May flooded…