AREA 429, San Francisco (cont'd.) 



Oakland International Airport 3743'21"N, 12213'46" 



No map is provided for this site in San Francisco Bay. For the most current information contact 

 the California Department of Fish and Game. Least Terns are an endangered species. Populations 

 of Least Terns are surveyed annually. 



Least Tern (Erickson,1978,L) 12 



Least Tern 14 (Atwood, 1977,1} 12 



Farallon Islands 374V53"N, 12300'05"W 



The Farallon Islands constitute the most important area for nesting 

 seabirds on the California coast. Together they contain the largest breeding 

 populations of Ashy Storm-Petrels, Brandt's Cormorants, and Western Gulls 

 in the world and a large percentage of many other California breeding sea- 

 birds (Figure 4). The importance of these islands to marine birds and 

 mammals cannot be overemphasized. 



Uncontrolled exploitation in the past of marine mammals and seabirds 

 on the Farallon Islands led to drastic population declines. Russian and 

 American sealers exterminated the Farallon populations of elephant seals 

 (Mirounga angnstirostris), fur seals (Arctocephalus philippi), and sea otters 

 (Enhydra lutris). Seabird eggs were collected commercially during the gold 

 rush and were sold as food. Well over 14 million murre eggs alone were 

 taken over a 45-year period and murres declined in number from about 

 400,000 in 1860 to less than 5,000 in 1924 (Ainley and Lewis, 1974). 

 For a thorough review of this history read Ainley and Lewis, 1974. 



Today the Farallon Islands are protected as a National Wildlife Refuge 

 and all waters within one mile of the islands make up a state refuge. Most 

 marine mammal and seabird populations are increasing dramatically in 

 numbers and eventual full recovery seems possible. Longterm scientific 

 research on marine mammals and seabirds is being conducted by Point 

 Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO). Only through such studies can we hope to 

 understand and protect these magnificent resources. 



Leach's Storm-Petrel 1,400 (Ainley & Lewis, 1972) 2 



Ashy Storm-Petrel 4,000 (Ainley & Lewis, 1972) 



Brandt's Cormorant 28,000 (PRBO Staff, 1979) 

 Double-crested Cormorant 180 (PRBO Staff, 1979) 



Pelagic Cormorant 2,000 (Ainley & Lewis, 1972) 



Black Oystercatcher 40 (Ainley & Lewis, 1972) 



Western Gull 32,000 .(PRBO Staff, 1979) 1 



Common Murre 60,000^ (PRBO Staff , 1979) 1 



Pigeon Guillemot 3,000 (PRBO Staff, 1979) 



Cassin's Auklet 105,000 (Manuwal , 1971 ) 33 



Rhinoceros Auklet 100 (PRBO Staff, 1979) 



Tufted Puffin 100 (PRBO Staff, 1979) 



Total 236,320 

 For a through review of historical data see AMey and Lewis, 1 974. 



/\ Estimate is number of birds present times 1.67, see page 10. Briggs et al.'s estimate for 7/2/80 aerial 

 survey (also times 1.67) is 138,500. PRBO estimates do not include North Farallon. 



