Monitering af lomvier og rider i det nordlige Upernavik, 2008. Technical Report No. 90

In July 2008 (22 – 31) the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and 
DCE – the National Centre for Environment and Energy (Aarhus University), conducted photo surveys and studies of thick-billed murres and 
black-legged kittiwakes in northern Upernavik. The murre/kittiwake 
colonies include Apparsuit/Kap Shackleton (73010, pos. 73°48’N; 
56°47’W), Kippaku (73009, pos. 73°43’N; 56°38’W) and Toqqussaaq 
(73007, pos. 73°26’N; 56°35’W). Six smaller kittiwake colonies were surveyed in northern Upernavik in 2007 (5-8 July) and these results are also 
included. To some extent result from colony studies conducted by DCE 
in 2009 and 2010 are also reported. 
The average hatching date for murres on Kippaku in 2008 was calculated 
to 12 July and the average fledging date to 3 August. Within the most recent years this probably represent a normal breeding year, however, 
compared to the 1980s this is approximately two weeks earlier - probably 
climate related. In 2009 the murres first arrived at Kippaku on 7 May, coinciding with ice break-up around Kippaku. From 2 June murres permanently attended the colony. The average hatching date for kittiwakes in 
2008, 2009 and 2010 was calculated to 4 July in all years. In 2008 the last 
kittiwakes left the colony on 26 August, almost simultaneously with the 
murres. However, the kittiwakes arrived earlier than the murres to the 
colony in 2009. On 2 May when camera surveillance was initiated, the 
kittiwakes were already present in the colony. From 23 May kittiwakes 
permanently attended the colony.
Diurnal variation in colony attendance for murres on Kippaku (chick 
rearing period) was moderate compared to colonies in southern Upernavik. The number of murres attending the colony in study plot 2 was on 
average 16% higher shortly before midnight compared to the lowest 
level in the afternoon (10 p.m. versus 2 p.m.). In study plot 1 the variation was higher (34%, 11 p.m. versus 2 p.m.), probably related to an incident of egg collection earlier in breeding season. Calculated as the coefficient of variation (CV) diurnal variation was 6.5% (6.0% – 6.7%) in plot 2 
and 8.5% (6.4% – 10.3%) in plot 1.
The number of murres counted in 2008, corrected for diurnal variation, 
arrived at 96.400 birds on Apparsuit and 19.010 birds on Kippaku, giving 
a total sum of 115,410 birds or approximately 86,500 breeding pairs in 
northern Upernavik. Assuming that diurnal variation in attendance was 
similar in 2002, the results indicate a 19% population decline on Apparsuit, a 10% increase on Kippaku and a total population decline of 16% for 
northern Upernavik (both colonies). The results indicate that the murre 
population in northern Upernavik is more vulnerable than previously 
anticipated. The Toqqussaaq colony, which during the 1990s had less 
than 100 birds, had no murres. The total number of kittiwakes in northern Upernavik counted 5,270 breeding pairs in 2007-8 and indicates a 
population increase of 18% since the 1990s, although the trend was not 
the same in all colonies. The two largest colonies, Apparsuit and Kippaku, had both increased markedly since 2002 (50% and 72%, respectively), however, for Apparsuit the number is still much smaller than
previous levels in the 1980s and 90s.
The reason for the apparent large deviation in population development 
for Apparsuit and Kippaku, both concerning murres and kittiwakes, is 
unknown. Breeding conditions appear to be good for both species on 
Kippaku, expressed i.e. by the chick production for kittiwakes and fledging weight for murre chicks. It cannot be ruled out that breeding conditions are poor on Apparsuit since they have not been studied here. However, considering the close proximity of the two colonies this is unlikely. 
Illegal hunting in the breeding season may be a contributing factor since 
Apparsuit is located close (almost on) the inshore sailing route. Locally, 
approximately 80 murres are reported shot annually (2002-2011) over the 
summer (illegally). This alone should be within safe limits of the harvest 
capacity of this colony (assuming this is the true harvest level), but in 
combination with winter mortality (incl. hunting) it may contribute to an 
unsustainable harvest level. In addition, hunting close to the colony will 
cause severe disturbance and thereby reduced breeding success.
For Apparsuit and Kippaku it is recommended to conduct complete 
photo surveys of murres and kittiwakes every 6 years at least, using the 
methods described here. Attempts to use of time-lapse cameras in murre 
study plots on Apparsuit should be made to find out if colony attendance is similar to the pattern observed on Kippaku. Attempts should 
also be made to collect information about breeding conditions for murres 
and kittiwakes on Apparsuit to study if poor breeding performance can 
explain observed population declines on Apparsuit. Finally, we recommend a targeted effort to raise awareness of the negative consequences 
of even a relatively modest illegal harvest. The indications of illegal 
hunting and obvious signs of egg collection show that illegal actions potentially may contribute to the negative population trend. A joint effort 
by several organizations, including regional and local stakeholders, 
would be most efficient. Likewise there is a need for informing inhabitants of the local settlements on the use of time-lapse cameras in murre 
colonies, as locals tamper with the cameras now and then. Apparently, it 
is a widespread misunderstanding that the cameras are put there to reveal illegal egg collection.