Tom, great reporting! I have learned so much about the birds in your studies! It was especially interesting to read about how deep they can dive. How far from their nests can they fly ?Which one flies the farthest? How long (years) have researchers been studying the seabirds there? Keep those great pictures coming, and keep that raingear ON! :) lollie

Thomas Harten

Hi Lollie,
Great to hear from you!  I'm glad that you're learning about the seabirds of the Pribilofs !  I'm learning new things everyday and I thought that I knew a lot about birds!  This expereince has definitely reengaged me into investigating more about seabirds, truly remarkable creatures.
 As far as what we have found this year, our longest track was 105 miles (each way) by a Black-legged Kittiwake.  We are just getting started with the murre part of the project, so it will be very interesting to see where they go.  We have been observing their feeding to their chicks and have been able to identify some of the fish that they are bringing back.  Once we get the GPS tags back and a diet sample from the murres, we'll be able to tell not only what they caught to feed their young, but precisely where they caught it.
The telemetry project is in year two of a three year study.  Various groups have been studying seabirds here since the end of WWII.  In addition to our team, there are other groups conducting different types of seabird and fur seal research here.
Good advice on the rain gear to be sure!!
 
Take care,
Tom