What's New for Oikonos

September 2005 Project News

This Black-footed Albatross was tagged on July 20th 2005 at-sea over Cordell Bank, a granite bank about 45 nautical miles northwest of San Francisco, California. A transmitter (antenna visible in photo) is attached to the back feathers with waterproof tape. Daily movements of this bird, and eight others, will be tracked by satellites and mapped. These data will provide information about their far ranging ocean habitats and overlap with longline fisheries. ** click for daily updated maps **

Follow Recently Tagged Albatross July - September 2005 Explore the movements of nine Black-footed Albatross equipped with satellite tags Sponsor an Albatross Learn more about Black-footed Albatross and becoming a Sponsor Upcoming Oikonos Workshops & Lectures Link to Dates in September and October Topics include Seabird Ecology and the effects of Plastic Pollution in the Oceans Carol Keiper, Oikonos Project Leader, received two awards ! NOAA Environmental Heroes 2005 and Outstanding Volunteer Award, on behalf of the U.S. National Marine Sanctuaries Carol and Dan Howard, Manager of Cordell Bank NMS

New Collaboration

Updates

The Rakiura Tïtï (Sooty Shearwater) Restoration

Phase One field work completed in May 2005 by University of Otago "Kia Mau Te Titi Mo Ake Tonu Atu" and under direction of the Ka Mate Na Nga Kiore Society. The field team completed surveys of burrow density, occupancy, and predation rates to establish baseline measures of productivity prior to restoration activities.

Researcher Corey Bragg from University of Otago, NZ, studies a tïtï (sooty shearwater) at the colony of Pukekura, Tiaroa Head, South Island, NZ. This site is one of the few remaining nesting areas for this species on the mainland of New Zealand. Introduced predators have had significant impacts to native wildlife and vegetation. Most tïtï now only nest on offshore islands and isolated headlands where restoration actions can be most effective. (Hannah Nevins © 2004) See the Rakiura Tïtï Restoration Project page for more information about this species, collaborators, and ongoing restoration activities.

Juan Fernández Islands Conservancy

JFIC successfully petitioned for an uplisting of the Masafuera Rayadito (Aphrastura masafuerae), a landbird endemic to the island of Alejandro Selkirk, Chile, to critically endangered. JFIC, in collaboration with Dr. Cristian Estades of the Universidad de Chile, will begin a conservation research program on the Rayadito during the upcoming 2006 field season.

 

Studies on the Juan Fernandez Firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis), a critically endangered hummingbird endemic to the archipelago, are continuing, with a population census to be conducted in Sept. 2005. This census will be led by our collaborator, Dr. Maria Victoria Lopez-Calleja of the Universidad Catolica. Dr. Lopez will also return to the islands in Jan. 2006 to resume work on the foraging ecology and plant use patterns of the firecrowns. (Photo © Peter Hodum)

The seabird component will continue in August 2005, when Matthew McKown leads a group of researchers to the islands to study the DeFilippi's Petrel, including conducting the first population census of the species in the islands.

In January 2006, JFIC will resume its ongoing long-term research on Pink-footed Shearwaters, Kermadec Petrels, Juan Fernandez Petrels and Stejneger's Petrels.

Sophie Webb creates an original watercolor celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This art is available on a 18" x 24" poster with natural history information on the back. For a poster, please send an email to info at oikonos dot org (Sophie Webb © 2004)

Publication Links - Authored by Oikonos project leaders and collaborators:

Marine mammal occurrence and ocean climate off central California, 1986 - 1994 and 1997 - 1999. Carol A. Keiper, David G. Ainley, Sarah G. Allen, James T. Harvey. 2005. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 289:285-306.

Use of marine sanctuaries by far-ranging predators: commuting flights to the California Current System by breeding Hawaiian albatrosses. Hyrenbach, K.D., Keiper, C., Allen, S.G., Ainley, D.G., Anderson, D.J. Fisheries Oceanography (in Press)

 

Sophie Webb's second children's book wins awards !

• "Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 for 2005"
  Awarded by the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council
• 2004 Parent's Choice Silver Honor Award N
• NY Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

Looking For Seabirds, Journal of an Alaskan Voyage

contact Sophie at "sophie at oikonos dot org" to purchase a book or visit Powells.com

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