Sea Duck Joint Venture
Sea ducks are a large group of waterfowl that, relative to other waterfowl species, we know little about.
Some sea duck populations are declining or have lower numbers than they did historically, and they depend on sensitive coastal, arctic, and boreal habitats throughout the continent.
About the Sea Duck Joint Venture
We are a bi-national conservation partnership of organizations committed to maintaining sustainable populations of North American sea ducks throughout their ranges.
We promote the conservation of North American sea ducks through partnerships by providing greater knowledge and understanding for effective population and habitat conservation and management.
News
Celebrating Forty Years of Migratory Bird Joint Ventures
Did you know that 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of North American Migratory Bird Joint Ventures? Since the North American Waterfowl Management Plan called for their creation in 1986, the Joint Ventures have become widely accepted as the model for collaborative...
2026 Student Fellowship Awardees Announcement
Congratulations to the 2026 Student Fellowship Awardees! Learn more about the students whose research is moving sea duck conservation forward. Surf Scoters, one of the 15 extant species of sea ducks. Photo by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren. This year's new Student...
Assessing Hunting Pressure on Pacific Common Eiders in Chukotka and Yakutia, Russia
Every year, a large proportion of Pacific Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima) migrate from their Alaskan and Canadian breeding grounds to fall staging and wintering areas on the coast of Russia. Harvest rates across this region are poorly understood, making it...
Evaluating the Pathogenesis of Avian Influenza Virus in Priority Sea Ducks (Common Eider, Surf Scoter) – USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center
The Sea Duck colony at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD, is the only facility of its kind in the United States. Pictured are two male and one female Common Eiders floating in their pond. The Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC), formerly the...
Migratory patterns of the western North American Harlequin duck population throughout the annual cycle
Harlequin Duck, Credit: NPS, Jacob W. Frank Harlequin Ducks can be found across North America, split into two distinct populations, one on the West Coast and one on the East Coast. In the west, the species nest in remote, mountainous, rushing streams in dense forests...
Unifying the coast: Advancing image-based surveys to support sea duck conservation along the Pacific Flyway
Sea ducks can be a difficult species to study. From their remote breeding sites to their long-distance migrations, frequent movements, and use of many habitats, they can be hard to find, and even more difficult to monitor. For years, scientists have approached sea...
SDJV Student Fellowship Feature: Emily Burt, Ecological, social, and evolutionary factors that promote conspecific brood parasitism in the Red-breasted Merganser
Emily with a Red-breasted Merganser Emily Burt attends McGill University, where she is a PhD student studying Red-breasted Mergansers. Her research investigates the ecological, social, and evolutionary factors that lead to and promote conspecific brood parasitism in...
From Labrador to New Jersey: The Journey of a 22-Year-Old Surf Scoter
New Longevity Record for Surf Scoters An 18ft aluminum boat glides quietly over the waves with five good friends on board. The sun is high, the sea is calm, and there is a gentle breeze. The group of hunters sit, intently watching their decoys bob and surf the light...
SDJV Student Fellowship Feature: Shayla Kroeze, Understanding cholera immunity in Common Eiders in the Canadian Arctic using whole genome analysis
Shay holding a Common Eider, Credit: Daniel Giesbrecht Shayla (Shay) Kroeze is a Ph.D. student at Queen’s University, co-supervised by Dr. Vicki Friesen and Dr. Grant Gilchrist. She completed her B.Sc. (Honours) and her M.Sc. at the University of Western Ontario. Her...
A Field Trip into the World of Sea Ducks
We’re excited to share a new resource giving a peek into the world of sea ducks! Learn about sea ducks through virtual field trips that showcase key habitat sites for species in North America and Russia. The interactive story also highlights SDJV partner research...
Sea Duck Joint Venture Partner Organizations
