Abstract

In 2008, we built an artificial nesting construction for Common Murres *Uria aalge*, the Karlsö Auk Lab, on an island in the Baltic Sea. The aim was to create an environment in which the birds could be readily monitored and technological equipment easily installed. Here we report on murre recruitment to the Auk Lab during its first decade, compare breeding performance with birds on natural cliff ledges, and revisit the original research questions. Dramatic developments in video surveillance, automated scales, thermal cameras, weather sensors and AI-driven analytics—unforeseen ten years ago—delivered data at an unprecedented temporal resolution. These technologies revealed major ecological insights, including the roles of eagle disturbance and heat stress, while highlighting challenges such as automated individual identification and the high costs of IT infrastructure. We outline new questions for the coming decade and invite further research collaborations. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}