Science Working Group Meeting, Channel Islands National Park

The attendees of the SWG meeting at the TNC ranch, Santa Cruz Island, CA (photo courtesy of Jennie Duberstein).

The SJV Science Working Group is an informal committee of avian experts, forming a “conservation think tank” that conducts bird conservation planning, monitoring, and project development for the SJV region. The group meets twice a year alternating between locations in northwest Mexico and the southwestern United States. Meetings are a mix of both work and time in the field, with biological discussions and presentations, as well as field excursions to learn about the work of SJV partners, help collect data, and see local birds.

The endemic Island Scrub Jay was a welcome visitor to outdoor discussions (photo courtesy of the National Park Service).

This June, the Science Working Group had the amazing opportunity to meet on Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the Channel Island chain located off the coast of southern California. Santa Cruz Island is home to a number of rare and endemic plants and animals, including the iconic Island Fox and Island Scrub-Jay. The Channel Islands provide essential nesting and feeding grounds for 99% of seabirds in southern California and important wintering areas and stopover points for shorebirds (learn more). Notable species include the California Brown Pelican, Scripps’s Murrelet, Ashy Storm-Petrel, and Cassin’s Auklet to name a few. One of the major threats to islands (and all habitats) are invasive species. The location was the perfect setting to learn about the work of our partners to remove invasive species, restore habitat, enhance seabird populations, and see some of the results of these efforts firsthand. Our group discussions focused on sharing our lessons learned including finding better ways to facilitate data exchange, as well as strategizing for future project collaboration.

Science Working Group member selfie on a gorgeous hike from Pelican Point to Prisoner’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island (photo courtesy of Jennie Duberstein).

We cannot thank our partners enough for making this opportunity a reality. With attendees from across the SJV region and a remote location to boot, it took a lot of hard work to plan, coordinate, and execute this meeting so effectively. The Nature Conservancy, who owns the majority of Santa Cruz Island, as well as the Channel Island National Park, who manages the remaining portion of the island, were our incredible hosts. In addition, staff members from the USFWS Ventura office, as well as the California Institute of Environmental Studies provided logistical support and so much more.

Interested in being a part of the action? There is no formal membership or application process – anyone with a keen interest and background in bird conservation in the region is welcome to participate in meetings and online discussions through the SJV listserv. Contact Jennie Duberstein with questions.