Jones, H.P. and Kress, S.W. 2012. Global review of active seabird restoration projects. Journal of Wildlife Management, 76(1): issue (Jan 2012) - in press

NOTE: An online copy of the paper will be available after December 20, 2011, at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1937-2817/earlyview

Summary:
Seabird translocation refers to relocating seabird chicks from donor islands and rearing them to an age of independence at new sites. This method, first successfully used at Eastern Egg Rock for Atlantic Puffins, has now proved a central part of restoration plans for a wide range of seabirds, especially those where the chicks tend to return to their natal site. This behavior- known as natal philopatry- is central to several recent restoration projects with highly endangered species such as Short-tailed Albatross (Japan) and Cahow (Bermuda). Social Attraction is the attraction of birds to new sites using decoys, sound recordings, mirrors and artificial nests. This method is most effective with seabirds that show relatively little philopatry, such as terns and gulls. The review paper identified 128 projects using these methods to benefit 47 species in 14 countries. This includes about 15% of all seabird species. The methods have also been used to reduce risks from hunting and egg collecting, oil spills, ocean level rise and fisheries conflicts. Active restoration also can help to restore ecological processes, as large seabird colonies function to cycle marine nutrients to terrestrial ecosystems and create habitats for other animals.