Very different to its nearest relative, being far less numerous, indeed its restricted range with less colonies gives it a population of
about 160,000, but although thought to be in decline the data is unreliable, so it has no conservation status. Half the size of its relative, the two share the peculiar characteristic of a citrus
odour. Not that I have smelt them, but we did see about 10-15,000 whilst on a ship in the Kurils and Kommanders. It is a very difficult bird for US listers, since it requires a trip to Buldir Island in the Aleutians,
or the seas around.
Taken Kuril Islands June 1993
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