The Avifauna of Buldir Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Abstract

We studied the avifauna of Buldir Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, between 1972 and 1984. During the study 126 forms of 125 species were recorded, including first North American records for 6 species and first Aleutian records for 4 others. Due to the absence of mammalian predators and rich food resources nearby, 32 species, 21 of them seabirds, bred at Buldir. Breeding populations totaled approximately 1.8 million pairs of birds, primarily storm-petrels (Oceunodrom spp.) and auklets (Aethiu spp.). Buldir's suite of breeding alcids -12 species -may be the most diverse of any seabird colony in the world. Our data on migrants suggest that Buldir is near the eastern edge of the Japan-Kuril Islands-Kamchatka flyway. All migrant and breeding species recorded are discussed in an annotated list.