The
Pribilof Islands are a remote group of volcanic islands in the Bering Sea,
about 200 miles north of the Aleutian Chain, and about 500 miles southeast from
the Russian coast. Check out where we are on the map: http://seabirdyouth.org/pribilof-islands/
Two of
these islands are home to Aleut populations. Read more about the history of the Pribilof Islands
and the importance of the fur-seal on our website: http://seabirdyouth.org/pribilof-islands/
St. Paul has a population of about 480, and St. George has a population of
about 100, and there is a school on both islands. The school on St. George Island only has 11
students!
The
Pribilof Islands have exceptional wildlife. A good proportion of the
world’s population of Northern Fur Seals breed here during the summer months,
and an estimated 2.8 million seabirds nest on the islands. Imagine the
sound, action, and smell with that many fur seals and seabirds! Seabird species
include Common Murres, Thick-billed Murres, Red-legged Kittiwakes, Black-legged
Kittiwakes, Horned Puffins, Tufted Puffins, Least Auklets, Parakeet Auklets,
and Crested Auklets.
Common Murres in the Pribilof Islands © Ram Papish
The Pribilof Island Seabird Youth Network
(SYN) is a partnership between the Pribilof School District, Tribal entities,
the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, and the wider scientific
community. The overall goal of SYN is to learn about seabirds and contribute to
long-term seabird monitoring while providing new experiences and encouraging
the scientific interests and self-confidence of local school kids.
Lessons about seabirds are incorporated into the school curriculum, and summer Seabird Camps are held on the islands. We have a project website www.seabirdyouth.org and students have made two documentaries that will show you more about the communities and the Seabird Network: www.seabirdyouth.org/project-videos
This summer we’re holding a Seabird Camp on
St. Paul Island. One of the main focuses
for the camp will be Marine Debris. We’ll
learn about the risks of marine debris to seabirds and what marine debris
washes up on the Pribilof Islands. We’re hoping to do some beach cleanup,
create some unique marine debris art, conduct an experiment on degradation of plastic pellets in the harbor, and
work with the “Stow-it, don’t throw it” group to make some containers for the
safe disposal of fishing line.
There are no tennis courts on the Pribilof
Islands, and tennis balls are rare.
There is no shortage of coffee though, and we’ll be using plastic Folger
coffee cans for our fishing-line containers. Commercial and most subsistence
fishing from the islands target halibut, with heavier rope used instead of
fishing line. Fishing poles and line are
used off the harbor in town to catch flounders, small cod, greenling and
rockfish, and so we will be placing our coffee can containers here.
Students on St. Paul Island collecting empty coffee containers to convert into fishing line recycling bins
We’ll be posting daily blog posts during camp
(July) so you can follow our progress with the coffee can project. And, we’re really excited to work with the Stow It-Don't Throw It Project to learn more about marine debris issues and
prevention programs around the States.
- Submitted by Ann Harding, Lead Principal Investigator for the Seabird Youth Network.
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