Seabird colony survey report 2010: Kenai Fjords National Park and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

Phillips, Laura; McFarland, Brook

Survey report from 2010 work with comparative summaries of previous work conducted in 1976, 1986, 2006-2009. Seabird colony surveys have not been regularly conducted in Kenai Fjords National Park (KEFJ) since its inception in 1980. A 2006 Interagency General Agreement led to cooperative seabird colony surveys along the eastern coast of the Kenai Peninsula in KEFJ and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (AMNWR) in 2007, the first time since 1986 that a comprehensive survey of seabird colonies had been completed in KEFJ. Since 2007, KEFJ staff has continued annual surveys of seabird colonies in KEFJ and AMNWR at some level. In 2010, we conducted a brief survey of select colonies in Aialik Bay and Northwestern Fjord as preparation for developing an intensive colonial seabird study that will begin in 2011. Surveys were conducted from the flying bridge of the 16m M/V Serac. Weather was generally poor during the survey period and the float plan was adapted as the trip progressed based on weather conditions at sites. For each survey the colony area was visually identified and all adults for every species present were counted. One survey was conducted at each colony location visited; these surveys are therefore valid for relative abundance measurements, but not population trends. Two replicate counts were typically completed for abundant species at colonies (glaucous-winged gulls, cormorant spp.) and counts were repeated until both surveyors obtained counts within 5%. Results from the current survey were compared with data from previous surveys in 2009 (McFarland et al. 2009), 2008 (Hahr 2009), 2007 (Hahr 2008), 1986 (Nishimoto and Rice 1987) and 1976 (Bailey 1976) to examine apparent changes in colony size and composition. We surveyed four colony locations in KEFJ and seven colony locations in AMNWR in 2010. Descriptive comparisons of limited count data available for select seabird species at colonies with multiple years of data reflect the apparent variability in colony attendance since 1976 with a general apparent increase in glaucous-winged gulls throughout the survey area. Seabird colony surveys along the Kenai Fjords coastline have been conducted sporadically, and during past survey efforts, replicate counts were rarely made and direct comparisons of data to recent surveys are complicated by differing survey techniques and record keeping. Recent surveys conducted by NPS and USFWS since 2007 were conducted to maintain some consistency among years, but we have not had the opportunity to fully follow USFWS protocols except during Chiswell area surveys in 2008. In 2011, we will begin a cooperative interagency project to identify spatial and temporal variability of colonial seabirds within this region. While data collected on colonial nesting seabirds in the KEFJ area is less than ideal for monitoring seabird populations, it does assist us in developing questions and objectives for future study.

Seabird colony survey report 2010: Kenai Fjords National Park and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

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