The Middleton Island
Marine Biological Station

A unique facility for ecosystem research in the Gulf of Alaska, where cutting-edge seabird science meets Cold War history on a remote, tectonically active island.

Support Our Research
50K+
Seabirds Nesting on Middleton Island
182
Acres Comprising the Research Station
12
Average Island Population in Summer (Winter: 2)
9
Former U.S. Air Force Buildings Repurposed for Seabird Research

About the Island

A Strategic Location for Marine Science

Middleton Island, situated about 60 miles off the coast in the north-central Gulf of Alaska, is home to a marine field station unlike any other in the world. Research and monitoring conducted there since 1978 is furnishing data relevant to marine ecosystem management in the Gulf and the northeastern Pacific generally.

The island itself lies smack in the middle of the main east-to-west flowing currents in the Gulf of Alaska. Well-separated from the coast, the island is little influenced by such factors as orogenic weather or variable freshwater inputs, making it an ideal location for oceanic research.

Meet the Team

Leading Researchers

Our international team of scientists brings decades of expertise to seabird research and marine ecosystem studies.

Scott Hatch

Scott Hatch, Ph.D.

Founder, Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation

Scott has 37 years of experience with federal agencies in Alaska and has been working at Middleton since 1978. As the self-appointed "Mayor of Middleton Island," he has overseen the transformation of Cold War infrastructure into a world-class research facility.

Kyle Elliott

Kyle Elliott, Ph.D.

Professor/Canada Research Chair, McGill University

Kyle completed his PhD using data collected at Middleton and has been hooked ever since. His research focuses on tracking kittiwakes, auklets, puffins and gulls to answer behavioral, physiological and ecological questions.

Morgan Benowitz-Fredericks

Morgan Benowitz-Fredericks, Ph.D.

Professor, Bucknell University

Morgan's work capitalizes on Middleton's incredible potential for experimental research on free-living seabirds, exploring the physiology and endocrinology of chick development and life-history of kittiwakes.

Sarah Leclaire

Sarah Leclaire, Ph.D.

Research Scientist, CNRS, France

Sarah is a behavioral ecologist with particular interest in mate choice in seabirds. Her work on Middleton focuses on immunogenetic-based mate choice in black-legged kittiwakes and associated sexual signals.

Akiko Shoji

Akiko Shoji, Ph.D.

Research Scientist & Professor, University of Tsukuba, Japan

Akiko is a behavioral ecologist with particular interest in seabirds and birds of prey. She collaborates with the Middleton Island team on various research projects studying avian behavior and ecology.

Shannon Whelan

Shannon Whelan, Ph.D.

Science Director, Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation (ISRC)

Shannon leads the Core Research Program at ISRC, overseeing logistics and monitoring efforts at the Middleton Island research station. Her research is focused on long-term monitoring, biologging, and endocrinology.

Historical Timeline

From Military Base to Research Station

The course of biological investigations on Middleton is inextricably tied to the island's unique cultural and geological history.

1956

First Biological Survey

Robert Rausch conducts an inaugural biological reconnaissance, documenting "several thousand" kittiwakes and about 400 murres, establishing the earliest baseline of seabird observations available for any Alaska island.

1964

The Great Alaska Earthquake

The earthquake raises the island nearly 4 meters in minutes, exposing previously submerged seafloor and greatly expanding the island's area, fundamentally changing its ecology.

1978

Intensive Research Begins

Scott Hatch arrives for a full-season effort (April-August) as part of OCSEAP, establishing permanent plots for population monitoring. The kittiwake population reaches approximately 150,000 individuals.

1986

Long-term Studies Launch

Sustained, intensive bird research begins with mark-recapture studies of adult survival in black-legged kittiwakes and breeding studies for multiple seabird species.

1995

"The Tower" Age Begins

Enhancement of derelict Air Force radar towers for research purposes begins. Novel artificial "cliff" habitats are developed, enabling controlled feeding experiments and behavioral studies.

Support Our Mission

Help Protect This Living Laboratory

Field operations at Middleton are part of Gulf Watch Alaska and receive funding mainly through cooperative agreements. But making ends meet budget-wise is a perennial challenge. Your tax-deductible contribution helps grow a permanent endowment fund for facility maintenance and core monitoring programs.

Make a Donation