|
eNews & Updates
Receive regular PRBO
news and updates
by email.
Sign up here!
|
News Releases and Media Coverage
Saving wildlife in a warmer world (Nov. 17, 2009)
San Francisco Bay Oil Spill October 30, 2009
Using Lasers to Map Bird Habitat (Press Release)
Redding Pair Plan 24 Hour Bird Count (Redding Searchlight 8/01/09)
Few fish, so birds suffer (SF Chronicle 9/22/09)
Article in SF Chronicle highlights the work of PRBO and partners to understand changes to the marine food web off the central CA coast.
Changes in California's Bird Communities Due to Climate Change
(Press Release September 2, 2009)
Why Climate Change Makes River Restoration More Important than Ever
(Press Release August 31, 2009)
Double-crested Cormorants in Sharp Decline
(Press Release August 1, 2009)
Highly Variable Ocean Conditions Affecting Marine Birds (Press Release June 25, 2009)
First Ever Webcam to Stream Live Footage From the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge (Press Release May 27, 2009)
Migratory Birds in the Middle East and Africa: Promoting Collaboration and Conservation across the Hemispheres (Press Release May 27, 2009)
PRBO Conservatin Partner Award - San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge (May 2009)
Restore, Not Just Maintain, Ecosystems: Letter to the editor by PRBO biologists in the Christian Science Monitor (05/01/09)
Good Nesting Start For the Farallones Cassin's Auklets
National State of the Birds Report: CA Perspective
The nation's first state of the birds report was issued on 3/19/09 by Secretary Ken Salazar. Read more about implications in California. (SF Chronicle feature )
Director Ellie Cohen Among 2009 National Women's History Month Honorees ( Full Press Release ) Going Solar is for the Birds! (November 6, 2008)
A Unique Partnership Brings Solar Energy to PRBO Conservation Science and Generates Local Jobs
One year later: Oil spill impacts still unknown (Nov. 6, 2008)
PRBO Invited to Testify (July 2008)
House Subcommittee Hearing on Decline in Nations Bird Populations
San Francisco Bay Oil Spill, October 30, 2009
Oil that was being transferred from a barge to an oil tanker (Dubai Star) was reported as being spilled into the bay south of the Bay Bridge on October 30, 2009 at 7:35 am, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Currently it is unclear how much oil has spilled or if there are any impacts to wildlife.
Members of PRBO's oil spill response team, a key participant in the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, are on the way to the scene to assess impacts to birds and wildlife. Other members of the team are standing by and ready to be activated in case we are needed to help with field response or oiled wildlife documentation and processing.
This may be the same type of fuel spilled by the Cosco Busan in November 2007. This spill appears to be much smaller than the 50,000 gallons spilled during the Cosco Busan event. However, it is too early to know for sure. Please visit http://www.prbo.org to learn more about the recent oil spill and we will keep you posted on future significant developments.
To learn more about the incident, see the most recent U.S Coast Guard update , or the San Francisco Chronicle’s story here .
Press Release: 9/29/09 Using Lasers to Map Bird Habitat
Contact: Nat Seavy, PhD, Terrestrial Ecology Research Director, PRBO (415) 868-0655 ext 311, nseavy@prbo.org
Melissa Pitkin, Outreach Director, (707) 781-2555 ext. 307, mpitkin@prbo.org
Using Lasers to Map Bird Habitat
Lasers are providing scientists with new tools for mapping, protecting, and restoring bird habitat along rivers. In a paper published in the October issue of Ecological Applications, scientists from PRBO Conservation Science and the Information Center for the Environment at UC Davis used aerial laser technology known as LiDAR (short for Light Detection And Ranging) to predict where different bird species occur in the Cosumnes River Preserve in central California, USA.
LiDAR data are generated using lasers mounted on an airplane that is flown over the study area. Sensors on the aircraft record the laser light that is reflected from the vegetation and the ground. These data are then used to develop detailed maps of the forest structure (for example, the height of the tallest trees). Scientists can then use their knowledge of what types of forest structure birds need to predict where birds will occur. With LiDAR, they can do this over large geographic areas more quickly and easily than with traditional methods.
”By combining this advanced imaging technology with traditional field research, we are able to measure and predict ecosystem components in unprecedented ways. Not only can we provide managers with very detailed information about ecosystem services such as carbon storage and its associated biodiversity, but we can do so over very large areas,” says Dr. Josh Viers, Watershed Scientist at UC Davis.
Scientists have long known that many birds are often found in specific types of forest structure. In the past, these associations have been established by counting birds in areas where vegetation was painstakingly measured on the ground. “Using the LiDAR measurements of vegetation, we can predict where the birds will be over areas much too large to survey by foot,” explains Dr. Nat Seavy, Terrestrial Ecologist Research Director at PRBO Conservation Science.
Maps of bird habitat help scientists understand what areas should be protected and what forest conditions are important for different bird species. “We want to make sure common birds stay common,” says Dr. Chrissy Howell, an ecologist at PRBO Conservation Science. “This technique helps us identify areas to protect and understand how we can design restoration to create new habitat.”
Authors were Nathaniel Seavy and Julian Wood (PRBO Conservation Science) and Joshua Viers (UC Davis). LiDAR data were collected by Watershed Sciences, LLC, based in Portland, Oregon. The research was funded in part by the CALFED Science Fellows Program.
Changes in California’s Bird Communities Due to Climate Change
Contact Melisa Pitkin (707) 781-2555 ext 307
As much as half of California could be occupied by new bird communities by 2070 according to a new study by PRBO Conservation Science (PRBO) and partners. The publication entitled “Reshuffling of species with climate disruption: A no-analog future for California birds?” is to be released in the September 2 online issue of PLoS ONE.
As the climate changes, bird species are expected to shift their distributions independently, in some cases resulting in combinations of co-occurring species that have not been seen before. These novel (or “no-analog”) communities may disrupt complex webs of species interactions, with unanticipated consequences for species and ecosystems.
“We were surprised to see such a wide range of responses across the species we studied. We know that many species may shift their distributions in response to climate change, but these results suggest that the cumulative effect on community composition may be of equal or greater importance,” according to the study’s lead author, Diana Stralberg, PRBO Landscape Ecologist.
Researchers at PRBO Conservation Science, in collaboration with Stanford University, UC Santa Cruz, and the Klamath Bird Observatory, took advantage of a wealth of bird survey data and newly refined regional climate model projections for California to project current and potential future statewide distributions for 60 relatively common bird species. A few species, primarily those associated with coniferous forests, were projected to shift their distributions upslope in similar ways as the climate changes. But other species that often occur together were projected to shift in very different ways, resulting in novel species assemblages. Individual species maps may be viewed online at www.prbo.org/cadc (click on the “where will the birds be” banner on the front page).
Dr. John Wiens, PRBO’s Chief Conservation Science Officer and a co-author of the novel study said, “This is more than just an interesting finding about birds. Birds are nature’s barometers. If birds occur in different combinations in the future, it’s likely that other organisms such as insects and plants will as well. The reshuffling of bird assemblages that we project may just be the tip of the iceberg.”
Using PRBO’s science to project the effects of climate change on birds into the future has implications for how our ecosystems are conserved, managed and restored today. New and novel approaches will be needed to manage and conserve biodiversity. Single-species approaches will not work well in the context of rapidly-changing climate and ecological communities. Long-term ecological monitoring, flexible management strategies, and frequent communication between scientists, managers, and decision-makers will be needed more than ever.
Dr. Terry Root of Stanford University and another co-author of the publication explained, “We know climate disruption will result in major ecological surprises. This work provides yet another wake-up call to scientists, managers and the public struggling with managing biodiversity in the face of rapid environmental change.”
Why Climate Change Makes River Restoration More Important than Ever
Press Release for August 31, 2009
Contact: Nat Seavy, PhD, Terrestrial Ecology Research Director, (415) 868-0655 ext 311, nseavy@prbo.org Melissa Pitkin, Outreach Director, (707) 781-2555 ext. 307, mpitkin@prbo.org
PRBO Conservation Science (PRBO) and six other organizations evaluated how protecting and restoring river ecosystems (riparian areas) can enhance the ability of these ecosystems to cope with climate change. This work appears in the September issue of Ecological Restoration (http://er.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/27/3/330) with a collection of articles dedicated to the theme of restoration and climate change. In the paper, the scientists discuss the importance of replanting riparian vegetation and ensuring that rivers have sufficient water to maintain flows that benefit birds, other wildlife, and human communities.
Riparian restoration can play an important role in connecting one area to another, enabling plants and animals to move as the climate shifts. Riparian restoration can also create thermal refugia – places where stream temperatures remain relatively unchanged – that buffer wildlife from increasing temperatures. Based on these and other benefits of riparian restoration, the authors recommend that river restoration activities continue and expand as the climate changes.
“I often hear people ask: ‘if climate change is going to disrupt natural systems, why should we bother to restore them?’” explains Nat Seavy, of PRBO Conservation Science, “Restoration, especially of riparian areas, is a critical step toward protecting the integrity of ecosystems and the benefits they provide – including clean water, pollination, and flood protection – to wildlife and humans in a time of rapid climate change.”
The authors also discuss the need to modify restoration strategies to prepare for the uncertain conditions predicted to accompany climate change, and for ongoing research and monitoring to evaluate and improve restoration practices.
Recommendations include planting a mix of riparian plants that are both drought and flood tolerant, ensuring that rivers have sufficient water to provide for periodic flooding of natural areas, and emphasizing restoration on private lands.
For decades, conservationists have been aware that increasing human populations, development, and changing land use threaten biodiversity and ecosystem services. Ecological restoration was originally developed to help speed the recovery of ecosystems disrupted by human activities. Today, there is a growing awareness that ecological restoration must also look ahead to consider the potential consequences of a changing climate.
“Because dams and water diversions have disrupted natural water regimes, simply protecting the river isn’t enough” explains Thomas Griggs, a restoration ecologist from River Partners, an organization that has led large-scale restoration efforts on the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. “Over the last 20 years, we’ve learned how to speed the return of birds and other wildlife to these important habitats by planting the vegetation that would have come back as a result of natural flooding. In the next 20 years, we will need to look ahead to understand how climate change will impact these systems, and ensure that our efforts are successful into the future.”
"Protecting genetic diversity and native biodiversity with restoration projects will boost the resilience of society and nature to potentially catastrophic climate change impacts," says Stacy Small, co-author, from Environmental Defense Fund's Center for Conservation Incentives. "Working with landowners to restore private lands will also enhance restoration efforts on adjacent public lands."
Working collaboratively with multiple partners across many disciplines is increasingly important for effective restoration. The authors that collaborated on this project work for government agencies (USDI Bureau of Land Management), academic institutions (UC Davis), and non-profit organizations (PRBO Conservation Science, The Nature Conservancy, Audubon California, Environmental Defense Fund, and River Partners).
“This paper exemplifies the importance of partnering to prepare for climate change,” explains Ellie Cohen, the Executive Director of PRBO Conservation Science. “By building diverse teams with unique knowledge and on-the-ground experience we can develop practical solutions supported by sound science.”
Authors were Nathaniel Seavy, Thomas Gardali, and Christine Howell (PRBO Conservation Science), Gregory Golet (The Nature Conservancy), Thomas Griggs (River Partners), Rodd Kelsey (Audubon California), Stacy Small (Environmental Defense Fund), Joshua Viers (UC Davis), and James Weigand (Bureau of Land Management).
Boilerplates
PRBO Conservation Science is a non-profit conservation and education organization dedicated to advancing conservation through birds and ecosystem research. Founded in 1965 as Point Reyes Bird Observatory, PRBO Conservation Science partners with hundreds of governmental and non-governmental agencies as well as private interests to ensure that every dollar invested in conservation yields the most for biodiversity -- benefiting our environment, our economy, and our communities. Visit PRBO on the web at www.prbo.org.
Audubon California is building a better future for California by bringing people together to appreciate, enjoy and protect our spectacular outdoor treasures. Audubon California is a field program of Audubon, which has more than 50,000 members in California and an affiliated 48 local chapters dedicated to protecting birds, wildlife and the habitats that support them. Visit Audubon California on the web at www.ca.audubon.org.
Environmental Defense Fund is a national nonprofit organization that links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF's Center for Conservation Incentives (CCI) is an initiative to develop and expand landowner incentives for the conservation of natural resources and rare plants and animals. For more information visit: www.edf.org. Contact: Stacy Small, PhD, Conservation Scientist, (202)572-3263, ssmall@edf.org
Over the last 11 years, River Partners has restored more than 6,000 acres of river banks and floodplains, providing critical habitat for wildlife and sustainable solutions for California’s rivers. Its habitat restoration work supports efforts to sequester greenhouse gases, improve water and air quality, recover endangered species, improve public safety, and protect open space. A nonprofit organization, River Partners’ mission is to create wildlife habitat for the benefit of people and the environment.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 18 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 117 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages more land - 256 million acres - than any other Federal agency. About 15 million acres are in California and comprise some of the most biologically diverse areas in the State. These public lands, officially known as the National System of Public Lands, stretch from the Sierra to the Pacific and from northern ancient forests to southern desert expanses. BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
This work was funded in part by the CALFED Science Fellows Program. Beginning with the class of 2003, the CALFED Science Fellows Program has paired graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with CALFED Program agency scientists and senior research mentors. Fellows work on collaborative data analysis and research projects applicable to the California Bay-Delta system.
Citation
Seavy, N. E., T. Gardali, G. H. Golet, F. T. Griggs, C. A. Howell, R. Kelsey, S. Small, J. H. Viers, J. F. Weigand. 2009. Why climate change makes riparian restoration more important than ever: Recommendations for Practice and Research. Ecological Restoration 27:330-338. (open access available at: http://er.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/27/3/330 )
###########
Press Release for August 1, 2009
Contact: Meredith Elliott, PRBO Marine Ecologist (707) 781-2555 ext 304, Melissa Pitkin, Outreach Director, (707) 781-2555 ext 307
Double-crested Cormorants in Sharp Decline
Is the Double Crested Cormorant the big black canary in the coal mine of the changing San Francisco Bay ecosystem? Data collected by PRBO Conservation Science biologists from the Bay Bridge and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge nesting colonies are showing a steep decline. Number of breeding birds dropped by 90% at the Bay Bridge. Not since PRBO began studying these cormorants in 1989 has there been such a drop in numbers. This is yet another signal from the seabirds of a stressed marine food web in our region.
Already 2009 will be remembered as the worst year for all Bay Area cormorants in memory. Cormorants have been particularly impacted by food shortages this season. Heavy sustained March winds resulting in an over-mixing of the marine nutrients were attributed to cause prey disruption and the commencement of a starvation event, especially noticeable among Brandt’s Cormorants along the central coast of California. Preliminary results from Kathy Hieb (California Department of Fish and Game) confirm this, as the abundance of large anchovy – the most common fish in the Bay – is far below normal this year. This lack of food resulted in severely reduced or halted nesting at many colonies in the Bay Area, including the Farallon Islands. SF Bay cormorants were also hard hit, with Double-crested Cormorant carcasses found with the Brandt’s Cormorants, no nesting of Brandt’s Cormorants on Alcatraz Island, and the Double-crested Cormorant colony on the Bay Bridge dropping from 813 nests to 80 nests in the last two years. Other Double-crested colonies in the Bay Area are showing similar declines, as corroborated by Caitlin Robinson of San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory.
“Such dramatic changes don’t just happen by chance. The cormorants are telling us that something is amiss in these environments; now we need to see if they can also tell us what it is.” Says Dr John Wiens, PRBO Chief Conservation Science Officer.
Another reproductive study is warranted to try to determine what is causing the steep decline in Double-crested Cormorant nesting colonies in SF Bay. There could be many factors at play including food shortage, human disturbance, and pollution. Given similar declines in nesting seabirds in the region this year (Common Murre and Brandt’s Cormorants), food shortage appears to be the dominant factor. Such an extreme drop in numbers is alarming; when a species as abundant as the Double-crested Cormorant disappears from the Bay, it indicates the forage fish species of the marine ecosystem are ailing.
About PRBO Conservation Science:
PRBO Conservation Science, founded as Point Reyes Bird Observatory in 1965, works to conserve birds, other wildlife and ecosystems through innovative scientific research and outreach. We partner with hundreds of governmental and non-governmental agencies as well as private interests to ensure that every dollar invested in conservation yields the most for biodiversity -- benefiting our environment, our economy and our communities. Visit PRBO on the web at www.prbo.org.
Note to reporters: Our organizational name is PRBO Conservation Science, as written with the acronym (not Point Reyes Bird Observatory Conservation Science).
Press Release Date: June 25, 2009
Contact: Melissa Pitkin, PRBO Conservation Science, 707-781-2555 ext 307
Jaime Jahncke, Marine Ecology Director, 707-781-2555 ext. 335
Ellie Cohen, Executive Director, 707-781-2555 ext 318
Highly Variable Ocean Conditions Affecting Marine Birds
Fluctuating ocean conditions are having a dramatic and negative impact on a variety of birds on the Farallon Islands and along the California Coast, scientists from PRBO Conservation Science (PRBO) announced today. PRBO researchers just completed an extensive three day research cruise through the greater Gulf of the Farallones region (from north of Cordell Bank to south of the Farallon Islands) in cooperation with Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Findings revealed reduced adult krill numbers, altered foraging patterns for seabirds, and warm ocean temperatures.
These results are consistent with signals from the nesting seabirds on the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge. Recent changes in ocean temperatures and reduced upwelling appear to have depressed populations of marine forage species, resulting in nesting failures for some marine bird species and the likelihood of reduced success for others. Currently, Common Murres are showing chick death and nest abandonment on the Farallones and other coastal colonies, Brandt’s Cormorants are nesting at severely reduced numbers, and Cassin’s Auklets, which started the season strong, experienced a period of reduced chick growth during the last few weeks, but now may show signs of recovery.
“During the warm/calm period (around June 8) Cassin’s Auklet chicks were losing weight. Diet samples were mostly fish bits, barnacle larvae, crustaceans – not good food for growing auklets. However, in the last week we have seen very different results. Chicks have rebounded and started growing rapidly again” said Pete Warzybok, PRBO Farallon Biologist who has been monitoring seabirds on this island for about 9 years.
Last week’s wind generated upwelling, the wind-driven transport of deep, cold, nutrient rich water toward the ocean’s surface. Phytoplankton – minute marine plants – use these nutrients along with sunlight and CO2 dissolved in the water to reproduce dramatically. Such phytoplankton “blooms” are good for large populations of zooplankton – tiny marine animals – which in turn feed important forage species such as krill, northern anchovies, sardines and young rockfish – the primary prey for sea birds, as well as salmon and many marine mammals, particularly baleen whales. This recent upwelling comes at a crucial time for the auklet chicks.
But the recent ocean research cruise revealed a disturbing finding; Common Murres were displaced from their normal foraging areas by an apparent lack of forage fish.
Dr. Jaime Jahncke, PRBO’s Marine Ecology Director said this last research cruise revealed large quantities of juvenile krill and fish larvae, which are heartening signs. Adult krill were not uniformly abundant, though one large aggregation was found.
“As far as seabirds go, it’s a desert out there,” said Jahncke. “You typically find large numbers of murres, cormorants and gulls feeding on balls of fish in the area around San Francisco Bay’s outflow. We’re just not seeing them now.”
“Murres that nest on the Farallones typically forage between San Francisco Bay and the Farallon Islands,” said Jahncke. “During our last cruise we found birds foraging near Cordell Bank, much farther from their colonies. That requires a much greater expenditure of energy.”
As a result, said Jahncke, many murres on the Farallones have begun to abandon their nests, and significant numbers of chicks are dying. Colonies on the mainland also have been affected.
The recent resumption of strong upwelling offers some possible benefit for nesting birds, Jahncke said. But the timing of upwelling and prey availability is critical to general nesting success; much of the damage that has been done can’t be mitigated.
“For the murres and cormorants, especially, the recent improvement in marine conditions may have come too late,” he said.
Another notable component to the situation is the link between seabird nesting success and salmon returns. West Coast salmon seasons have been closed the past two years due to scant fish numbers.
“Salmon numbers seem particularly linked to nesting success for Cassin’s Auklets, perhaps because both species subsist largely on krill,” said Jahncke. “So this recent recovery of the Cassin’s may signal some hope for the fishery.”
It is highly unlikely the recent shifts in ocean temperatures are due to a resurgent El Niño, Jahncke said. “The National Weather Service (NOAA) announced that there may be a transition towards El Niño conditions in the Eastern Pacific over the next 2 months. It will take some time for us to feel the effects of those developments on the west coast of North America,” Jahncke said. “Right now, they’re not a factor.”
But a larger trend may be in play: general climate change.
“One thing most computer models predict for global warming is greater variability in marine conditions,” Jahncke said. “Certainly, that’s what we’ve been seeing in recent years.” “The start of the spring was the windiest ever, particularly in March, April, and May, then suddenly the wind stopped and the ocean turned glassy” said Pete Warzybok.
#####
About PRBO Conservation Science:
PRBO Conservation Science works to conserve birds, other wildlife and ecosystems through innovative scientific research and outreach. We partner with hundreds of governmental and non-governmental agencies as well as private interests to ensure that science is driving conservation, benefiting our environment, our economy and our communities. Visit PRBO on the web at www.prbo.org.
Press Release (May 27, 2009)
First Ever Webcam to Stream Live Footage From the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge
Cooperative partnership between California Academy of Sciences, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and PRBO Conservation Science allows Web users to follow the action on the largest seabird colony in the continental United States
SAN FRANCISCO (May 27, 2009) — Just in time for World Oceans Day, the first ever webcam on the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge will go live on June 8 at www.calacademy.org/webcams/farallones. Powered by solar energy and perched on a windswept lighthouse on top of Southeast Farallon Island, the webcam will provide an unprecedented view of the seabirds, seals, and possibly even sharks that call these isolated islands home. The live webcam feed will be accompanied by animal identification guides, Farallones history, and research and conservation information. This exciting new initiative is made possible through a cooperative partnership between the California Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and PRBO Conservation Science.
Located 27 miles west of San Francisco, the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge is composed of three island groups that are home to the largest seabird colony in the continental United States. Approximately 250,000 seabirds representing 13 species and five species of seals and sea lions use the islands. Gray whales, blue whales, and humpback whales migrate past the islands every year. The area is also an important feeding ground for great white sharks. The refuge was established in 1909 by President Theodore Roosevelt as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds.
“Since the islands are not accessible to the general public, the webcam will be a valuable tool not only for scientists, but for casual observers as well,” says Dr. Jack Dumbacher, curator of ornithology & mammalogy at the California Academy of Sciences and lead scientist on the project. “The wildlife observations that we glean from this webcam will assist with ongoing research, guide conservation decisions, and hopefully inspire citizens to care about this valuable resource right in San Francisco’s backyard.”
Over 40 years of data on Farallon wildlife have been collected by PRBO Conservation Science in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The findings of these long-term studies have assisted with the establishment of the adjacent Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, contributed to state laws that protect white sharks and restrict use of commercial gill nets, and provided a greater understanding of marine ecosystem conservation.
“The Farallon Islands are California’s Galapagos—truly a jewel of the SF Bay Area that supports an amazing abundance of seabirds, seals, sea lions and sharks,” says Ellie M. Cohen, President and CEO of PRBO Conservation Science. “We are thrilled to bring PRBO’s 24/7 research and stewardship on this rocky laboratory to the public through this new website.”
The webcam is an Axis 233D network dome camera with half hi-definition resolution. It beams image data via a microwave link between the Southeast Farallon Island and San Francisco’s Twin Peaks. The pan, tilt, and zoom features of the camera will provide 360o views of the island. Network infrastructure for the webcam was provided by the City and County of San Francisco’s Department of Technology.
For more information on PRBO's research on the Farallon Islands visit www.prbo.org/farallones
About the California Academy of Sciences
The Academy is an international center for scientific education and research and is at the forefront of efforts to understand and protect the diversity of Earth’s living things. The Academy has a staff of over 50 professional educators and Ph.D.-level scientists, supported by more than 100 Research and Field Associates and over 300 Fellows. It conducts research in 11 scientific fields: anthropology, aquatic biology, botany, comparative genomics, entomology, geology, herpetology, ichthyology, invertebrate zoology, mammalogy and ornithology.
About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The Farallon National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
About PRBO Conservation Science
PRBO Conservation Science is a non-profit conservation and education organization dedicated to advancing conservation through birds and ecosystem research. Founded in 1965 as Point Reyes Bird Observatory, PRBO Conservation Science works with hundreds of governmental and non-governmental agencies, as well as private interests. Our goal is to ensure that every dollar invested in conservation yields the most for biodiversity, benefiting our environment, our economy and our communities. Visit PRBO on the web at www.prbo.org .
Press Release (May 26, 2009)
Migratory Birds in the Middle East and Africa: Promoting Collaboration and Conservation across the Hemispheres
Contact: Melissa Pitkin (707) 781-2555 ext 307
In an effort to preserve wildlife and biological richness across the globe, conservation biologists from PRBO Conservation Science and the U.S. Forest Service International Programs office will host 10 conservation leaders from seven Middle Eastern and African countries at PRBO’s Palomarin Field Station in Bolinas, California on Thursday June 4, 2009.
Representatives from Egypt, Ethiopia, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, and the West Bank are participating in the event, which is part of the U.S. Forest Service’s Migratory Birds in the Middle East initiative. The program encourages collaboration among Middle Eastern and African countries toward a common goal of bird conservation. Participants will visit the internationally recognized avian research and conservation organization to learn about bird conservation, climate change, research methods, and to further training opportunities for visiting scientists.
With more than 40 years of continuous research on birds and ecosystems, PRBO is one of the world’s leaders in bird research and ecosystem conservation methodologies. The visit to the Palomarin Field Station, PRBO’s longest term research site in Bolinas, highlights data sets that reveal the fingerprints of climate change on birds and ecosystems.
Because Palomarin is PRBO’s primary training site for new field biologists, tour participants will also obtain information that will allow them to design and implement rigorous studies in their home region. Since 2008, PRBO has hosted and trained three interns from Egypt and Israel. Expanded international collaborations between PRBO and the participants will also be explored during the tour.
“This is an incredibly special opportunity to learn about their work and to share PRBO’s proven best practices across the world,” said Ellie M. Cohen, President and CEO of PRBO Conservation Science. “Especially in this time of accelerating changes in climate and land-use, seeding collaborations with like-minded leaders is tremendous for advancing bird and ecosystem conservation on a global scale.”
Tour participants will be presented with information and guidance that will enable them to design and implement scientifically rigorous studies in their region. They will learn how PRBO uses birds as indicators of environmental health and conservation investments to yield the most for birds, other wildlife and human communities. In a continuation of this international initiative for global bird conservation, additional exchange scientists from Egypt will arrive at PRBO this fall.
About PRBO Conservation Science:
PRBO Conservation Science works to conserve birds, other wildlife and ecosystems through innovative scientific research and outreach. We partner with hundreds of governmental and non-governmental agencies as well as private interests to ensure that science is driving conservation, benefiting our environment, our economy and our communities. Visit PRBO on the web at www.prbo.org.
About U.S. Forest Service International Programs:
The International Programs of the U.S. Forest Service (an agency of the Department of Agriculture) promote sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation across the globe. By linking the skills of the agency’s field-based staff with partners overseas, the U.S. Forest Service can help address the world’s most critical natural resource issues and concerns. Wildlife biologists, forest economists, hydrologists, disaster and fire management specialists, and policy makers -- all among the Forest Service’s more than 30,000 employees -- stand available to lend their expertise to the International Programs. More information about International Programs is available at www.fs.fed.us/global.
###########
Press Release for May 6, 2009
Contact: Melissa Pitkin, Education and Outreach Director, 707-781-2555 ext. 307
Good Nesting Start for the Farallones’ Cassin’s Auklets
Following five years of low nesting success, a welcome turnaround is occurring for Cassin’s Auklets on the Farallon Islands, one of the largest marine bird sanctuaries in North America. Cassin’s Auklets appear off to their best breeding season in five years as documented by PRBO Conservation Science, a Petaluma-based group that researches the seabirds on the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.Cassin’s Auklets have begun breeding in high concentrations this year, and barring unexpected set-backs, researchers anticipate a good year for the auklets on the Farallones, which are located about 27 miles west of the Golden Gate. Cassin’s Auklets are small colonial seabirds that nest in underground burrows on the Farallones and feed offshore along the edge of the continental shelf. Their main food, krill, are captured by diving to depths of up to 130 feet. “We had several years of poor nesting success for the auklets, especially in 2005 and 2006 when they didn’t produce any young, so we’re very happy to see them off to a strong start this year” said Russell Bradley, Farallon Program Manager for PRBO Conservation Science.This encouraging start to the auklets breeding season comes as good news amongst alarming reports of another pacific seabird, the Brandt’s Cormorant. Emaciated cormorants have been collected recently along California’s central coast. Nesting colonies studied by PRBO including the Farallones, Año Nuevo Island, and Alcatraz Island are posting delayed nesting of the birds. This contrast is interesting: the auklets feed on krill while the cormorants feed on schooling fish such as anchovies, young rockfish, and flatfish. The strong start to auklet nesting suggests that local conditions for krill are good. However, conditions may not be as good for fish. An explanation for the cormorant die off is still unknown and under investigation.Researchers caution against drawing conclusions about the state of the ocean from the recent positive signals from the auklets at the Farallones. More will be known about regional marine conditions in a few weeks when PRBO researchers return from research cruises throughout the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary to sample ocean conditions and krill, and record sightings of marine birds and mammals. These research cruises yield important information about the state of the marine food web, which sustains whales, seals, seabirds, salmon and other fish, and people. PRBO Conservation Science is a non-profit conservation and education organization dedicated to advancing conservation through birds and ecosystem research. Founded in 1965 as Point Reyes Bird Observatory, PRBO Conservation Science works with hundreds of governmental and non-governmental agencies, as well as private interests. Our goal is to ensure that every dollar invested in conservation yields the most for biodiversity, benefiting our environment, our economy and our communities. Visit PRBO on the web at www.prbo.org.
######
Contact: Glena Records, Membership & Events Manager, 707-781-2555 Ext. 320 San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge Receives 2009 Outstanding Conservation Partner Award PRBO Conservation Science has honored the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge as a 2009 Conservation Partner. Kim Forrest, Wildlife Refuge Manager for the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex (which includes SJRNWR), accepted the award at the awards ceremony May 17, 2009. “We especially want to recognize the significant restoration efforts which have been accomplished on the SJRNWR with the help and guidance of Kim Forrest,” said Ellie M. Cohen, President and CEO of PRBO Conservation Science. “The partnership of SJRNWR and PRBO has implemented some of the best examples of adaptive management in the region.” PRBO Conservation Science studies birds as indicators of ecosystem health and management success. Within the borders of the San Joaquin NWR is one of California’s largest riparian forest restoration projects: over 400,000 native trees such as willows, cottonwoods and oaks have been planted across 1,700 acres of river floodplain creating the largest block of contiguous riparian woodland in the San Joaquin Valley. This important riparian woodland habitat is host to many rare animals. The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1987 and encompasses over 7,000 acres of riparian woodlands, wetlands and grasslands that host a diversity of wildlife native to California’s Central Valley. The Refuge is situated where three major rivers (San Joaquin, Tuolumne and Stanislaus) join providing a key travel corridor for wildlife. “Kim and the entire Refuge staff have been outstanding partners. It is a privilege to be involved in such a massive restoration project,” said Chrissy Howell, PhD, PRBO Senior Conservation Scientist. ###
Other Current Topics
Songbirds Return to Mono Lake's Streams
SF Chronicle and LA Times stories feature PRBO's work in the Eastern Sierra's
Farallon Islands See Record High Number of Brown Pelicans (July 2008 Press Release)
ABC News Feature: Alcatraz Wildlife Affected by Oil Spill (6/30/08)
Salmon, Seabirds, and the State of the Ocean
Opinion piece by PRBO Biologist Jennifer Roth.
Symbol of Success for Habitat Restoration on Private Lands
New Publication: Seabirds and Salmon Indicate Rockfish Reproduction
Global Shorebird Tracking Project
New Publication: Penguins and Icebergs
Focus on Climate: SF Chronicle Article, Farallon Islands
PRBO Wins Senator Barbara Boxer's Conservation Champion Award
PRBO's new SF Bay Research Center at Shollenberger Park
Discovery of breeding Least Bell's Vireo by PRBO biologist
Marine research on the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge
Hungry Seabirds on the Farallon Islands
GOING SOLAR IS FOR THE BIRDS!
A Unique Partnership Brings Solar Energy to PRBO Conservation Science and Generates Local Jobs
Bolinas, CA -- In a timely display of Barack Obama’s vision of a “green collar” economy, PRBO Conservation Science is giving the local economy a boost by retrofitting its flagship research station with solar panels – enough to generate over nine kilowatts of clean energy. PRBO is a non-profit conservation and education organization that works to conserve birds, other wildlife and their ecosystems. Thanks to a unique community partnership between Sun First! Solar and the Marin City Community Development Corporation, the project will also provide on-the-job training for six Marin City residents and prepare them for future employment on renewable projects.
Sun First! Solar will oversee six crewmembers provided by the Marin City Community Development Corporation (MCCDC) through its innovative On-The-Job Training Program. The crew members will learn how to work on a crew in the field, handle tools, and install solar panels. They will also learn the importance of preserving the environment. MCCDC plans to train dozens of Marin residents for jobs in the burgeoning green collar industry. The PRBO Conservation Science project is expected to be the first of many projects through the new partnership with Sun First!
“This is a perfect situation – we get to
