Abstract
Abstract We quantified aspects of the breeding biology of Whiskered Auklets (Aethia pygmaea) at Buldir Island, western Aleutian Islands, Alaska, from 1993 to 1998 to provide a better understanding of this poorly known species' ecological relationship to other auklets (Aethia spp.). Whiskered Auklets nest in rock crevices in a range of habitats including talus slopes, cliffs, and beaches. No physical characteristic of nesting crevices predicted breeding success. Hatching dates varied among years; mean hatching dates averaged 20 June ±6.8 days (range 16–27 June). Chicks remained in the nest for 39 ± 2 days, with mean annual fledging from 27 to 29 July. Eggs were 44.1 ± 1.6 mm in length and 31.1 ± 1.61 mm in breadth, and varied significantly in size among years. Chicks weighed 17.4 ± 2.4 g (15.6% of adult mass) within two days of hatching and gained 3.8 g day−1 in mass and 3.2 mm day−1 in wing length during the linear growth period. Chicks fledged at 101.3 ± 11.3 g (90.5% adult mass) after a prefledging mass...
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