HI ALL:
I thought someone might be interested in this article:

Northwestern Naturalist 92(3):186-199. 2011
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1898/10-21.1


Occurrences of Kittlitz's Murrelets South of the Breeding Range Along the
West Coast of North America
Harry R. Carter(a), S. Kim Nelson(b), Spencer G. Sealy(c), and Gus B. van
Vliet(d)

a:Carter Biological Consulting, 1015 Hampshire Road, Victoria, BC V8S 4S8
carterhr at shaw.ca

b:Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Oregon State
University, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, 104 Nash Hall,
Corvallis, OR 97331

c:Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
R3T 2N2

d:PO Box 210442, Auke Bay, AK 99821


Corresponding Editor: Joan Hagar.


Abstract
Even though Kittlitz's Murrelets (Brachyramphus brevirostris) remain
almost entirely within the species' breeding range throughout the year, 20
records were obtained south of the breeding range along the west coast of
North America between 1969 and 2010. Eight records between southern
British Columbia and southern California (19692010), within the California
Current region (33?49? N), were considered to be vagrants, occurring far
from the nearest breeding areas (1060 to 2920 km). Twelve records in
southern Southeast Alaska and northern British Columbia (19942001) were
relatively close to southernmost breeding areas (<730 km), still within
the southern Alaska Current region (51?56? N), and were considered to
reflect occasional use of the southern part of the non-breeding range.
With no records south of breeding areas prior to 1969, vagrancy and
movements just south of the breeding range may have increased in recent
decades because more qualified observers have covered the coastal areas,
as well as due to changes in weather, reproduction, and movements.
Increased search effort and better documentation of records will
facilitate future confirmation and identification of changes in the type
or frequency of these occurrences.
Received: June 11, 2010; Accepted: February 15, 2011


sincerely
--

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
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