Oregon State University
$35,954  Nearshore 

Understanding seabird diet composition supplies vital information regarding the health and function of marine food webs. Diet information can inform management decisions for both marine birds – including tufted puffins – and the marine species they feed on. The tufted puffin is an Oregon nearshore strategy species and has declined precipitously in the state over the last 50 years for uncertain reasons. Notably, little is known about the diet of tufted puffins in the region. To address this knowledge gap we launched ‘Birds with Fish’. Birds with Fish is a community science initiative to engage nature photographers to contribute photos of birds with fish and other marine prey to our online portal. While obtaining photos of tufted puffins requires technical photography equipment, other species like common murres and pigeon guillemots are often viewable in close enough proximity that smart phones can be used. In 2022-2023, we ran a proof-of concept field effort at the Haystack Rock tufted puffin and common murre colony to photograph both species with bill loads containing fish for their chicks. Our OCRF project will continue these efforts to better understand what marine birds are eating along the coast and how tufted puffin prey composition changes with environmental conditions. Determining the appropriate conservation actions depends on access to adequate biological background knowledge, which is unfortunately lacking for this species in the Pacific Northwest. Our project is therefore designed to address an ecological question and also provide accessible information, education and engagement opportunities to a diverse group of Oregonians and visitors. By simultaneously engaging the nature photography community through Birds with Fish, building awareness about avian conservation in coastal communities, and collecting much-needed data on marine bird diets along the coast, we can begin to better understand the role that marine birds play in nearshore food webs.