A recent analysis of seven years of bird observations by volunteer birdwatchers from Seattle Audubon Society’s Puget Sound Seabird Survey has found positive trends in several Puget Sound seabird species that had been in decline since the 1960s and 1970s.
The analysis focused on 18 seabird species that are indicators of Puget Sound environmental health at 62 survey locations from Whidbey Island to Olympia. The study found positive trends in occurrence of 14 species, including cormorants, grebes, sea ducks, loons, and alcids. However researchers cautioned that positive trends in sightings do not necessarily reflect increasing populations. For example, federally listed marbled murrelet populations continue to decline across Washington. The research also documented local hotspots for certain species, which may reflect especially important habitat or prey the birds depend on.
In addition, the study indicated that four species were in decline: white-winged scoter, brant, western grebe and red-necked grebe. These declines may result from geographical shifts or prey declines in Puget Sound or the Salish Sea, or environmental threats to their nesting grounds elsewhere. Similar citizen-science data from other areas have indicated that western grebes appear to have shifted to the south, out of the Puget Sound region.
The Puget Sound Seabird Survey monitors the presence of seabirds during winter months when many seabird species are most abundant around the Sound. More than 250 experienced volunteers have participated in the survey since its inception in 2007. At each survey location volunteers identify bird species and utilize distance sampling methods to collect data.
Read the full article and science paper here.
Past Media Coverage
"Puget Sound's winter seabirds: Are there more or are they just more dispersed?" Martha Baskin, PRX, 8 February 2018
"Seabird numbers: A surprising trend" Martha Baskin, Crosscut, 5 March 2015
"'Citizen science' reveals positive news for Puget Sound seabirds" Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 20 January 2015
"Seabirds make choices, revealing Puget Sound's health" Christopher Dunagan, Kitsap Sun, 14 December 2013