Spring Migration of Surf Scoters Along the Pacific Coast: Important Habitats and Energetic Implications

Project Number: 65

Year Funded: 2007

Lead Institution(s): Simon Fraser University

Project Lead: Dan Esler

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Collaborator(s): Erika Lok (SFU), John Takekawa (USGS), Sean Boyd (CWS), Susan Wainwright-De La Cruz (USGS), Matthew Wilson (USGS), Dave Nysewander (WDFW), Joe Evenson (WDFW), David Ward (USGS), Eric Anderson (UW), Jim Lovvorn (UW)

Location: Pacific Coast

Focal Species: Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

Project Description: Although Pacific Surf Scoters have been the subject of a growing body of research during winter, little is known about their spring migration ecology. Spring migration conditions can have important implications for waterfowl productivity, and habitat conditions and nutrient reserve levels during spring migration have been implicated as important factors affecting broadscale and long-term population declines. An important part of establishing connectivity and cross-seasonal effects through the annual cycle is the determination of distributions and habitat requirements at critical annual cycle stages. Satellite and VHF transmitters have been deployed on Surf Scoters across their Pacific wintering range, including Baja California Mexico, San Francisco Bay, Puget Sound, and the Strait of Georgia. As part of a collaborative study of Surf Scoter spring migration ecology, we are using a combination of satellite telemetry, radio telemetry, and surveys to document spring distributions of Pacific Surf Scoters throughout Southeast Alaska, with a focus on identifying important stop areas and associated habitat attributes. We also collected birds to obtain information on spring energetics. In this document, we describe the findings from the final year of this 3-year project.