There is high potential for disturbance to seabirds on Alcatraz with over 1. 4 million visitors annually, on-going historic preservation projects, special events, and heavy marine and air traffic within close proximity of the Island.
Understanding these impacts and mitigating their occurrence
is crucial to better protecting the Islands seabird species.
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) has partnered with wildlife research organizations since 1990 to study the seabird colonies and monitor their abundance, distribution, and productivity.
Reliable data on the status and trends of Alcatraz seabird populations is important for park managers to effectively protect resources.
Since Island activities and environmental conditions are dynamic, consistent long term monitoring of species can help detect changes to populations and aid managers in policy decisions.
The Farallon Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to the understanding and preservation of healthy marine ecosystems.
This project will allow GGNRA and Farallon Institute to collaborate on monitoring and research efforts on Alcatraz Island.