Comments on: Welcoming Birds Back to a Remote Alaskan Island

By: Dustin Solberg

Dustin Solberg — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:57:39 +0000

Field biologists are back at Rat Island this summer, and so are the birds! This is the first year in which measurable increases in native bird populations are expected – 2009 presented the first full rat-free breeding season in more than 200 years. It’s also the fourth consecutive year in which biological monitoring has occurred on the island — this includes standardized surveys for landbirds, shorebirds, seabirds, waterfowl, game birds, birds of prey, and intertidal and vegetative communities. A second visit in late August finishes invasive rat-detection monitoring.

The eagles and gulls that were collected on Rat Island last summer and tested for rodenticide residue all were positive. Therefore, we know the birds were exposed, and they likely died from rodenticide exposure. This was not expected and we are deeply saddened. We have commissioned an independent review of our procedures to understand what happened, and how we can prevent this sort of non-target mortality from occurring again.

We remain cautiously optimistic that the island is free of rats, and expect a full recovery of native habitat and species assemblages.

By: RKB

RKB — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:41:46 +0000

I’m following up on my June 2009 comment… any further information on this island and the bird deaths?

By: Colin Ryder

Colin Ryder — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:44:15 +0000

Congratulations from New Zealand on what seems to have been a successful effort in an extremely challenging location. It’s good to see that New Zealanders were involved in this project – pest eradications on islands is an area where we can make a real contribution to conservation globally.

While the collateral damage is both sad and unfortunate, it has to put into context. Experience elsewhere has shown that the numbers of the affected species bounce back very quickly without the ecological pressures imposed by rats and other invasive animals.

By: BirdAdvocate

BirdAdvocate — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:07:25 +0000

I first became interested in Alaska’s Aleutian chain in 1968 when I was issued orders to the Alaskan Air Command’s radar site at Shemya, which is also in the chain.

Luckily, I was diverted to Sparrevohn, AFS, on the mainland which was still remote, but considerably less barren.

I commend your efforts and add my best wishes for your continued successes.

By: Edna MacLean

Edna MacLean — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:13:56 +0000

Keep up the good work! Aarigaa!

By: Darci Palmquist

Darci Palmquist — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:12:28 +0000

RKB: We don’t know the answer to that question yet. We’re waiting on results from the lab. We’ll post an update when we have more info.

By: RKB

RKB — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:45:59 +0000

It sounds like the eagles and gulls are collateral damage. Did they die of rat poison or rat-starvation?