The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement is to monitor and research the federally endangered California least tern breeding colony and to survey the population of the federally endangered light-footed Ridgway’s rail breeding within Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach (Station) and Seal Beach National

credit: 3ders

Wildlife Refuge (SBNWR).

The monitoring of California least tern nesting success, banding of young and some adults, analysis of the breeding success relative to other colonies and past data will greatly increase the site database and also serve to supplement regional information collected regarding known, banded birds from this and other colonies.

The light-footed Ridgway’s rail population at SBNWR has been in decline over the past two decades with alarming lows in recent years.

This survey effort will supplement the existing database, which plays an important role in management decisions for this federally listed species.

Within a regulatory framework, the proposed cooperative agreement would ensure compliance with the 2014 Station’s Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP).

Please see the statement of work, provided as a separate document, for a full description of the project.