By: Emily Teachout

Original source: http://wordfromwild.blogspot.com/2013/05/moms-and-daughters-hit-beach-for-birds.html

My daughter, Maggie (age 12), and I participate in a mother/daughter group that wanted to do a community service project. After seeing a series of YouTube videos on marine debris ingestion by albatrosses on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, the girls were really moved and wanted to find a way that they could help locally. To help address the problem at the source, they wanted to get debris off the beach and out of the ocean ecosystem where it poses a direct threat to seabirds and other animals. “I was motivated by the pictures and stories about the dead albatrosses who eat plastic and die,” said Brynn Dumbeck, a girl in our group.

So on a sunny Saturday, we carpooled out to Ocean Shores to take part in the annual beach cleanup efforts coordinated by Washington CoastSavers. We hit the beach with our handy-dandy picking tools and a stock-pile of collection bags that they provided. Brynn Dumbeck liked the aspect of working as a part of a coast-wide effort. “It was cool that a lot of people all over were doing the beach cleanup,” she said. 

A bundle of balloon found by Maggie Neatherlin

Sophie Danner, Maggie Neatherlin, Luna Lowsky and Brynn Dumbeck with a few of the many bags of trash they collected.

The experience was very rewarding! Parent Anthea Lawrence extracted a plastic bottle cap from the sand and noted, “Here’s one less piece of plastic for an albatross to eat.” In fact, the girls have expressed interest in doing this again. Sophie Danner, reflected that participating felt like the right thing to do, “…making a difference instead of spending your Saturday in bed or in front of the computer or something.” As a wildlife biologist and a mom, I was proud that our group of girls came up with this way to tangibly act as stewards. The fact that we all got spend a day together, in an amazing place, was a bonus. 

Upon return, we received an email from CoastSavers noting that the combined effort of the volunteers up and down the coast on that one day removed 15 tons of trash from the ocean ecosystem! Upon reflecting on the experience with the girls, they all said they wanted to do it again, and they hope that more people join in. Maggie notes that marine debris is everywhere, and always will be, “…unless we choose to do something about it. It’s not just going to fix itself, we have to fix it. We have to clean up our own mess. You could live on the other side of the world and you can do something. Wherever you are, you can help.”

To take part in the next beach cleanup visit Washington CoastSavers: http://www.coastsavers.org/

To learn more about marine debris ingestion by albatrosses see the video series by Chris Jordan:http://www.midwayjourney.com/film-trailer/

Or: http://www.fws.gov/midway/

The Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse on Kīlauea Point NWR. Photo credit: Scott Hanft

By Megan Nagel

Recently, I’ve had the privilege to work on a wonderful effort - the Kīlauea Point Lighthouse, part of the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on the island of Kaua‘i in Hawai‘i, was renamed in honor of the late Senator Daniel K. Inouye in April 2013.

An American hero on the battlefield, Senator Inouye represented Hawai‘i for over 50 years. He was a beacon for generations of people and for conservation issues, working to reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act that protect the unique, beautiful ecosystems of Hawai‘i and to conserve special places like Kīlauea Point NWR and the lighthouse.

For over 100 years, the Kīlauea Point Lighthouse has been a beacon for the island of Kaua‘i and the community of Kīlauea. Guiding ships safely and standing tall as a link between the islands past, present and future.

The Kīlauea Point Lighthouse will be re-dedicated the Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse in a special ceremony on Saturday, May 4, 2013 on the Kīlauea Point NWR.

The rededication ceremony will also celebrate the centennial birthday and recently completed restoration of the lighthouse. It is part of a week-long series of events in the town of Kīlauea and at Kīlauea Point NWR. The restoration effort took three years and is a result of the hard work of refuge staff and the members of the refuge friends group, the Kīlauea Point Natural History Association. Thanks to the restoration efforts, public tours of the lighthouse will be available for the first time in years during the centennial celebration.

Regarding the renaming, the late Senator Inouye’s wife Irene Hirano Inouye said, “Dan placed a high priority in preserving pristine lands throughout Hawai‘i to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy what we oftentimes take for granted. Dan and I visited the Kīlauea Point Lighthouse a few years ago and were taken by the overwhelming community support for its preservation.  It was a beautiful evening, and the success achieved is testament to what is possible when everyone pitches in. Dan’s grandparents arrived on the island of Kaua‘’i at the turn of the 1900’s to begin a new life.  It is most fitting that the Department of the Interior’s site which will bear his name is on the island where it all began.”   

The Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse is a visual icon, an image of Hawai‘i that many people across the world know. But Daniel K. Inouye’s legacy as a tireless champion for his state and his country is one that Americans, not only the people of Hawaii, have been by touched by time and again. He is a true American icon.

With over 500,000 visitors annually, the Kīlauea Point NWR is the most visited refuge in the Pacific Region and the fourth most visited in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is part of the Kaua‘i National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This management area consists of three refuges - Kīlauea Point NWR, Hanalei NWR and Hulē‘ia NWR.

Kīlauea Point NWR staff, the Kīlauea Point Natural History Association, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, and the community of Kīlauea have come together to celebrate the centennial with a series of events over five days, May 1-5, 2013:

Daily Events

From May 1-5 enjoy daily guided tours of the lighthouse which will enable a close up view of the interior of the restored Kīlauea Lighthouse. Meet on the refuge at the contact station, which is next to the lighthouse, to sign-up for tours. All tour participants must wear special booties (provided) and be at least 44” tall.

 Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5 are fee free days and free parking and a shuttle to the refuge will be available both days about a mile from the refuge in the heart of Kīlauea Townat 4244 Kīlauea Road, Kīlauea, HI 96754. Parking is also available on the refuge, except Saturday, May 4 when all visitors are required to park and take the shuttle.

Directions to the Kīlauea Point NWR

Wednesday, May 1

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.   

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge open to the public. 

10:30 a.m.                      Official lighthouse re-opening ceremony at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. 

12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.    Lighthouse tours take place every 30 minutes. Last tour begins at 3:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m.                        Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge closes to the public.

6:00 p.m.                        Evening slideshow at Princeville Library on the history of the Kīlauea Lighthouse.

Thursday, May 2

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.    Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge open to the public. 

10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.     Lighthouse tours take place every 30 minutes. Last tour begins at 3:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m.                          Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge closes to the public.

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.       Meet and greet artists displaying their work at the Kīlauea Lighthouse Art Show Reception at the Kong Lung Center.

Friday, May 3 

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.    Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge open to the public. 

10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.     Lighthouse tours take place every 30 minutes. Last tour begins at 2:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m.                          Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge closes to the public.

Saturday, May 4 

Free day of entertainment and activities at the lighthouse on the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.     Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge open to the public.

10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.     Lighthouse tours take place every 30 minutes. Last tour begins at                                                                             3:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.                         Official Recognition and Renaming Ceremony at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. The Kīlauea Point Lighthouse will be rededicated the Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse in honor of the late senator.

6:00 p.m.                          Relighting of the lighthouse beacon.

Sunday, May 5

The Kīlauea Neighborhood Association will kick off the 150th anniversary of Kīlauea town. Another free day at the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

10:30 a.m.                      Kīlauea Community Parade and Celebration in the Kīlauea Park.

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.   Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge open to the public. 

10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.   Lighthouse tours take place every 30 minutes. Last tour begins at 3:30 p.m.

Details can be found at www.Kīlaueapoint.org orfacebook.com/Kīlauealighthouse. Contact 808-828-0384 orshineonKīlauea@yahoo.com for more information.

Adventures in Science

 by Kira Mazzi,Biological Science Technician

Washington Fish and Wildlife Office, Lacey, Washington

I have a confession. I love playing in the dirt and mud; I love coming home exhausted and dirty from a hard day working in a river; I love going out and collecting information; and I love getting paid to work outside. I currently work as a Biological Science Technician for US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Lacey, WA, and I have also worked for the National Park Service (Crater Lake National Park and Biscayne National Park), several state agencies, and the private sector. My job makes me work my mind and body in ways that test my mental and physical endurance, and at the end of the day I always have something to show for it, be it information gathered, a new tracking or monitoring device placed, an invasive species removed and a native replaced, and/or a sore muscle to remind me that I worked hard today!

The field of science has allowed me to travel many places already and it could take me anywhere in the world in the future. At Biscayne, I was privileged to scuba dive on some of the most pristine coral reefs in the U.S., removing invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles), monitoring algae growth on coral heads, and documenting the population dynamics of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus). At Crater Lake, I worked to assess the chemical and biological health of the lake by netting and trapping invasive fish and crayfish, collecting water samples for lab analysis, and installing equipment that will allow scientists to monitor the lake year-round.

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Protecting the rare streaked horned lark through partnerships

By Amanda Fortin, outreach specialist, External Affairs, USFWS Pacific Region

Photo credit: David Maloney

The streaked horned lark, a rare subspecies of the horned lark found only in small parts of Oregon and Washington, has been confirmed for the first time on Tenasillahee Island—thanks to partnerships and the help of “the Lark Defenders.”

Situated in the middle of the Columbia river, Tenasillahee Island is part of a series of small islands that make up the Julia Butler Hansen refuge for the Columbian white tailed Deer. The island is also a disposal site for dredging operations run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of Portland to maintain proper channel depth for ship passage.

As Rob Beringer, the shore superintendent of Dredge Oregon for the Port of Portland, scanned the sandy island terrain where his crew would soon dump tons of silt from the bottom of the Columbia River, he saw a brown and white blur out of the corner of his eye.

The blur turned out to be a bird. Beringer quickly realized, however, that this was not just any bird, “I knew it was a juvenile streaked horned lark and that they are both rare and fragile.” Beringer identified the bird thanks to his own online research and training from partnering agencies.

Beringer contacted one of those partnering agencies and spoke to Jon Gornick, dredge operations manager for the Corps. Gornick reasoned that, “the presence of a juvenile bird indicated the presence of a nest,” and felt a buffer zone should be established, “to be mindful of the breeding site but still allow the work to be done.”

Gornick reached out to Hannah Anderson, regional rare species program manager for the Center for Natural Lands Management and expert on Columbia River larks. Anderson “recommended that they have a buffer of 100 feet.”

Finding evidence of streaked horned larks breeding on Tenasillahee Island came as a “pleasant surprise” to Cat Brown, wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the streaked horned lark lead in Oregon. “We detected larks there in the past but not regularly,” said Brown.

The streaked horned lark is a candidate species, and the Service is currently reviewing its status to determine if it warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act. Regular surveys for the last several years have found a small but persistent population of larks on the sandy islands in the lower Columbia River.

The crews cordoned off the area as Anderson recommended. It was a little problematic because it was in the middle of our disposal area so we could only run one disposal pipe instead of two around their perimeter,” said Beringer. The Corps continued its work despite reduced capacity and space, giving Anderson the “warm and fuzzies” because, “they could have easily dumped on the larks and no one would have known.”

The streaked horned lark couple and their young continued nesting undisturbed, and Gornick and Beringer were dubbed “the lark Defenders” by Anderson. “Their teams really went the extra mile to protect these rare birds,” said Anderson. “You can almost imagine them in superhero outfits!” said Brown.

While Gornick and Beringer don’t think they will be donning capes anytime soon, they are both pleased at the collaborative help they provided for the streaked horned lark. “We are coordinating with the Fish and Wildlife Service on what to do to help, altering our operation to get work done and not impact the birds,” said Gornick. “I think we did the right thing. It slowed us down but we were able to both dispose on the island and save the baby larks, a twofold win,” added Beringer. 

Rob Beringer, shore superintendent for Dredge Oregon, stands next to the vehicle that inspired his nickname - “Lark Defender”

Photo credit: Hannah Anderson

(Source: fws.gov)

Snowy Plover Recovery Trends Upward

Initial Numbers Indicate Record Year

CORVALLIS, ORE. – Early population survey results of the Pacific coast western snowy plover indicate another highly successful year towards recovery of the species listed as threatened under both federal and state Endangered Species Acts.

Numbers from this year’s field count indicate there were a total of 315 nests, the highest number of nests found in a given year.  Roughly 173 chicks fledged from those nests, one more than last year’s total, and the highest number since monitoring began in 1990.

“This is really fantastic news,” said Dave Lauten, a wildlife biologist with the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, Portland State University. “Overall, despite a pretty wet spring through most of June, the plovers did very well,” he added.

Snowy plover habitat ranges from Baja, Mexico north to the southern beaches of Washington. Numbers surveyed include only plovers nesting in Oregon.

While many variables figure into improved numbers, predator management and public support play a large part in ongoing recovery of the species.

A lot of thanks go to beach visitors who help out by observing signs and leashing their dogs to give plovers space to successfully nest and rear their young. One of the biggest challenges to ongoing recovery of the species is keeping plover nests intact through the breeding season—safe from walkers, dogs, and vehicles.

While there is much to be pleased about, there still remain some individual breeding sites that were not very productive, so there is room for improvement.  Luckily, the number of adult plovers – 290 for 2012, the highest estimate since intense monitoring began in 1990 - is gradually increasing and they can produce enough young birds to keep heading towards recovery of the species.

“Volunteerism is invaluable to plover management on the Central Oregon Coast,” according Cindy Burns, wildlife biologist for the Central Coast Ranger District and Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. “We have help cleaning the nesting sites of winter storm litter, roping off nesting areas, and having people staged to make contact to help explain the importance of plover recovery,” Burns said.

In 2012 seven volunteers staged at nesting sites on the Oregon Dunes to alert visitors of dry sand closures and answer questions about the plover.

Graph Trend

Nesting Season

The nesting season for the western snowy plover ended mid-September and access restrictions put into place on Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service and state lands last spring was lifted, granting visitors access to the dry sand portions of area beaches.

Dry sand closures ended for habitat sites at Sutton Beach, Siltcoos Estuary, Oregon Dunes Day Use, Tahkenitch Estuary, Tenmile Estuary (northern Coos County), the North Spit of Coos Bay, Bandon Beach State Natural Area, and New River area beaches. The access restrictions affected 18 miles of beach in Oregon.

Even though the official nesting season is over, biologists caution plovers are still active and ask people to pay attention when they are on the beach.

About eighty percent of plovers that nest in Oregon stay here year around, according to Burns.

“Wintering birds trying to maintain fat reserves to survive the winter can still be affected by human activities,” she added. “Birds that maintain energy reserves during the winter will be healthier when spring nesting resumes”.

The Snowy Plover

The western snowy plover is a small shorebird, about 6 inches long, that lays its eggs and raises it young in the open dry sand. The Pacific coast population of the western snowy plover was listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened in 1993. 

Photo: wikimedia, creative commons

By Russ MacRae, USFWS Field Supervisor, Eastern Washington Field Office

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(Source: wordfromwild.blogspot.com)

The latest blog entry from Toni Caldwell, USFWS Biological Science Tech. Volunteer on Laysan Island

Photo credit: James Watt

How quickly the time flies out here in paradise. This summer we were sent a three person crew from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - Sarah Chinn, Carrie McAtee, and Whitney Taylor. During the last five weeks, they’ve been making daily runs around the island perimeter surveying the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, (Monachus schauinslandi). The largest breeding population can be found here at Laysan Island with over 200 identified seals.  Twenty eight velvety black pups have been born this year of which 24 have weaned from their mom and are now frolicking playfully upon our shores!

Before I came out here I only thought of these seals as cute and pudgy marine mammals, but after almost five months of sharing my bathwater with them I have found their sneezes and vomit inducing bowel movements quite endearing. You laugh, but I am not the only one. Literally running around Laysan at least twice a week under timed survey protocols to monitor male aggression for behavioral studies, breeding success, and heath of the population - while opportunistically collecting seal scat - and still be ridiculously excited about your job takes a special kind of person. These young researchers are well trained, and because they’re awesome and enjoy their work, the entire team has returned to our island for the second year in a row.

This weekend marked an exciting event for Laysan, a special Hawaiian monk seal translocation of two weaned pups from French Frigate Shoals (FFS) to our island, where they have a better chance of survival. For the past few years the pups born at FFS have had a tough time reaching adulthood for many reasons, including shark depredation and lack of food, but these two special weaned pups have now been released into the calmer waters of our northwestern bay. From now through October they will be followed by one of our own U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service field volunteers, Claudia Mischler. Their movements will also be tracked by attached satellite transmitters, allowing NMFS to monitor their progress.

The beach in front of camp seems bare now that the NMFS camp is gone. Our Sunday shared dinners will be a bit lonely without the giggly antics of our missed friends. Just another reminder that our time here is fleeting. Lots of love sent out to some of the best people on the planet - Sarah, Carrie, and Whitney - may the next year bring you prosperity and happiness.

(Source: papahanaumokuakea.gov)