On July 27, 2013, the Seabird Protection Network and Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary hosted a Waterbird Disturbance Symposium. The Symposium offered a unique opportunity for an open dialogue among all stakeholders – boaters, pilots, kayakers, resource managers, biologists and educators. The Symposium was a platform to initiate collaborations and develop strong partnerships as we move forward in fostering leaders of waterbird stewardship. This event brought together all the stakeholders needed to work collaboratively to reduce disturbance to seabirds, shorebirds and waterfowl, and improve the health of all waterbird populations in California.
Keynote speaker, Susan K. Jacobson, professor of wildlife ecology and conservation at the University of Florida, shared the latest research in changing human behavior and gave examples of successful collaborations aimed at protecting wildlife.
Below is the agenda, a summary of the Symposium, and results from a pre-workshop survey distributed to all invitees.
Links to presentations from the Symposium can be found below.
Opening Remarks by Maria Brown
Plenary: Ecological Significance of Waterbirds by Ron LeValley
Keynote Address by Susan Jacobson
Handout Developed by Susan Jacobson
Restoration Efforts by Jennifer Boyce
Seabird Protection Network by Sage Tezak
Managing the Western Snowy Plover on urban beaches by Bill Merkle
Break-out Group Activities