SURVEYS OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF SEABIRDS FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF PROPOSED GEOTHERMAL PROJECT SUBZONES IN THE DISTRICT OF PUNA, HAWAII

Authors

Michelle Reynolds, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
George Ritchotte, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Anthony Viggiano, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Jill Dwyer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Bonnie Nielson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
James D. Jacobi, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Date of this Version

August 1994

Comments

Published by Association for Information and Image Management. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Permission to use.

Abstract

In 1993, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) entered into an interagency agreement with the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct specific biological surveys to identify potential impacts of the proposed geothermal development on the natural resources of the East Rift Zone (Figure 1). This report presents information from published literature information and new field data on seabird populations on the island of Hawaii. These data are analyzed with regard to potential impacts of geothermal development on seabird populations in this area. Fifteen species of seabirds, waterbirds, and shorebirds are documented or suspected of being found using habitats within or immediately adjacent to the three geothermal subzones located in the Puna district on the island of Hawaii (Table 1). Of these species, two are on the federal Endangered Species List, three are on the State of Hawaii Endangered Species List, and all 15 axe protected by the federal Migratory Bird Act.