Middleton Island, Alaska
About the island
Middleton Island, located in the Gulf of Alaska, is home to many diverse seabird species. The Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation (ISRC) has been monitoring the island’s seabird populations for decades. A highlight of the island is the reconstructed radar tower. Following ISRC renovations, the tower now hosts nesting platforms, removable one-way windows, and feeding tubes creating a fantastic research station for wild black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) and pelagic cormorants (Urile pelagicus).
Black-legged kittiwake energetics
Using novel biologging technology, we aim to explore how the behaviour costs and energetic budgets of black-legged kittiwakes are affected by warming climate conditions. Global populations of kittiwakes have dropped significantly since the 1970s and understanding what role warming temperatures play in this decline is a conservation priority. Since kittiwakes are bioindicators, this research project will outline broader trends in the subarctic region.
Rhinoceros auklet nest box respirometry
Rhinoceros auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) are a sensitive burrow-nesting seabird, found throughout the northern Pacific ocean. While respirometry measurements typically require the capture and temporary housing of an animal in a specialized chamber, this project develops a method to measure metabolic rate using the bird’s home nest box as a respirometry chamber. Minimal handling and interference allow for the collection of valuable data while minimizing disturbance.
