| MMS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM: ONGOING STUDIES | ||||||
| MMS OCS Region: | Alaska | |||||
| Title: | King and Common Eider Migrations Past Point Barrow | |||||
| Total Cost: | $231,000 | Period of Performance: | FY 2002-06 | |||
| Conducting Organization: |
CMI, UAF |
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| MMS Contact: | ||||||
| Description: | ||||||
| Background King (Somateria spectabilis) and common eiders (S. mollissima v-nigra) are an important resource for Native people in northern Alaska and Canada. Residents of Barrow harvest more king and common eiders than any other species of waterfowl (Fuller and George 1977). Most individuals of both species nesting in Alaska and Canada pass very close to shore at point Barrow, Alaska, twice annually – during their northward, spring migration and their southward, fall migration. Based on previous surveys conducted at Barrow from 1953 to the present, Suydam, et al. (2000) argued that the king eider population appeared to have relatively constant numbers between 1953 and 1976, but may have declined by about 53% between 1976 and 1996. Those authors also argued that the common eider population may have declined by a similar magnitude (56%) during the same period. Although eider surveys have been conducted periodically at Pt. Barrow since 1953, a comprehensive survey was last completed in 1996. This study will support a repeat of the previous surveys, using the same location, methods and some of the same observers that participated during 1996. This effort will expand the existing synthesis of eider migration data compiled in the earlier publication (Suydam 2000) and should lead to a better understanding of the timing of migrations and use of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea OCS and coastal environments by the subject species. This study also is synergistic with three other ongoing MMS studies - two that address habitat use and movements of king eiders and a third that is developing recovery models for these and related species. |
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| Objectives 1. Estimate the number of king and common eiders passing by Point Barrow in spring and fall 2003-2004 and compare with counts made in 1996. 2. Estimate the sex ratios of king and common eiders passing by Point Barrow in spring 2003 and 2004. 3. Estimate the timing and sex/age composition of king and common eiders leaving the Beaufort Sea in the summer of 2003 and 2004. 4. Investigate possible correlation among weather conditions and high passage rates of eiders within each migration. |
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| Methods Investigators will follow the same methodology as was used in previous surveys at the same site. 1. One to three observers will count eiders from the base of the Point Barrow spit between approximately 10 September and 30 October. 2. Make counts up to 10 hours each day in September, but limit to 2 hours per day by October as day length decreases. 3. Collect data on weather conditions (temperature, wind speed, wind direction, cloud cover, and visibility). For each flock sighted, record: time, direction of travel, species composition, number sighted, ratio of males to females for each species, and other comments on behavior. 4. Collect data from subsistence hunters regarding species, sex, and age composition, status of molt of late summer flocks. 5. Analyze data following previous methods of Suydam, et al. (2000). |
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| Importance to MMS MMS will use the data on king and common eider distribution and abundance from this study, and related studies mentioned above, to model the effect of various oil spill scenarios on the Beaufort Sea eider population. MMS will use information on basic natural history and ecology to improve assessments of potential impacts of oil development and, potentially, to develop mitigation measures for future OCS, and supporting onshore, development. |
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| Current Status:
This study is on schedule and making satisfactory progress. Spring 2004 field work is underway. Results of previous surveys by the PI’s at the same study site suggested that populations of king and common eiders may have declined by about 50% between 1976 and 1996. Preliminary results of the ongoing study suggest that those populations have not declined further and may have increased since 1996. |
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| Final Report Due: |
April 30, 2006 |
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| Publications: |
Quakenbush, L. T. and R. S. Suydam. 2003. King and Common Eider Migrations Past Point Barrow, p. 78-80 In University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute Annual Report No. 9. OCS Study MMS 2003-003, University of Alaska Fairbanks and USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 106 p. Quakenbush, L. T. and R. S. Suydam. 2004. King and Common Eider Migrations Past Point Barrow, p. 60-69 In University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute Annual Report No. 10. OCS Study MMS 2004-002, University of Alaska Fairbanks and USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 119 p. |
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| Affiliated WWW Sites: |
cmi@sfos.uaf.edu |
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| Revised date: |
April 2004 |
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| ESPIS |
ESPIS - All completed
ESP Studies: |
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