A comparative study of breeding ecology and timing in plankton-feeding alcids (Cychlorrhynchus and Aethia spp.) on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. ...

• Main Author: Sealy, Spencer George
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2011
• Subjects: St Lawrence Island; Alaska
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0104305; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0104305

A comparative study of breeding ecology in Parakeet Auklets (Cychlorrhynchus psittacula (Pallas)), Crested Auklets (Aethia cristatella (Pallas)), and Least Auklets (A. pusilla (Pallas)) was conducted on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, in 1966 and 1967. Emphasis was placed upon the climatic conditions which prevailed throughout the breeding seasons and their effects on timing of breeding in auklets. The pre-egg stage, egg-laying and incubation, hatching, growth of young, and departure of chicks were studied in both seasons; 1966 was a late year and 1967 was an early year. It was found that (1) Parakeet Auklets appear to have a more extensive migration than Aethia spp. , (2) arrival of adults back on the breeding grounds in spring occurs at approximately mid-May each year, (3) the pre-egg stage is prolonged but the post-breeding dispersal of adults and young from the nesting slope is rapid, (4) breeding does not take place at the same time each year, (5) Cychlorrhynchus breeds a few days later than Aethia spp., ...