Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Washington
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Seabirds are recognized as critical indicators of oceanic conditions. However, in the Salish Sea, increasing threats to seabird foraging habitat are not well understood in terms of their potential effects on seabird populations. A better understanding of threats to seabird foraging habitat could guide regional efforts to conserve these habitats. This project is a collaboration of researchers across multiple organizations, including US Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and University of Washington. We are developing a model to understand foraging habitat selection by Pigeon Guillemots and Rhinoceros Auklets nesting at Protection Island, mapping critical foraging habitat for these species, and developing a model linking breeding outcomes with foraging conditions.