26 July 2018 The Auklet Colony

Where's Waldo?

One of our sites is home to a colony of auklets, both the least auklets and crested ones. They are all very sociable creatures, chattering together perched on rocks as if reviewing the day's gossip, heads and eyes darting this way and that. They also frequently fly en masse overhead, providing mesmerizing spectacles every few minutes.

What happens on the auklet colony is nest productivity tracking. Nests from previous years are monitored, to see a) whether a bird is present this year, b) whether there is an egg, and c) eventually chicks. Special nests are indicated for GLS birds, those with Geo Locator Sensors which will need to be retrieved.

Tools needed

Kneepads. DEFINITELY kneepads. Map with nest locations, and my handy dandy rite-in-the-rain notebook to document findings. A GPSA Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system used to track the location or position of objects on the Earth’s surface. device helps, too, in case new folks like me on the colony need extra guidance to the nests.

What does work look like here?

There's no rappelling or noose poles here like we use at the cliffs, but there is a ton of rock hopping. Forget crossfit, lunges, and aerobic classes. This is some serious leg exercise, people. And you do NOT want to fall, because these rock are not forgiving. (Ahem... so I've heard.)

We monitor each nest (about 60) throughout the day, checking for birds, eggs, and chicks (coming soon!), and of course, documenting each move. Some traps are set in the nests for GLS birds, but alas, no luck so far in capturing one. Far different than capturing with a noose pole! Captures of other birds for data will begin next week, and similar measurements will be taken as discussed in my bird-catching post.

You can see the field of rocks in the photos, and those clever little auklets love to burrow in among the cracks and crevasses between them. Each marked nest is on a map, and the goal is to find them. Easy for Alexis to do since she's been here three years now.

Umm. Not so much for me. Reminds me of Where's Waldo, geocaching, orienteering, and Tourette's syndrome all in one. I was so desperate by the end of the day searching for one last nest, that I actually asked the least auklet following me around if it could read, or if it had seen the number in question. As in asked it out loud.

Alexis saved the day, and we finally finished.

Putting the 'Alas' back in Alaska after a loooong, tiring day.

Today's Tweet

Auklets are savvy, chatty, and curious birds, nestling in and preparing for their chicks. All we need to know is that you're on schedule. #nesthunting