Seabirds are important indicators of marine ecosystem health. Based out of California Department of Fish and Game - Marine Wildlife and Veterinary Care and Research Center in Santa Cruz with collaborators from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, the Central Coast Marine Bird Health Study (CCMBHS) aims to provide a quantitative demographic assessment of disease and other mortality factors affecting Common Murres (Uria aalge) and other seabird populations in California. CCMBHS will augment existing beach survey programs (e.g. BeachCOMBERS and Beach Watch), foster collaboration among scientists and rehabilitation centers, and will provide a regional information center for federal, state, and local resource managers. We will (1) conduct field investigations to measure baseline health, chronic oiling and entanglement of wild seabirds, (2) quantify age-specific mortality factors affecting Common Murres by initiating an at-sea banding effort to mark first-year murres, that have a relatively high probability of recovery given extensive regional beach monitoring programs and rehabilitation centers in California, (3) identify and quantify species-specific disease factors, body condition, and histology by conducting necropsies on specimens collected from beach survey programs, rehabilitation centers, state and federal resource agencies.

Collaborators/cooperators: Hannah Nevins, BeachCOMBERS, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories; Dr. James T. Harvey, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories; Jan Roletto, Beach Watch, Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries; Sophie Webb, Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge; Sue Campbell, Monterey SPCA; International Bird Rescue & Research Center.

Link to image gallery: http://shutterbug.ucsc.edu/gallery/

Contact: Hannah Nevins/ Beth Phillips 831-469-1745