#seabird conservation

[hope-for-the-planet]

70% Drop in Levels of Forever Chemicals Observed in Seabird Eggs Tracks Regulatory Success

These pescatarian birds are directly exposed to PFAS contamination due to the island's position near the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Over fifty years of data show a peak in PFAS (also known as "forever chemicals") content in seabird eggs in the 90s, followed by a decrease as regulations went into effect. The most recent findings show a 70% decrease of most common PFAS.

While continued vigilance a regulation is needed, this data indicates that regulations are working to reduce PFAS concentrations in marine ecosystems.

[sage-bird]

model

[hope-for-the-planet]

Determined Scientists Created Only Puffin Colony in the US, and Continue to Protect it Decades Later - Good News Network

For 50 years, the state of Maine has drawn worldwide attention for its efforts to restore a puffin colony, an effort that has brought contro

“People caused them to leave. Maybe people can help bring them back. That was the notion. I had no idea that that notion was going to be my life’s work.”

This is a really incredible story. After hand-rearing puffins to establish a colony in the last known US location (they had previously been driven to local extinction by overhunting), scientists realized they needed to limit the laughing gulls that would steal food from their chicks.

This eventually led to a cottage industry of conservationists generating realistic decoys of 48 different species that they place around the colonies to protect the puffins from gulls. Decoys can also be used to signal to birds where it is safe to nest--for example, puffin decoys would encourage puffins to nest there.

The decoys originally created for this puffin colony have now been used in over 800 other seabird conservation projects over the years, and the puffin colony is going strong with hundreds of birds breeding there every year.

You can see some of these beautifully painted decoys in this video:

[sage-bird]

In a couple days I'll be leaving for Maine! I'll be volunteering for the Audubon Society on a seabird nesting island doing things like counting birds, removing invasive plants, inputting data maybe helping band, and more I'm sure. There will be arctic, common, and roseate terns, black guillemots, and common eiders nesting. I'll be taking any opportunity I can to get some shots. I'm super excited! I'll be back at the end of June

[spnl]

Record-breaking 10 million points for seabird conservation

Record-breaking 10 million points for seabird conservation

Today we celebrate World Oceans Day as we finally reach 10 million – not dollars, pounds or euros – but valuable data points in the Seabird Tracking Database. Discover how this inspiring international collaboration enables scientists and policy-makers to better understand and protect seabirds. By Maria Dias

Seabirds undertake some of the most incredible migratory journeys in the world. Take…

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