Vernon Byrd, Alaska Maritime Refuge’s veteran Supervisory Biologist was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) at their annual conference this week.  The Award recognizes “a seabird researcher, educator, or conservationist who has made significant, long-term contributions to seabird science, conservation, and education in the Pacific Ocean or the world.”  Byrd has conducted research on birds in Alaska and the North Pacific since the late 1960’s, focusing mostly on the ecology of seabirds in the Aleutian Islands.  He has developed protocols for monitoring seabird population trends and productivity, fostered numerous national and international partnerships, and has written numerous published articles.  His leadership in invasive species management led to the successful re-colonization by migratory birds of numerous Alaska Maritime Refuge islands culminating in the recovery and delisting of the Aleutian Cackling goose as an Endangered Species. 

PSG is a society of professional seabird researchers and managers dedicated to the study and conservation of seabirds. Its principal goals are: (1) to increase the quality and quantity of seabird research through facilitating exchange of information and (2) to identify and assess the importance of threats to seabird populations and provide government agencies and others with expert advice on managing the threats and populations.