Survival of Common Eiders in the St. Lawrence Estuary

Project Number: 30

Year Funded: 2007

Lead Institution(s): University of Quebec Montreal

Project Lead: Jean-Francois Giroux

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Collaborator(s): Jean-Pierre Savard (ECCC), Gilles Gauthier (UL), Stephane Lair (UM), Andre Dallaire (UM), Jean Bedard (SDL), Marc Lapointe (SPEE)

Location: Quebec

Focal Species: Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)

Project Description: In 2003, a long-term banding program of Common Eiders in the St. Lawrence Estuary was initiated to 1) assess survival rates of adult females, and 2) determine the relative contribution of hunting and natural mortality including disease (avian cholera). Ultimately, the objective of the project was to test the hypothesis that hunting mortality is additive to natural mortality. In 2004, we added another objective that aimed at understanding the epizootiology of avian cholera. The specific objectives of this project were first to determine the variation in the prevalence of cholera in live birds among colonies and years. Secondly, we wanted to assess how the bacteria are carried over years by repeated sampling of the same birds. Finally, we compared the serotypes of the bacteria sampled in live birds in different colonies and years as well as with those found in dead birds during recent outbreaks.

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