BIRDS ON THE EDGE: More than half a million seabirds breed at the Farallon Islands each year. Their up-and-down lives over the last decade reflect changes in the ocean.

The Farallon Islands, located off the coast of San Francisco, are home to over half a million seabirds that breed there each year. These birds, including common murres, guillemots, puffins, and cormorants, face challenges due to changes in the ocean caused by warming temperatures. In recent years, global sea surface temperatures have reached record highs, leading to delays in breeding and decreased egg production. Seabird colonies, like the Farallones, are particularly vulnerable to climate change, which affects their food sources and nesting habitats. Researchers are also concerned about avian flu and the impact of nonnative house mice on the islands. Despite these challenges, the Farallones remain a conservation success story, with populations of common murres increasing from under 100,000 in 2000 to around 500,000 today. However, funding constraints and other threats pose ongoing challenges to the protection of these seabirds. [Extracted from the article]