The majority of the North American pelagic cormorants nest in Alaska, with an estimated population of 50,000 pairs. Pelagic cormorants mostly forage along the nearshore seafloor and nest either singly or in large colonies, typically on steep cliffs above the water. During the breeding season their feathers shimmer with iridescent green, blue, and purple tones and the exposed skin around their eyes and bill becomes bright red. Generally thought of as having all black plumage, they are quite colorful when viewed up close. The second smallest of the six extant species of cormorant in North America, pelagic cormorants weigh between 1.5 and 2 kilograms with a wingspan of about 1 meter. Pelagic cormorants are medium-sized, piscivorous seabirds that inhabit rocky coasts from the Baja Peninsula into northern Alaska, and across the Aleutian Island Chain to Siberia. For background on the seabirds and researchers that call Middleton Island home, and for an introduction to our work, check out our previous blog post: “ A field season on Middleton Island: Tracking pelagic cormorants in the Gulf of Alaska.” Getting to Know Pelagic Cormorants We tagged 21 pelagic cormorants nesting on the seabird research tower and data are streaming in through the cell phone data network.
Our field season here flew by and this year’s chicks are beginning to fledge. We are drafting this blog during our last few days on Middleton Island. By Jillian Soller, Brendan Higgins, and Adam Peck-Richardson Seabird research tower on Middleton Island – maintained by the Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation
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