Seabirds

Seabirds depend on the world鈥檚 oceans for food and spend most of their lives at sea. The seas bordering Alaska (Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and north Pacific Ocean) produce large amounts of food and seabirds from all over the world come to partake in these productive marine feeding grounds. 

Tens of millions of seabirds nest on Alaska's coast each summer, by far the most of any other state due the length of Alaska's coastline (46,000 miles, including 9,900 miles along National Wildlife Refuges) and the presence of many cliffs and islands that provide protected habitat. Alaska鈥檚 seabird breeding colonies鈥攁nd National Wildlife Refuges鈥攐ffer some of the most amazing spectacles and viewing opportunities in the world. The soaring cliffs of St. George Island alone host one of the largest seabird colonies in the northern hemisphere with a staggering 2+ million birds.

Quick Links

 (a global seabird information portal)

Seabird die-off map

Information about seabird die-offs in Alaska during 2021.

The bet365下载ios's R/V Tiglax, seen from a cliff in Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge through a seabird flock.

Broken sea ice stretches out in front of U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker 鈥淗ealy鈥 in the Beaufort Sea during a marine bird survey.
Woman in warm clothing looking out to the snow covered ice with binoculars
Wildlife Biologist - Seabirds
Migratory Birds
Additional Role(s)
bet365下载ios Oil Spill Response Team,
Alaska Groundfish and Halibut Seabird Working Group
Expertise
Pelagic seabird distribution and ecology,
Seabird bycatch,
Shipping,
GIS
Area
AK
Anchorage,AK