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Population Estimates for Selected Breeding Seabirds at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauaʻi, in 2019

Data Series 1130
Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Kauaʻi National Wildlife Refuge Complex
By: , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1130

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Abstract

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR) is an important seabird breeding site located at the northeastern tip of Kauaʻi in the main Hawaiian Islands. 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 the main Hawaiian Islands, 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 methods (ground-searching, visual and photographic counts), we determined that 387 red-tailed tropicbird and 5,049 red-footed booby breeding pairs nested at KPNWR in 2019. Additionally, we performed surveys of aerially displaying tropicbirds to estimate a potential population of 30 white-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) breeding pairs at KPNWR. Using a stratified-random plot-sampling method, we estimated that 20,998 wedge-tailed shearwater pairs nested at KPNWR in 2019. The breeding population size results in this study are greater than those reported in the past for KPNWR. We suggest that the red-tailed tropicbird breeding population has increased since the mid-2000s (when population estimates were last made), whereas red-footed booby numbers likely have remained similar and 2019 results show an increase from past estimates because of the more comprehensive methods used in this study. The results of these surveys provide current and accurate population sizes for these species that can serve as (1) benchmarks for future management and monitoring at KPNWR and (2) important components of population-level assessments of seabird vulnerability to potential offshore wind energy development in the main Hawaiian Islands.

Suggested Citation

Felis, J.J., Kelsey, E.C., Adams, J., Stenske, J.G., and White, L.M., 2020, Population estimates for selected breeding seabirds at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauaʻi, in 2019: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 1130, 32 p., https://doi.org/​10.3133/​ds1130.

ISSN: 2327-638X (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Red-tailed Tropicbird and White-tailed Tropicbird
  • Wedge-tailed Shearwater
  • Red-footed Booby
  • Summary
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Population estimates for selected breeding seabirds at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauaʻi, in 2019
Series title Data Series
Series number 1130
DOI 10.3133/ds1130
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Western Ecological Research Center
Description Report: viii, 32 p.; Data Release
Country United States
State Hawaii
Other Geospatial Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details