Discovery of a Ground-Nesting Marbled Murrelet

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Abstract
An exposed ground nest of a marbled murrelet discovered on July 8, 1978, on East Amatuli Island, Barren Islands, Alaska [USA], was studied for 51 days. The behavior and activity patterns of the adults throughout incubation and the nestling stage exhibit adaptations to reduce detection of the nest and avoid predators. The highly cryptic chick remains alone on the nest for approximately 27 days and is fed at least once a night by the adults. A tenacious layer of down is apparently preened off by the chick just prior to fledging, allowing the nestling to remain inconspicuous until juvenile plumage has fully developed. Analysis of the chick''s growth parameters indicates a relatively high rate of growth as compared with other alcids. This may be because the food supply is readily accessible, and in turn reduces the period of the chick''s exposure to predators. Fledging behavior in the marbled murrelet remains a mystery although evidence indicates that chicks fly to sea and are independent after leaving the nest.