Population delineation and wintering ecology of Surf Scoters in Southeast Alaska

Project Number: 108

Year Funded: 2010

Lead Institution(s): Centre for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University

Project Lead: Dan Esler

Email:

Collaborator(s): David Ward (ASC), Jerry Hupp (ASC), Corey VanStratt (SFU), Brian Uher-Koch (SFU)

Location: Alaska

Focal Species: Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

Project Description: Population delineation and wintering ecology of Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) have been studied in detail through much of their range. A conspicuous gap existed for Southeast (SE) Alaska, which is near the northern end of their winter distribution. Because SE Alaska is an important wintering habitat for a sizeable number of Pacific Surf Scoters (hereafter scoters), we marked birds with satellite transmitters (PTTs) to quantify links among annual cycle stages and to define management units. Additionally, we conducted detailed studies of wintering ecology that are directly comparable to research from more southerly wintering sites, allowing a full consideration of latitudinal variation in wintering ecology of the species. This work provides data to evaluate factors influencing population dynamics and identify important habitats of this declining species.