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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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feasible if post-fledging staging areas have been identified (task B2.2.3) <strong>and</strong> may also<br />

provide new information about post-fledging areas ifjuveniles are detected coincidentally<br />

with o<strong>the</strong>r surveys. Presumed high mortality rates for juveniles make this approach less<br />

favorable. The best methods should be determined through preliminary studies. These<br />

studies should evaluate juvenile mortality beginning after day 45, when <strong>the</strong> ducklings are<br />

fully fea<strong>the</strong>red with full wings, but before <strong>the</strong>y migrate to <strong>the</strong> coast. Follow-up surveys <strong>of</strong><br />

post-fledging habitats should be incorporated in project plans (see task B2.2).<br />

C2.3.1. Implement juvenile post-fledging mortality study on <strong>the</strong> YKD<br />

C2.3.2. Implement juvenile post-fledging mortality study on <strong>the</strong> NS<br />

C2.3.3. Implement juvenile post-fledging mortality study in AR<br />

C2.4. Quantify duckling mortality. High nesting success may not correlate with high<br />

fledging success if ducklings suffer high mortality rates. Fur<strong>the</strong>r, since predation <strong>and</strong> lead<br />

poisoning are suspected obstacles to recovery, data are needed on duckling survival <strong>and</strong><br />

fledging rates. Sampling design should account for local <strong>and</strong> annual variation in duckling<br />

survival, which may be substantial. Hence, studies should be conducted at more than one<br />

site per breeding population; optimally at <strong>the</strong> same sites as those used to determine egg<br />

production, recruitment, <strong>and</strong> adult mortality.<br />

C2.4. 1. Assess <strong>and</strong> modify methods for radio-tracking hens on <strong>the</strong> YKD to monitor<br />

bro&.znQlIality.. Studies on duckling mortality should be continued at Hock Slough<br />

until sufficient data are available to evaluate variability in duckling survival. Study<br />

protocols, which presently are unable to adequately monitor mortality during <strong>the</strong> first<br />

two weeks post-hatch, should be assessed <strong>and</strong> modified if feasible. Mortality<br />

immediately post-hatch <strong>and</strong> while broods are moving from nesting to initial broodrearing<br />

habitats--a presumed period <strong>of</strong> high mortality--might be detected with more<br />

intensive monitoring. Project was initiated in 1993.<br />

C2.4.2. Implement radio-tracking <strong>of</strong> hens on <strong>the</strong> MS to monitor brood mortality<br />

Comparable data on brood mortality are needed from both developed <strong>and</strong> undevelopedsites<br />

on <strong>the</strong> MS to address <strong>the</strong> hypo<strong>the</strong>sis that industrial development has adversely<br />

affected local populations. Fur<strong>the</strong>r, this information is needed to interpret comparisons<br />

between NS <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r populations. Current studies within <strong>the</strong> MS oil fields could be<br />

duplicated in ecologically similar, undeveloped sites.<br />

• C2.4.3. Implement radio-tracking <strong>of</strong> hens in AR to monitor brood mortality<br />

C2.5. Monitor brood production. Brood surveys would provide <strong>the</strong> most direct evidence<br />

<strong>of</strong>annual breeding success prior to fledging. Production data collected thus far primarily<br />

have been very local in nature (associated with research projects) <strong>and</strong> may not be<br />

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