PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP

33rd Annual Meeting

Alyeska Prince Hotel, Girdwood, Alaska 15-19 February 2005

This conference is dedicated to MARK OWEN PIERSON (1947–2005)

Mark Pierson, longtime PSG member and Southern California Regional Representative since

2003, passed away on April 15, 2005. Mark Pierson was a loyal friend to a whole generation of seabird researchers, a dedicated and talented biologist, and a great supporter of PSG.

NOTE FROM THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Chair: Verena Gill

Committee: Brad Benter, Tom Evans, Ann Harding, Falk Huettmann, David Irons, Kathy Kuletz, Vivian Mendenhall, Marc Romano, Mike Shultz, Iain Stenhouse, Tom Van Pelt, Ian Van Tets,

Shiway Wang, Kent Wohl.

Thanks also to PSG Chair and Chair-elect: Bob Day and Katie O’Reilly.

The Local Organizing Committee of the PSG 2006 Annual Meeting is excited about the putting together for you in Girdwood. We hope you will forget all the myths you have heard about Alaska in the winter, take advantage of the 10% discount on plane tickets for PSGers on Alaska Airlines, and find out for yourself what an amazing place our state is in all seasons. To reach the meeting from Anchorage you will drive down Turnagain Arm, which has dramatic views of mountain scenery and Cook Inlet—it’s a National Forest Scenic Byway and an All-American Road (one of 15 in the United States!). There's a good chance of viewing Dall sheep along the way. The road even has its own web site: <http://www.alaskascenes.com/turnagain.html> showing what it looks like in all seasons. The meeting will be at the Alyeska Resort. Besides being located in a breathtaking glacial valley on the northernmost edge of the Alaska coastal rainforest, Alyeska is a world-class ski resort. The 1994 Olympic downhill ski gold and Super-G silver medalist, Tommy Moe, hails from Girdwood. We hope you take advantage of some winter sports while at the meeting. Rent a pair of snowshoes from the hotel and take a quick jaunt to look for our state bird, the Willow Ptarmigan. Or rent some cross-country skis and take off along the hotel trails in search of a moose. Or take the ski tram from the hotel door and hit the lighted downhill ski slopes in the evening. Maybe you’ll even see the Northern Lights! In addition, Girdwood is only a short drive from Whittier—the gateway to Prince William Sound—and the port town of Seward, where the pelagic field trip will take you to look for wintering seabirds and sea ducks. After the meeting, stay in Anchorage a couple of days to enjoy our winter carnival, the “Fur Rendezvous.” The World Championship Sled Dog race is held at this event each year. Of course, these activities will only supplement the fantastic time you are going to have at the meeting. We also have lined up the world-renowned Native dance group, the King Island Dancers, to perform and teach us some of their traditional dances prior to one of the poster sessions.

Our scientific program is outstanding. We have a major symposium on the value of seabirds as indicators of marine ecosystems, including reports addressing the alarming seabird die-offs along the west coast of North America this year. Three special paper sessions will engage participants in planktivorous alcid ecology, interactions between seabirds and fisheries, and chemical analyses as applied to seabirds. Contributed papers covering an array of seabird topics will round out the scientific program. Although PSG’s membership is primarily from the North Pacific rim, we hope that seabird enthusiasts from other parts of the world will join and participate in PSG at this meeting. We look forward to seeing you all soon!

SPONSORS

We thank the meeting sponsors (as of web page construction);

The Migratory Bird Management Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Region 7); Audubon Alaska (the Alaska State Office of the National Audubon Society); the North Pacific Longline

Association; the North Pacific Research Board; the Census of Marine Life, U.S. Geological Survey.

ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTORS

Thanks to Iain Stenhouse for designing the PSG 2006 logo and contributing other art work to this web site. Thanks to Verena Gill, Randy Davis, Alex Wegmann, David Parkhurst, and the Fur

Rondy web site for use of their photos.

LOCATION

The 45-minute drive from Anchorage to Girdwood along the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet is one of the world's great drives. Directions to our meeting location at the Alyeska Prince Hotel

• Exit International Airport via International Airport Road.

• Turn right (south) onto Minnesota Drive.

• Follow Minnesota (south and then east, following the curve in the road) until you reach the New Seward Highway.

• Turn right (south) onto the New Seward Highway and proceed south along the Turnagain Arm for approximately 30 miles.

• Turn left on to the Alyeska Highway at Milepost 90 of the Seward Highway (a Tesoro gas station and mini-mall are on the corner).

• Follow this road approximately 3 miles, around a curve to the right. You will reach a T-intersection with a large Alyeska Resort sign.

• Turn left onto Arlberg.

• Arlberg winds for 1 mile, ending up at the Alyeska Prince Hotel and Resort. For more-in-depth directions and a map, go to < http://www.alyeskaresort.com/page.asp?intNodeID=10849&switchLang=true>

For more information on Girdwood and its restaurants, hotels, and weather, go to the web site <http://www.girdwoodalaska.com/>

GIRDWOOD WEATHER

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Avg. High 24° 28° 34° 42° 51° 58° 64° 61° 54° 41° 30° 26° Avg. Low 12° 14° 18° 26° 34° 42° 47° 45° 38° 28° 18° 14° Mean 18° 21° 27° 35° 44° 51° 56° 54° 47° 35° 24° 20° Avg. Precip. 5.8 in 3.9 in 3.5 in 3.1 in 2.0 in 2.3 in 2.4 in 3.9 in 6.0 in 6.5 in 4.3 in 4.9 in

Degrees in Fahrenheit

The weather may be clear or cloudy, and it may snow—or rain. Bring sweaters, a windbreaker, a warm cap and gloves, and warm boots if you plan to spend any time outdoors. If you sign up for the pelagic field trip, you may want to add long underwear and good rain gear (but don’t worry—the vessel offers a large warm cabin, hot drinks, and food).

TRANSPORTATION http://www.alaskatravel.com/alaska-transportation.html

Air PSG has secured a 10% discount with Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air (www.alaskaair.com)

for all PSG meeting attendees and their families. It will be available for all flights (and combinations of flights) that lead to an arrival in Anchorage on or after

February 12, and for flights (and combinations of flights) associated with a departure from Anchorage up to and including February 22, 2006. This discount is available for all Alaska Airlines published excursion fares except for

companion and other promotional fares. You will need to book your trip through Alaska Airlines to obtain the discount.

To book your discount trip you need to provide the following information: Meeting name: PSG conference Meeting ID number: CMR8064 Ticket designator: R8064

Airport You will fly to Anchorage International Airport (also known as Ted Stevens International Airport < http://www.dot.state.ak.us/anc/index.shtml>). Although Girdwood has an air strip, there is no commercial air service to the town. Ground

Bus Seward Bus Line (1915 Seward Hwy, Anchorage; 907-563-0800 or 907-224-3608) runs a regular service once a day between Anchorage and Seward, via Girdwood. However, there is an option to set up a special charter to the meeting (details below).

Regular bus service The bus leaves from the Seward Bus Lines terminal at 3333 Fairbanks St, Anchorage. Take a taxi from the airport to get there. Alternatively, the bus will pick you up at the airport for an extra $5 fee (much cheaper than a taxi) if you arrange this ahead of time. The regular fare is $30 one way from the bus terminal to the Tesoro gas station on the edge of Girdwood. The bus does not go to the hotel, so you will need to get a taxi from the gas station to the Alyeska Prince Hotel. The bus leaves the Anchorage terminal at 14:30 hrs, arriving in Girdwood at 15:15 hrs. The return bus leaves from the Tesoro gas station in Girdwood at 11:15 hrs and arrives at the Seward Bus Lines terminal about 12:00 hrs. Charter option The best option is to find a minimum of 5 people going from the airport to the meeting on the same day as you. The bus line then will set up a special charter to the door of the hotel for $35 each and then will leave to take you back to Anchorage at a time that is convenient for you. The more people you get, the cheaper the charter is. Tell the company you are with the Pacific Seabird Group when you set up your charter. The listserve would be a good way to find bus-mates.

Car Rental You do not need 4-wheel drive to reach the meeting location. Because you will probably be driving on snow and/or ice, you may want to consider renting a car with studded tires (the front tires or all four). (Almost all Alaska residents use them!!)

Several local companies offer studded tires in winter: • A-1 Car Rental, <www.alaskaaffordable.com>, (800) 546-6065; 1303 W 33rd St. (about 3

miles from the airport) • Alaska Car and Van Rentals, <akvan@alaska.net>, (800) 243-4832; 3934 Spenard Rd.

(about 2 miles from the airport) • Denali Car Rental, (800) 747-1230; 1209 Gambell St. (about 4 miles from the airport) • Rent-a-Wreck, (907) 563-2558; 5300 Eielson St. (about 5 miles from the airport) For national car companies and prices, go to <http://www.bnm.com/anch.htm>. None offers cars with studded tires in Anchorage. Taxi (special deal with hotel)

Checker Cab taxi services are available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week, with up to 3 Alyeska Prince Hotel guests per taxi. The flat rate must be paid directly to the hotel.

The one-way cost from Anchorage airport to Alyeska resort (or vice versa) is $70 for the 3 people in the car, so, if you get 3 people, that is $23 each. Call the Alyeska Prince Hotel’s concierge desk at 907-754-2108 for arrangements.

PSG members should use the society listserve <PacificSeabirds@lists.fws.gov> to coordinate rides with other people.

TRAVEL AWARDS Scientists from outside North America and students from anywhere are encouraged to apply

Travel awards are available for scientists from countries other than the USA and Canada and for students from any country who wish to present their research at the Pacific Seabird Group 2006 Annual Meeting. Travel awards are intended to help defray the cost of attending the Meeting, rather than completely cover all expenses. In the past, travel awards have ranged from $200 to $1,000, depending on the applicant’s expenses for attending, availability of alternative travel support, quality of the abstract submitted for an oral or poster presentation, and the availability of funds for PSG to support travel to its annual meeting. Students who are interested in making either an oral or poster presentation as part of the Symposium on Seabirds as Indicators of Marine Ecosystems are especially encouraged to apply for Student Travel Awards, as the North Pacific Research Board has donated $2500 to support travel for students participating in the Symposium. Travel awards will be made on the same basis as PSG awards. This year there will also be a special Student Travel Award of $200 for the student who submits an abstract to present research involving the most innovative use of digital databases. This

support has been provided by Census of Marine Life (associated Ocean Biogeographic Information System <http://www.iobis.org/OBISPortal>). Students or scientists from countries other than the USA and Canada who wish to apply for Travel Awards should submit application materials to Dan Roby, Chair of the Awards Committee, NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 15, 2005. Electronic submission via email is preferred: daniel.roby@orst.edu Alternatively, applications on CD or diskette together with a printed copy of your abstract and transmittal form can be mailed to: Dan Roby, Chair of PSG Awards Committee Department of Fisheries and Wildlife 104 Nash Hall Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon 97331-3803 USA Phone: 541-737-1955 Fax: 541-737-3590 Applications for Travel Awards should include the following: • whether you are applying for a Student Travel Award or a Non-USA/Canadian Scientist Travel

Award • reason(s) for wanting to attend the PSG 2006 Annual Meeting • whether you are participating in the Symposium on Seabirds as Indicators of Marine

Ecosystems • whether you wish to be considered for the Innovative Use of Digital Databases Student Travel

Award • an estimate of the expenses for the applicant to attend the Annual Meeting in Girdwood • the applicant’s other sources of support for attending the meeting • the applicant’s anticipated requirement for support from PSG in order to attend • copies of your abstract(s) for an oral or poster presentation(s) and the abstract submittal form All application materials for Student or Scientist travel awards are due no later than December 15, 2005. Applicants will be notified of the Awards Committee’s decision by 4 January 2006. For further information, please contact Dan Roby (daniel.roby@orst.edu).

ACCOMMODATIONS

The Alyeska Prince Hotel <http://www.alyeskaresort.com/> is the official conference headquarters hotel. That is where the action will be, with all of the plenary, concurrent, and poster sessions, as well all of the evening events, being held there. The guest rooms at the Alyeska Prince

in Girdwood offer sweeping views of the Chugach Mountains, Turnagain Arm, and Glacier Valley. Standard guest-room features include remote-controlled color television with Lodgenet movies and games on demand, two phones with voice mail, refrigerator, safe, hair dryer, lighted make-up mirror, heated towel racks, robes, and slippers. The hotel has an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, and exercise room. Check-in time is 16:00 hrs and check-out time is 12:00 noon. Guest Room Rates PSG negotiated an exceptionally low conference rate for 2006 meeting attendees; all costs are in US dollars ($).

Room Single Rate Double Rate Triple Rate Deluxe King $95 $95 $120 Deluxe 2 Doubles $95 $95 $120

The Alyeska Prince Hotel has committed 60 double rooms per night for the nights of 15, 16, 17, and 18 February at a special rate for attendees of the PSG meeting. This special group rate does not include tax (12%). This block of rooms will be reserved until 30 days prior to group arrival. At that time, all rooms not reserved with a deposit will revert to the Hotel for general sale. Additional reservations requested will be accepted on a space- and rate-available basis. To accommodate early arrivals and late departures, group guest room rates will be extended three days prior and three days beyond the conference date, based on availability. Reservation Procedures All individual guest-room reservations require an advanced non-refundable deposit equal to one night's room and tax at the time the reservation is made. Attendees must identify themselves as being part of Pacific Seabird Group to ensure the special rate. No-shows will be charged for all room nights reserved, including tax. Please note that you are responsible for securing all valuables. The Resort is not responsible for the loss or damage of any item left throughout the hotel and/or meeting/function rooms. In addition to the combination safe located in each hotel room, safety-deposit boxes are available at the Front Desk along with larger coin operated lockers located across from the kiosk on the second floor. Tip: The hotel has a special Northern Lights wake-up call. They will call and notify you during the night when the Northern Lights are out. This service is available upon request via the hotel telephone operator—dial “0” to sign up.

DINING

The Alyeska Prince Hotel/Ski Resort has many dining opportunities <http://www.alyeskaresort.com/page.asp?intNodeID=10880>. Within the hotel, there are two restaurants: The Pond Café and Teppanyaki Katsura. There

is also a coffee stand (The Kiosk) that sells pizza, soup, and sandwiches. If you take the spectacular tram ride up Alyeska Mountain (the tram leaves regularly from

the hotel), there is The Glacier Express snack bar and a full service restaurant, The Seven Glaciers at the top. A short walk from the hotel are the Sitzmark Bar and Grill and the Daylodge Café, at the base of the main ski runs. The Sitzmark Bar and Grill features live music on Friday and Saturday nights. As part of the registration fees, a lunch will be provided to you on Thursday, 16 February and Friday, February 17 at the Alyeska Prince Hotel. There are several other eating establishments in Girdwood outside of the hotel, including the world-famous Double Musky Restaurant < http://www.doublemuskyinn.com/ >. For other dining options in Girdwood, see <http://www.girdwoodalaska.com/>.

CONFERENCE ENTERTAINMENT Hosted luncheons

You registration fees will cover 2 lunches: Thursday, 16 February and Friday, 17 February. On Thursday, an invited speaker from the Symposium on Seabirds as

Indicators of Marine Ecosystems will talk during lunch. On Friday, Craig Harrison will host the Conservation Committee meeting during lunch. Bon appetite!

Junior/Senior biologist career luncheon (no-host) Students/junior biologists can come and meet professionals from universities, agencies, NGOs, and consulting companies to talk about career options. This luncheon will occur Saturday, February 18 at noon. People interested in attending should sign up when registering for the conference so we can anticipate numbers ahead of time and make reservations at either the Pond Café or the DayLodge Café. Junior biologists (technicians, students, those fresh out of school or just starting their careers) should send in name requests of senior biologists they would like to meet. Senior biologists that would like to volunteer their time for this should also send in their names. Coordinator is Shiway

Wang, PSG Student Representative (shiway@sfos.uaf.edu). Student/Junior Biologist Gathering Student/junior biologists can gather informally at the bar in the hotel or at the Sitzmark at 9 pm, after the opening reception, on Thursday, February 16. This provides an opportunity at the beginning of the conference to become acquainted with one another. The location for this gathering will be announced at the meeting. Silent Auction Last year’s silent auction was a huge success, with PSG receiving over $2000 in profit! Let’s see

what we can do this year! Proceeds from the silent auction will be used to support our student travel-awards program. Please bring items to donate to the auction; these can be dropped off at the registration desk. Bids will be

accepted throughout the meeting. Please indicate your bid for items on the bid sheet that accompanies each item. Bid sheets can be downloaded from the website for printing. Bidding will close at 18:30 hrs on Saturday, February 18. Successful bids will be posted shortly after 19:00 hrs and will be announced during the banquet. You need not be present at the banquet to be eligible. We

will accept payment in the form cash or check ONLY. Please contact Shiway Wang, PSG Student representative (shiway@sfos.uaf.edu) if you have any questions. The Skua 3K Ski/Snowshoe Classic

This will be the inaugural (and probably only) Seabird Ski/Snowshoe race in the

history of the PSG. It will take place Friday, February 17 at 18:00 - 19:00 hrs, prior to the reception/poster session. The race trail will be lit by lights at the night-skiing facilities on the downhill slopes at Alyeska. The race will begin

at the hotel, wind through Moose Meadows, and finish back at the hotel. All abilities, age groups, and styles are welcome. It’s all about getting out and having

fun and, no, it will not be (very) cold. Prizes will be awarded at the banquet on Saturday night. Sign up for the free race when you register.

Cross-country ski packages ($15/day) and snowshoes ($12/day) can be rented from the hotel. Native Alaskan Dance Troupe The King Island Singers and Dancers of Anchorage will be performing on the evening of Thursday, February 16. The late Paul Tiulana founded the King Island Dancers and Singers in the 1970s to preserve the traditional values and rich heritage of the King Island people. The Bureau of Indian Affairs relocated the King Island people to the mainland in 1959, and Tiulana was dedicated to keeping their rich traditions alive. Although the King Islanders abandoned their village, which they call Ukivok, they never gave up on their culture or their identity as a population of Inupiat Eskimos whose lifestyle had been unique. They remain today a community in exile—400 former inhabitants, children, and grandchildren who maintain a village

council, and the King Island Native Corp., which owns the island. The famous King Island Dancers entertain at Alaska Native events, using traditional songs, drumming, and dances to tell stories of legendary hunts and village life that go back many generations. Most of the dance equipment and dance masks the group uses today were hand made by Paul and his son, Eugene. The King Island Dancers and Singers have performed all over Alaska and the world. Banquet and award ceremony The banquet will take place on Saturday, February 18, and the menu will be an Alaska Seafood Buffet. Vegetarians, do not despair: there will be plenty for you to eat there too! The spread will

include such tasty treats as marinated Seldovian clams and mussels, Alaska smoked salmon and halibut, chilled king crab cocktail, Kachemak Bay shrimp salad, mixed green salad, smoked salmon chowder, grilled salmon fillet, roast halibut, garlic mashed potatoes, rice pilaf, seasonal fresh vegetables, lemon almond tart, and chocolate fondant cake.

The awards ceremony will follow the banquet. The Lifetime and Special Achievement Awards will be presented, as will be awards for best student papers and best student poster. The winners of the Skua 3K Ski/Snowshoe Classic will also be honored! Post Banquet Band Always a relaxing highlight at the end of a conference, this has been a favorite for years. For those that prefer to have a little quiet time at the end of the banquet, there is an area outside the ballroom with lots of comfy couches and an open fireplace to catch up with old friends. Vendors Organizations and companies will have booths at the meeting providing information and selling local merchandise.

FIELD TRIPS

All field trips take place on Sunday, February 19, 2006. You must reserve your spot by December 15, 2005.

A. DOG SLEDDING WITH AN IDITAROD TEAM

Heighten your Alaskan experience with the most original form of travel in the North Country, dog sledding. Accompanied by your guide from Chugach Express Dog Sled Tours <http://www.alaska.org/girdwood/chugach-express.jsp> you will go onto the trail. The trail is located at the Moose Meadows Trail head, less than a mile from the Alyeska Prince Hotel. A hotel shuttle bus will take you to the dog kennel to begin your excursion. Trips will begin at 10:00 hrs. Prices for 2006 have not yet been set. Typically, for anybody that signs up in 2005, even if the actual tour takes place in 2006, the lower rate will apply. 2006 rates will be set this October and apply to anyone signing up after December 31, 2005. (i) IDITAROD CLASSIC PROGRAM This tour lasts about an hour program, participants not only get to learn about sled-dogs and the Iditarod, cuddle puppies, witness these dogs’ enthusiasm, but even get to handle a sled themselves. The trail that participants drive the dog team on is very safe. This tour is very personalized—the musher (Dario) works with people of various degrees of ability. Depending on conditions, group size is 3-4 people. All of the dogs have run the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and are very well socialized. This program is designed for you to gain a true appreciation for these amazing canines as athletes. COST: $123/adult; $81.50/child (under 12) (ii) IDITAROD GROUP PROGRAM There is also a group program for those who want to spend less money. A sled ride (5-10 minutes) is included; however you don't get to drive the sled. The educational part is the same as the Iditarod Classic tour. This program a good way for a group to get a taste of mushing. A minimum of 12 people is required for this tour. COST: $40.50/person

B. SEWARD TOUR Seward is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park <http://www.nps.gov/kefj/>, which includes coastal mountains, glaciers, and fjords and supports numerous marine mammals and seabirds. Seward itself is a historic town, and birding can be good there. Three options for this trip are listed below. Round-trip transportation is available from Girdwood to Seward and return. You can take a pelagic cruise on Resurrection Bay from Seward, tour the Alaska SeaLife

Center, and/or visit the town. Options (i) and (ii) include a 3-hr cruise on Resurrection Bay. Birding during this time of year is extremely variable. Possible wintering seabirds during this time of year include Pacific Loon, Yellow-billed Loon, Red- throated Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Sooty Shearwater, Northern Fulmar, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Pelagic Cormorant, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Steller’s Eider, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye, Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Black-legged Kittiwake, Glaucous-winged Gull, Horned Puffin, Tufted Puffin, Parakeet Auklet, Ancient Murrelet, Marbled Murrelet, Kittlitz’s Murrelet, Pigeon Guillemot, and Surfbird. Marine-mammal sightings could include Northern Sea Otter, Steller Sea Lion, Harbor Porpoise, Dall’s Porpoise, and Killer Whale. For more information go to the tour company web site <http://www.kenaifjords.com/> Equipment: Bring rain gear and warm clothes (including wool hat, gloves, and long underwear); waterproof boots are recommended. Also bring snacks, sunglasses, a scarf or face mask, binoculars, bird books, cameras, and lots of film. The boat has a large heated indoor cabin to get out of the weather. In all options, you can visit the Alaska SeaLife Center <http://www.alaskasealife.org/>. The SeaLife Center is an aquarium that specializes in displays of Alaskan seabirds, marine mammals, and other marine life. It is also a premier research and rehabilitation facility. Option (i): The full tour, including round-trip shuttle from Girdwood to Seward, boat tour (including lunch), and a tour of the Alaska SeaLife Center. Schedule: Leave Girdwood at 09:30 hr., arrive Seward at 11:30 hr; boat tour with Kenai Fjords Tours (lunch provided) at 12:00 hr to 15:00 hr; SeaLife Center tour at 15:00 hr to 16:30 hr; leave Seward at 17:00 hr., arrive Girdwood at 19:30 hr. Note: If it is too windy, the boat portion of the tour will be refunded to you. Tour cost: $80/person for boat and Alaska SeaLife Center tour. Transportation: $52/person for round-trip from Girdwood to Seward (5 hrs round-trip). Total cost: $132/person Option (ii): Round-trip shuttle from Girdwood to Seward (09:30 to 11:30 hr) and return (17:00 to 19:00 hr). From 11:30 hr to 17:00 hr, you would be on your own in Seward. Potential things to do are to walk around town, where you may find Common Redpolls, Pine Grosbeaks, White-

winged Crossbills, and Rosy Finches. You can also walk along the waterfront and potentially see many of the wintering seabirds listed below, as well as Northern Sea Otters and Steller Sea Lions. A spotting scope would be a useful addition to good binoculars. Renting a car would allow you to explore Miller’s Landing and Lowell Point (south of town) and Fourth of July Basin (on the eastern side of the Bay). Seabirds could be anywhere in Resurrection Bay, depending upon the weather, so this would allow for more complete coverage. In addition, one could take a short hike among the sitka spruce at Lowell Point State Recreation Area. You can visit the SeaLife Center on your own; it will be open to the public 10:00 - 17:00 hr. Prices: adults $14; children (7-12 yrs) $11; children ≤ 6 are free. Total cost: $52/person for round-trip shuttle transportation only. Does not include admission to Alaska SeaLife Center. Option (iii): Travel on your own to Seward by car and go on the 3-hour Kenai Fjords boat cruise and tour of the Alaska SeaLife Center. Total cost: $80/person C. FUR RENDEZVOUS (on your own) Also known as “Fur Rondy,” this is Anchorage's annual winter festival. It begins Friday, February 17 and runs until March 5. This event includes the World Championship Sled Dog Races.

Some of the events for Sunday, February 19 are; Junior World Championship Sled Dog Race State Hide & Horn Auction Carnival Men’s Original Snowshoe Softball Women’s World Championship Sled Dog Race For more information on this event, go to <http://www.furrondy.net/>

D. SKIING, SNOWSHOEING, TUBING, AND ICE SKATING (on your own) The Alyeska Resort offers a variety of winter activities. Lift tickets for full-day alpine skiing are just $40 for hotel guests. Beginner "learn to ski" packages that include equipment rental and a lesson begin at just $50. Night skiing (16:30 - 21:30 hr; $21) is available on Friday and Saturday nights. Call the Alyeska ticket office (907) 754-2275 or 754-2274 to find out all the different price options (i.e. child, half day,

family, hotel discounts). Ski rental is also available. Cross-country ski trails run near the resort and throughout Glacier Valley for public use. The rental shop on the second floor of the hotel offers equipment for alpine skiing, nordic skiing, and snowshoeing. Tubing is fun for the entire family and provides enjoyment for all ages and abilities. The new Glacier Tubing Park at Alyeska includes 3 lanes of rolling terrain and a surface lift. Tubes are issued to ticket buyers at the base of the hill. Adults $15, children $10. The Alyeska Prince Hotel also has a lighted outdoor skating pond, which is open to the public from November to April, conditions permitting. Ice skate rentals are available in the Fitness Center, adjacent to the ice skating pond, for $5/day. E. SNOWMOBILING, OCEAN WILDLIFE TOURS, HELI SKIING, FLIGHT SEEING, AND SLEIGH RIDES (on your own) These activities may be arranged through Guest Services at the Alyeska Prince Hotel. Contact Rachel Beissmann (907-754-2108 or guestservices@alyeskaresort.com) to arrange one of the many adventures available. More information on trips is available at <http://www.alyeskaresort.com/page.asp?intNodeID=10914&switchLang=true>

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

Plenary Speakers

G. Vernon Byrd. Vern Byrd is the Supervisory Wildlife Biologist for the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. He has conducted research on birds in Alaska and the North Pacific since the late 1960s, emphasizing studies of the ecology of seabirds in the Aleutian Islands. He will present a Plenary Lecture on the history of seabird research in Alaska. He is also the Recipient of the PSG’s 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be presented after the banquet at the awards ceremony on Saturday, 18

February.

Aevar Petersen Aevar Petersen (b. 1948) completed his B.Sc. Honours degree in zoology

from Aberdeen University, Scotland in 1971. He received his Ph.D in ornithology from Oxford University, England, in 1981. He has been employed by the Icelandic Institute of Natural History since 1978, and has been the director of Reykjavik Division since 1994. He will present a Plenary Lecture on the the Circumpolar Seabird Working Group and his work in Iceland. 3rd plenary speaker will be from the Seabirds as Indicators of Marine Ecosystems Symposium and will be announced at a later date. Special Achievement Award Mark Rauzon

Mark J. Rauzon is a self-employed wildlife biologist, writer, and photographer who has conducted research and conservation projects on seabirds in Alaska, Hawaii, California, and the remote Pacific atolls since the early 1970s. He has emphasized projects that remove feral cats to restore seabird populations in the South Pacific. Mark has authored numerous scientific articles and books, including the children’s book “Seabirds” and the award-winning “Isles of Refuge: The History and Wildlife of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands”. In addition, his seabird drawings have appeared frequently in Pacific Seabirds. He is the recipient of the PSG’s 2006 Special Achievement Award, which will be presented after the banquet at the awards ceremony on Saturday, February 18.

Symposium/Special paper sessions Symposium: Seabirds as Indicators of Marine Ecosystems Conveners: John Piatt, john_piatt@usgs.gov and Bill Sydeman, wjsydeman@prbo.org Are seabirds useful and reliable indictors of change in the marine environment? This symposium is dedicated to answering this question in some detail, drawing upon the expertise of a dozen or so invited speakers from around the globe, and by opening this question up to all PSG members attending the 33rd Annual Meeting who may wish to contribute to the symposium (student support is also available, see “Travel Awards”). We have identified three broad themes in using seabirds as indicators of marine ecosystems: (1) Indicators of their forage base ecology (changes in plankton/fish community composition, distribution, abundance, size/age classes; predictors of stock abundance; functional relationships; competition with human fisheries), (2) Indicators of marine habitat (demarcation of bio-physical features like fronts, water masses, and prey aggregations; habitat quality, productivity, and hotspots; contamination by oil, organochlorines; entanglement in fishing gear), and, (3) Indicators of changing climate (anomalies; cyclical

ENSO and decadal oscillations; climate regime shifts; global warming, effects on polar systems). In addressing these themes, we are asking participants to critically evaluate the role of seabirds as indicators: What are they good at indicating, and what are they not useful for? Are there better, more cost-effective indicators? To what kind of signals are they most sensitive? What parameters and species are most useful or practical to measure? Are responses species-specific? How does seabird role compare with other taxa or measurements? What is role of spatial and temporal scaling in interpretation of seabird response to change? What new techniques can be applied to facilitate use of seabirds as indicators? If we predict certain environmental changes in the future, which seabirds and parameters should we be measuring to detect or monitor those changes? The symposium will take place over all three days of the PSG Annual Meeting. Invited speakers will present papers in plenary morning sessions and during a special NPRB sponsored lunch. Additional talks and posters will be given during regular sessions. A workshop with invited speakers will be held on the last day to summarize the findings and conclusions of the symposium. This symposium is being supported by the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB), and represents one step in an effort to develop an integrated marine research strategy for Alaska. The ultimate goal is to identify potential seabird studies that can contribute to the mission of the NPRB, “to build a clear understanding of North Pacific ecosystems that enables effective management and sustainable use of marine resources”. We plan to publish some of the papers presented at this PSG symposium and important conclusions of the symposium will be incorporated into the NPRB research strategy. In addition to the session coordinators identified above, cooperators on the NPRB funded symposium and strategic research planning effort include G. Vernon Byrd (Vernon_Byrd@fws.gov), Dave Irons (David_Irons@fws.gov), and Alan Springer (ams@ims.uaf.edu). Questions about the symposium and NPRB strategic plan can be directed at any of the cooperators listed here. Special Paper Session: Seabird/Fisheries Interactions. Session Coordinator: Falk Huettmann, fffh@uaf.edu Seabirds are known to reflect changes in ocean habitat. Fisheries can affect and modify this ecosystem. This session attempts to present the view from the fisheries industry and other stakeholders, as well as the interactions that commercial human activities can impose on seabirds. Emphasis will be given on quantified information, on how to determine impact thresholds for management, on various policy implementations, and on progressive approaches relevant for a sustainable management and for safeguarding marine wildlife in the future. The session will close with a public discussion on seabird-fisheries issues with relevant stakeholders being present. Special Paper Session: What Chemical Analyses Can Tell Us About Seabirds Session Coordinator: Stacy Vander Pol, stacy.vanderpol@nist.gov This session will focus on specific methodologies (chemical analyses) in relation to a wide variety of investigations in seabird biology and ecology (e.g., diet/food webs, toxicology, reproductive success, mass beachings). By combining data from chemical analyses, such as fatty acid signatures, stable isotope ratios, and contaminant burdens, with a more applied approach to

understanding seabird biology and ecology, we can start to work together to develop new ideas and collaborations. Special Paper Session: Ecology of Planktivorous Alcids Session Coordinator: Ian Rose, roseia@onid.orst.edu Plantivorous alcids are more diverse in the North Pacific than in the North Atlantic. This session will focus on the ecology and conservation of planktivorous alcids in both regions, principally the Alaskan auklets, Dovekies, and to a lesser extent, guillemots and murres. A special emphasis will be placed on life histories of these alcids in relation to their zooplanktonic prey.

CALL FOR PAPERS

THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL MEETING

PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP 15-19 FEBRUARY, 2006

Alyeska Prince Hotel, Girdwood, Alaska

Abstract Submission Deadline: 15 December, 2005

We invite you to submit an abstract for an oral or poster presentation on seabird breeding biology, foraging ecology, energetics, physiology, population biology, systematics, genetics, conservation biology, fishery interactions, restoration ecology, or any other topic relevant to seabirds. All abstracts must be received no later than 15 December 2005. You will be notified regarding acceptance of your paper. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DATE MUST BE FIRM. ABSTRACTS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE MAY NOT BE INCLUDED! If you are submitting a paper for the Symposium or one of the Special Paper Sessions listed

below, in addition to sending your abstract to the Scientific Program Chair (Katie O’Reilly – see below), please email the convener/coordinator directly and let them know of your intention to submit. Symposium: Seabirds as Indicators of Marine Ecosystems. Contact Conveners: John Piatt, john_piatt@usgs.gov and Bill Sydeman, wjsydeman@prbo.org Special Paper Sessions: 1. Seabird/Fisheries Interactions. Contact Coordinator Falk Huettmann (fffh@uaf.edu) 2. What Chemical Analyses Can Tell Us About Seabirds. Contact Coordinator Stacy Vander

Pol (stacy.vanderpol@nist.gov) 3. Ecology of Planktivorous Alcids. Contact Coordinator Ian Rose (roseia@onid.orst.edu) People who are presenting papers as part of the Symposium and wish to have their paper considered for publication in the Symposium Proceedings must submit their manuscript to the Conveners, John Piatt and Bill Sydeman, at the meeting. Please submit your abstract along with the following transmittal form for each paper in one of two ways: Email: Submit the abstract and transmittal forms as two separate attachments. You may download the abstract format and transmittal form. The body of the message must be in Microsoft Word® format. Include your name (and add a number if you are submitting more than one paper) in the abstract and transmittal form filenames (e.g., smith1 abstract.doc, smith1 transmittal form.doc.) The submittal address is oreilly@up.edu. Diskette: Send a disk or CD together with a printed copy of your abstract and transmittal form to: Katie O’Reilly Department of Biology, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203, USA

Phone: 503-943-7146 Fax: (503) 943-7784 Label your disk with file name of your abstract and transmittal form

ABSTRACT TRANSMITTAL FORM

Name: Are you eligible for the student paper awards? (Circle one)

Yes No Which type of paper are you submitting? (Circle one) Poster Oral Either Poster or Oral Symposium: Seabirds as Indicators of Marine Ecosystems Special Session: Seabird/Fisheries Interactions Special Session: What Chemical Analyses Can Tell Us About Seabirds Special Session: Ecology of Planktivorous Alcids If you are not submitting an abstract for the Symposium or one of the Special Paper Sessions, please list the general discipline for which you believe your abstract is most appropriate (e.g., breeding biology, foraging ecology, conservation, etc.). A PowerPoint projector will be provided. Do you have any sort of non-standard audio-visual requirements? Please describe.

ABSTRACT FORMAT

THE IMPORTANCE OF REGISTERING EARLY FOR THE PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP 2006 ALASKA MEETING Verena A. Gill*1, and Kathleen O’Reilly2, 1U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 341, Anchorage, AK 99503 USA, verena_gill@fws.gov; 2Department of Biology, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203 USA

Put the title in capitals. Return twice. Put the authors’ names in Italics. Indicate the speaker with an asterisk. Use superscripts for authors with different addresses. Include the email address of the senior author. Do not put a period after the email address. Return twice. Indent three spaces. Single space the body of the abstract. Place only one space after periods. Avoid abbreviations. Include scientific names of species (Italics in parentheses). Please include results and avoid using phrases such as “will be discussed.” A word processor count of the body of the abstract should not exceed 250 words. Presenters will be notified later regarding length of oral presentation and scheduling, as well as size of posters. Use Times New Roman 11 font with one-inch margins.