A. Status of the Spectacled Eider - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

In this region, Spectacled Eider nests are generally within several meters of waterbodies
(TERA 1993; Anderson and Cooper 1994; Smith et al. 1994; Anderson et al. 1995; Johnson
1995; B. Anderson, pers. comm.), and are found on lake edges in basin wetland complexes
(Smith et al. 1994), on ridges on polygons containing permanent water and emergent sedge or
grass (Rothe et al. 1983; North 1990), and along the edge of deep open lakes (Bergman et al.
1977; Derksen et al. 1981).
Nesting habitats of Spectacled Eiders in coastal Russia have been described near the Indigirka
(Kistchinski and Flint 1974; D. Esler, pers. comm.), Ekviatap (Stishov 1992), and Chaun
rivers (Kondratev and Zadorina 1992). Nests were generally within several meters of
waterbodies, except on coastal islands of the Indigirka River Delta where some nests were
found > SOm from the nearest waterbody (D. Esler, per. comm.). Preferred habitats on the
Indigirka River and Chaun River deltas were islands in lakes or small, elevated areas in
flooded sedge and grass marshes called “laydas” (Kistchinski and Flint 1974; Kondratev and
Zadorina 1992). In these habitats, Spectacled Eider nests were found commonly near colonies
of gulls or terns. In contrast, solitary pairs nested in low densities in uniform tundra areas that
were rich in lakes.
Female Spectacled Eiders rear their broods in shallow ponds and lakes with emergent
vegetation, in basin wetland complexes and on deep open lakes (Dau 1974; Kistchinski and
Flint 1974; Derksen et al. 1981; Warnock and Troy 1992; Anderson and Cooper 1994;
Anderson et al. 1995; C. Harwood, pers. comm.; T. Moran, pers. comm.; J. B. Grand, pers.
comm.). J. B. Grand and associates (pers. comm.) found that females selected areas of low to
moderate salinity for brood-rearing. Ducklings of other species are known to exhibit adverse
physiological effects .when freshwater is not available (Schmidt-Nielsen and Kim 1964;
Baudinette et al. 1982; Moorman 1990). In the arctic, Derksen et al. (1981) found Spectacled
Eider broods associated with shallow-Carex and deep-open Arctophila lakes. Ponds with
emergents are important brood-rearing habitats (Warnock and Troy 1992; Anderson and
Cooper 1994; Anderson et al. 1995; TERA 1995).
Spectacled Eiders spend 8-10 months/year in the Bering and Chukchi seas (Dau and
Kistchinski 1977). Although considerable data exist on the climate (Brower et al. 1977),
oceanography, and biological resources of these areas (Hood and Kelley 1974; Sayles et al.
1979; Hood and Calder 1981), an evaluation ofthe relationship between environmental
parameters and the seasonal distribution of molting, staging, and wintering Spectacled Eiders
is lacking. Satellite monitoring of climatic and sea ice conditions was used to identify
polynyas in the Bering Sea which may be potential Spectacled Eider habitat (Dau and
Kistchinski 1977), but these areas have not been adequately surveyed (McRoy et al. 1971;
Everett et al. 1989). Dau and Kistchinski (1977) thought Spectacled Eiders would be found in
waters =30m deep. Recent data from fall staging and wintering areas suggest that Spectacled
Eiders may be found in waters twice that depth (M. R. Petersen, pers. comm.).
25