2016 Yaquina Head Seabird Studies annual report is now available here
***2016 was the 15 YEAR anniversary of seabird studies at Yaquina Head***
(10 years by Oregon State University + 5 years by University of Washington)
Highlights:
1) 2nd year in a row of complete reproductive failure on Colony and Flat Top Rocks.
2) A 6 year run (2011-2016) of low reproductive success that is less than half the success for the first 9 years of study (1998-2002, 2007-2010).
3) Murre diets in 2016 were again dominated by smelt, a trend that has also continued since 2010 (with minor exception of 2011).
4) Reproductive success for Brant’s and Pelagic Cormorants was at or above the 9-year mean.
5) Bald Eagles were again a key factor in egg and chick mortality on the colony. It is intriguing, however, that increased predator activity co-occurred with a somewhat prominent change in diet since 2010, and indicates that both top-down predator and bottom-up prey related impacts are affecting birds at this colony.
Thanks for your interest in this project. If you have any questions, please let us know!