Evaluation of radio-tracking and strip transect methods for determining foraging ranges of Black-legged Kittiwakes

Radio-tracking and strip transect techniques for determining foraging range of Black-legged Kittiwakes in Prince William Sound, AK, were compared. Bootstrapping procedures to simulate the effect of decreasing sampling effort on both methods were also applied. Findings showed that radio-tracking provides a more accurate indication of foraging distances compared to strip transect sampling. Previous investigations of seabirds which employed strip transect sampling failed to consider bird spreading or the influences of study-area limitations, thus, underestimating foraging range.