National Park Service Grant: Research on Black Oystercatchers in Southwest Alaska

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

This Task Agreement (Agreement) is being entered into by and between the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), Kenai Fjords National Park (KEFJ) and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). The goal of this agreement is the implementation of a collaborative study involving NPS and UAF scientists to examine black oystercatcher diet and chick provisioning throughout the nesting season to ensure robust interpretation of trends observed in long term monitoring data collected for this species.
The Nearshore Monitoring Protocol under the Southwest Alaska Inventory and Monitoring Program incorporates annual monitoring of black oystercatcher population abundance, nest density and productivity, and prey species and sizes provided to chicks. However, each of these metrics is estimated from a single visit to Kenai Fjords and Katmai National Parks annually. Data resulting from a single observation are recognized as potentially influenced by events that occur both prior to and following the visit, including breeding failure, and egg and chick mortality. Additionally, the collection of prey remains brought to nest sites to provision chicks can only reflect what was provided prior to the collection date and does not include data about soft bodied prey, prey items brought to chicks away from the nest site, or prey items brought to the area by other birds such as gulls and crows. To address these issues, we propose examining black oystercatcher nests, diet and chick provisioning to ensure robust interpretation of trends observed in long term monitoring data collected for this species.
Our objectives in the proposed research are to: 1) Estimate productivity at 20 black oystercatcher nest sites over two years 2) Determine sources of disturbance and mortality to adults, eggs, and chicks prior to fledging 3) Estimate rates of energy delivery to chicks through repeated collections of prey shell remains and observations of prey deliveries 4) Estimate productivity and fledging success as a function of prey provisioning.

The partner, in cooperation with the National Park Service will:

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT -Substantial Involvement : Substantial involvement on the part of the National Park Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, the National Park Service will be responsible for the following:

The NPS will play a substantial role in this study by providing project oversight, historical data, logistical support, supplies and equipment, staffing and training. The NPS has conducted previous studies on black oystercatchers that will inform this study and personnel familiar with previous work and archived historical data will contribute important insight into the design and implementation of this study. The NPS will provide field housing and transportation to support this study. The graduate student and field technicians will conduct research in the fjords based out of field camps from smaller NPS motor boats provided for the study. The NPS will also provide transportation to and from field sites via the M/V Serac, small boats, and water taxis. The NPS will also provide all necessary field gear (float coats, dry bags, GPS units, survival gear, field camp supplies, etc.) and a ruggedized laptop for the project. The NPS will be responsible for hiring and supervising a field technician for the project and will provide in-kind personnel support (GS-07 term biological technician and GS-11 ecologist) to assist with field work and to help arrange logistics. The NPS will provide the motor boat operator and bear safety training to all personnel working on this project.

The goal of this project is to inform a long-term monitoring program for black oystercatchers in southwest Alaska. The NPS involvement will ensure that results of this study will provide the information needed to inform our monitoring program. Historical data, monitoring data and local knowledge of the study site provided by the NPS will be critical to the project¿s success. KEFJ is a logistically challenging place to conduct research. Without in-kind support provided by the NPS, this project would be cost-prohibitive. The NPS will be providing motor boats to conduct the field research, field housing, as well as the necessary training for staff to operate safely in the field.

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION: Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria: Unique Qualifications

Single Source Justification Description:

Dr. Abby Powell at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) has extensive experience conducting research and field studies on the growth, productivity, behavior and health of shorebirds. She has conducted previous research at Kenai Fjords National Park (KEFJ) on black oystercatchers (see Morse, Powell, and Tetreau. 2006. Productivity of Black Oystercatchers: Effects of Recreational Disturbance in a National Park. Condor 108:623-633). In 2013, Abby Powell and a graduate student completed a pilot study on black oystercatcher chick provisioning in KEFJ and this proposed project will be a full implementation of the study based on the initial findings and study plan produced. This project will build on her previous work at the park, so she is uniquely suited to conduct the proposed research. Her familiarity with the park and expertise with the study species will have a significant positive impact on the project. The location of the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, AK will allow cooperators to drive to the Seward for field work and meetings, greatly reducing travel costs.
Technical contact information: Laura Phillips, laura_phillips@nps.gov, 907-422-0540, National Park Service, Alaska Region,
End of FOA