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THE QUEST FOR RECOVERY. Spectacled Eiders on Yukon Delta NWR Melissa Gabrielson Wildlife Biologist Yukon Delta NWR February 15, 2011. A Threatened Species. Listed as threatened in 1993 Breeding pair numbers declined by 96%. A Threatened Species. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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The Quest for Recovery Continues - Yukon Delta NWR – February 15, 2011 1
Spectacled Eiders on Yukon Delta NWRMelissa Gabrielson
Wildlife BiologistYukon Delta NWR February 15, 2011
A Threatened Species
Listed as threatened in 1993Breeding pair numbers declined by 96%
2The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011
A Threatened Species
Factors affecting Spectacled Eider populationLead poisoningPredationHuman activity
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 3
A Threatened Species
Conservation measuresLead shot bannedHunting and egging prohibited
Research efforts
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 4
Meet the Spectacled Eider
Long-lived High adult survival Small clutch size Delayed sexual
maturity Extensive parental
care
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 5
Meet the Spectacled Eider
Adapted to marine and freshwater environmentsSalt glands
Adapted to extreme temperaturesDecrease daily maintenance costsUse energy reserves
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 6
Where Can You Find Eiders?
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 7
Figure from Petersen et al. 1999. At-sea distribution of spectacled eiders: A 120 year-old mystery resolved. Auk 116: 1009-1020
They Winter Where?
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 8
Figure from Peterson, M. R. and D. C. Douglas. 2004. Winter ecology of spectacled eiders: Environmental characteristics and population change. The Condor 106: 79-94
They Winter Where? Found in open water
between ice packsBenefits
○ Decrease energy costs○ Reduce effect of storms
Obstacles○ Restricted feeding○ Extreme weather
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 9
Finding a Place to Call Home
Selecting nest siteSmall islandsPeninsulasPond shorelines
Constructing nest
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 10
Eggs
Oval Shape Light olive green color Total eggs 1-11 Lay one egg every 24 hr Incubation lasts 24 days
11The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011
Ducklings
Fully covered with down Capable of walking,
swimming, and feeding Move to marine habitat Do not return for 2-3
years
12The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011
Who Would Want to Eat an Eider?
Arctic fox, red fox, gulls, and jaegers
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 13
Where Does the Research Happen?
Kigigak Island
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Bering Sea
Past and Present Research
Monitor spectacled eider populationAdult female annual survivalNest successDuckling survivalRecruitment
Search plots
15The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011
Initial visitIdentify marked femalesMark nestsNumber and age eggs
Subsequent visitsIdentify marked femalesNest statusEgg status
I Found One!!
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 16
Got Ya!
Females trapped Mist nestsBow-net traps
BandingU.S. Fish & Wildlife metal
bandTarsal BandNasal Disc
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 17
What Have We Found??
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 18
Tables taken from: Fischer, J. B., R. A. Stehn, and G. Walters. 2010. Nest population size and potential production of geese and spectacled eiders on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 2009. Unpubl. Rep., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK.
Take Home Message
Population is increasing More to learn On the road to recovery???
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 19
Thank–You
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 20
Additional Slides
The following slides were not included in the slide show
They contain more details on some of the methods that we use on Kigigak Island
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR – February 15, 2011 21
Finding Spectacled Eiders
Search designated plots
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR - February 15, 2011 22
Aging Eggs
Floating Technique
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR – February 15, 2011 23
Aging Eggs
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR – February 15, 2011 24
Candling Technique
Trapping Techniques
Mist net
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR – February 15, 2011 25
Trapping Techniques
Bow-trap
The Quest for Recovery - Yukon Delta NWR – February 15, 2011 26
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