Study of Rare Bird Conducted at Kodiak Refuge

A study was conducted on Kodiak Island this summer that could result in a seabird being placed on the endangered species list.

The bird is the Kittlitz’s Murrelet, a rare black-and-white seabird.

The Kodiak Daily Mirror says over the summer the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge sent a four-person team to study the Kittlitz’s Murrelet. The two-month study was conducted on the southwest part of the island where the birds nest.

The bird is found in other parts of Alaska, but not many studies have been completed because the bird is so elusive. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is gathering information on the bird to consider listing it.

This was the fifth year the refuge has studied the birds.