Monitoring for trends in the distribution and abundance of colonial nesting seabird populations on the Kenai Fjords coast: Final project completion report
Phillips LM and Curl J. 2014. Monitoring for trends in the distribution and abundance of colonial nesting seabird populations on the Kenai Fjords coast: Final project completion report. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/KEFJ/NRDS—2014/734. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
In 2011, Kenai Fjords National Park (KEFJ), in cooperation with Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (AMNWR) and University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), began a three year study to develop long-term monitoring protocols for breeding seabird colonies in KEFJ and AMNWR. In 2011, we conducted shoreline surveys of the KEFJ coast to identify new seabird colonies and performed whole colony counts of most historic colonies. In 2012-2013, we tested three methods for surveying colonial seabird breeding populations using glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens) as a focal species. We collected data to compare methods using boat-based observer counts, boat-based photographic surveys, and aerial photographic surveys. Data from these surveys will be analyzed winter/spring 2015 to determine the most accurate, feasible, and cost-effective methodology for long term monitoring.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Phillips, Laura; Curl, Jennifer
- Date of Issue
- 2014-11
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- AKRO , KEFJ , NRSS
- Keywords
- Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Colonies, glaucous-winged gull, KEFJ, Kenai Fjords, Monitoring, Nesting, occupancy, Seabird
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Marine Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Birds