Due to recent interest in developing offshore wind energy infrastructure around the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center (USGS–WERC) partnered with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) from 2013–2016 to study breeding Hawaiian seabird distributions, habitat utilizations, and ranging behaviors within near-island and outer continental shelf waters. In this study, we employed several bio-logging technologies to track at-sea movement and behavior of five MHI-breeding seabird species: Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster), Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis), Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda), Red-footed Booby (Sula sula), and Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica). Studies were conducted at multiple breeding colonies on or near the islands of Maui, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i. We utilized Global Positioning System (GPS) tags to track seabird spatial movements, temperature-depth recorders (TDRs) to measure diving and immersion patterns, and accelerometry to identify behaviors. This data release provides all data collected in this study, organized into the following sections: 1. Deployments – Summary of all deployment and ancillary information for birds on which bio-loggers were deployed and for which data were recovered. To be used in conjunction with compiled bio-logger data (2–5, below) in this data release. 2. GPS-e-obs – GPS and accelerometry data collected using e-Obs model tags 3. GPS-iGotU – GPS data collected using iGotu model tags 4. TDR FastLog – TDR data of potential dives 5. TDR WetDry – TDR data of wet (immersion) time periods All data are relatable by a unique “DeployID” used for every deployment of a tag (or combination of tags) on a bird. Summary information and file metadata for each section of this release provide specific details on data structure, formatting, and potential use.

In this study, we employed several bio-logging technologies to track at-sea movement and behavior of five main Hawaiian Island (MHI) breeding seabird species (Brown Booby [Sula leucogaster], Laysan Albatross [Phoebastria immutabilis], Red-tailed Tropicbird [Phaethon rubricauda], Red-footed Booby [Sula sula], and Wedge-tailed Shearwater [Ardenna pacifica]) at multiple breeding colonies on or near the islands of Maui, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i. We utilized Global Positioning System (GPS) tags to track seabird spatial movements, temperature-depth recorders (TDRs) to measure diving and immersion patterns, and accelerometry to identify behaviors. The Deployments table provides details of all deployment and ancillary information for birds on which bio-loggers were deployed and for which data were recovered. Each record in this table (represented by a unique “DeployID”) is a deployment event of a bio-logging tag (or combination of tags) on a bird. Each record includes information on: 1. Bird identification (i.e. species, band numbers, breeding stage/phenology, sex, age, nest location, colony/site location); 2. Bio-logger tag types deployed, settings, and data recovered; 3. Deployment and recovery date/time; 4. Morphometric measurements (i.e. mass, culmen) and samples collected (i.e. blood for stable isotope analysis, diet) made at the time of tag deployment and/or recovery. Deployment and ancillary information provided in this table can be joined by DeployID to all types of bio-logger data contained in the other sections of this data release. Note that, although rare, some individuals (represented by a common band number across multiple records) may have been tagged more than once across study years (represented by different DeployID’s across records).

In this study, we employed several bio-logging technologies to track at-sea movement and behavior of five main Hawaiian Island (MHI) breeding seabird species (Brown Booby [Sula leucogaster], Laysan Albatross [Phoebastria immutabilis], Red-tailed Tropicbird [Phaethon rubricauda], Red-footed Booby [Sula sula], and Wedge-tailed Shearwater [Ardenna pacifica]) at multiple breeding colonies on or near the islands of Maui, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i. We utilized Global Positioning System (GPS) tags to track seabird spatial movements, temperature-depth recorders (TDRs) to measure diving and immersion patterns, and accelerometry to identify behaviors. The Deployments table provides details of all deployment and ancillary information for birds on which bio-loggers were deployed and for which data were recovered. Each record in this table (represented by a unique “DeployID”) is a deployment event of a bio-logging tag (or combination of tags) on a bird. Each record includes information on: 1. Bird identification (i.e. species, band numbers, breeding stage/phenology, sex, age, nest location, colony/site location); 2. Bio-logger tag types deployed, settings, and data recovered; 3. Deployment and recovery date/time; 4. Morphometric measurements (i.e. mass, culmen) and samples collected (i.e. blood for stable isotope analysis, diet) made at the time of tag deployment and/or recovery. Deployment and ancillary information provided in this table can be joined by DeployID to all types of bio-logger data contained in the other sections of this data release. Note that, although rare, some individuals (represented by a common band number across multiple records) may have been tagged more than once across study years (represented by different DeployID’s across records).

This database is a compilation of marine mammal and seabird information collected along the Pacific coast of the United States and U.S. territories in the Pacific from surveys that were solicited among regional research communities and persons. Information from standardized surveys was gathered from 2015 to 2018 and includes programs and researchers who collected information regarding seabirds since 1960.

This database is a compilation of marine mammal and seabird information collected along the Pacific coast of the United States and U.S. territories in the Pacific from surveys that were solicited among regional research communities and persons. Information from standardized surveys was gathered from 2015 to 2018 and includes programs and researchers who collected information regarding seabirds since 1960.

We used an automated radio telemetry network to document the activity of radio telemetered Hawaiian forest birds in two study sites, one a continuous forest and the other a fragmented forest. Four bird species were studied: the nectarivorous ʻiʻiwi (Drepanis coccinea) and ʻapapane (Himatione sanguinea), the frugivorous ʻōmaʻo (Myadestes obscurus), and the generalist Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi (Chlorodrepani virens; hereafter ʻamakihi). In the continuous forest we also tracked two non-native species: the frugivorous red-billed leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea), and the generalist warbling white-eye (Zosterops japonicus). Using sequential changes in radio signal strength we were able to estimate when birds were moving or resting. This data release consists of one tabular dataset with 2,026,289 records that contains the bird information, designated activity characterization, telemetry network information, and signal strength.

We used an automated radio telemetry network to document the activity of radio telemetered Hawaiian forest birds in two study sites, one a continuous forest and the other a fragmented forest. Four bird species were studied: the nectarivorous ʻiʻiwi (Drepanis coccinea) and ʻapapane (Himatione sanguinea), the frugivorous ʻōmaʻo (Myadestes obscurus), and the generalist Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi (Chlorodrepani virens; hereafter ʻamakihi). In the continuous forest we also tracked two non-native species: the frugivorous red-billed leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea), and the generalist warbling white-eye (Zosterops japonicus). Using sequential changes in radio signal strength we were able to estimate when birds were moving or resting. This data release consists of one tabular dataset with 2,026,289 records that contains the bird information, designated activity characterization, telemetry network information, and signal strength.

This dataset includes XY coordinates and species and behavioral observations of birds detected in aerial imagery captured over coastal islands along Maine's coast during 30 May. - 3 June 2019. The Partenavia P.68 Observer plane flew over 268 islands within the Gulf of Maine (GOM). The plane flew at an altitude of 310 m above ground level and was equipped with a PhaseOne iXU-RS1000 (100 megapixel) multispectral camera and 70 mm lens to capture 4-band (red, green, blue, (RGB) and near-infrared (NIR) light) imagery with a ground sampling distance of 2 cm/px. Timing for the aerial image collection was selected to reflect peak nesting periods for the focal species (Herring Gull, HERG; Great Black-backed Gull, GBBG; Double-crested Cormorant, DCCO; Common Eider, COEI; and terns, Tern spp.), during which one parent is typically present on the nest. Imagery was captured during daylight in clear weather (i.e., no rain or high winds) for ten separate surveys beginning at different times and with various flight path extents. Although the target was colonial nesting seabirds, any birds that could be identified were noted in the dataset. All images were orthorectified, georeferenced, and mosaicked into images spanning one or more islands. Three observers reviewed the images, identified detected birds to species and behavior, and reconciled any differences. The dataset includes the detections recorded by each observer and the reconciled species and behavior identification. Summaries of the methods and final counts are presented in two theses: Kline, Logan R. 2022. Characteristics contributing to uncertainty in image-based artificial intelligence classifications of colonial nesting birds. M.S. Thesis, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Maine, Orono. 118 pp. Lewis, Meredith A. 2022. A bird's eye view: observer uncertainty in aerial image counts of colonial seabirds and an assessment of the status of coastal island gull and cormorant populations. M.S. Thesis, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Maine, Orono. 113 pp.

This dataset includes XY coordinates and species and behavioral observations of birds detected in aerial imagery captured over coastal islands along Maine's coast during 30 May. - 3 June 2019. The Partenavia P.68 Observer plane flew over 268 islands within the Gulf of Maine (GOM). The plane flew at an altitude of 310 m above ground level and was equipped with a PhaseOne iXU-RS1000 (100 megapixel) multispectral camera and 70 mm lens to capture 4-band (red, green, blue, (RGB) and near-infrared (NIR) light) imagery with a ground sampling distance of 2 cm/px. Timing for the aerial image collection was selected to reflect peak nesting periods for the focal species (Herring Gull, HERG; Great Black-backed Gull, GBBG; Double-crested Cormorant, DCCO; Common Eider, COEI; and terns, Tern spp.), during which one parent is typically present on the nest. Imagery was captured during daylight in clear weather (i.e., no rain or high winds) for ten separate surveys beginning at different times and with various flight path extents. Although the target was colonial nesting seabirds, any birds that could be identified were noted in the dataset. All images were orthorectified, georeferenced, and mosaicked into images spanning one or more islands. Three observers reviewed the images, identified detected birds to species and behavior, and reconciled any differences. The dataset includes the detections recorded by each observer and the reconciled species and behavior identification. Summaries of the methods and final counts are presented in two theses: Kline, Logan R. 2022. Characteristics contributing to uncertainty in image-based artificial intelligence classifications of colonial nesting birds. M.S. Thesis, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Maine, Orono. 118 pp. Lewis, Meredith A. 2022. A bird's eye view: observer uncertainty in aerial image counts of colonial seabirds and an assessment of the status of coastal island gull and cormorant populations. M.S. Thesis, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Maine, Orono. 113 pp.

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for seabird nesting colonies in coastal Hawaii. Vector points in this data set represent locations of seabird colonies. Species-specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set comprises a portion of the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data for Hawaii. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. See also the BIRDS data layer, part of the larger Hawaii ESI database, for additional bird information.