Pacific Southwest

Title: Breeding Double-crested Cormorants and Wading Birds on Isla Alcatraz, Sonora, México

Author: Jennifer N. Duberstein, Virginia Jimenez-Serrania, Tad A. Pfister, Kirsten E. Lindquist, Lorayne Meltzer

Date: 2005

Source: In: Ralph, C. John; Rich, Terrell D., editors 2005. Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference. 2002 March 20-24; Asilomar, California, Volume 1 Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-191. Albany, CA: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: p. 166-168

Station ID: GTR-PSW-191

Description: Isla Alcatraz is a small volcanic island in the Eastern Midriff Island region of the Gulf of California, approximately 1.4 km from the fishing community of Bahía de Kino, Sonora, México. The island falls under the protection of the Gulf Island Reserve system for wildlife and migratory birds. Isla Alcatraz is home to one of the largest Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus albociliatus) breeding colonies in western North America (Anderson et al. 1976; Carter et al. 1995). A survey in 1975 estimated a total of approximately 1,500 pairs of breeding Double-crested Cormorants on the island (Anderson in Carter et al. 1995). Except for this initial survey, virtually nothing is known about the Alcatraz population of cormorants. The island is also an important breeding area for Yellow-footed Gull (Larus occidentalis) and at least eight species of wading birds, including the threatened Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens). There are over forty other species of birds that roost and forage on or near the island, including Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii), Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), and Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). A number of conservation issues presently and potentially affect the island, including human disturbance, organic and non-organic trash, and the introduction of exotic species. The close proximity of the island to Bahía de Kino increases the potential for human impact. It also, however, increases the potential for community involvement in research, education, and conservation.

Keywords: 

View and Print this Publication (108 KB)

Publication Notes: 

• We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
• This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.
• You may send email to pubrequest@fs.f ed.us to request a hard copy of this publication. (Please specify exactly which publication you are requesting and your mailing address.)

 Get the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat reader or Acrobat Reader for Windows with Search and Accessibility

Citation

Jennifer N. Duberstein, Virginia Jimenez-Serrania, Tad A. Pfister, Kirsten E. Lindquist, Lorayne Meltzer  2005.  Breeding Double-crested Cormorants and Wading Birds on Isla Alcatraz, Sonora, México.   In: Ralph, C. John; Rich, Terrell D., editors 2005. Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference. 2002 March 20-24; Asilomar, California, Volume 1 Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-191. Albany, CA: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: p. 166-168.