1. Kittlitz's Murrelet

2. Kodiak Island

3. Kodiak Island

4. Kodiak Island

3,595 square miles

5. Kodiak Island

3,595 square miles

2nd
largest island in the US

6. Kodiak Island

3,595 square miles

2nd
largest island in the US

Population ~ 6,000

7. Kodiak Island

3,595 square miles

2nd
largest island in the US

Population ~ 6,000

Home to the Kodiak brown bear

8. Kodiak Island

9. Kodiak Island

3,595 square miles

2nd
largest island in the US

Population ~ 6,000

Home to the Kodiak brown bear

Also home to the Kittlitz's murrelet

10. Kittlitz's Murrelet (KIMU)

11. Kittlitz's Murrelet (KIMU)

Small seabird

12. Kittlitz's Murrelet (KIMU)

Small seabird

Lives up to 15 years

13. Kittlitz's Murrelet (KIMU)

Small seabird

Lives up to 15 years

Lives in ocean between Alaska and
Russia

14. Kittlitz's Murrelet (KIMU)

Small seabird

Lives up to 15 years

Lives in ocean between Alaska and
Russia

Eats primarily fish

15. Kittlitz's Murrelet (KIMU)

Small seabird

Lives up to 15 years

Lives in ocean between Alaska and
Russia

Eats primarily fish

Nests inland

16. KIMU Nesting Habits

Nests on mountains in Alaska and Russia

17. KIMU Nesting Habits

Nests on mountains in Alaska and Russia

Nests below a nest rock

18. KIMU Nesting Habits

19. KIMU Nesting Habits

Nests on mountains in Alaska and Russia

Nests below a nest rock

Lays one egg

20. KIMU Nesting Habits

Nests on mountains in Alaska and Russia

Nests below a nest rock

Lays one egg

Breeds every 2 – 3 years

21. KIMU Nesting Habits

Nests on mountains in Alaska and Russia

Nests below a nest rock

Lays one egg

Breeds every 2 – 3 years

Starts breeding between 2 – 4 years old

22. KIMU Nesting Habits

Nests on mountains in Alaska and Russia

Nests below a nest rock

Lays one egg

Breeds every 2 – 3 years

Starts breeding between 2 – 4 years old

Slow population growth ! ! !

23. A Vulnerable Species

Used to be an endangered species

24. A Vulnerable Species

Used to be an endangered species

Taken off list recently

25. A Vulnerable Species

Used to be an endangered species

Taken off list recently

Vulnerable to habitat changes and
environmental disasters

26. Why Should We Study Them?

Vulnerable species

27. Why Should We Study Them?

Vulnerable species

Mystery bird

28. Why Should We Study Them?

Vulnerable species

Mystery bird

Can tell us about ocean health and
fish quality

29. Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge

30. Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge

⅔ of Kodiak Island

31. Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge

⅔ of Kodiak Island

10th
largest national wildlife refuge

32. Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge

⅔ of Kodiak Island

10th
largest national wildlife refuge

No public roads

33. Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge

⅔ of Kodiak Island

10th
largest national wildlife refuge

No public roads

Mostly grassland and spruce forest with
some glaciers and tundra

34. Study Area

35. Study Area

Four camps

36. Study Area

37. Study Area

Four camps

Only accessible by floatplane or
walking

38. Study Area

Four camps

Only accessible by floatplane or
walking

Closest ~ 3 miles apart

39. Study Area

Four camps

Only accessible by floatplane or
walking

Closest ~ 3 miles apart

Farthest ~ 13 miles apart

40. Study Area

Four camps

Only accessible by floatplane or
walking

Closest ~ 3 miles apart

Farthest ~ 13 miles apart

Carried personal and group gear with
us

41. Study Area

42. Nest Searching

Searched for nests on scree

43. Nest Searching

44. Nest Searching

Searched for nests on scree

Walked in line 15 feet apart

45. Nest Searching

46. Nest Searching

Searched for nests on scree

Walked in line 15 feet apart

Watched for adult to flush off nest

47. Nest Searching

Searched for nests on scree

Walked in line 15 feet apart

Watched for adult to flush off nest

Routinely walked 6+ miles everyday

48. Nest Discovery

Weighed, measured, and floated egg

49. Nest Discovery

50. Nest Discovery

Weighed, measured, and floated egg

Estimated egg hatch date

51. Nest Discovery

Weighed, measured, and floated egg

Estimated egg hatch date

Watched for predators

52. Nest Discovery

53. Nest Discovery

Weighed, measured, and floated egg

Estimated egg hatch date

Watched for predators

Set up nest camera

54. Nest Discovery

55. Nest Discovery

56. Chick Checks

Returned to discovered nests after eggs
hatched

57. Chick Checks

Returned to discovered nests after eggs
hatched

Weighed and measured chick, if present

58. Chick Checks

59. Chick Checks

Returned to discovered nests after eggs
hatched

Weighed and measured chick, if present

Watched for predators

60. Chick Checks

Returned to discovered nests after eggs
hatched

Weighed and measured chick, if present

Watched for predators

Banded chick if old enough

61. Chick Checks

62. Chick Checks

Returned to discovered nests after eggs
hatched

Weighed and measured chick, if present

Watched for predators

Banded chick if old enough

Inspected nest camera

63. Camp Life

Lived in a tent for 75 days

64. Camp Life

65. Camp Life

Lived in a tent for 75 days

Worked with six other people

66. Camp Life

67. Camp Life

Lived in a tent for 75 days

Worked with six other people

No running water

68. Camp Life

Lived in a tent for 75 days

Worked with six other people

No running water

No electricity

69. Camp Life

Lived in a tent for 75 days

Worked with six other people

No running water

No electricity

No cell service, only satellite phones

70. Camp Life

71. Camp Life

Lived in a tent for 75 days

Worked with six other people

No running water

No electricity

No cell service, only satellite phones

Fished, played cards, and read in free
time

72. Camp Life

73. Camp Life

Lived in a tent for 75 days

Worked with six other people

No running water

No electricity

No cell service, only satellite phones

Fished, played cards, and read in free
time

Never stopped eating

74. Camp Life

75. Outcome

Found 17 nests

76. Outcome

Found 17 nests

6 eggs hatched

77. Outcome

Found 17 nests

6 eggs hatched

4 chicks banded

78. Outcome

Found 17 nests

6 eggs hatched

4 chicks banded

3 chicks fledged

79. Questions?