FAUNA OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND ALASKA PENINSULA 179 



Sterna paradisaea: Arctic Tern 



Attu: Ki-ti-ki-tee-ach 



Atka: Kri-thich'-tha 



Russian, Yana region: Tschemogrudka (Birula) 



Chukchi: Tekechyak (Palmen) 



Arctic terns nest in suitable places all the way from Kodiak 

 Island to Attu. Walker (1923) observed a small colony in Alitak 

 Bay, Kodiak Island, and reports them nesting at least as far 

 south as Taku Glacier, near Juneau. We were informed that a 

 colony of terns, presumably of this species, nested at Bear Bay, 

 near Belkofski, and on an island in Pavlof Bay. Walker has also 

 recorded terns as being common on Simeonof Island, in the 

 Shumagins. 



On the north side of Alaska Peninsula a few Arctic terns 

 were seen at Ugashik River, probably nesting, and there was a 

 nesting colony at Nelson Lagoon. In late July 1940, Gabrielson 

 found them to be common on the basal portions of Alaska 

 Peninsula, particularly between Becharof Lake and Egegik can- 

 nery, on the Wood River Lakes, along Kvichak River, and on 

 the upper end of Iliamna Lake. 



In 1925, I found them nesting at Izembek Bay, a few in the 

 marshy bottom of the valley running north from Aghileen Pin- 

 nacles; a group of 40 and a group of 200 on two small islands 

 near Point Grant; and at least 2 pairs at a small pond near the 

 base of Frosty Peak. 



In 1940, Gabrielson found 10 pairs and 3 nests at Morzhovoi 

 Bay on June 21. 



In the Aleutians proper, we were told that there was a colony 

 on Kanaga, a few were seen on Tanaga, and we found several 

 colonies on Ogliuga and Skagul. A flock of eight or ten was seen 

 at the south end of Kiska Island, and we noted 15 or 20 at a 

 low reef in Massacre Bay, Attu Island, June 9, 1937. Evidently, 

 there were nesting or preparing to nest. Three pairs were nesting 

 on a small island of a lake on Alaid, and another pair was nest- 

 ing on the middle island of the Semichi group. Turner reported 

 them plentiful here, and breeding. A few birds were noted at 

 Semisopochnoi and Amchitka, and in 1938 Scheffer saw one at 

 Sanak Island. 



The Arctic tern is not abundant among the Aleutian Islands, 

 and the islands mentioned here are probably the majority of those 

 occupied by these terns. Colonies are usually small, and even one 

 or two pairs may be all that nest in a given locality. 



Arctic terns nest in the Commander Islands. 



