Executive summary

Welcome to the Pacific Seabird Survey and Monitoring Manual!

The Pacific islands region served by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) covers 32 million km2 within the largest continuous marine habitat on the planet, the Pacific Ocean. Oceania is the collective name for the islands and island nations scattered across this region. The goal of this manual is to encourage and support seabird conservation and research across the region, particularly in areas where this work is just starting out. We consider all of the proven methods and survey types that are currently in use across the region, to provide readers with the tools required to run successful seabird survey and monitoring programmes. To further illustrate how successful projects can be undertaken, real world case studies are presented – written by experts currently working in the field. By utilising the in-depth knowledge, experience and expertise of people who have worked successfully on a species, group of species or an ecosystem, readers can transfer these tried and tested methods to projects starting out elsewhere in Oceania.

For ease of use, the manual is presented in five distinct parts:

Part 1: OCEANIA SEABIRDS

Seabirds are one of the most important and formative groups of birds in the Pacific, and the Oceania region is no exception. In many ways, these species can be considered the architects of the islands we live on today. In this section we provide information on the species that can be found in the region and their conservation status, as well as their importance to the people living across the Pacific. We discuss the unique features that allow them to utilise the marine environment, and how by doing so they also benefit the terrestrial habitats in which they roost and breed (through the flow of nutrients in that most important of substances – bird poo!). Despite being such formative and important species for the Oceania region, many seabird populations are in decline, in some cases perilously so. This is because of a wide range of threats including introduced predators such as cats and rats, urbanisation, invasive plants and the insidious effects of climate change. Each of these threats is also discussed in this section. Initiating seabird monitoring and research programs as outlined in this manual will allow users to assess and address these threats, with the aim to reverse declines and restore seabird populations to their former glory.

Part 2: SURVEY TOOLS & TYPES

To develop a successful seabird project, it is important to be aware of the tools that are available to you. What works for one species or situation may not necessarily work in another so understanding the vast (and often overwhelming) area of tools is a key to success. Here, we discuss the tools of the trade that are available to seabird researchers. These include acoustic sensors and remote cameras as well as more specialised or emerging techniques, like the use of drones, radar units and thermal scopes. Remember that while these awesome pieces of equipment can be vital aspects of seabird projects, meeting up with communities living in focal areas may be the key to providing you with the local knowledge and guidance necessary to jumpstart your work. This section also looks at bird capture and tracking techniques, which can be used in a wide variety of ways to gain insight into critical elements of species ecology such as foraging or wintering areas. Lastly we consider the different types of surveys that can be utilized, including rapid assessments, shore-based sea watches and surveys by boat, drone and plane.

Part 3: MONITORING

This section presents the methods required to gather data from the seabirds themselves, starting with burrow monitoring, then bird handling, taking measurements, banding and sampling, and checking breeding status. These hands-on methods can lead to a wide variety of research studies such as mark-recapture, measuring reproductive (or breeding) success, dietary assessments and investigating the issues of plastics ingestion and contaminants. The section rounds off with monitoring cyclone impacts of seabird populations and measuring the success (or otherwise) of predator control measures. Once again, choosing the appropriate method, will depend on what your research project and monitoring programme is aiming to achieve. When considering the hands-on element to seabird studies, make sure you have the necessary permitting in place, and that the participants handling birds have been trained for the tasks to be undertaken.

Part 4: MANAGING DATA TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION

Seabird projects result in the accumulation of large amounts of data. This is an excellent problem to have, as it is this data that will help guide your research or conservation project into the future. It helps answer questions such as “Is predator control working” or “Is my study species being affected by plastic pollution or likely to be impacted by climate change.” If you don’t have the data to assess whether your management techniques are working, then you need to take a step back and understand where you are going wrong. However, data can be overwhelming especially if you are using tools like acoustic sensors or burrow cameras as these can swiftly result in daunting amounts of information. This section discusses how to deal with data management so you can make the most out of your project. We also highlight several international databases where you can also deposit key elements of your data to help guide large scale conservation efforts and regional and global studies. Lastly, we discuss seabird restoration projects that are particularly reliant on good quality data as well as a seabird restoration database where data on these projects are summarised.

Part 5: RESOURCES

The final section of the manual provides additional resources available to seabird researchers in Oceania. We discuss national bird banding schemes and the creation of the Pacific Seabird Advisory Group (PSAG) and provide two basic identification keys. We also provide a list of other resources, such as online field guides, useful books to look at and reports to download. The manual is available in both printed and online form and aims to facilitate seabird conservation across Oceania and the tropical Pacific Ocean. We sincerely hope you find this manual useful and look forward to seeing you presenting your vital seabird work in a conference or scientific publication in the future!

Figure 1. ‘Gull Islets’, Suwarrow Atoll, Cook Islands. Photo: Te Ipukarea Society