COLONIAL SEABIRDS OF MEDNY ISLAND (COMMANDER ISLANDS)

Abstract

The results of colonial seabird surveys on Medny Island were presented and the changes in numbers and distribution over the past 20–30 years were analyzed. The number of colonies on the island has not changed. The total number of individuals belonging to19 species is more than 200 thousand pairs. The colonies are distributed on the island relatively evenly along the whole coast and are based on five species – northen fulmar Fulmarus glacialis,black-legged kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, red-legged kittiwake Rissa brevirostris and two species of guillemots. The most numerous species is Northen fulmar. The abundance of the common guillemot Uria aalge has noticeably increased. The glaucous-winged gull Larus glaucescens, the crested auklet Aethia cristatella, the moth horned puffin Fratercula corniculata and the tufted puffin Lunda cirrhata has increased less. The number of parakeet auklet Cyclorrhynchus psittacula has decreased. There was not found significant changes for the rest of species.