Long-term Population Study of Harlequin Ducks in British Columbia

Project Number: 11

Year Funded: 2005 (year endorsed)

Lead Institution(s): Simon Fraser University

Project Lead: Dan Esler

Email:

Collaborator(s): Sean Boyd (CWS)

Location: British Columbia

Focal Species: Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)

Project Description: For more than a decade, many SFU and CWS researchers have been addressing demography of Harlequin Ducks, a species considered to be of continental conservation concern. By measuring survival, recruitment, and dispersal rates, we can understand the demographic mechanisms underlying population change. Further, we can use these data to consider environmental or human-caused factors related to variability in demographic attributes, which will be critical for formulating effective management strategies. Harlequin Ducks are the most suitable wintering Pacific coastal bird for such a demographic approach and provide a model for other sea duck populations. Objectives of this work are: (1) To calculate survival, recruitment and other life history parameters of Harlequin Ducks in the Strait of Georgia, in order to predict population trends and identify potential causes of population change, (2) To understand aspects of Harlequin Duck ecology, such as moult, pair formation, local movements, migration, and reproductive success, which are important for interpreting demographic data; and (3) To use this approach as a model for understanding and managing sea duck populations.

Project Reports:

SDJV11 Final Report FY05

Related Publications

Bond, J. and D. Esler. 2008. Bill entanglement in subcutaneously-anchored radio transmitters on Harlequin Ducks. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120:599-602. https://doi.org/10.1676/07-078.1

Bond, J. C. and D. Esler. 2006. Nutrient acquisition by female Harlequin Ducks prior to spring migration and reproduction: evidence for body mass optimization. Canadian Journal of Zoology 84:1223-1229. https://doi.org/10.1139/z06-111

Bond, J. C., D. Esler, and K. A. Hobson. 2007. Isotopic evidence for sources of nutrients allocated to clutch formation by harlequin ducks. Condor 109:698-704. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/109.3.698

Bond, J. C., D. Esler, and T. D. Williams. 2008. Breeding propensity of female harlequin ducks. Journal of Wildlife Management 72:1388-1393. https://doi.org/10.2193/2007-241

Bond, J. C., S. A. Iverson, N. B. Maccallum, C. M. Smith, H. J. Bruner, and D. Esler. 2009. Variation in breeding season survival of female harlequin ducks. Journal of Wildlife Management 73:965-972. https://doi.org/10.2193/2008-236

Cooke, F., G. J. Robertson, R. I. Goudie, and W. S. Boyd. 1997. Molt and the basic plumage of male harlequin ducks. Condor 99:83-90. https://doi.org/10.2307/1370226

Cooke, F., G. J. Robertson, C. M. Smith, R. I. Goudie, and W. S. Boyd. 2000. Survival, emigration, and winter population structure of Harlequin Ducks. Condor 102:137-144. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/102.1.137

Esler, D. and J. C. Bond. 2010. Cross-seasonal dynamics in body mass of male Harlequin Ducks: a strategy for meeting costs of reproduction. Canadian Journal of Zoology 88:224-230. https://doi.org/10.1139/Z09-135

Gowans, B., G. J. Robertson, and F. Cooke. 1998. Behaviour and chronology of pair formation by Harlequin Ducks Histrionicus histrionicus. Wildfowl 48:135-146. https://wildfowl.wwt.org.uk/index.php/wildfowl/article/view/1021

Hunt, B., and R. Ydenberg. 2000. Harlequins Histrionicus histrionicus in a Rocky Mountain watershed I: Background and general breeding ecology. Wildfowl 51:155-168. https://wildfowl.wwt.org.uk/index.php/wildfowl/article/viewFile/1088

LeBourdais, S. V., R. C. Ydenberg, and D. Esler. 2009. Fish and harlequin ducks compete on breeding streams. Canadian Journal of Zoology 87:31-40. https://doi.org/10.1139/Z08-135

Regehr, H. M. 2003. Survival and movement of postfledging juvenile harlequin ducks. Wilson Bulletin 115:423-430. https://doi.org/10.1676/03-031

Regehr, H. M. 2011. Movement rates and distances of wintering harlequin ducks: implications for population structure. Waterbirds 34:19-31. https://doi.org/10.1675/063.034.0103

Regehr, H. M. and M. S. Rodway. 2003. Evaluation of nasal discs and colored leg bands as markers for Harlequin Ducks. Journal of Field Ornithology 74:129-135. https://doi.org/10.1648/0273-8570-74.2.129

Regehr, H. M., C. M. Smith, B. Arquilla, and F. Cooke. 2001. Post-fledging broods of migratory Harlequin Ducks accompany females to wintering areas. Condor 103:408-412. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/103.2.408

Robertson, G. J., and F. Cooke. 1999. Winter philopatry in migratory waterfowl. Auk 116:20-34. https://doi.org/10.2307/4089450

Robertson, G. J., F. Cooke, R. I. Goudie, and W. S. Boyd. 1998. Moult speed predicts pairing success in male harlequin ducks. Animal Behaviour 55:1677-1684. https://doi.org/10.1006/anbe.1997.0724

Robertson, G. J., F. Cooke, R. I. Goudie, and W. S. Boyd. 1998. The timing of arrival and moult chronology of Harlequin Ducks Histrionicus histrionicus. Wildfowl 48:147-155. https://wildfowl.wwt.org.uk/index.php/wildfowl/article/view/1022

Robertson, G. J., F. Cooke, R. I. Goudie, and W. S. Boyd. 1998. The timing of pair formation in Harlequin ducks. Condor 100:551-555. https://doi.org/10.2307/1369723

Robertson, G. J., F. Cooke, R. I. Goudie, and W. S. Boyd. 2000. Spacing patterns, mating systems, and winter philopatry in Harlequin Ducks. Auk 117:299-307. https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/117.2.299

Rodway, M. S. 2006. Have winter spacing patterns of harlequin ducks been partially shaped by sexual selection? Waterbirds 29:415-426. https://doi.org/10.1675/1524-4695(2006)29[415:HWSPOH]2.0.CO;2

Rodway, M. S. 2007. Timing of pairing in waterfowl II: Testing the hypotheses with Harlequin Ducks. Waterbirds 30:506-520. https://doi.org/10.1675/1524-4695(2007)030[0506:TOPIWI]2.0.CO;2

Rodway, M. S. 2013. Pair-bond defense relates to mate quality in Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus). Waterbirds 36:189-198. https://doi.org/10.1675/063.036.0208

Rodway, M. S. and F. Cooke. 2001. Effect of food availability on arrival and departure decisions of Harlequin Ducks at diurnal feeding grounds. Condor 103:870-874. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1370123

Rodway, M. S. and F. Cooke. 2002. Use of fecal analysis to determine seasonal changes in the diet of wintering Harlequin Ducks at a herring spawning site. Journal of Field Ornithology 73:363-371. https://doi.org/10.1648/0273-8570-73.4.363

Rodway, M. S., H. M. Regehr, J. Ashley, P. V. Clarkson, R. I. Goudie, D. E. Hay, C. M. Smith, and K. G. Wright. 2003. Aggregative response of Harlequin Ducks to herring spawning in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Zoology 81:504-514. https://doi.org/10.1139/z03-032

Rodway, M. S., H. M. Regehr, and F. Cooke. 2003. Sex and age differences in distribution, abundance, and habitat preferences of wintering Harlequin Ducks: Implications for conservation and estimating recruitment rates. Canadian Journal of Zoology 81:492-503. https://doi.org/10.1139/z03-025

Smith, C., F. Cooke, and R. I. Goudie. 1999. Ageing Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus drakes using plumage characteristics. Wildfowl 49:245-248. https://wildfowl.wwt.org.uk/index.php/wildfowl/article/view/1057

Smith, C. M., F. Cooke, G. J. Robertson, R. I. Goudie, and W. S. Boyd. 2000. Long-term pair bonds in Harlequin Ducks. Condor 102:201-205. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/102.1.201

Smith, C. M., R. I. Goudie, and F. Cooke. 2001. Winter age ratios and the assessment of recruitment of Harlequin Ducks. Waterbirds 24:39-44. https://doi.org/10.2307/1522241

Smith, C. M., P. G. Trimper, L. J. Bate, S. Brodeur, W. K. Hansen, and M. Robert. 2015. A mist-net method for capturing harlequin ducks on rivers. Wildlife Society Bulletin 39:373-377. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.530

Torres, R., F. Cooke, G. J. Robertson, and W. S. Boyd. 2002. Pairing decisions in the Harlequin Duck: Costs and benefits. Waterbirds 25:340-347. https://doi.org/10.1675/1524-4695(2002)025[0340:PDITHD]2.0.CO;2

Wright, K. G., G. J. Robertson, and R. I. Goudie. 1998. Evidence of spring staging and migration route of individual breeding harlequin ducks, Histrionicus histrionicus, in Southern British Columbia. Canadian Field-Naturalist 112:518-519. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.358461

Long-term Population Study of Harlequin Ducks in British Columbia