SEABIRD ECOLOGY and CONSERVATION
dates: JUNE 13 - 19, 2009
cost: $1,050/person (double occupancy)
Spend a week at the Isles of Shoals learning about ecology and conservation of Atlantic coast seabirds. Participants will travel from island to island learning first-hand about breeding biology, behavior, and restoration of several species of seabirds including gulls, terns, eiders, and cormorants. A boat trip around Duck Island will provide up close views of seal colonies. Participants will also take a boat trip offshore to learn about pelagic seabird species including gannets, shearwaters, and petrels.
CLICK HERE FOR GENERAL and PAYMENT INFORMATION and REGISTRATION FORM
Seabird populations in the Gulf of Maine have fluctuated dramatically during the past few centuries. In the late 1800s, birds were hunted extensively for their feathers, which were used to line women’s hats. At the start of the 20th century, most seabirds in the Gulf of Maine were on the brink of extirpation. Some seabird species have recovered dramatically, thanks to the passage of state and federal conservation laws, habitat protection, and the restoration efforts of dedicated biologists. However, several factors still threaten the future of the region’s seabirds.
Specific activities will include:
(1) Conducting ground counts of nesting seabirds on several islands; (2) conducting counts of pelagic seabirds from a boat; (3) attending field and classroom lectures on a variety of topics related to seabird ecology and conservation; and (4) visit to the White Island Tern Restoration Project.
Participants should be in good physical condition; activities are rigorous and require moderate agility. CLICK HERE for our "SeaCon Prep Guide."
For more information, check out the following links:
Survey of Nesting Seabirds at the Isles of Shoals
CORE FACULTY:
Julie Ellis, (pictured above on the left) Tufts University, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Ellis is a seabird ecologist, with research interests that focus on seabird populations and how seabirds influence coastal ecosystems. Dr. Ellis received her PhD from Brown University, and has worked among the Isles of Shoals for over a decade. She currently directs the Seabird Ecological Assessment Network (SEANET), a citizen science project at Tufts University (http://seanetters.wordpress.com)
