Project abstractthe project will conduct seabird colony surveillance and monitoring in central coastal california as part of the luckenbach oil spills restoration plans seabird colony protection…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) awarded a $509,724 Cooperative Agreement to the Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation (HSU Foundation) under the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (CFDA 15.658) program. The project will conduct seabird colony surveillance and monitoring in central coastal California as part of the Luckenbach oil spills restoration plans. Key activities include:

• Documenting human disturbance to common murres and other seabird species, and assessing the impacts of such disturbance
• Monitoring demographic parameters such as population sizes and reproductive success of common murres, Brandt's cormorants, pelagic cormorants, and western gulls
• Conducting nest and bird counts of Brandt's cormorants, pelagic cormorants, black oystercatchers, western gulls, and pigeon guillemots

The project aims to restore breeding seabird populations harmed by the Luckenbach oil spills, especially the common murre, by reducing human disturbance and monitoring seabird populations throughout California. The award period is from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2030.

Project abstractthe project will conduct seabird colony surveillance and monitoring in central coastal california as part of the luckenbach oil spills restoration plans seabird colony protection program. The project is conducted cooperatively by the U.S. Fish and wildlife service USFWS and CAL poly humboldt sponsored programs foundation. The goal of the restoration plan is to restore breeding seabird populations harmed by the luckenbach oil spills, especially the common murre uria aalge, by reducing human disturbance as well as to monitor seabird populations throughout california. The main focus is on species affected by the oil spill that are most sensitive to typical forms of human disturbance especially common murres. In addition, focused monitoring and surveillance of brandts cormorants urile penicillatus, pelagic cormorants urile pelagicus, western gulls larus occidentalis, and pigeon guillemots cepphus columba will be conducted where they nest in close association to murres. In 2025, efforts will be concentrated at the central california seabird colonies known as point reyesheadlands and devils slide rock and mainland. Surveys will be conducted to document human disturbance to common murres and other seabirds, and the impacts of such disturbance. Concurrently we will monitor important demographic parameters such as population sizes and reproductive success. Data collected will include numbers of aircraft and watercraft observed within standardized distances to colonies, within state special closures, and any other observed human disturbance to the murres. Additionally, specific biological metrics measured will include 1 seasonal attendance patterns of common murres 2 productivity of common murres, brandts cormorants, pelagic cormorants, and western gulls at standardized colonies and plots 3 nest and or bird counts of brandts cormorants, pelagic cormorants, black oystercatchers, western gulls and pigeon guillemots at all colonies. These metrics will be used to assess the levels and impacts of human disturbance and to provide critical information for the outreach and education aspects of the program being conducted by the seabird protection network. All data will be entered into standardized databases for longterm archiving at the SAN francisco BAY national wildlife refuge complex, and data will be summarized in a joint USFWS and hsuspf annual report. We will continue summarizing common murre colony disturbance information dating back to the initiation of the project 1996 in order to provide more indepth information on the levels and impacts of disturbance to murre colonies