CALIFORNIA SEA LION PREDATION ON CHICKS OF THE COMMON MURRE

Current knowledge of predation on Common Murres is largely confined to several species of terrestrial predators, and little is known of the role of aquatic predators on murre life history. Our field observation s demonstrate that the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is a predator on Common Murre (Uria aalgae) chicks. We present tile firs t record of pinniped predation on murres along the west coast of North America, and the first record of California sea lion predation on sea birds.