This Flying is For the Birds

This Flying is For the Birds
Story and photos by PA1 Alan Haraf

CRESCENT CITY, Calif. - An HH-65 from Air Station Humboldt Bay passes over solar panels and high tech, remote controlled video equipment during its approach to Castle Rock Wildlife Refuge in northern California. The equipment was transported by the Coast Guard and installed by members of the Wildlife Refuge and Humboldt State University as part of a multi-agency project to study various species of seabirds which nest on the island. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1^st Class Alan Haraf)

Located a mile off the coast of Crescent City in northern California, a small rock formation serves as ocean-front property for tens of thousands of fine-feathered friends. Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge, as it is known, is the second largest seabird nesting colony in California, and one of the largest south of Alaska.

Tufted Puffins, Rhinoceros Auklets, Fork-Tailed Petrels and Murres are among twelve different species occupying the 14-acre island. Each April, more than 80,000 Murres alone can occupy the cliffs, nesting and watching over their new-born chicks. The other birds burrow their dwellings, some up to six-feet long, into the soft, fragile ground. So soft, in fact, that any human activity on the surface can easily crush portions of the colony.

The area is no secret to bird watchers, biologists, and representatives from area refuges. Eric Nelson of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge and manager of Castle Rock, and Dr. Richard Golightly, professor of wildlife at Humboldt State University, are colleagues. They wondered how they could better study the abundance and health of these animals without endangering the habitat, knowing that the area can not be easily reached by boat. Rocks and heavy surf make it nearly impossible to land any type of watercraft.

"We collectively came up with the idea of installing high tech, remote-controlled cameras on the cliff with the intent of transmitting real time video back to us on land," said Nelson. "But this project required transporting our equipment to the cliff by air, and by highly-trained, highly-skilled professionals."

Remote technology, they hoped, would give them a birds-eye view from miles away. And, that's where the Coast Guard came in.

Last November, Nelson and Golightly contacted Air Station Humboldt Bay about utilizing an HH-65 helicopter with skilled pilots to land a team of biologists and their equipment on Castle Rock. After thorough and careful planning, a multi-agency project nicknamed "Burrow Nesting Nocturnal Seabird" was in place.

This mission was far from routine, however. Finding an area to land a 6000 pound bird, away from the flat, soft grounds used for nesting, was no easy task.

"We were able to locate a very small, rocky area near a ledge during a reconnaissance flight last November," said Lt Ryan Siewert, one of the pilots assigned to the project which took place on February 23. "There was a larger area available, but it was soggy, and the landing gear would have sunk into the mud."

Because of the rocky terrain and angle of the slope, precise coordination and communication between the pilots and the flight mechanic were critical to a safe landing.

"We would hover over the landing zone and steady the helicopter against turbulence." explained Siewert. "While AMT2 Jim Zebal provided precise conning directions to ensure the landing gear was clear of large rocks and over a flat surface, we set the helicopter down very gently to ensure we were, indeed, on flat ground."

HH-65 landing restrictions require a slope be no more than ten degrees in either direction to ensure the helicopter doesn't roll over.

"We practice rock area landings and pinnacle landings during our routine training missions," explained Lt Stephen Baxter, a second pilot from Air Sta Humboldt Bay assigned to project. "But rarely do we do both at the same time. It was even more challenging because of the rough terrain."

Birds were also a challenge, although most had vacated the cliff during an initial low pass by the helicopter.

"The threat of a bird strike was very real, cautioned Siewert. "I've never seen so many birds

CRESCENT CITY, Calif. - Members of the National Wildlife Refuge and Humboldt State University wait as an HH-65 from Air Station Humboldt Bay prepares to take off after transporting personnel and high tech video cameras onto Castle Rock in northern California. The equipment will be used to study various species of birds which nest on the island. The Coast Guard is an integral partner on this project which demonstrates a shared interest in important marine resources. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1^st Class Alan Haraf)

in one place before. Had we hit one bird, the mission could have been scrapped."

Siewert outlined what could have happened if a bird strike occurred.

"Had we encountered one, we may have had to shut down on the rock to examine the helicopter for damage. If any damage had occurred, we would have had to wait for another crew and/or parts. The focus of the mission would have shifted from the transport of the biologists to our own rescue. We did not want to see that happen."

As it was, the crew from Air Sta Humboldt Bay, which also included Lt Kevin Winters, successfully transported a team of five people and their equipment weighing approximately 400 pounds to and from Castle Rock in seven separate trips. The equipment, purchased with a $45,000 grant from the U.S. Geological Survey and specially manufactured in Alaska, consists of two robotic cameras, Global Positioning Satellite units, solar panels, and transmitters. The team spent almost six hours setting up and securing the equipment on Castle Rock.

"The cameras, one of which has thermal imaging, will transmit video of nesting activities in different burrows," said Golightly. "Meanwhile, the GPS units will be used to plot burrow locations in reference to various rock formations identified on video."

"With our equipment on the cliff, we can now study activities such as productivity, nesting behaviors, incubation, and population, said Professor Golightly. "The numbers, or lack thereof, can also tell us a great deal about ocean conditions, food availability in the ocean, and marine pollution."

Video will also be transmitted to the National Parks Service Visitor Center in Crescent City where visitors can view real time video of activity on the cliff. In addition, Humboldt State University has set up a website for viewers through http://www.humboldt.eud/.

Air Station Humboldt Bay continues to be an integral partner among other federal agencies and state educational institutions regarding conservation science at Castle Rock. This project demonstrates a shared interest in important marine resources and is one that is definitely... for the birds.

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