Research Technical Report

CDFW-OSPR Seabird Program Annual Report 2019

Gibble, C. (January 2020)

California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response, Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center, Santa Cruz, CA. 57pp.

Excerpt - Background and Objectives

The essential functions of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) Seabird Program are to investigate and monitor the health and pathology of marine birds to support to the best achievable care of oiled wildlife and detect emerging threats to seabird populations. This includes coordination with beached bird monitoring programs and wildlife rehabilitation organizations to monitor the trends and causes of mortality of seabirds. We investigate the occurrence and cause of unusual mortality events of seabirds and shorebirds through scientifically structured postmortem exams at the OSPR Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care & Research Center (MWVCRC), sometimes in coordination with the CDFW Wildlife Investigations Lab and the USGS National Wildlife Health Center. The CDFW-OSPR Seabird Program includes: Seabird Program Leader: Cori Gibble, MS, PhD; MWVCRC Veterinary Pathologist: Melissa Miller DVM, PhD, MS, and MWVCRC Facility Director: Laird Henkel, MS.

In addition, we monitor the effects of chronic and unusual oiling events for marine wildlife. We coordinate these investigations with the OSPR wildlife response coordinator, the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN), and the OSPR Petroleum Chemistry Laboratory. The Seabird Program also maintains veterinary supplies and inventory related to oiled marine bird stabilization at the MWVCRC, coordinates with the OWCN, and assists in oil spill readiness and response for oil spills in California.