A plastic water bottle cap. Quarter-sized chunks of blue, pink, yellow and red plastic. Red fishing line. Green fishing line. White fishing line. Styrofoam. What is the nature connection to these objects?
In preparation for the new Endangered Neighbors exhibit at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, I volunteered to sort through the stomach contents collected from Black-footed albatrosses. Through the faint smell of fish and squid, I was shocked at the things I found. Mistaken for food by these great birds, plastic debris remains in the stomachs of the animals, reducing space available for food to be carried to their chicks, and causing the birds to suffocate and die of starvation. This is one of the main reasons that the population of black-footed albatross is estimated at 120,000 and declining.
What is the status of other local species?
Closer to shore, brown pelicans glide over wave surges and plunge-dive for their prey. We can celebrate the recovery of brown pelicans, whose population is 650,000 strong and increasing.
These neighbors were removed from the endangered species list in 2009. However, some of our other near-shore neighbors are still struggling. At 2,650, the population of southern sea otters is declining, challenged by chemical pollutants in our bays and estuaries that can cause tumors. Local conservation groups are working on protecting habitat for the Western snowy plovers that nest on beaches just above the high tide
line, but population estimates remain low at 1,500 individuals.
Some of our wetland neighbors are struggling too. California red-legged frogs, tiger salamanders and California long-toed salamanders have declining populations wavering at an estimated 10,000 individuals. These local species are challenged by habitat loss, pesticides and introduced species.
With awareness and concentrated efforts, we can make a difference for our endangered neighbors, as we have with the California condor, which was brought back from the brink of extinction and has 200 birds now thriving in the wild. And the bald eagle, our national bird, was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. Its population is up to 140,000, recovered from a population as low as 417 pairs in the lower 48 states.
Whether their stories are of trials or successes, these are our neighbors and, as is the culture in Santa Cruz, we want to be conscientious neighbors.
Come to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History to learn more about these species and others as photographer Sebastian Kennerknecht brings you up close and personal with these amazing animals and their habitats.
The Endangered Neighbors exhibit runs through Sept. 10. Take the audio tour, see the display of plastics from the stomachs of the albatrosses, and learn through children's activities that include an interactive exhibit guide, coloring pages and a kids' nature photography and writing contest.
Related programs include a gallery walk with the photographer and a panel discussion with scientists working to conserve these species. Details are at www.santacruzmuseums.org . Stop by when you're in the neighborhood.
Deborah McArthur is the education manager at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. She can be reached at deborah@santacruzmuseums.org .
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