3 years ago a number of Kittiwakes from colonies throughout the arctic were fitted with small daylight loggers in order to pinpoint their wither homes.

Researchers from the project SEAPOP have in 2008 and 09 caught kittiwakes from 19 colonies and fitted them with daylight loggers. The logger weighs less than 2 grams and logs the light intensity every 10 minutes. The birds were recaptured last year and their locations throughout the winters could be pinpointed.

The researchers found that 80% of the estimated 4,5 million adult Atlantic kittiwakes were overwintering in the open sea between Newfoundland and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Read more about the project:
http://www.framsenteret.no/fant-krykkjenes-vinterhjem.5017974-141503.html (in Norwegian)

http://www.forskning.no/artikler/2012/februar/312667 (in Norwegian)

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Kittywake (Photo: SSF)

The logger attached to the leg of the kittiwake (Photo: Framsenteret)