Seabird Survival Looking Very Promising (with the Help of a New Database!)

A database that shares restoration experiences deployed around the world to save seabird populations is helping save the threatened species, which play a key role in coastal and island ecosystems.

“It’s a fantastic outcome for the conservation community to learn that seabird restoration techniques are becoming established and have high likelihoods of success,” explains Nick Holmes, Ph.D., Associate Director for Oceans at The Nature Conservancy and co-author of the study that led to the creation of the database.

As seabirds are among the most threatened bird groups with 30% of species risking extinction due to invasive predators, habitat loss, harmful fishing practices, and climate change, nests needed to be relocated or restored through social attraction – like decoys and broadcasted bird sounds to create the appearance of a thriving colony at key locations – or a combination of social attraction and translocation. The study shows that within an average of two years from the project’s start, 80% of seabird projects resulted in birds visiting the site, and 76% achieved breeding. This prompted the creation of the Seabird Restoration Database, an interactive catalog of conservation efforts that required the review of more than 1,400 resources and communications with over 300 experts. It is based on a global synthesis of all reported seabird translocation and social attraction restoration efforts over 70 years with more than 850 projects across 36 countries targeting 138 seabird species. Many partners are involved in the database, including Pacific Rim Conservation, the National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Northern Illinois University, the New Zealand Department of Conservation, and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.