Knock-down tags are often used to monitor population and nest attendance patterns of burrow-nesting seabirds. However, the accuracy of the knock-down method has not been considered in detail. Here, measurements of nest attendance patterns for Ancient Murrelets (Synthliboramphus antiquus) obtained by the knock-down and the radio telemetry methods were compared on a colony at Reef Island, Haida Gwaii, Canada. Radio transmitters and knock-down tags both indicated activity 79% of the time (range: 61–96%, N = 307), and the correlation between the two methods was significant. Hence, knock-down tags provide information that, although coarse, can provide an adequate indication of reproductive behavior in Ancient Murrelets without disturbance to the bird.
Translator Disclaimer
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
Waterbirds
Vol. 33 • No. 2
June 2010
Vol. 33 • No. 2
June 2010
Ancient Murrelet
monitoring
nest attendance
Synthliboramphus antiquus
