Program Update - Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program - U.S. ...

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“Participate in Murrelet Watch” by Kristen Romanoff from an Alaska Department of Fish
and Game - Fish & Wildlife News online at http://www.wildlifenews.alaska.gov
Marbled murrelets are considered to be a rare bird throughout much of its range. But
in Southeast Alaska, they are the most abundant seabird on the water. Considered the
epicenter for marbled murrelets, Southeast Alaska’s population of marbled murrelets
is shrinking. In fact, the U.S. Geological Survey reports a 71% decline since the early
1990’s.
For the past four years, Alaska Department of Fish and Game non-game biologist,
Matt Kirchhoff has been researching murrelets to better understand their
distribution and abundance and how their populations may be regionally changing.
He’s also been evaluating survey methods to determine the most effective means
for long-term monitoring of marbled murrelets in Southeast Alaska including at-sea
surveys, radar counts, audio-visual counts and flyway counts.
In a region with 14,000 miles of shoreline and thousands of bays and inlets, Southeast
Alaska poses interesting challenges for biologists trying to get a handle on the
region’s ‘signature seabird’. It would be virtually impossible to survey the entire
region. Instead, a number of key survey sites have been established where volunteers
and biologists are able to monitor these birds over consecutive years. It is the time
and energy of valuable volunteers that make this effort both viable and effective.
Murrelet Watch, a citizen science monitoring program, is gearing up for its second
season with many volunteers returning this year to lend a hand. The program
continues to seek additional volunteers to expand survey efforts this field season. The
program provides an opportunity for private citizens to assist biologists in conducting
flyway counts from survey locations along shorelines in Ketchikan, Sitka, and Juneau.
A marbled murrelet.
While most seabirds nest in dense island colonies, the marbled murrelet is a solitary,
secretive nester, preferring the moss-laden boughs of old-growth trees. The birds
may travel miles from nesting areas to the sea, where they forage on schooling fish
such as herring, capelin, and sand lance. Once the chick hatches, parents take turns
flying back and forth between foraging areas and the nest delivering food to a single
nestling. It is during this period when both adults are taking turns bringing fish back
to the chick that is the ideal time for conducting flyway counts. These birds represent
the adult breeding population. In an effort the capture this peak period, this year’s
program will concentrate all community based flyway counts during a 10-day period in
mid-July.
Participating volunteers are up and out of the house before most people are even
awake. Working in pairs, volunteers take turns in front of spotting scopes, observing
and counting murrelets as the birds fly by the scope en route to foraging or nesting
areas. Other volunteer pairs work an evening shift, enjoying the day’s end while
spotting murrelets. During peak periods, spotters may see dozens to hundreds of
birds flying by during their surveys.
Interested individuals need not be expert birders. We will provide all of the training
and tools that you’ll need to be a part of this year’s Murrelet Watch team. Information
gathered is vital to conserving marbled murrelets and the habitats they depend
upon. If you’re interesting in participating in this year’s flyway counts, please contact
Kristen Romanoff at 907-465-4292 or e-mail at Kristen.romanoff@alaska.gov. To learn
more about these fascinating seabirds, please call or drop by your local ADF&G area
office to receive a copy of “Marbled Murrelets in Southeast Alaska,” a free ADF&G
full color 20-page booklet.
Kristen Romanoff is an educator with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game,
Division of Wildlife Conservation. She is based in Douglas.
48 Wildlife and Sport Fish Program Update September 2008