Due to unforeseen circumstances, Seabird Camp 2022 has been changed from the traditional all ages kid afternoon day camp followed by a weekend teen overnight camp to more socially distanced activities.
On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, Camp sponsored a Meet the Biologist night out on Ridge Wall cliffs. The Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge biologists Brinna Bode and Janne Torres joined families and explained what they are working on this summer. They gave an update on how the seabirds that they are monitoring on St. Paul are doing so far. Families were able to borrow camp binoculars and use the spotting scopes to check out the nesting seabirds. There were plenty of Thick-billed and Common Murres – but no eggs yet to be seen, many Black-legged Kittiwakes – and according to Briana, almost 90% of the nests already had eggs. Several BLKI nests even had 2 eggs. We observed Red-legged Kittiwakes, Tufted & Horned Puffins, Northern Fulmars, and Red-faced Cormorants. The biologists mentioned that they have found over a hundred RFCO nests on Tolstoi Cliffs, and that they have seen RFCO chicks already!
It was neat to hear teens who had attended prior year’s camps identifying the species and sharing information about the cliff nesters. It was also great to hear the elders who joined us sharing back to Briana and Janne about how the seabirds are used in our local culture – like gathering murre eggs and hunting then skinning versus plucking the kittiwakes.
Many thanks to everyone who joined us tonight.
