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efficient water usage, and some former drainage schemes may need to be reversed, to restore wetland habitats to their prior health. MERCURY CONCENTRATIONS IN WADING BIRDS IN RELATION TO TROPHIC POSITION [Poster] Larry Bryan (bryan@srel.edu), Heather Brant, Chris Romanek, Charles Jagoe, and Lehr Brisbin, Jr.; Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC USA Variation of mercury concentrations has been previously linked to trophic levels (greater Hg with higher trophic position) in many organisms. We tested this prediction with nestlings of 4–5 wading bird species of varying trophic level in both coastal and inland colonies. We confirmed trophic position of individual species by stable nitrogen-isotope analyses. Generally, the expected relationship between mercury and trophic position was observed for inland wading birds. However, the same was not true for all coastal wading species. Since prey type (fresh- vs. saltwater) can influence mercury bioavailability to coastal wading birds, we also analyzed for carbon isotopes. Species utilizing saltwater prey were lowest in mercury but among the highest in trophic position. Species utilizing fresh- or a combination of fresh- and saltwater foraging habitats tended to have mercury concentrations more related to trophic position. For coastal wading birds, use of different foraging habitat types (salt- vs. freshwater) confounds the relationship of trophic position with mercury accumulation. TRACKING LARGE-SCALE MOVEMENTS OF WOOD STORKS FROM WESTERN GULF COAST STATES BY SATELLITE TELEMETRY [Poster] Larry Bryan 1 (bryan@srel.edu), Billy Brooks 2 , Jimmy Taylor 3 , David Richardson 4 , Clint Jeske 5 , and Lehr Brisbin, Jr. 1 ; 1 Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC USA; 2 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Jacksonville, FL USA; 3 USDA National Wildlife Research Center, Starkville, MS USA; 4 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Noxubee NWR, Brooksville FL USA; 5 U.S. Geological Survey, Lafayette, MS USA Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) observed in western Gulf Coast states in late summer months are generally assumed to originate from the Mexican population. However, band sightings indicate that juvenile storks from the southeastern US population disperse to the west, into eastern Mississippi. This US breeding population is federally listed as endangered, but the protection extends only to western Alabama. As a preliminary look at possible origins of Wood Storks in Gulf Coast states, we deployed 10 satellite transmitters on Wood Storks captured at three locations in 2003 to examine their large-scale movements over time. Three storks captured in eastern Mississippi (MS) eventually flew to Florida. Three storks from western MS flew to México/Guatemala. Of two storks from southern Louisiana (LA), one flew to Florida and another to México. Our findings suggest Wood Storks observed in eastern MS are from the US population, whereas most others (western MS and LA) are from the Mexican population. However, population (US and Mexican) mixing is occurring at some level. TRENDS IN HABITAT AREAS AND POPULATIONS OF MARBLED MURRELETS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA Alan E. Burger 1 (aburger@uvic.ca), Douglas F. Bertram 2 , and Peter Arcese 3 ; 1 Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC CANADA; 2 Canadian Wildlife Service; 3 Department of Forest Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC CANADA The Marbled Murrelet population in British Columbia is crudely estimated to be 55,000–78,000 birds. There are insufficient data to determine the extent of population changes in BC, but anecdotal evidence and sparse data indicate declines. At-sea counts indicate declines (west Vancouver Island, southern mainland) or no trend (Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands), but are too variable and affected by local ocean conditions to be reliable. There is strong evidence for significant loss of nesting habitat in old forests in BC, and, since radar studies show correlations between habitat area and number of murrelets, populations are presumed to have declined too. Baseline thematic mapping by Ministry of Forests estimated the original available habitat at 7.67 million ha, of which approximately 49% was logged by 2000, with 59% loss projected by 2030. More refined, but coarse-scale, modeling by Demarchi and Button (2001) suggested a 35% decline in the most likely nesting habitat by 2001, with the greatest loss on Vancouver Island and the southern mainland. Modeling by Rachel Holt (2004) indicates a 42% habitat loss by 2000 on Haida Gwaii. Radar count data have high power to detect
local population trends with relatively modest effort. Radar counts are insufficient to show current trends but are suggested for future monitoring and management of murrelets in BC. CONSERVATION ISSUES OF THE XANTUS'S MURRELET IN CALIFORNIA Esther E. Burkett (EBurkett@dfg.ca.gov); California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA USA On 16 April 2002, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) received a petition to list the Xantus's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus) as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA); the Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) submitted the petition. In response to the petition, the Department of Fish and Game (Department) produced a status report on the murrelet in November 2003, and the Commission subsequently approved state-listing of the species. The Department recommended listing of the murrelet as threatened due to: (1) small breeding population size in California; (2) documented population decline of approximately 30% from 1977 to 1991 on Santa Barbara Island; (3) declining occupancy rates at nesting sites on Santa Barbara Island; (4) near extirpation from previously known nesting sites, based on historic and current scientific information; (5) vulnerability to oil spills during the breeding and non-breeding season; (6) suppression of population growth by a variety of native and non-native predators; and (7) impacts from artificial light pollution and human disturbance activities. Monitoring programs need to be evaluated, and predation impacts need further study. The status review recommended interagency coordination with the goal of stopping, and then reversing, the population decline of the murrelet. An interagency team, including PSG, should be developed to prioritize management recommendations and assure conservation of the murrelet. DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE AND REPRODUCTION OF SEABIRDS AT GORGONA ISLAND, COLOMBIA Giannina Cadena-Lopez* 1 (gianni_cadena@hotmail.com) and Luis G. Naranjo 2 ; 1 Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Valle and Asociación Calidris, Cali COLOMBIA; 2 World Wildlife Fund, Cali COLOMBIA Throughout 2003, we carried out visual censuses of pelecaniform birds at Gorgona Island National Natural Park, Colombia. We mapped the spatial distribution, estimated population densities, and recorded the reproduction of Pelecanus occidentalis, Sula nebouxii, Sula leucogaster, and Fregata magnificens. We estimated a total of 20,000 seabirds on the island. The most abundant species was S. nebouxii, with almost 13,000 birds, and the least abundant was S. leucogaster, with 300. Between February and August, we observed the simultaneous breeding of 800–1,000 pairs of P. occidentalis. Around 100 pairs of S. leucogaster bred during the year, with a concentration of the reproductive effort between July and September. We did not record breeding of S. nebouxii or F. magnificens, although we observed some courtship behavior of the latter. Explanation of the temporal variation of the populations of seabirds requires more detailed information about diet and distribution and availability of food during the year. This work marks the beginning of a standardized, long-term monitoring program of seabird populations in Colombia. IS CLIMATE CHANGE ALTERING THE BREEDING PHENOLOGY OF THE ENDANGERED GREAT LAKES PIPING PLOVER POPULATION Amelia K. Canavan* 1 (cana0022@umn.edu) and Francesca J. Cuthbert 2 ; 1 Conservation Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN USA; 2 Department of Fisheries, Wildlife & Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN USA The current global warming paradigm predicts new impacts on ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them. In the Great Lakes region, climate change will likely alter temperature trends, seasonality, and water levels. The Great Lakes Piping Plover population breeds in shoreline habitat that is sensitive to climateinduced events. The purpose of this study was to analyze a 10-year database on breeding phenology to determine if plovers are responding to regional climate fluctuations. The Piping Plover appears to be nesting earlier, with year alone as a statistically significant indicator. We also examined correlations between May daily low temperatures and nest-initiation dates. It appears that earlier mean nest initiation correlates with fewer days in May with temperatures falling below 45°F. Also examined were correlations between precipitation and reproductive success and correlations between lake levels and reproductive success. These correlations are less clear but may become more important with future changes in amount of lake level fluctuation, overall water-
Page 1 and 2: ABSTRACTS OF ORAL AND POSTER PRESEN
Page 3 and 4: different for any year (P > 0.25 fo
Page 5 and 6: of Oil Spill Prevention and Respons
Page 7 and 8: 15 (80%) nests for which we were ab
Page 9 and 10: POWER TO DETECT TRENDS IN MARBLED M
Page 11 and 12: although this was rare (3%). Using
Page 13: WING SHAPE AS CORRELATED WITH FLIGH
Page 17 and 18: varies greatly with distance from s
Page 19 and 20: was low (29% on average), and only
Page 21 and 22: Twitter and Chick Peers), plus one
Page 23 and 24: wetlands to the Ramsar Convention o
Page 25 and 26: POTENTIAL USE OF LIDAR DATA IN SHOR
Page 27 and 28: chick in each brood as soon as it w
Page 29 and 30: indexes to bird numbers. Birds were
Page 31 and 32: eradications from islands to facili
Page 33 and 34: analyses. Stable-isotope analyses a
Page 35 and 36: BREEDING-SEASON SPATIAL REQUIREMENT
Page 37 and 38: VARIABLE PREY ABUNDANCE AND ADJUSTM
Page 39 and 40: eached-bird data tend to be the foc
Page 41 and 42: FISHERIES, SEABIRDS AND OCEANOGRAPH
Page 43 and 44: for only 4% of the total adult fema
Page 45 and 46: IS THERE A BIMODAL FORAGING PATTERN
Page 47 and 48: México is federally protected; how
Page 49 and 50: (e.g., marine vs. freshwater) from
Page 51 and 52: significant exponential growth in b
Page 53 and 54: CLAM PREDATION AND FORAGING BEHAVIO
Page 55 and 56: Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Page 57 and 58: chick-rearing constraints occur. Af
Page 59 and 60: archipelagos that had stunted or we
Page 61 and 62: trophic level were found between ma
Page 63 and 64: contain lower or higher levels of p
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at banding (proxies for hatching da
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CHARACTERIZING THE EFFECTS OF CURRE
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winter, lower ice concentrations we
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iomagnification cannot be argued to
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TYPE E BOTULISM-CAUSED WATERBIRD MO
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flight patterns of individual birds
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RICE DEPLETION BY WINTERING WATERFO
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the years 1990, 1993-1997, and 2004
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JAPAN; 3 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser
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egarding illegal discharges of harm
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that gulls and Common Mergansers we
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California (42 km west of San Franc
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corticosterone level. We related th
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anging Thick-billed Murres, Common
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is only “coastal” where coastli
Page 95 and 96:
inexperienced observers. Observers
Page 97 and 98:
POPULATION DYNAMICS OF COMMON MURRE
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