Oikonos - Ecosystem Knowledge

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What's New for Summer 2008

• Gallery Exhibit - Plastic Pollution
• Video from Half Moon Bay Habitat Restoration - from New Zealand to California
• Follow Albatross Migrations from Kure Atoll, the oldest island in the Hawaiian Chain
• New Websites: Pink-footed Shearwaters and Antarctic Underwater Field Guide
• New Project - Predator-proof Fence in New Zealand

New Gallery Exhibit

Helen Chellin, Plastic Pollution Multimedia

Update
New Zealand Partners in Shearwater Education and Conservation

Kari Beaven and the community-based conservation group Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project have been working to establish a pest-controlled peninsula on Rakiura (Stewart) Island off the southernmost end of New Zealand. Here local volunteers, educators and students lend a hand to monitor trap lines for invasive possums and rats, plant native vegetation, and monitor the native bird life as it continues to improve from these conservation actions. To engage students near and abroad, Kari and colleagues have installed a high-tech video camera in a sooty shearwater burrow to gain insight into their underground nesting activities. Oikonos is working to build a partnership with the Halfmoon Bay efforts to increase understanding of these migratory birds to children on both sides of the Pacific. Brent and Kari using a burrow-scope at Acker's Point to determine if a shearwater pair has hatched an egg in the underground burrow nest (Photo: H. Nevins)

In this video, a chick is waiting for one of its parents to return with a gullet full of fish and squid slurry (yum!). Sooty shearwaters lay one egg per year and both parents must work to feed this young. The chick will soon lose this downy coat as its flight and body feathers fill in during the coming weeks. Soon it will be making trips to the burrow entrance to stretch its wings and finally to depart the colony. The chick will make its first migration to the North Pacific (a 10,000+ km journey!) at five months of age without its parents. The shearwaters nesting near Halfmoon Bay, Rakiura Island, NZ may eventually make their way to Half Moon Bay, California, USA! Click to Play Video (1.2 Megs)

First Study of Black-footed Albatross At-Sea Habitats from Kure Atoll

	Since 2002, Oikonos has been working to conserve albatross and inspire responsible ocean stewardship. In June 2008, we will begin studying the migrations of Black-footed Albatross breeding on Kure Atoll, the westernmost island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Island Archipelago. Where the birds travel will be ground breaking information! It is not known what ocean habitats are important for these birds. Will they fly west to Japanese and Russian waters or fly east to the productive California coast? Daily Updated Migration Maps Beginning May 2008	Partners: State of Hawai'i, DLNR-DOFAW Papahanaumokuakea National Monument Main Albatross Project Page

Announcing New Websites

	The Pink-footed Shearwater This new site, in English and Spanish, is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of a remarkable seabird whose travels span the Americas, from the oceanic waters of Chile to Canada. www.pinkfootedshearwater.org www.fardela.org Funded by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation	Underwater Antarctic Field Guide Presented by biologist and photographer, David Cothran, this site is an online field guide to the marine waters around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia Island. There are over 900 images taxonomically organized. www.oikonos.org/apfieldguide

New Project - Predator Fence to Protect a Shearwater colony in New Zealand

	This project will protect one of the last remaining mainland nesting sites for Sooty Shearwaters in New Zealand. The Luckenbach Trustees have selected this project to compensate for oil spill injuries incurred during the birds impressive migration to California waters. Fencing will reduce the pressure from introduced mammalian predators (possums, hedgehogs, rats, rabbits, stoats) on the shearwater colony and reduce the take of eggs, chicks, and adults. The reduction in grazing will increase native vegetation, and reduce soil erosion and damage to shearwater nesting burrows in the fragile sandy soil. Adjacent to the property is the world-renown mainland Northern Royal Albatross colony and nearby are nesting beaches of Yellow-eyed and Little Blue Penguins. Partners: Land owners Perry Reid and family Natures Wonders Eco-tours University of Otago Department of Conservation	Map of the Sooty Shearwater nesting area at Taiaroa Head, Dunedin, which currently has about 750 pairs. Black line shows the placement of the predator fence. Sooty Shearwater chick. The Maori, native New Zealanders, call these birds "Tïtï"