Breeding Seabirds of the Main Hawaiian Islands
The seabird research team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is working with many partners to map the terrestrial and marine distributions of breeding seabirds of the main Hawaiian islands.
Native Hawaiian seabirds spend the vast majority of their lives at sea and use these waters for foraging, resting, and commuting. When on land, many Hawaiian seabirds are concentrated at colonies located throughout the main islands, where they face threats from invasive species, introduced predators, and human disturbance. While at sea, Hawaiian seabirds could be affected by offshore wind energy development in the future. Under its clean energy initiative, the state of Hawaiʻi is striving for 100% renewable energy by 2045. The ocean surrounding Hawaiʻi is characterized by sustained trade winds that have generated interest for developing potential offshore wind energy infrastructure. USGS WERC research on the distributions of native Hawaiian seabirds is generating data to inform species management and marine planning in the region.
Tracking Seabird Movements
In order to provide new information on Hawaiian breeding seabird distribution, habitat use, and ranging behaviors at sea, the USGS Western Ecological Research Center has used GPS trackers to extensively track seabird movements within waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands. These tracking data are intended to inform marine spatial planning, in particular the evaluation of proposed renewable energy sites and environmental review of specific renewable energy project proposals. By mapping the movements of seabird species, USGS provides resource managers with the ability to determine where seabird activity overlaps with proposed energy infrastructure.
Atlas of Breeding Seabirds of the Main Hawaiian Islands
Because federal, state, and local resource managers lack comprehensive, easily available data to map current seabird colony locations and breeding population sizes throughout the main Hawaiian Islands, the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is working with many partners to generate an Atlas of Breeding Seabirds of the Main Hawaiian Islands. The atlas will provide benchmarks to measure future changes in seabird population sizes and breeding distribution and will also assist efforts to evaluate threats to seabirds both on land and at sea.
Ultimately, species- and colony-specific data for main Hawaiian Island seabirds on land and at sea will inform evaluations of potential risk and options for mitigation strategies for effects of offshore energy infrastructure on seabirds.
Products
Felis, J.J., Kelsey, E.C., Adams, J., Stenske, J.G., and White, L.M., 2020, Population estimates for selected breeding seabirds at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauaʻi, in 2019: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 1130, 32 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1130
Felis, J.J., Kelsey, E.C., Adams, J., Stenske, J.G., and White, L.M., 2020, Population estimates for selected breeding seabirds at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauaʻi, in 2019: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P93MPDR1
Adams, J, Felis, JJ, Czapanskiy, MF. 2020. Habitat Affinities and At-Sea Ranging Behaviors among
Main Hawaiian Island Seabirds: Breeding Seabird Telemetry, 2013–2016. Camarillo (CA): U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS Region. OCS Study BOEM 2020-006. 111 pages. https://espis.boem.gov/final%20reports/BOEM_2020-006.pdf
Felis, J.J., Czapanskiy, M.F., and Adams, J., 2020, At-sea ranging behavior of seabirds breeding in the main Hawaiian Islands: Bio-logger data release (ver. 2.0, May 2020): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9NTEXM6
Donahue, S.E., J. Adams, M. Renshaw, B. Olds, and K. David Hyrenbach. 2020. Genetic analysis of the diet of Red-footed Boobies (Sula sula) provisioning chicks at Ulupaʻu Crater, Oʻahu. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3470
Donahue, S.E., Adams, J. and Hyrenbach, K.D., 2021. Multidecadal comparison of Red-footed Booby Sula sula diet at Ulupa'u Crater, O'ahu, Hawai'i. Marine Ornithology, 49, pp.51-55.
Varela, A.I., Brokordt, K., Ismar-Rebitz, S.M.H., Gaskin, C.P., Carlile, N., O'Dwyer, T., Adams, J., VanderWerf, E.A., and Luna-Jorquera, G. 2020. Are recovered seabird colonies of the Pacific Ocean genetically vulnerable? the case of the red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda, as a model species. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3471
Orben, R.A., J. Adams, M. Hester, S.A. Shaffer, R. Suryan, T. Deguchi, K. Ozaki, F. Sato, L.C. Young, M.G. Conners, D.A. Kroodsma, L.G. Torres. 2021. Across boarders: External and intrinsic factors influence North Pacific albatross interactions with fishing vessels. Journal of Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13849
Adams, J., Kelsey, E.C., Stenske, J., and Felis, J.J., 2022, Aerial counts for surface-nesting seabirds at Lehua Island and Moku Manu Islet and Ulupaʻu Crater, Oʻahu, in 2019: Data Report 1161, 20 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/dr1161.
Kelsey, E.C., Adams, J., Felis, J.J., Stenske, J.G., and Horton, C.A., 2022, Digital imagery used for aerial counts for surface-nesting seabirds at Lehua Island and Moku Manu Islet and Ulupa'u Crater, O'ahu in 2019: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9P434NO.
Collaborators
- American Bird Conservancy
- Archipelago Research and Conservation
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS Region
- Haleakalā National Park
- Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources
- Hawaiʻi Pacific University
- Kalaupapa National Historical Park
- Kauaʻi Endangered Seabird Recovery Project
- Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
- Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project
- Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi
- Molokaʻi Land Trust
- The Nature Conservancy
- Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge
- Pacific Rim Conservation
- University of Hawaiʻi
-
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Birds and Habitat Program
-
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Island Fish and Wildlife Office
Banner photos: close-up of a Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) aerial display, Makapili Rock at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, and a White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lebturus) in flight over Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on a stormy morning. All photo credits: Jonathan Felis, USGS
The seabird research team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is working with many partners to map the terrestrial and marine distributions of breeding seabirds of the main Hawaiian islands.
Native Hawaiian seabirds spend the vast majority of their lives at sea and use these waters for foraging, resting, and commuting. When on land, many Hawaiian seabirds are concentrated at colonies located throughout the main islands, where they face threats from invasive species, introduced predators, and human disturbance. While at sea, Hawaiian seabirds could be affected by offshore wind energy development in the future. Under its clean energy initiative, the state of Hawaiʻi is striving for 100% renewable energy by 2045. The ocean surrounding Hawaiʻi is characterized by sustained trade winds that have generated interest for developing potential offshore wind energy infrastructure. USGS WERC research on the distributions of native Hawaiian seabirds is generating data to inform species management and marine planning in the region.
Tracking Seabird Movements
In order to provide new information on Hawaiian breeding seabird distribution, habitat use, and ranging behaviors at sea, the USGS Western Ecological Research Center has used GPS trackers to extensively track seabird movements within waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands. These tracking data are intended to inform marine spatial planning, in particular the evaluation of proposed renewable energy sites and environmental review of specific renewable energy project proposals. By mapping the movements of seabird species, USGS provides resource managers with the ability to determine where seabird activity overlaps with proposed energy infrastructure.
Atlas of Breeding Seabirds of the Main Hawaiian Islands
Because federal, state, and local resource managers lack comprehensive, easily available data to map current seabird colony locations and breeding population sizes throughout the main Hawaiian Islands, the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is working with many partners to generate an Atlas of Breeding Seabirds of the Main Hawaiian Islands. The atlas will provide benchmarks to measure future changes in seabird population sizes and breeding distribution and will also assist efforts to evaluate threats to seabirds both on land and at sea.
Ultimately, species- and colony-specific data for main Hawaiian Island seabirds on land and at sea will inform evaluations of potential risk and options for mitigation strategies for effects of offshore energy infrastructure on seabirds.
Products
Felis, J.J., Kelsey, E.C., Adams, J., Stenske, J.G., and White, L.M., 2020, Population estimates for selected breeding seabirds at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauaʻi, in 2019: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 1130, 32 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1130
Felis, J.J., Kelsey, E.C., Adams, J., Stenske, J.G., and White, L.M., 2020, Population estimates for selected breeding seabirds at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauaʻi, in 2019: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P93MPDR1
Adams, J, Felis, JJ, Czapanskiy, MF. 2020. Habitat Affinities and At-Sea Ranging Behaviors among
Main Hawaiian Island Seabirds: Breeding Seabird Telemetry, 2013–2016. Camarillo (CA): U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS Region. OCS Study BOEM 2020-006. 111 pages. https://espis.boem.gov/final%20reports/BOEM_2020-006.pdf
Felis, J.J., Czapanskiy, M.F., and Adams, J., 2020, At-sea ranging behavior of seabirds breeding in the main Hawaiian Islands: Bio-logger data release (ver. 2.0, May 2020): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9NTEXM6
Donahue, S.E., J. Adams, M. Renshaw, B. Olds, and K. David Hyrenbach. 2020. Genetic analysis of the diet of Red-footed Boobies (Sula sula) provisioning chicks at Ulupaʻu Crater, Oʻahu. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3470
Donahue, S.E., Adams, J. and Hyrenbach, K.D., 2021. Multidecadal comparison of Red-footed Booby Sula sula diet at Ulupa'u Crater, O'ahu, Hawai'i. Marine Ornithology, 49, pp.51-55.
Varela, A.I., Brokordt, K., Ismar-Rebitz, S.M.H., Gaskin, C.P., Carlile, N., O'Dwyer, T., Adams, J., VanderWerf, E.A., and Luna-Jorquera, G. 2020. Are recovered seabird colonies of the Pacific Ocean genetically vulnerable? the case of the red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda, as a model species. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3471
Orben, R.A., J. Adams, M. Hester, S.A. Shaffer, R. Suryan, T. Deguchi, K. Ozaki, F. Sato, L.C. Young, M.G. Conners, D.A. Kroodsma, L.G. Torres. 2021. Across boarders: External and intrinsic factors influence North Pacific albatross interactions with fishing vessels. Journal of Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13849
Adams, J., Kelsey, E.C., Stenske, J., and Felis, J.J., 2022, Aerial counts for surface-nesting seabirds at Lehua Island and Moku Manu Islet and Ulupaʻu Crater, Oʻahu, in 2019: Data Report 1161, 20 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/dr1161.
Kelsey, E.C., Adams, J., Felis, J.J., Stenske, J.G., and Horton, C.A., 2022, Digital imagery used for aerial counts for surface-nesting seabirds at Lehua Island and Moku Manu Islet and Ulupa'u Crater, O'ahu in 2019: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9P434NO.
Collaborators
- American Bird Conservancy
- Archipelago Research and Conservation
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS Region
- Haleakalā National Park
- Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources
- Hawaiʻi Pacific University
- Kalaupapa National Historical Park
- Kauaʻi Endangered Seabird Recovery Project
- Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
- Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project
- Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi
- Molokaʻi Land Trust
- The Nature Conservancy
- Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge
- Pacific Rim Conservation
- University of Hawaiʻi
-
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Birds and Habitat Program
-
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Island Fish and Wildlife Office
Banner photos: close-up of a Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) aerial display, Makapili Rock at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, and a White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lebturus) in flight over Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on a stormy morning. All photo credits: Jonathan Felis, USGS