Second North American Sea Duck Conference - Patuxent Wildlife ...

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SECOND NORTH AMERICAN SEA DUCK CONFERENCE NEST SITE CHOICE BY ARCTIC-NESTING COMMON EIDERS Peter L. F. Fast¹, H. Grant Gilchrist², and Robert G. Clark¹,³ ¹ Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan; peter.fast@gmail.com ²Canadian Wildlife Service and Department of Biology, Carleton University ³Canadian Wildlife Service and Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan We investigated patterns of common eider (Somateria mollissima) nest site use in Canada’s Eastern Arctic, and conducted experiments to better understand selective processes that may underlie these patterns. We monitored 5 study plots using observation blinds, documenting successful nest establishment (i.e., laid eggs and onset of incubation) and subsequent nest fate. Following hatch, we measured physical characteristics of all available nest bowls and random sites. Higher probability of bowl use occurred in regions of greatest local nesting density, and in bowls with large adjacent rocks and organic substrates. Furthermore, bowls with these characteristics had a tendency to be used first. Available nest bowls that were not used by an incubating female (i.e., either no nest attempted, or nest loss occurring during egg laying) had intermediate characteristics between random sites and used bowls. Furthermore, we found characteristics positively associated with probability of use were also associated with increased probability of nest success. These patterns suggest that nesting eiders actively select and/or lose fewer eggs to predators in sites with certain characteristics. To investigate these patterns further, we experimentally manipulated nests prior to egg-laying and during incubation. Extraneous material (e.g. moss, down) placed within bowls prior to laying had no influence on probability of nest establishment, but bowls containing down were more likely to have nests successfully initiated in them earlier than nests containing no nesting material. We also placed artificial nest shelters and temperature probes over established nests. We found females nesting in artificial shelters experienced more moderate thermal environments, and maintained higher late incubation body weight. We speculate that it may be energetically advantageous for eiders to nest in sites with large rocks that provide shelter from strong wind and rain, whereas bowls with rock substrates likely have poorer insulative properties than those with organic substrates. Furthermore, eiders may benefit from increased detection of predators and/or reduced nest mortality by choosing bowls in areas of higher nesting density. 84 ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, USA NOV. 7-11, 2005
Ian Gereg SECOND NORTH AMERICAN SEA DUCK CONFERENCE ATLANTIC COMMON EIDER FIELD COLLECTION AND CAPTIVE REARING AT THE LIVINGSTON RIPLEY WATERFOWL SANCTUARY Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Santuary, Litchfield, CT, ian@exoticwaterfowl.co After an exhaustive search in both the private and zoological waterfowl collections in the US, there seemed to be a dismally low number of Atlantic common eiders (Somateria mollissima dresseri) available to revitalize the eider population at the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Sanctuary. Because of a lack of captive birds available, a permit from the State of Maine and the USFWS was secured to collect twenty-four eggs from islands in East Casco Bay, Maine. After a successful field collection with Brad Allen of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the eggs were artificially incubated to hatching, and hand reared in brooders at the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Sanctuary in Litchfield, Connecticut. The methods of hand rearing proved successful, and all twenty-four ducklings were reared to fledging. These ducks, when mature, will form the backbone of a breeding program for the species at the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Sanctuary, which will provide genetically diverse Atlantic common eider to those organizations in need of new captive bloodlines. Such a breeding program will also ensure that a healthy number of Atlantic common eider is sustained in captivity for education and research. Field collection of twenty-four Atlantic common eider eggs was conducted to establish a captive colony. Nest site location, collection and transport methods were determined. The process of incubating and hand-rearing the ducklings to fledging, including humidity and temperature for incubation stage hand-rearing, and adult housing is described. Also recorded are feeds used and daily growth tables for captive eider ducklings from hatch to fleding, as well as images of rearing facilities, field collection, and duckling growth. NOV. 7-11, 2005 ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, USA 85
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