Bird Cams
This month, we're learning about methods used to research seabirds. Video recorders are getting small and light enough to attach to some of the larger seabirds. Bird [...]
Outer space
The first ever penguin census from space has shown there may be twice as many Emperor Penguins living in the Antarctic than previously thoughtThe study, led by British [...]
Flying Fish
Parents of many species of seabird carry back whole prey items to feed their chick at the colony. Researchers can use binoculars, telescopes, or take photos of [...]
GPS loggers
Interview with DR. Rosana Paredes What is your job? Research biologist Why do people use GPS loggers to study seabirds? GPS loggers can tell us about the [...]
Plotting a GPS track
Dr. Rosana Paredes has been using GPS loggers to find out where thick-billed murres and black-legged kittiwakes breeding on the Pribilof Islands travel to at sea. Read [...]
Greek Mythology
Seabirds even play a role in Greek Mythology.... In Greek mythology, Daedalus made wings for himself and his young son Icarus to escape from where they were [...]
Seabird Guano Fertilizer!
The word "guano" originates from the South American Andes, and means "the droppings of sea birds" Seabird guano is a prized fertilizer due to its high phosphorus [...]
The smelliest seabird recipe
Are seabirds useful, tasty, or economically important for humans? What are some seabird myths and legends? This month we're learning about the importance of seabirds in human [...]
Cooking King Eider Video
This month we're learning about the importance of seabirds in human communities. The king eider is a spectacular sea duck that breeds along the Arctic coasts of North [...]
Getting Scientists Out
Looking over the crowd listening intently to someone describe plankton blooms for 15 minutes it was hard not to wonder whether I was trapped in a room [...]
Science Fair Project ideas
Science Fairs are just around the corner. Here are some links to some great project ideas related to birds, seabirds, marine biology and conservation. (1) How does [...]
The weight of 50 elephants
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) picked up enough marine debris to equal the weight of 50 elephants in only one month. Imagine how much debris that [...]
Sweaters for penguins
How do you design a sweater for a penguin? A novel response to an oil spill in New Zealand Click here to read more
Seabird Bycatch
Fisheries bycatch is the greatest threat to many seabird populations (tuna long-liner pictured above), especially albatross. Seabirds are attracted to fishing boats because of the bait and discarded [...]
Marine Plastic Debris
We’re leaning about seabird conservation issues this month. Seabirds face a range of dangers, including plastic debris in the ocean. Plastic eaten by albatross chick: © ecogreen4us, Creative [...]
Marine Conservation Lesson
January's lesson on Marine Conservation now online
Seabird Learning expands
Yay! Students at St. George are starting to learn more about seabirds this winter through regular Skype meetings with the two oldest students - Carmen Philemonoff and [...]
Edible Seabird Nests
Students on St. Paul make edible seabird nests. Enjoy! Edible Bird Nest Recipe: 8 marshmallows; 4 regular/4 coconut 2 tablespoons butter ½ cup rice krispies 1½ cup Chinese [...]
Answers for St. Paul
Great to receive all your questions! Keep them coming! 1) Jaycee: Yes, you are right: there are lots of similarities between black guillemots and common murres. [...]
Emperor Penguin video
Check out this incredible footage of emperor penguins both underwater and exiting the water at top speed!
Sea-ice extent effects seabird
Black guillemots breeding in an Arctic Alaska colony feed their chicks on polar cod. These small fish are associated with the polar pack ice, and therefore may [...]
Seabird breeding videos
This month, we're learning about seabird breeding Below are some links to videos for a number of breeding seabirds. Look at the diversity in nesting habitat. Which [...]
Seabird breeding questions
Students on the Pribilofs are learning about seabird breeding this month. Each student has chosen a seabird species that breeds on the Pribilof Islands, and they will [...]
Parakeet & Crested Auklet
The Parakeet Auklet and Crested Auklet both nest on the Pribilof Islands. They are similar in size, but you can easily tell these two species apart. Can [...]
Bird Island Field Work
Jerry Gillham has recently started a new job studying penguins and giant petrels on Bird Island. Bird Island is a British Territory in South Georgia. Thousands of [...]
Questions.. answers
Answers to a couple of questions asked this week: How many eggs do Fulmars lay? Fulmars lay a single white egg. How long do Least Auklets live? [...]
Foraging Skype Meeting
Today we had our second seabird Skype meeting with St. Paul students. This month’s topic is seabird diet and feeding behavior. The class has been working on their [...]
Marine Important Bird Areas
Bird Life International (a global conservation organization) has recently launched the E-Atlas of Marine Important Bird Areas. Seabirds present tricky conservation problems because many species spend their [...]
How much food do puffins eat?
HORNED PUFFINS deliver food to their chick at the colony by holding the prey cross-wise in their bill. It’s fairly easy for scientists to catch puffins and [...]
What is a gizzard?
Students at St. Paul have been learning about the physiology of birds by dissecting ducks brought in by a 9th grade hunter. A strange organ was found [...]
Skype Lesson with St. Paul
Tonia Kushin has been introducing seabirds to her 6th/7th grade class over the last week. These sessions have included learning about what makes a seabird a seabird, [...]
About the Pribilof Islands
The Pribilof Islands are a remote group of volcanic islands in the Bering Sea, about 200 miles north of Unalaska, and about 500 miles southeast from the [...]