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Census methodologies of Black-legged Kittiwakes in Glacier Bay National Park

January 1, 1995

Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) have recently experienced widespread population declines and frequent colony failures throughout the North Pacific. At Glacier Bay National Park, the Margerie Glacier colony was censused visually in 1991 through 1993. In 1993 a new photographic census technique was also tested to assess its feasibility, accuracy, and ease of use, Three years of monitoring data indicate that kittiwake population size declined by about 10% over the three-year period, and that there were near-total colony reproductive failures in 1991 and 1992. Compared to visual colony counts made from a skiff, counting adult kittiwakes from projected 35-mm slides proved to be both more efficient and equally accurate.

Publication Year 1995
Title Census methodologies of Black-legged Kittiwakes in Glacier Bay National Park
Authors Elizabeth Ross Hooge
Publication Type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Index ID 70186897
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Alaska Science Center