. The Canadian field-naturalist. 76 The Canadian Field-Naturalist the lower boards of the interior roof were missing, giving the birds access to the nests, after they had entered the building through the open door or windows (Figure 1). On 30 July one of the latter nests contained two downy young, both measuring about 10 cm (4 in) in length and an adult which was captured, photographed, and Figure l. Abandoned building containing Black Guil- lemot nests, Herschel Island. Photographs of this bird and a dead short- winged juvenile collected by Taylor in 1973 (Number 59248 in th
. The Canadian field-naturalist. 76 The Canadian Field-Naturalist the lower boards of the interior roof were missing, giving the birds access to the nests, after they had entered the building through the open door or windows (Figure 1). On 30 July one of the latter nests contained two downy young, both measuring about 10 cm (4 in) in length and an adult which was captured, photographed, and Figure l. Abandoned building containing Black Guil- lemot nests, Herschel Island. Photographs of this bird and a dead short- winged juvenile collected by Taylor in 1973 (Number 59248 in the collection of the National Museum of Canada) were examined by W. Earl Godfrey, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa and he confirmed that the birds in question were Black Guillemots. The eastern North American population of the Black Guillemot nests in individual pairs or small colonies on low flat islands, at the base of escarp- ments, on talus slopes, and among rock rubble and on cliff ledges, sometimes at considerable height (Godfrey 1966). This type of nesting habitat is poorly represented in the western Canadian Arctic. Only two other alcids occur in the western Canadian Arctic, but the Dovekie (Alle alle) is a rare visitor and the Thick-billed Murre {Uria lomvia) breeds only in a small colony near Cape Parry. The hypothesis presented by Divoky et al. (1974) of an eastward extension of the Black Guillemot's breeding range has been borne out by our observations. As yet, guillemots have not been found nesting in suitable debris which exists on islands lying between Herschel Island and Igalik Island, Alaska. Southeast of Herschel Island, potential nest sites would be found in the form of abandoned buildings and piles of driftwood occurring from Herschel Island to Shingle Point, with similar habitat available on offshore islands such as Garry, PeUy, Hooper, Rae, and Pullen Islands. This suggests the possibility of future population increase and range expansion for Bla
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