Monitoring

The Kodiak Archipelago is home to high numbers of breeding seabirds, the majority of which breed on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands administered by Alaska Maritime and Kodiak National Wildlife Refuges. Most species of seabirds are colonial and nest at high densities in a variety of coastal habitats including cliff faces, crevices, and burrows in soft soil at both mainland sites and on offshore islands and rocks. Kodiak and Alaska Maritime Refuges in conjunction with USFWS Migratory Bird Management division have periodically surveyed seabirds throughout the Archipelago.

Designated seabird colony surveys were conducted on Kodiak in 2008-2010 when 86% of the 377 documented colonies in the Archipelago were visited. Due to significant breeding population declines and disappearance of entire colonies of Arctic and Aleutian terns (Sterna paradisaea, Onychoprion aleuticus) in Prince William Sound (1999-2000 surveys) these species were targeted for monitoring on Kodiak Island during colony surveys in 2001-2002, and have remained species we focus on during breeding season surveys.

Facilities

a kodiak brown bear sow with three large cubs stand on the banks of a lake
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
Homeland of the Alutiiq Sugpiaq peoples, Kodiak Archipelago is located in the Gulf of Alaska, 30 miles from the nearest mainland coast, across the notoriously temperamental Shelikof Strait. Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge spans almost two million acres and covers more than 2/3rds of Kodiak Island,...
National Wildlife Refuge
Kodiak,AK
A pair of Horned Puffins with brightly colored yellow and red bills perches on a cliff near their nest. The cliff in the background is blurred.
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge stretches from the spectacular volcanic islands of the Aleutian chain to the Inside Passage, and north to the Chukchi Sea, providing essential habitat for marine mammals and some 40 million seabirds, representing more than 30 species.
National Wildlife Refuge
Homer,AK

News

Blue and white ship sails towards land over calm blue waters and a blue sky with a few clouds.
Sailing the Oceans of Alaska
From spunky inflatable skiffs to a fully equipped 120-foot research ship, boats give our scientists access to the immense 6,640 mile coastline of Alaska (over 30,000 miles if you count all the islands. Which we do.). Boats also help us to study the wildlife that depends on the diverse marine waters...
Story
Science and Technology

Contact

Programs

A bright blue sky obstructed by fluffy white clouds reflected off of a stream shot from inside a kayak
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 570 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.
Program
Washington,DC