Project Information

Title: Prince William Sound Marine Bird Surveys, Synthesis and Restoration 070751

Project Year and Number: 2007: 070751

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2010: 10100751, 2008: 080751, 2005: 050751, 2004: 040159, 2002: 02159, 2001: 01159, 2000: 00159, 1999: 99159, 1998: 98159, 1997: 97159-CLO, 1996: 96159, 1994: 94159, 1993: 93045

Principal Investigator (PI): David Irons (DOI )

Managing Agency: USFWS

Assisting Personnel: None

Research Location: Prince William Sound, Alaska

Restoration Category: Monitoring

Injured Resources Addressed: Bald Eagles, Black Oystercatchers, Common Loons, Common Murres, Cormorants, Harlequin Ducks, Kittlitz's Murrelets, Marbled Murrelets, Pigeon Guillemot

Abstract: We propose to conduct small boat surveys to monitor abundance of marine birds in Prince William Sound, Alaska during March and July 2007-2011. Eight previous surveys have monitored population trends for >65 bird and 8 marine mammal species in Prince William Sound after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. We will use data collected in 2007-2011 to examine trends from summer and from winter to determine whether populations in the oiled zone are increasing, decreasing, or stable. We will also examine overall population trends for the Sound. To help determine when recovery has occurred we will examine population trends in other areas outside of Prince William Sound, and conduct population modeling for the non-recovered species. Continued monitoring of marine birds and synthesis of the data are needed to determine whether populations injured by the spill are recovering. Data collected from 1989 to 2005 in the oiled area indicated that bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), common loons (Gavia immer), and cormorants (Phalacrocorax spp) are increasing in winter. Numbers of all other injured species are either not changing or are declining in the oiled area. Populations of harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus), black oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) and common murres (Uria aalgae) are showing no trend in the oiled area; pigeon guillemots (Cepphus columba), marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus), and Kittlitz’s murrelets (Brachyramphus brevirostris) are declining in the oiled areas of Prince William Sound. Results of all surveys have been summarized in reports and results through 1998 have been published by Irons et al. (2000) and Lance et al. (2001). Analyses and synthesis of these survey data are the only ongoing means to evaluate the recovery of most of these injured species. A final report will be written upon completion of the project that will address population status of injured species, additionally, results will be published in a peer reviewed journal.


Proposal: View (36,468 KB)

Reports:
Annual Report FY07: View (36 KB)
Final Report: Final Report Not available. For current status, please contact us.

Publications from this Project: None Available