Status and trends of Tufted Puffins in Washington State
Presentation Abstract
Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) populations have declined significantly throughout the California Current System during the past century, with populations in Washington estimated to have decreased by nearly 90%. The population dropped from approximately 25,000 birds in the early 1900s to 2950 birds estimated between 2007-2010. The number of active colonies in Washington waters decreased from 43 in the early 1900s to 35 and to 19 in the 1978-1984 and 2007-2014 periods, respectively. Within the Salish Sea, there were 10 colonies historically active, but only two of those remain active. Prior to 1978, there were nine colonies in Washington with at least 1000 birds. By 2007-2014, the state had no colonies of that size remaining and only three estimated to contain as many as 100-200 individuals. As a result of these trends, the species was listed by the state of Washington as Endangered in 2015. Regional declines appear to have accelerated in the 1970s and early 1980s and continued to the present, although drivers remain poorly understood. Developing a better understanding of impacts and drivers of the decline is essential to help inform conservation planning for the species in this region.
Session Title
The Biological and Physical Factors Driving Marine Bird Population Dynamics in the Salish Sea
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Tufted Puffins--Habitat--Washington (State); Tufted Puffins--Washington (State)--Evaluation; Wildlife rehabilitation--Washington (State)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Washington (State)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Status and trends of Tufted Puffins in Washington State
2016SSEC
Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) populations have declined significantly throughout the California Current System during the past century, with populations in Washington estimated to have decreased by nearly 90%. The population dropped from approximately 25,000 birds in the early 1900s to 2950 birds estimated between 2007-2010. The number of active colonies in Washington waters decreased from 43 in the early 1900s to 35 and to 19 in the 1978-1984 and 2007-2014 periods, respectively. Within the Salish Sea, there were 10 colonies historically active, but only two of those remain active. Prior to 1978, there were nine colonies in Washington with at least 1000 birds. By 2007-2014, the state had no colonies of that size remaining and only three estimated to contain as many as 100-200 individuals. As a result of these trends, the species was listed by the state of Washington as Endangered in 2015. Regional declines appear to have accelerated in the 1970s and early 1980s and continued to the present, although drivers remain poorly understood. Developing a better understanding of impacts and drivers of the decline is essential to help inform conservation planning for the species in this region.
