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The Kittlitz's Murrelet
(Brachyramphus brevirostris)
has been identified as a focal species of management concern because of a small global range, small population size (10,000-28,000 birds) and an extremely rapid recent population decline. Kittlitz's Murrelet is found in North America only in Alaska where it breeds along the southern and western coasts. Its winter grounds are not known, although recent surveys from icebreakers have found Kittlitz's in the open water leads of the Bering Sea icepack. In some breeding areas, the population has experienced an alarming 80-90% decline over the last 20 years. This decline is thought to be related to the recession of glaciers and the associated loss of preferred prey that use glacially-influenced waters, perhaps due to climate change. Other threats include chronic oil pollution, disturbance caused by tour boats, and capture in fishery gill-nets. A potential impact from climate change may be alterations in their upland nesting habitat, as glaciers retreat and vegetation and predators move to upper elevations. Due to their small body size and diving foraging behavior, as well as small population size and restricted distribution, Kittlitz's Murrelet may also be particularly susceptible to effects of human-caused disasters such as oil spills.
Date: July 2010
Sources:
Alaska Department of Fish and Game. 2006. A Wealth Maintained: A Strategy for Conserving Alaska's Diverse Wildlife and Fish Resources. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Juneau, AK. Retrieved June 2010 from http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/ngplan/NG_outline.cfm.
BirdLife International. 2010. Species factsheet:
Brachyramphus brevirostris,
Kittlitz's Murrelet. Retrieved June 2010 from http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3310&m=0.
Day, R. H., K. J. Kuletz, and D. A. Nigro. 1999. Kittlitz's Murrelet
(Brachyramphus brevirostris).
The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved June 2010 from http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/435.
Species Profile from NatureServe
Kittlitz's Murrelet Brachyramphus brevirostris
Description:A small seabird (murrelet).
Life History:Limited information indicates single egg laid usually in June, with hatching in July and fledging mid- to late August. Nesting dispersed, solitary (Johnsgard 1987). Age at first breeding is probably 2-4 years; interval between breeding, lifespan, and survivorship are unknown (Day et al. 1999).
Habitat:
Nonbreeding: mostly pelagic and along rocky seacoasts (AOU 1983); also in bays. Non-breeding or off-duty breeders spend summer in inshore areas, especially along glaciated coasts (Johnsgard 1987). During the breeding season, waters more than 200 m from shore appear to be favored (USFWS 2002).
Breeding: Nests on coastal cliffs, and barren ground, rock ledges, and talus above timberline in coastal mountains, generally near glaciers (AOU 1983), 0.25 to 75 kilometers inland (Piatt et al. 1999). Nests generally on ground on barren scree slopes, short distance below peak or ridge (Day et al. 1983, Day 1995, Piatt et al. 1999). Breeding generally occurs in high elevation alpine areas, with little or no vegetative cover. When present, vegetation is primarily comprised of lichens and mosses (Day et al. 1993). Some nest sites appear to be selected because they become snow-free earlier in the year than surrounding areas (Piatt et al. 1999). Though little data are available, nest sites appear to decrease in elevation in the northern portions of the range. Historically, it was believed that these birds preferred north facing slopes (Day et al. 1983). However, with additional nesting data the aspect of nests appears to correlate with elevation. For example, at high elevations a south-facing slope will become available earlier in the season than a north-facing slope (Day 1995). Breeding sites are usually chosen in the vicinity of glaciers and cirques (van Vliet 1993). During the breeding season, this species' distribution is highly clumped, with birds congregating near tidewater glaciers, and to a lesser extent, offshore of remnant high-elevation glaciers and deglaciated coastal mountains.
Distribution:
United States:
AK
Status:
NatureServe Status: Global Status: G2,
Global Status Last Reviewed: 02Jan2008, Global Status Last Changed: 14Jan2005, Rounded Global Status: G2 - Imperiled
Other Statuses: U.S. Endangered Species Act: C: Candidate (21Oct2008), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Lead Region: R7 - Alaska, IUCN Red List Category: CR - Critically endangered
