Breeding Ecology and Behavior of Kittlitz’s Murrelet in Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska: 2011 Progress Report

4 Introduction 5 Study Area and Climate 6 Methods 8 Nest Searching and Monitoring 8 Nest Characteristics 11 Audio-visual Surveys 11 Genetic and Fecal Sampling 12 Results and Discussion 13 Nest Searching and Monitoring 13 Nest Success 16 Nest Site Characteristics 17 Meal Delivery Rates and Chick Growth 18 Audio-visual Surveys 20 Conclusions and Recommendations 22 Acknowledgements 26 Literature Cited 27 Appendix A. Weather conditions, Kodiak Island, 2008-2011 30 Appendix B. Flush, adult return time, and egg measurements for Kittlitz’s murrelet nests, Kodiak Island, 2011 31 Appendix C. Chronology and fate of Kittlitz’s murrelet nests found on Kodiak Island, 2011 32 Appendix D. Details of Kittlitz’s murrelet chick deaths, Kodiak Island, 2011 33 Appendix E. Potential Kittlitz's murrelet predator species observed within one km of Kodiak Island study areas, 27 May-26 August, 2011 34