Talkin Pets

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced that it has named Matthew E. Bershadker President and CEO. Mr. Bershadker is a 12-year veteran of the ASPCA, serving most recently as Senior Vice President of the Anti-Cruelty Group (ACG). Mr. Bershadker will assume the position June 1, succeeding Edwin Sayres, President and CEO since 2003.

Under Mr. Bershadker’s leadership, the ASPCA has risen to new heights in its response to cruelty and natural disasters. The Anti-Cruelty Group evolved from a fledgling team of responders to a robust, national program that confronts animal cruelty and suffering on all levels across the country.  Mr. Bershadker helped form the Field Investigations & Response team to provide skilled support to state and federal agencies during large-scale puppy mill busts, dog fighting raids, animal hoarding cases, and other instances of animal cruelty as well as natural disasters such as the Joplin, Mo. tornado and Superstorm Sandy. The team has investigated hundreds of cases around the country.  Last year, the ASPCA played a leadership role in the removal of 50 dogs from a Bronx dog fighting ring. Most recently, the ASPCA assisted federal and state authorities in the removal of nearly 100 dogs from a multi-state dog fighting ring.

Prior to leading the Anti-Cruelty Group, Mr. Bershadker served as Vice President of the ASPCA’s Development department, where he was responsible for creating fundraising strategy and implementing tactics for major gifts, planned giving, special events, capital campaign, and corporate and foundation grants.

Chair of the Board Tim F. Wray stated: “Matt is far and away the most outstanding choice to be the next leader of the ASPCA. His extensive experience, energy and unwavering commitment to animal welfare, coupled with his strong understanding of business management and the non-profit world, make him the ideal leader for the organization as we pursue our mission. I, along with the rest of the Board, look forward to working with him in his new role. We thank Ed Sayres for all he has contributed to this organization and the welfare of animals. Ed grew the ASPCA by leaps and bounds and changed the fate of countless homeless animals. We wish him the very best.”

“I am thrilled to serve the ASPCA, its members and the many communities around the country where we play a vital role,” stated Mr. Bershadker. “We have made significant strides on behalf of animals around the country, but there is much more to do. I look forward to working with the executive leadership team and our staff to continue to pursue our mission and develop successful initiatives and programs to take animal welfare to next level.”

Mr. Bershadker has been instrumental in the creation of the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J., the first-ever facility dedicated strictly to providing behavioral rehabilitation to canine victims of cruelty, such as those confiscated from puppy mills and hoarding cases.

During Mr. Bershadker’s tenure, the ASPCA also launched the Cruelty Intervention Advocacy program, a ground-breaking new initiative to help protect companion animals that are in danger of potential abuse or neglect, helping hundreds of New York City’s animals in jeopardy of becoming cruelty victims.

Before joining the ASPCA, Mr. Bershadker worked for ICF Consulting and Share Our Strength (SOS). He received his MBA from Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School and his Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Ohio University.

Mr. Bershadker serves on the board of the Gruber Family Foundation and Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. He lives in New York City with his wife, Nina, son Elias and their dog, Thelma.

About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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Vermont legislators pass H. 50 to better regulate commercial dog breeders

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) applauds Vermont legislators for passing H. 50, a measure that will give officials the tools they need to enforce laws protecting breeding dogs and the puppies they produce by providing clear definitions and eliminating current legal loopholes. H. 50, which previously passed the House unanimously, passed the Senate yesterday, and now awaits Gov. Peter Shumlin’s signature.

“Vermont has a long history of protecting animals, but laws regulating commercial dog breeders in the state are ambiguous, making it nearly impossible to identify and monitor these facilities,” said Bill Ketzer, senior state director of ASPCA Government Relations for the Northeast region. “H. 50 will address this issue as it provides for clearly defined regulations, and we urge Governor Shumlin to sign this legislation into law to keep inhumane puppy mills out of Vermont.”

Sponsored by Rep. John Bartholomew (D-Windsor), H.50 provides a reasonable and much-improved definition of “pet dealer” – encompassing any person selling, exchanging or giving away three or more litters annually – thereby giving municipalities better guidance to determine who must be regulated by law. Under the current federal law, only breeders who have more than three breeding females and sell their puppies to pet stores or puppy brokers need to be licensed and inspected by the USDA. The measure would also allow inspections to occur at any time after a permit has been issued. Current law only requires that inspections occur during “reasonable business hours,” which is vague and allows breeders to manipulate the law to delay inspections indefinitely if desired, allowing even the worst breeders to easily evade inspection and oversight.

“Current regulations in Vermont are missing several key elements that have allowed irresponsible dog breeders to circumvent existing laws,” said Cori Menkin, senior director of the ASPCA’s Puppy Mills Campaign. “H. 50 will ensure that large-scale commercial dog breeding facilities do not spiral out of control and become puppy mills. It will provide some of the many protections Vermont’s animals deserve.”

A puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs. Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. To minimize waste cleanup, dogs are often kept in cages with wire flooring that can injure their paws and legs. Breeding dogs might spend their entire lives outdoors, exposed to the elements, or crammed inside filthy structures with no access to fresh air or sunlight. To maximize profits, female dogs are bred at every opportunity, with little to no recovery time between litters. When, after a few years, they can no longer reproduce, breeding dogs are often killed.

The ASPCA’s national “No Pet Store Puppies” campaign aims to reduce the demand for puppy mill puppies by urging consumers to pledge not to buy any items—including food, supplies or toys—from stores or websites that sell puppies. To learn more about the ASPCA’s efforts to eradicate puppy mills, please visit www.NoPetStorePuppies.com.

About the ASPCA^®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and DMG Entertainment present a PG-13, 130 Minute, action, sci-fi, thriller, adventure, directed by Shane Black, written by Black and Drew Pearce with a theater release date of May 3, 2013.

In Ultimate Survival Alaska, National Geographic Channel Presents
an Epic Competition Series
Where the Only Prize Is Survival
“No watch, no GPS, no phone. Nothin'.
Just the wits and the gear on my back.
And that's the way it should be done.”
–Tyler, Survival Expert
Ultimate Survival Alaska Premieres Sunday, May 12, at 10 PM ET/PT
(WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 17, 2013) They are some the toughest, most extreme survivalists that Alaska has to offer. Going head to head, eight men of a rare breed are about to take the ultimate test of survival in Arctic conditions that only National Geographic could inspire. No tent, phone, watch or GPS. Three thousand miles across Alaska’s wild. This is hardcore. This is old school adventure. Now bring it on.
Starting Sunday, May 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT (before moving to its regular time, Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning May 19), go off the grid with Ultimate Survival Alaska, an epic new series that follows these survival experts on a 10-leg expedition in the brutal and dangerous Alaska terrain. The opponents’ only goal is to make it out alive using just the gear they can carry in their packs. (For more information, see www.natgeotv.com and twitter.com/NGC_PR.)
Dropped in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness by bush plane, they have 72 hours to make their way to the finish point for that leg of the expedition. Using raw, mountain-man ingenuity, they’ll navigate through treacherous glaciated river valleys, barren ridgelines and high mountain peaks, battling hunger, hostile predators and perilous weather conditions along the way.
Says Willi, one of the eight explorers, “I've done so many big peaks on basically all the world's continents. I've done six Everest expeditions. All of us that do this sort of thing. At some fundamental level, we’re not normal, well-adjusted, modern civilized human beings. We're all throwbacks. Because modern life is not enough of a test for us.”
Navigating risky routes that traverse some of the most hostile territory on the planet, they’ll rely on hard survival skills passed down through generations. Like the original National Geographic explorers, for those who succeed there is no grand prize, just the well-fought pride of having conquered the grueling challenges that a beastly Mother Nature can throw at them.
Now, meet Alaska’s most formidable challengers:

Dallas Seavey, 26 years old: The youngest person to ever to win the Iditarod, a grueling thousand-mile race across the state of Alaska through some of the world's toughest conditions.
Tyrell Seavey, 28 years old: Like his brother Dallas, he hails from a legendary family, known by many as Alaskan royalty. He has run the Iditarod twice and won the Jr. Iditarod.
Marty Raney, 56 years old: A veteran mountain guide who has led more than 20 expeditions on and around Denali, the highest peak in North America.
Matt Raney, 30 years old: Marty’s son and an expert in survival. He helped build his family home with Marty with nothing but a chainsaw and the logs on their property.
Austin Manelick, 24 years old: Since the age of 5, he has practiced subsistence hunting under the watchful eye of his Alaskan wilderness guide father.
Willi Prittie, 57 years old: A professional mountain guide for almost 38 years, Willi is considered to be one of the leading climbing and logistical experts in the region.
Tyler Johnson, 36 years old: From exploring Kathmandu to climbing 27,000 feet with no oxygen in Nepal, Tyler is fearless.
Brent Sass, 32 years old: He’s done six 1,000-mile dog sledding expeditions for the Yukon Quest, and has guided excursions through any and all of Alaska’s many landscapes.
Missions include:
Arctic Hell: Sunday, May 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT
Mission: Travel nearly 50 miles in 72 hours from the Brooks Mountain Range, a remote chain that stretches 600 miles from east to west, reaching elevations of nearly 9,000 feet, to Takahula Lake.
The men pick their route: some take the higher land, some follow the river. Expert climber Willi Prittie leads Brent Sass and Tyler Johnson into the high mountains. The bearing they're traveling navigates through rugged peaks, reaching elevations over 4,000 feet. Right from the start, Willi blazes a trail through the high mountains, which exposes them to rugged topography … and wolves. Veteran mountain man Marty Raney is leading his son Matt and survival expert Austin Manelick through the river valley — a direct but treacherous route to the finish — facing 35-degree waters and 15 mile per hour current. Drama ensues when the crew separates in deadly swamp land. Brothers Dallas and Tyrell Seavey navigate a route along the barren ridgeline, traversing wide open terrain with little cover. These born racers are determined to be the first to arrive.
River of No Return: Sunday, May 19, at 9 p.m. ET/PT
Mission: Travel nearly 200 miles in 72 hours down the Yukon River, including a treacherous stretch of rapids.
The men are divided into two groups, building two competing rafts. Mountain man Marty Raney is ready to take charge, building a colossal raft weighing in at nearly 2 tons which he hopes will be sturdy enough to beat the rapids. After spending five hours on construction, the five-man crew get on their way, but hunger starts to take its toll. Dallas Seavey, his brother Tyrell and survival expert Austin Manelick are meticulously engineering a smaller raft that’s speedy and maneuverable to tackle the turbulent Yukon. Tyrell makes a homemade fishing net to get some food. But a partially submerged sandbar and water and rocks tearing at their raft make the crew struggle.

Into the Void: Sunday, May 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
Mission: Travel 25 miles through the snow-capped peaks of the Tordrillo Mountains, over 72 hours.
Helicopters leave the eight explorers on a snow-capped summit. The men split into three groups and approach a 300-foot cliff one team at a time, rappelling down in high winds and low visibility. The men must descend a ravine, and then traverse eight miles of the Triumvirate Glacier. Austin and Tyler circumvent the glacier, traveling along the mountain ridgeline. Mountain man Marty Raney, his son Matt and Brent Sass take a low elevation route and are the first to cross the glacier. Expert climber Willi Prittie and the Seavey brothers navigate far from the icebergs, fighting across 33-degree river water. In Strandline Lake, with 11 miles to go, Tyler and Austin are the last crew to arrive, and Austin's showing signs of hypothermia.
Ultimate Survival Alaska is produced by Brian Catalina Productions for the National Geographic Channel. For Brian Catalina Productions, Brian Catalina is executive producer. For National Geographic Channel, executive producer is Robert Palumbo; Senior Vice President of Programming and Development is Alan Eyres. Executive vice president of programming is Michael Cascio; and president is Howard T. Owens.
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National Geographic Channels
Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society’s commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD. In 2010, the wildlife and natural history cable channel Nat Geo WILD was launched, and in 2011, the Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation’s major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in 84 million U.S. homes. Globally, National Geographic Channel is available in 440 million homes in 171 countries and 38 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.

Theme of ‘Love Your Pet, See Your Vet’ reminds pet owners to show they love their pet with the gift of good health

(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) May 2, 2013—Pet owners love to show their pets affection by showering them with toys, fancy collars and even clothes. In fact, a recent survey indicated dog and cat owners spent $5 billion on gifts for their dogs and cats during the 2012 holiday season. During National Pet Week May 5 – 11 the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reminds pet owners the gift of good health is the best way to show you truly care.

This year’s theme, “Love Your Pet, See Your Vet,” reminds pet owners that regular veterinary medical checkups can detect disease early and keep your pet healthy and happy for many years to come. According to the 2012 AVMA U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographic Sourcebook, nearly 90 percent of dog owners and 75 percent of cat owners indicated that routine check-ups and preventive care are either very or somewhat important. However, the same study revealed that from 2006 to 2011, the number households not visiting the veterinarian increased by 8 percent for dog owners and 24 percent for cat owners.

“Regular veterinary visits are important because many times pets will hide symptoms of illness, so you need your veterinarian’s skill and expertise to keep your pets healthy,” says Dr. Douglas Aspros, president of the AVMA. “Providing pets with regular preventive care is the key to a healthy and long life for your pet, and it can save you hundreds – or even thousands – of dollars by preventing or identifying problems earlier, when they may be easier to treat and less expensive to solve,” said Dr. Aspros.

This National Pet Week, the AVMA urges you to talk with your veterinarian about your pet’s healthcare and what, if any, special needs your pet might have. The AVMA, your state veterinary medical association and your local veterinarian have tremendous resources for you.

For more information about National Pet week, please visit http://www.petweek.org/. For more information about the AVMA, please visit www.avma.org.

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The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world, with more than 84,000 member veterinarians worldwide engaged in a wide variety of professional activities.

HEALTH AND THE PURR-SUIT OF HAPPINESS
Swheat Scoop Natural Cat Litter Helps Promote a
Healthy Lifestyle for Kitties and their Parents
DETROIT LAKES, MINN. – The sweet life is often described as having health and happiness at home
– and the makers of Swheat Scoop Natural Clumping Litter couldn’t agree more. To help pets and
parents achieve this higher level of living, they’ve spent nearly 20 years perfecting their natural cat
litter that’s distinguished by its performance and eco-friendly qualities, while helping to promote a
healthy lifestyle.
• Stops odors instantly so pet friendly families maintain a fresh smelling home.
• Clumps fast and firm for quick and easy litter box maintenance.
• Clay and chemical free so it’s safe for both pets and parents.
• Low dust for reduced allergy irritation and respiratory flare-ups.
The first chemical-free litter of its kind, Swheat
Scoop has remained a trusted brand for nearly two
decades thanks to its unmatched odor eliminating
qualities. Plus, new and improved Swheat Scoop
formulas clump firmer and faster, making clean-up a
breeze. And since Swheat Scoop absorbs moisture
faster than conventional brands, the rest of the litter
stays fresh and clean longer, saving pet
parents money.
But this litter isn’t simply good for people and pets, it’s also good for the environment. Unlike clay
litters that are mined and never decompose, Swheat Scoop is clay free, chemical free and made with
naturally processed wheat, a renewable, sustainable resource that is 100% biodegradable.
For more information about the “swheat life”, the brand’s recently improved Swheat Scoop Original
and Multi-Cat formulas, or their new Lightly Scented formula, visit www.SwheatScoop.com. Also
find them on your favorite social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram,
just search Swheat Scoop.

www.SwheatScoop.com | www.Facebook.com/SwheatScoop |www.Pinterest.com/SwheatScoop
www. Twitter.com/SwheatScoop | www.Instagram.com/SwheatScoop
ABOUT SWHEAT SCOOP ®
Swheat Scoop Natural Clumping Litter is a unique litter made from naturally processed wheat.
Through a patented process, its natural wheat enzymes work continuously to eliminate, rather than
mask litter box odors. This same process enables wheat starches to form firm clumps when exposed
to moisture, making cleanups easy. Plus, it’s clay free, chemical free and biodegradable. Because it is
clay free, Swheat Scoop is perfectly safe for kittens and is recommended by veterinarians. Swheat
Scoop is brought to you by Pet Care Systems of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. For more information, call
1-800-SWHEATS (794-3287) or visit www.SwheatScoop.com.
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For homeless cats and dogs in animal shelters across the country, the first weekend in June is somewhat like the Super Bowl weekend of second chances. June is generally the month that pet shelters launch initiatives to empty shelters to make way for a summer of new-found kittens and puppies and adult strays.

One such initiative has a lofty goal of finding 5,000 cats and dogs homes in an orchestrated event covering eight communities in five states and involving more than 150 pet shelters and rescues over Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2. As part of its strategy to promote free adoption nationwide, Maddie’s Fund ^® plans to host America’s biggest free adoption event, dedicating $4 million to the effort. Shelter locations participating can be found at http://adopt.maddiesfund.org/.

It’s not just the waiving of adoption fees that will inspire families to take a trip to the shelter that weekend, although with normal adoption fees ranging from $80 to $250 per pet, it doesn’t hurt, says President of Maddie’s Fund Rich Avanzino. But it’s more about the air of excitement that surround these events in each community.

“Human nature is to procrastinate and the free adoption weekends, with all their high-energy and media attention, encourage people to do what they’ve been planning on doing for a long time—adopt a pet,” says Avanzino, “We’re finding free adoption events are becoming a trend with shelters because they are a proven way to empty facilities and lighten the financial burden of caring long-term for animals, while at the same time finding loving homes for animals and reducing the need for euthanasia.”

Adopters must still qualify for their pets, and just because the pets are free, shelters aren’t out the expense for caring and housing the pet. Maddie’s Fund gives organizations from $500 to $2,000 per adoption. The more senior the animal with medical conditions, the bigger the gift.

“Maddie’s Fund wants to give all healthy, senior, and treatable shelter dogs and cats loving homes and free pet adoption events have proven very successful toward that end,” Avanzino adds.

The trend of holding free adoption events at animal shelters can only grow, Avanzino believes. “We’ll see more pet-loving benefactors in communities nationwide get on board with assisting their local shelters to apply the fee-waived strategy to save pet lives and alleviate the over-crowding in shelters,” he says.

More information on participating shelters can be found at: http://adopt.maddiesfund.org/.

Maddie’s Fund (www.maddiesfund.org) is a family foundation endowed by the founder of Workday^® and PeopleSoft, Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl. Maddie’s Fund is helping to achieve and sustain a no-kill nation by providing solutions to the most challenging issues facing the animal welfare community through Maddie’s Grant Giving and Maddie’s Institute^SM . Maddie’s Fund is named after the family’s beloved Miniature Schnauzer who passed away in 1997.

WHAT: Charitybuzz, the leading destination for online charity auctions, will host the bidding for a four-pack of VIP tickets to attend the “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” premiere in Los Angeles. The winners will walk the red carpet, meet director J.J. Abrams and the cast, and attend the premiere after-party. Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot will match the winning bid, up to $25,000. Proceeds will benefit The Mission Continues and its work to empower post-9/11 veterans on their new missions here at home. WHEN: TUESDAY, MAY 14TH, 2013 Bidding is open now through Thursday, May 9th at www.Charitybuzz.Com/StarTrek<http://www.charitybuzz.com/StarTrek> ABOUT “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” In the wake of a shocking act of terror from within their own organization, the crew of The Enterprise is called back home to Earth. In defiance of regulations and with a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads his crew on a manhunt to capture an unstoppable force of destruction and bring those responsible to justice. As the heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew. “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” opens nationwide May 17th, 2013. “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” is written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman & Damon Lindelof and directed by J.J. Abrams. Abrams is producing with Bryan Burk through Bad Robot Productions, along with Lindelof, Kurtzman and Orci. Jeffrey Chernov and Skydance Productions’ David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Paul Schwake are the executive producers. ABOUT CHARITYBUZZ.COM Charitybuzz raises funds for nonprofits around the globe through online auctions with the world’s most recognizable celebrities and brands. Featuring access to acclaimed actors and musicians, business and political leaders, sports stars, luxury travel, couture fashion, rare memorabilia and more, Charitybuzz brings its online community of bidders exclusive opportunities to live their dreams and make a difference. Since launching, Charitybuzz has raised more than $75 million for charity. To learn more, visit www.Charitybuzz.com, like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Charitybuzz or follow us on Twitter at @Charitybuzz. ABOUT THE MISSION CONTINUES Mission Continues is a community service organization that helps post-9/11 veterans transition from the military to leadership roles at home. The Mission Continues benefits veterans and communities in equal measure. The organization sponsors veterans’ enrollment in a 6-month service and leadership program. These veterans dedicate themselves to serving in their community, volunteering for at least 20 hours a week in community organizations to address issues like homelessness, illiteracy and unemployment. The Mission Continues provides the tools, the direction, and a living stipend to these veterans, while the veterans deploy their experience, their skills, and their desire against our communities' most pressing problems. Since its inception, The Mission Continues has awarded more than 600 fellowships and engaged thousands of volunteers at more than 350 community organizations. For more information, please visit www.missioncontinues.org or follow us on Twitter: @missioncontinue

(Washington, D.C., April 30, 2013) An international team of scientists from Chile, the United States, and Canada are mapping and timing the travels and activities of the imperiled Pink-footed Shearwater (PFSH) to better understand the habits and habitats of this species during their transequatorial migrations. This research will help shape conservation actions to help this species rebound from population declines resulting from a suite of impacts, both on the breeding colonies and at sea.
The project is a collaborative effort of individuals from the conservation organization Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, Chile’s Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF), Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Hawai’i Pacific University, American Bird Conservancy, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The project involves the real-time satellite tracking of six breeding shearwaters. Four of these are still foraging near the Chilean mainland during the day and returning at night to feed chicks waiting in their burrows on Isla Mocha; two have already begun their long migration to spend the austral winter off Peru or off the west coast of North America. The transmitters are expected to continue functioning through this fall, when the birds return to Chile to begin the next breeding season. USGS, with support from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and collaborators, plan to deploy 10 more units this summer off California.

“The satellite tracking technology allows us to map, within a few kilometers, the locations of the birds,” said Josh Adams, a biologist with the USGS Western Ecological Research Center, who specializes in tracking seabirds at sea. “We are gathering data about where the birds go and about how long they spend in key foraging areas.”
When integrated with oceanographic conditions and wind patterns, these data can provide information about the birds’ preferred foraging habitats and the dynamics of their movements. In addition, this information may be evaluated in the context of defined ocean zones, such as sovereign Exclusive Economic Zones, marine protected areas, or active fishery zones, to elucidate where shearwaters may be most at risk of mortality or injury from interactions with human activities.

“The threats faced by this species at sea are poorly known,” said Valentina Colodro, a biologist with Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge who attached the transmitters to the birds in early April, with assistance from CONAF park rangers on Isla Mocha. “Satellite tracking data will shed light not only on current at-sea threats but also provide preliminary information about the relationship of these birds with conditions at sea that may respond to variation in marine climate.”

The range of the Pink-footed Shearwater outside the breeding season extends along the length of the Western Hemisphere and traverses the territorial waters of 13 countries, from Chile to Canada. In contrast, the breeding range of the Pink-footed Shearwater includes only three Chilean islands: Isla Mocha, Robinson Crusoe, and Santa Clara in the Juan Fernández Islands. The species’ total breeding population is estimated at only about 28,000 pairs, more than half of which nest on Isla Mocha. Their diet consists of fish, squid, and crustaceans.

The species is threatened by predation by non-native mammals, such as feral domestic cats and rats, hooking or entanglement in fishing gear, habitat destruction at breeding colonies, and the illegal harvesting of the chicks by human inhabitants of Isla Mocha. The Pink-footed Shearwater is designated as globally “Vulnerable” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, is a focal marine species of common conservation concern for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, and is listed as Endangered in Chile and Threatened in Canada. In addition, the species is a candidate for inclusion in the international Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.

Visit the tracking website to see where the birds are now.
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American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to conserve native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC acts by safeguarding the rarest species, conserving and restoring habitats, and reducing threats, while building capacity in the bird conservation movement.