Post-breeding movements of Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus family groups and subsequent oriented chain migration of adults 2014-15

In 2014 we deployed geolocator loggers on Ancient Murrelets at 4 breeding colonies, 2 on the east and 2 on the west coast of Haida Gwaii to investigate patterns of post-breeding dispersal and subsequent migratory movements. Birds from east coast colonies moved south and east, remaining in Queen Charlotte Sound and adjacent waters for 4-6 wks, whereas those from west coast colonies moved steadily north and west, leaving BC waters earlier than those from east coast colonies. These movements were consistent with being driven by surface currents. In June, all birds moved rapidly to the eastern Aleutians, SE Bering Sea, and waters off Kamchatka, where they probably moulted. In Aug, most moved north, some passing through Bering Straits into the Chukchi Sea. In Oct-Nov some birds returned to waters off western NA and the remainder carried on westwards to waters off Japan, Korea and NE China. Those birds wintering in Asia began moving east in February and arrived off BC in March.