Lead Institution(s): Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Project Lead: Jason Schamber
Collaborator(s): Tyler Lewis (ADFG), Tim Bowman (USFWS)
Focal Species: Black Scoter (Melanitta americana), Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), White-winged Scoter (Melanitta delgandi)
Project Description: This project augmented previous satellite telemetry projects of Pacific scoters by filling remaining geographic gaps and boosting effective PTT sample sizes for SUSC, WWSC, and BLSC. Specifically, we marked adult female scoters with PTTs during winter in major coastal regions of AK including marking SUSC and WWSC in the Southeast (2017) and South-central (2018) regions, and BLSC in the western (2015-2016) region. Results indicated that scoters migrate between discrete winter regions and inland summer areas along predictable pathways with some individual variability in timing and movement patterns along the routes. The timing of spring and fall movements is consistent with previous studies and that reported for other sea ducks. Seeming higher fidelity to winter regions may suggest the possibility of demographic independence among these regions and for Alaska scoters relative to those wintering at lower latitudes.
Interim Report FY15
Interim Report FY16
Interim Report FY17
Final Report
Related publications:Bianchini, K. S.G. Gilliland, A.M. Berlin, T.D. Bowman, W.S. Boyd, S.E.W. De La Cruz, D. Esler, J.R. Evenson, P.L. Flint, C. Lepage, S.R. McWilliams, D.E. Meattey, J.E. Osenkowski, M.C. Perry, J-F. Poulin, E.T. Reed, C. Roy, J-P. L. Savard, L. Savoy, J.L. Schamber, C.S. Spiegel, J. Takekawa, D.H. Ward, and M.L. Mallory. 2023. Evaluation of breeding distribution and chronology of North American scoters. Wildlife Biology e01099. https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01099
