Monitoring of Sea Birds

Final Report

Aims of the Project

• inventory of the populations of Galápagos penguins, cormorants and lava gulls (all three types of birds are endemic for Galápagos),
• elaboration of a strategy to combat imported avian diseases.

Activities

1. Intensive search for lava gulls in the coastal regions of Galápagos
2. Counting of penguins and cormorants in the archipelago
3. Organization, planning and realisation of a seminar on imported avian diseases.

Results

1. Lava gulls
In The last inventory of lava gulls took place over 40 years ago. 1960 approximately 400 pairs were counted, more recent observations lead us to fear that the population has considerably reduced since then. If the data confirm this fear, the lava gull could be at the edge of extermination. The present study is therefore very important for the long-term preservation program of this species of bird.

All sightings took place using GPS (global position system) for exact locating. The coasts of the islands Santa Cruz, Daphne, Venesia, Santiago, Floreana, San Cristobal, Española, Genovesa, Isabela and Fernandina were searched for lava gulls. The sightings show that the distribution of the animals is uneven in the archipelago. The largest individual densities were found in the South of Santa Cruz, while on Española, Floreana, Daphne and Venesia no birds were sighted. Altogether 102 lava gullswere observed. This value confirmed that the population density of the lava gulls is very low, the number of lava gulls has decreased in comparison with the numbers of 1960. However due to the different data acquisition methods of 1960 and today a direct comparison is difficult. In order to be able to get a more exact view of the future population changes and to be able to react rapidly to a decrease, a standardized observation program is introduced. The available results show that the present very low population density could hardly support any further decrease.

Table 1: Results of the lava gulls stock inventory

2. Penguins and cormorants
Results of the observations in August 2000

During the observation period of 6.8'.2000-13.8.2000 altogether 802 penguins (543 adults, 134 Juveniles and 125 young animals) were counted. Also 1000 flightless cormorants (923 adults, 37 young animals and 40, whose age could not be determined) were counted. These numbers show that the total population of the cormorants remained stable, while those of the penguins increased.They allow to conclude that the penguin population is slowly recovering from the strong El Niño (1997-1998), where the population sank below 500 individuals. Nevertheless the population of the Galápagos penguins is still approximately 50% lower than in 1982, before the five El-Niño years between 1982 and1998.

Results of the catch, marking and re-catch method in April 2001

Between 17.4.2001- 24.4.2001 in ten places on Floreana, Isabela and Fernandina penguins and cormorants were caught and marked by means of microchips. 79 penguins (58 adults and 21 young animals) and 87 cormorants (85 adults and 2 young birds) were caught. The birds were measured, the length and width of the beak, the wing length and the weight of the bird were noted. The continuation of this catch, marking and re-catch method will in the future supply important information about the population structures as well as migration habits of the cormorants and penguins in the archipelago. While industrial fishery is forbidden in the whole sea reservation, the traditional fishery by the inhabitants is permitted. For the sea bird species very important feeding areas can however be declared as so-called ' NO-TAKE-ZONE', in which all human activities are forbidden.Depending on the data on the migration habits of the cormorants and penguins further important preservation areas can be declared "NO Take Zone".

3. Seminar in Princeton
The Seminar took place from 19.10. to 21.10.2000. The program established during the Workshop will be started in Galápagos in 2001. The workshop was the first ever on the bird world of Galápagos and was supported by Wofona with USD 9168.40, co-financed by Princeton Univerisity with USD 6'000.- and an anonymous donor.

Budget
On 15 June 2000 CHF 60'000 were sent to Galápagos. The detailed expenses are as follows (in USD):

Period July 2000 to April 2001:

Maria Elena Guerra, MBA
Head of Administration CDRS

Dr. Robert Bensted-Smith
Director CDRS

Acknowledgement

On behalf of the Charles Darwin Research Station and the International Charles Darwin Foundation we would like to express our thanks for the support for the project.The financial commitment on your part allowed its realisation in the interest of the long-term preservation of the unique birds of the Galápagos. Many thanks.