Pacific Seabird Group
Dedicated to the study of Pacific seabirds and their environment
The Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) is a society of professional seabird researchers and managers dedicated to the study and conservation of seabirds. PSG was formed in 1972 out of a need for increased communication among academic and government seabird researchers. The principal goals of PSG are (1) to increase the quality and quantity of seabird research through facilitating exchange of information and (2) to identify and assess the importance of threats to seabird populations and provide government agencies and others with expert advice on managing the threats and populations.
PSG is a member of the Ornithological Council and the American Bird Conservancy. PSG members include biologists, wildlife managers, students and conservationists from the United States, Mexico, Canada and Japan and 12 other countries. PSG annual meetings and publications provide forums where members can share their findings on all research topics relating to Pacific seabirds and discuss local and large scale conservation issues. The PSG is headed by an Executive Council including regional representatives.
OUR CONCERN IS SEABIRDS
The interest and concern of the PSG encompasses millions of birds of over 275 species--all related by their dependence on the ocean environment, but widely divergent in their natural histories and the problems they face. Pacific seabirds include representatives of 23 families, including penguins, loons, grebes, albatross, shearwaters, storm-petrels, boobies, pelicans, cormorants, frigatebirds, geese, ducks, puffins, murres, murrelets, auklets, guillemots, phalaropes, sandpipers, plovers, terns, jaegers, and tropicbirds.
Some Pacific seabirds are astonishingly numerous and wander widely over the seas. For example, millions of shearwaters that nest on islands off Australia and New Zealand annually migrate to feeding areas in the Bering Sea. These millions of shearwaters complement the arctic population of nesting seabirds that in Alaska alone may number over 40 million. Other species are uncommon or occur only in restricted areas. Several Pacific seabird species are endangered, including the Short-tailed Albatross and Dark-rumped Petrel. With increasing human development and pollution of the marine environment, the list of threatened and endangered species is growing. PSG members have worked hard to help the recovery of species like the brown pelican.
Although our knowledge is growing, our understanding of the ecology of Pacific seabirds is inadequate. We have yet to learn the most basic breeding biology of several species and the feeding ecology of most species is poorly known. Decades of research are still needed to understand the population dynamics of seabirds, as most are long-lived and reproduce slowly. Yet changes are swiftly coming to the seabirds world. Oil pollution, plastic in the ocean, fishery depletion's, are but a few threats that need addressing.
SEABIRDS FOR THE FUTURE - Protection and conservation of the great variety of fascinating seabirds of the Pacific Ocean is a challenge that will require the contributions, research, concern and dedication of many people from many countries if the diversity and numbers of seabirds are to be preserved.
PSG has an active program that includes annual meetings, hosting of symposia, several committees, and publications.
ANNUAL MEETINGS: At yearly conferences, seabird researchers share their discoveries and conservation concerns with each other and the public. Reflecting the international distribution of Pacific seabirds, PSG annual meetings are often attended by people from throughout the world. Attendees benefit from the support, constructive criticism and insights of fellow participants, as well as from the exchange of scientific reports. Student presentations and reviews of ongoing research are encouraged.
COMMITTEES: Committees work to further PSG's goals. Members are encouraged to participate and contribute to the activities of the committees.
PUBLICATIONS: The Pacific Seabird Group has four principal publications. These are Marine Ornithology, Pacific Seabirds, PSG Symposia and PSG Technical Publications.
PSG Articles of Incorporation may be downloaded in PDF format (Articles of Incorporation)
PSG Tax Returns may be downloaded in PDF format (PSG Tax Returns)
The PSG bylaws may be downloaded in PDF format (bylaws).
The Pacific Seabird Group is recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization and is tax exempt. A copy of a letter from the IRS stating our tax-exemption is available online (IRS Tax-Exemption Letter).