Project Description
This project was initiated to conduct small boat surveys to monitor abundance of marine birds in Prince William Sound, Alaska, during July 2012, 2014, and 2016. These efforts followed eleven completed population surveys for marine birds and mammals in Prince William Sound after the Exxon Valdez oil spill (see Marine Bird Abundance Surveys 1996-2005 and 2007-2010). Data collected during this series of surveys was used to examine trends from summer to determine whether populations in the oiled zone were increasing, decreasing, or stable. Overall population trends for the Sound were also examined. Data collected from 1989 to 2010 indicated that pigeon guillemots (Cepphus columba) and marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) were declining in the oiled areas of Prince William Sound. The researchers found high inter-annual variation in numbers of some bird species and therefore recommended continuing to conduct surveys every two years. This project was continued under the title: Prince William Sound Marine Bird Surveys and Associated Shelf Waters (2023-2029).
Parties Implementing Restoration
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DOI Project Representatives
Fish and Wildlife Service