Click here for the Live Murre Cam at Devils' Slide Rock.

Seabird species, particularly those species that nest and roost on cliffs or offshore rocks, are highly susceptible to human disturbances. When human disturbance events occur near seabird colonies, the birds vacate their nests, leaving their eggs and chicks unprotected from predators and adverse weather conditions. In addition, eggs and chicks may be dislodged from the rocks or moved into areas where they may be attacked or killed. Repeated disturbance may result in total colony abandonment.

The potential to harm or disturb breeding seabirds can come from various sources such as a number of popular coastal activities including kayaking, boating and coastal hiking; flying planes and helicopters; water-based ecotourism such as diving or surfing; and fishing operations. Increased public awareness, coupled with coordinated management and strategic partnerships is necessary to effectively address the sources of seabird disturbance.

The Seabird Colony Protection Program (SCPP) is funded by the Command Oil Spill Restoration Fund. (308KB PDF) The successful prosecution of the Command and the recovery of natural resource damages mark the first time a tanker vessel has been held accountable for illegally dumping oil in California. Common Murres, Marbled Murrelets and other seabirds were killed, and many miles of beaches between Ano Nuevo and Pacifica were lightly oiled. Nesting seabird populations are significant living resources of Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) and its surrounding waters, with the Farallon Islands supporting one of the largest concentrations of breeding seabirds in the contiguous United States. The islands, waters, and surrounding coastal rocky shores and sandy beaches, are breeding seabird hotspots that were possibly affected by the Command spill.

The goal of the SCPP is to improve the survival and recruitment of California's seabird species by reducing human disturbances at their breeding and roosting colony sites from Point Sur to Point Reyes. It is a comprehensive program with planned strategies that include monitoring, enforcement, and education and outreach. GFNMS is taking a lead coordination role in implementing the SCPP in collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other sanctuaries, agencies and organizations.

Photo Credit: Don DesJardins

Program Objectives:

• Documenting types and levels of human disturbance at Central California Coast seabird colonies and any changes occurring over time as the SCPP is implemented;
  
• Increasing seabird disturbance information exchange at key events/venues;
  
• Increasing awareness among organized users who impact nest prospecting, pre-breeding, roosting, nesting and breeding seabird colonies;
  
• Increasing Central California Coast seabird protection coordination among agencies, non-governmental organizations, researchers and stakeholders;
  
• Increasing the number of agencies, non-governmental organizations and interested public reporting incidents of seabird disturbance; and
  
• Documenting success levels of the SCPP through colony monitoring/surveillance.

Click here for the Seabird Colony Protection Program fact sheet. (608KB PDF)

For more information or questions regarding the Seabird Colony Protection Program please email California.Seabird@noaa.gov.

Action Plan:

The Seabird Colony Protection Program Workshop, held on November 3, 2005, resulted in many recommendations on how to improve public education, monitoring and management of human disturbances to seabird colonies on the Central California Coast. Based on these recommendations, a Final Action Plan has been developed.

Seabird Colony Protection Program Action Plan (1.6MB PDF)