A. Status of the Spectacled Eider - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
A. Status of the Spectacled Eider - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
A. Status of the Spectacled Eider - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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AlS. Produce a h<strong>and</strong>book summarizing all information on identifying, ageing <strong>and</strong> sexing<br />
<strong>Spectacled</strong> <strong>Eider</strong>s This information, including plumage sequences <strong>and</strong> morphology, is needed<br />
to assist with ageing <strong>and</strong> sexing birds in <strong>the</strong> h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> during aerial, boat <strong>and</strong> ground surveys.<br />
B. Abundance <strong>and</strong> Distribution<br />
Bi. Delineate <strong>and</strong> monitor breeding populations Changes in listing status (Threatened to<br />
Endangered, Endangered to Threatened, Threatened to delisted) will be based on total numbers<br />
<strong>of</strong>breeding birds <strong>and</strong> changes in <strong>the</strong> numbers <strong>of</strong> breeding birds in <strong>the</strong> three breeding<br />
populations (YKD, NS, AR).. Breeding populations cannot be adequately monitored until <strong>the</strong>.<br />
major breeding areas are delineated. Presently only <strong>the</strong> YKD breeding area is thoroughly<br />
described <strong>and</strong> mapped; <strong>the</strong> geographic distribution <strong>and</strong> relative densities <strong>of</strong> breeding pairs on<br />
<strong>the</strong> NS <strong>and</strong> AR are currently being determined. Management actions to prevent extinction<br />
depend upon knowing whe<strong>the</strong>r a population is declining rapidly or has already declined to<br />
critically low numbers. Thus, population monitoring is critical for species recovery.<br />
Surveys for monitoring eider populations must be efficient <strong>and</strong> affordable to be maintained<br />
over extended periods. Aerial surveys appear to <strong>of</strong>fer <strong>the</strong> greatest potential for cost-efficient,<br />
long-term surveys over <strong>the</strong> breeding range <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> species.<br />
If surveys indicated that all three populations were declining, a common causative problem or<br />
problems would be indicated. In contrast, different trends among populations would suggest<br />
that <strong>the</strong> primary causes <strong>of</strong> observed declines occurred on <strong>the</strong> breeding grounds or on distinct<br />
at-sea ranges. Trend <strong>and</strong> abundance information will assist in setting priorities for tasks to<br />
identify obstacles to recovery <strong>and</strong> causes <strong>of</strong> decline. Trends <strong>and</strong> abundance estimates should<br />
be <strong>of</strong> sufficient accuracy <strong>and</strong> precision to satisfy <strong>the</strong> Recovery Criteria.<br />
Bi. 1. Determine <strong>the</strong> breeding range <strong>and</strong> relative abundance <strong>of</strong> <strong>Spectacled</strong> <strong>Eider</strong>s on <strong>the</strong><br />
Ni Experimental surveys initiated in 1992 defined <strong>the</strong> geographic limits <strong>and</strong> relative<br />
abundance <strong>of</strong> this breeding population. (See task B1.4.2.4 for long-term monitoring on<br />
NS). Completed.<br />
Bl .2. Determine <strong>the</strong> breeding range <strong>and</strong> relative abundance <strong>of</strong><strong>Spectacled</strong> <strong>Eider</strong>s in AR<br />
The distribution <strong>and</strong> relative abundance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> AR population is poorly defined.<br />
Bi .2.1. Complete geographically extensive surveys across AR. The <strong>Service</strong> has<br />
attempted waterfowl breeding pair surveys in AR for a few years; survey results from<br />
1993 <strong>and</strong> 1994 permitted gross delineation <strong>of</strong> <strong>Spectacled</strong> <strong>Eider</strong> breeding areas <strong>and</strong><br />
relative numbers in AR. Analysis <strong>and</strong> mapping <strong>of</strong> general range were completed in<br />
1995.<br />
B1.2.2. Quantify breeding population size on <strong>the</strong> Indigirka River Delta, AR. An<br />
intensive survey for breeding pairs on <strong>the</strong> Indigirka in 1994 was completed.<br />
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