appendix b final 2008 biological surveys of los angeles and long ...

9.0 Birds
discussed in Section 9.4.2. Other nesting species included three Upland species: American
Crow in Zone 34 on riprap, Common Raven on dock/pilings in Zone 7, and European Starling
on dock/pilings in Zone 27. Western Gulls nested on a barge in Zone 4, on riprap in Zone 23,
and on dock/pilings in Zones 23, 25, and 31. In addition, an estimated 450 Brandt’s Cormorants
nested in Zone 23 (see Section 9.5.1). Although not specifically counted, Rock Doves are a
common nesting species at the Ports, particularly on the underside of piers (MEC 2002).
9.6 HISTORICAL COMPARISONS
As mentioned at the beginning of the chapter, the Ports have conducted or sponsored a number
of previous studies of the avifauna in the harbor complex. The major studies include:
• Studies of Marine-associated Birds in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors during
1973–1974 and 1978, prepared by Harbors Environmental Projects (HEP 1976, 1979).
The 1973–1974 work included 43 surveys of 48 zones throughout the nearshore (not
open water) habitats of inner and outer harbors of both Ports. The 1978 work included
quarterly surveys within 31 of the original 43 zones. Data collected included counts of
each species with each zone.
• Outer Long Beach Harbor-Queensway Bay Biological Baseline Survey, prepared by
MBC (1984). Work included 36 weekly and biweekly surveys to record species, counts,
habitat utilization (four habitat types), and bird activity within 10 large stations/survey
zones in the outer harbor and Queensway Bay of the Port of Long Beach.
• A Biological Baseline and Ecological Evaluation of Habitats in Los Angeles Harbor and
Adjacent Waters, prepared by MEC (1988). Work included 24 bimonthly and monthly
surveys in 1986–1987 of the outer harbor of the Port of Los Angeles. Data collected
included species, count, and habitat utilization in seven large blocks/zones.
• Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles 2000 Baseline Study of San Pedro Bay, prepared
by MEC (2002). Surveys by boat of 31 zones in the inner and outer harbors from
February 2000 through January 2001 documented bird species, numbers, behavior, and
habitat utilization. A total of 20 surveys was conducted twice monthly from August
through March and once monthly from April through July, when coastal bird and species
numbers are typically lower due to migratory patterns.
A number of physical changes in topography have occurred within the Ports over the last three
decades. These changes, as well as differences in bird survey methodology among years, limit
historical comparisons to general trends in species numbers, total abundance, and percent
composition of bird guilds. However, more detailed comparisons are possible with the 2000–
2001 surveys because the current study used the same methods and the same study zones.
A similar number of species was observed during the 2008 biological baseline study (96) and
2000–2001 (99) surveys (Figure 9.6-1). Generally, fewer species were observed during earlier
studies that surveyed less area of the harbors or included substantially fewer survey dates. A
total of 77 species was recorded during the 1973–1974 surveys, which included both inner and
outer harbor areas but not open-water habitat. Surveys in the 1980s focused on the outer
harbor, with more species (85) observed during the Long Beach Harbor study that also included
Queensway Bay (MBC 1984) and fewer species (72) during the study limited to outer Los
Angeles Harbor (MEC 1988). Few upland species were noted during historical surveys focused
on the outer harbor (MEC 1988), whereas more than 20 upland species were counted with the
current and 2000–2001 surveys that included both inner and outer harbor habitats. The lowest
number of species (53) was recorded during the 1978 survey, which only included quarterly
2008 Biological Surveys of Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors 9–11
April 2010