[obol] Fwd: OSU Seabird Researchers: Yaquina Head Common Murre July 10 Update

From: Range Bayer <range.bayer@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Oregon Birders OnLine <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Lincoln Co. Birding & Nature Observing" <LCBNO@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 19:55:02 -0700

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Suryan, Rob <rob.suryan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, Jul 10, 2014 at 10:39 AM
Subject: Yaquina Head murre update
To:  [many recipients]

An update from Lucila...

Hi all,

The [murre] chicks are hatching!  Within 3 of our study plots, we are
tracking 25 murre chicks on Colony Rock and seven murre chicks on Flat
Top Rock.  Within these plots we are also monitoring a total of 10
pairs that are still incubating eggs.  The 2 plots with the highest
levels of success are on the southern end of Colony Rock; the northern
sections are frequently flushed by sub-adult and adult Bald Eagles.
Out of the 116 nests mapped within plots on Colony Rock, only 31 nests
remain active.

The murres nesting on Flat Top are not faring as well.  Only 1 of 6
plots on Flat Top still has eggs or chicks.  The next time you're out
at Yaquina Head keep your eye on the top cliff where the birds hang
tight.  Out of 99 nests identified on Flat Top, only 11 remain active.
Overall, only 3 of our 12 study plots have eggs or chicks!
Reproductive success is going to be pretty dismal this year.

We conducted our first activity watch this week and will continue
these to estimate feeding rates and mate attendance as indicators of
prey availability (foraging effort).  We have been conducting these
surveys since 2010, and are interested to see how the feeding rates
this year will compare to previous years.  By monitoring 11 nests from
sunrise to sundown last Tuesday, we found chick feedings seemed to be
highest in the early hours of the morning, calming down by 11am and
happening at a lower frequency throughout the rest of the day.  We
look forward to seeing what patterns persist or arise once more data
are collected.

A flock of Brown pelicans have been routinely seen flying over both
Colony Rock and Flat Top.  Last week we witnessed a Brown pelican land
in Colony Rock, where two plots are located.  The disturbance flushed
some of the area, though did not impact the active nests . It will be
interesting to see how the Brown pelicans behave as more chicks arrive
on the scene.

Now that chicks have hatched, we have started collecting diet
information and will provide a summary of initial prey observations in
the next update.

The saga continues.

Bird on!

Lucila Fernandez
Ian Throckmorton
Jessica Porquez
Alessandra Jimenez-Yap
Amanda Gladics
Rob Suryan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert M. Suryan, Associate Professor - Senior Research
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
              541-867-0223 office
Oregon State University
                    541-961-7576 mobile
Hatfield Marine Science Center
                 rob.suryan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
2030 S.E. Marine Science Dr.
                 Lab Website
Newport, Oregon 97365
                   ResearchGate / Linkedin
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[obol] Fwd: OSU Seabird Researchers: Yaquina Head Common Murre July 10 Update

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