EFFECT OF IMPLANTED SATELLITE TRANSMITTERS ON THE NESTING-BEHAVIOR OFMURRES

We implanted 6 Common Murres (Uria aalge) and 10 Thick-billed Murres ( Uria lomvia) with satellite transmitters and compared subsequent prese nce at the colony, nesting status, and provisioning to a control group that underwent a simple surgical procedure. In the 10 days following implantation, we resighted 10 of 11 control birds at the colony and 6 of 16 implanted birds. Of the birds that returned, 7 of 10 control bir ds retained breeding status, whereas zero of six implanted birds retai ned breeding status. We conclude that abdominal implantations alter mu rre nesting behavior.