Seabird colony survey report 2011: Kenai Fjords National Park and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

Parsons, Monika; Phillips, Laura; Adams, Leslie; Curl, Jennifer

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 seabird colonies had been surveyed in KEFJ. Since 2007 KEFJ staff has continued annual surveys of seabird colonies in KEFJ and AMNWR at some level. In 2011 we began intensively monitoring select colonies as part of a cooperative interagency project with AMNWR and University of Alaska Fairbanks to identify spatial and temporal variability of colonial seabirds within this region. We conducted shoreline surveys of the KEFJ coast to identify new seabird colonies, performed whole colony counts of most historic colonies, conducted repeated counts of historic black-legged kittiwake photo plots, and established new survey plots for cormorant species (red-faced, pelagic and double-crested), black-legged kittiwakes, common murres and glaucous-winged gulls. Coastline surveys were conducted between 15 June and 29 July by two observers from a 14’ inflatable zodiac, from a 19’ rigid hulled inflatable “Auklet” or from the flying bridge of the 53’ M/V Serac travelling at 5-10 knots within 100 meters of shore. We considered two birds present standing onshore within 100 meters of each other a colony for puffin and murre species, two nests with attending birds within 100 meters of each other a colony for all other species. Whole colony counts were conducted by two observers from the M/V Serac or Auklet. For puffins, murres, and gulls individual birds present on a colony were counted. For kittiwakes and cormorants, we counted both nests and individual birds. We defined nests as an adult or chick sitting or standing over nesting material. Observers broke colonies larger than 300 birds into segments to ease counting. Counts were repeated until both observers obtained counts within 10%. Results from the current survey were compiled with data from previous surveys in 2010 (Phillips and McFarland 2010), 2009 (McFarland et al. 2009), 2008 (Hahr 2009), 2007 (Hahr 2008), 1986 (Nishimoto and Rice 1987) and 1976 (Bailey 1977) to examine apparent changes in colony size and composition. All KEFJ colonies were counted at least once. Eight historic and two newly established black-legged kittiwake plots in the Chiswell Islands, nine newly established common murre plots, seven newly established cormorant plots and twelve newly established glaucous-winged gull plots were counted on multiple days using the same procedure used for whole colony counts. We discovered 18 new seabird colonies (eight puffin species, four cormorant species, three mew gull and three glaucous-winged gull colonies) and failed to detect breeding activity at seven of 35 historic colonies surveyed. Direct comparisons with historic survey data is limited because of varying survey methods; however, descriptive comparisons of limited count data reflect the apparent variability in colony attendance since 1976 with an apparent increase in glaucous-winged gulls throughout the survey area. The number of kittiwakes nesting within eight historic plots in the Chiswell Islands has decreased since 2008 but is still greater than the total number breeding within the same plots in 1992. An intensive survey effort including repeated counts of plots will be employed again 2012.

Seabird colony survey report 2011: Kenai Fjords National Park and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

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