Pelican hosts seabird talk in Pacific City

Tufted Puffins by Ram Papish

Learn about seabird monitoring and conservation work happening along the coast when Harry McQuillen leads a Science on Tap presentation at the Pelican Brewing Company in Pacific City on Thursday, Jan. 18.

McQuillen serves as project leader for the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The offshore islands and rocky cliffs along the Oregon Coast host 15 species of seabirds during the summer when they return from a winter at sea to raise the next generation. They total more than a million individuals and range in size from tiny storm petrels to large cormorants. Unfortunately, several species are in decline, including the iconic tufted puffin, which nest on islands and rocks that have soil and vegetation allowing the creation of burrows where they lay their single egg. Others, like the common murre, are under continual assault by eagles, rats and other predators.

Regardless of where they nest, all seabirds are at risk of decline due to bycatch in fishing nets, ocean acidification, oil spills and climate-driven changes that affect the distribution and abundance of their food resources.

“While many causes of decline are beyond our immediate control,” McQuillen said, “there are causes we can and must begin to address.”

Learn what steps the US Fish and Wildlife Service, its partners and volunteers are taking to help address the decline.

This Science on Tap presentation begins at 6 pm at 33180 Cape Kiwanda Drive, Pacific City. For more information, go to fws.gov.