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Person

Emily (Emma) C. Kelsey

Biologist

Western Ecological Research Center

Email: ekelsey@usgs.gov
Office Phone: 831-460-7572
Fax: 831-427-4747
ORCID: 0000-0002-0107-3530

Location
2885 Mission St Occupancy Agreement # Aca12594
400 Natural Bridges Drive
Santa Cruz , CA 95060
US

Supervisor: Josh Adams
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We have incorporated the Hawaiian language spellings of place names however, software limitations for metadata files did not allow for inclusion of the appropriate diacritical markings. Among important seabird breeding sites in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), Lehua Island off Niʻihau, and Moku Manu Islets off O'ahu support diverse and abundant seabird breeding populations. Both offshore islands provide excellent nesting habitat for surface nesting boobies (Sula spp.) and Moku Manu also supports nesting habitat for relatively large breeding populations of Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) and Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus). Additionally, Ulupa'u Crater, near Moku Manu on O'ahu, is one of only a few main island sites...
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This data relase is a product of Atlas of Breeding Seabirds of the Main Hawaiian Islands Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR) is an important seabird breeding site located at the northeastern tip of Kauaʻi in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). Despite the regional significance of KPNWR as one of the most important breeding sites for Red-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda), Red-footed Boobies (Sula sula), and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica) in MHI, robust and accurate population surveys have not been consistently conducted and recent information is lacking. In this study, we completed comprehensive population surveys for these three species during the 2019 breeding season. Using direct censusing...
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This database is a compilation of marine mammal and seabird information collected along the Pacific coast of the United States and U.S. territories in the Pacific from surveys that were solicited among regional research communities and persons. Information from standardized surveys was gathered from 2015 to 2018 and includes programs and researchers who collected information regarding seabirds since 1960. These data support the following publication: Adams, J., Lafferty, K.D., Kelsey, E.C., and Johnston, C.A. 2019. Synopsis of Research Programs that can Provide Baseline and Monitoring Information for Offshore Energy Activities in the Pacific Region: Seabird and Marine Mammal Surveys in the Pacific Region. U.S....
We used a stratified-random sampling approach to estimate the total abundance of Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) nest sites across Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR), Kauaʻi, during 1-7 July 2019. We first identified strata as unique geographic areas of the refuge to account for potential differences in nesting habitat and non-uniform nest site clustering. We then sub-divided strata where we expected high, low, minimal, or no nest site abundance. These distinctions were based on knowledge of shearwater nesting distribution gained while performing extensive ground-searching for tropicbirds across the entire refuge in April and May 2019. We delineated strata boundaries using recent satellite...
During 13-18 May, 2019, we censused red-footed boobies (Sula sula) at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR), Kauaʻi. To evaluate ground-based visual counts and assess variability among methods, we employed photographic techniques to count nesting red-footed boobies at KPNWR in three distinct sub-colony areas: Crater Hill East, Crater Hill Interior, and Crater Hill West (see associated data series report for delineation of sub-colony areas). For ground-based photos, we used a Sony a7rii camera (42 megapixel full-frame) equipped with a Sony 100-400mm F4.5-5.6G lens to allow sufficient resolution to count nests and birds. We achieved pixel resolutions (as a function of camera resolution, focal length, and...
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