Surf Scoter (© Garret Lau)
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Interactive Website
(data entry)
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Toolkit
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Available
Survey Sites
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Data Analysis
(2010-2011 summary)
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Birds of PSSS
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What is PSSS?
Puget Sound Seabird Survey (PSSS) is a citizen-science survey organized by Seattle Audubon that empowers volunteer birdwatchers to gather valuable data on wintering seabird populations in Puget Sound. Together, our team creates a snapshot of seabird density on more than 2,400 acres of nearshore saltwater habitat. It is the only land-based, multi-month survey in central or south Puget Sound.
Learn more about PSSS: Overview History/Objectives Funders
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For the 2011-12
PSSS Season
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March 3, 2012 Survey Summary:
A grand total of 38 species were reported during the March survey, with no huge surprises. An impressive number of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS persist - with 173 tallied - most in the south Sound. Not to be outdone, SURF SCOTERS assembled 735 individuals in survey sites throughout the Sound, making it the most numerous species for March by far (BUFFLEHEAD was in second place with 224). Eight BLACK SCOTERS rounded out the scoter trifecta. One MARBLED MURRELET at Richmond Beach brought the alcid number up to four, accompanying 13 COMMON MURRE (10 Richmond Beach, 3 West Point N), 6 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS (singles at widespread locations), and 36 PIGEON GUILLEMOTS (6 at Owens Beach, 4 at Point Wilson). All three loon species were represented as well with 9 PACIFIC LOONS (7 at Richmond Beach), 10 RED-THROATED LOONS (6 at Richmond Beach), and 10 COMMON LOONS (4 at Frye Cove County Park in Thurston County).
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NEXT SURVEY WINDOW:
October 6, 2012
(time TBD)
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What is PSSS?
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WHO
Citizen scientists, i.e. beginning to expert birdwatchers!
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WHERE
Survey sites are specific locations established by Seattle Audubon. Nearly all are located on publicly-accessible saltwater shoreline.
See a map of available survey sites here or see all active sites on an interactive map.
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WHEN
All surveys are synchronized to take place during a four hour window (determined by Seattle Audubon) on the first Saturday of the month, October through April. Each survey is 15-30 minutes.
Read the current PSSS schedule here.
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WHAT
All "seabird" species: geese, swans, diving and dabbling ducks, loons, grebes, cormorants, gulls, terns, murres, murrelets, Pigeon Guillemots, auklets and puffins. Because the presence of raptors can affect the distribution of seabirds, hawks, eagles and falcons are also recorded.
Browse all seabird species here.
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PROTOCOL
Using a ruler and a compass, surveyors gathers data that allows scientists to estimate bird density through 'distance sampling?. Simply counting the number of birds in a given location is a simpler approach, but it forces scientists to assume that all birds are detected by observers. In reality, detection of any species declines with the distance from the observer: poor sighting conditions, quality of observing equipment, and observer inexperience all contribute to declining detection likelihood as distance increases. Distance sampling provides a robust approach to estimating density and allow for calculation of less biased density estimates.
Learn more about the PSSS protocol here.
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Major Funding For PSSS Provided By:
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