Kittlitz's Murrelet Brachyramphus brevirostris in the Kodiak Archipelago, Alaska

Abstract

The Kittlitz's Murrelet Brachyramphus brevirostris is a poorly known alcid of the Bering Sea region. It is one of the rarest breeding seabirds in the North Pacific and is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It has a highly restricted breeding range, with a patchy distribution in Alaska and the Russian Far East. In this paper, we highlight its use of the Kodiak Archipelago, Alaska - an area that has received little research or monitoring attention as breeding or wintering habitat for this species. Based on observational data from the last 30+ years, we conclude that Kittlitz's Murrelets are present year round in the area and we present maps of their distribution around the archipelago. We include a description of the location and habitat characteristics of the first confirmed case of Kittlitz's Murrelet breeding on Kodiak Island and map potential nesting habitat across the archipelago. Given the conservation status and increasingly high profile of this species, we encourage increased and focused management attention on Kittlitz's Murrelets in this location.