Ralph W. Larson
Washington Department of Game
600 North Capitol Way
Olympia, Washington 98504
Abstract
Seabirds are one of the most visible biological components of ecosystems, and yet little is known about them. They could readily be used as an index of marine environmental quality if adequate studies were conducted to determine populations, habitat needs, and causes of fluctuations in abundance. The lack of adequate funding at the State level has precluded necessary studies to make these determinations and to provide habitat protection and preservation.
The State of Washington has developed a funding source for protection, preservation, and enhancement of nongame wildlife, which includes seabirds. The sale of personalized license plates for vehicles is now providing some funds for nongame wildlife management—funds which should increase as the popularity of the licensing program increases. Outdoor Recreation Bonds are providing funding for habitat preservation. Authorities provided the Washington Game Department are adequate to manage and protect seabird species. Other State laws offer additional protection to their habitat—specifically the Shoreline Management Act of 1971 and the State Environmental Act.
It has been often stated that seabirds are one of the most visible biological components of ecosystems, and yet little is known about them. Most studies to date have been on fish, and because of their recreational and commercial value, the concern for maintaining the marine environment has been primarily a result of the concern for maintaining the fishery resource. The visible knowledge of the fishery resource, however, becomes an "after-the-fact" knowledge since the status of the stocks relates to the value and amount of the fishery—a fishery resulting from survival under the surface in the marine environment that can be very secretive about its quality until it is too late to do something about it. Seabirds, however, are visible above the surface, in numbers that can reflect changes in the marine environment that occur below the surface, since many depend on the subsurface quality that reflects populations of fish.
Studies in Oregon have indicated that consumption of pelagic fish by murres (Uria spp.), cormorants (Phalacrocorax spp.), storm-petrels (Oceanodroma spp.), and shearwaters (Puffinus spp.) account for about 22% of the annual production of various species of these fish. A decline in this food source will reflect a decline in the seabird population. Why then should it be necessary to use only fish populations as an index of marine environmental quality, when seabirds can more readily be observed and can reflect the same changes that occur?
As a public wildlife agency, the Washington Department of Game is often attempting to justify the value of seabirds, and sometimes that is not easy. When fishermen complain that the seabirds are eating all of the food of our mighty salmon, and hunters indicate little compassion because the birds have no value to sport hunting, one has to think a little to explain their value. However, rhinoceros auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) do drive herring into ball-shaped schools, which attracts salmon in search of food—which in turn provides a signal to fishermen that salmon may soon be in the area. Explaining value to the hunter is a bit more difficult, but anyone who has taken the time to go out on our marine waters and observe the many species of seabirds and watch them flying and feeding cannot help but be fascinated by them. The flight of thousands of murres skimming over the water surface and somehow managing not to dash headlong into a wave is a fascinating sight.
We who are in fish and wildlife work have had to readjust our thinking and values during recent years. Our primary programs and concerns for many years were with the fish, birds, and animals that were of value to fishermen and hunters. Species of wildlife that we now classify as nongame received incidental benefit from programs related to game fish, game birds, and game animals, but we did not do badly in maintaining and enhancing these incidental wildlife species, mostly by indirection. However, in the last few years our Department, at least, has taken on a new responsibility and a new look as related to nongame wildlife.
Our first positive step in this direction was to develop a funding source for nongame wildlife programs. Our funding attempt charted its way through stormy waters, but finally ended up being voted on by the citizens of the State. Our citizens passed Referendum 33, which provided funds to the Department for nongame wildlife programs from the sale of personalized license plates. Although the funds have not been adequate, they are a step in the right direction and have permitted the Department to engage in a modest program of research and management. We have placed one person in charge of our program to do the planning and programming so necessary for developing an effective, growing program. During the 1st year of operation, we contracted studies on the rhinoceros auklet, the tufted puffin (Lunda cirrhata), and the black oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani). These studies have provided a basic knowledge of some of the problems facing these seabird species. As funds increase, additional studies will be made to provide more information on these birds and others.