" T`cc @@@ @@@@(1IC\cpc EN DB cP "#U\h%QQr5555'ttt?tGttxX/~SS0 -u=:=K%f p=~$p! 2ct@e]1 $PF.J/]O[W=6Yqys/sUss+tb;`57b%77wmHmm*mH@|Boudreau1995 Cooke2000i Elliott2006}CFlagstad2006B Garthe20066(N Guillemette2008ze Houston1984HR Keller20100FJ Lecklin2011^McDonald2000p Notestein2006fPiestrzynska-Kajtoch2005g Roblee20060+F Schulze2010B Stott1972RVirtanen1995^wn captive waterfowl that died or were euthanized at Fresno's Chaffee Zoo in Fresno, California, USA from 2001 to 2005. Of these, 16 out of 33 birds (48%) had DJD in one or both stifle (femoral-tibiotarsal joint; n = 13), hock (tibiotarsal-tarsometatarsal joint; n = 4), or toe joints (n = 2), based on gross, histologic and/or radiographic confirmation. No joint disease was observed in any wings, nor were any infectious pathogens isolated from affected joints. Sixteen species of waterfowl were included (n = 1 to 5 per species), with an average age at death of 12.1 years and 11.3 years for waterfowl with, and without DJD, respectively. Neither age nor sex was associated with the presence of jointXVirtanen1997Virtanen1997Virtanen1999Virtanen2001 Vohs1984 Volkov19959b Volz20070H Volz20088 Von Kistowski1999 von Kistowski2004 Voskamp2003 Wade19969Waehrens1978 Wahlberg1971x Wainwright1993 Wakeley1976 Waldeck2004h Waldeck2006i Waldeck2006 Waldeck2006f Waldeck2007< Waldeck2008s Waldeck2009 Waldeck2011 Walden1961 Waldenstrom2011 Walker20100\ Wallen19919 Waltho20022% Waltho2009 Walton19933 Walton19977 Walton19988 Walton19999 Wang2005 Wang2010 Wang20100 Ward20099 Ward20110 Watson197399 Watson19929+ Watson1993, Watson1993 Watson1998 Wayland1993 Wayland1994 Wayland1998 Wayland2001 Wayland2001 Wayland2002 Wayland2003 Wayland2004 Wayland2004 Wayland2005 Wayland2005 Wayland2005 Wayland2007 Wayland2008 Wayland2008 Wayre1956 Weatherhead1979 Weatherhead1990 Weatherhead1993 Weatherhead1993 Weatherhead1993 Weatherhead1993  Weatherhead1994 Weatherhead1998 Webb20088 Webster1994 Wedborg2011] Weeber20033 Wege1999m Weggler2001A Weijerman20054 Weis19939/ Weissenboeck2010E Welch2008Wellman-Labadie2008\ Wells-Berlin20074 Wenting19765 Wernham2008 Weseloh1992S Weseloh2006% Weslawski1994g Weslawski2006 Westman1956b Weston20070- Whisson2000p White1937, White1957 White1975 White1977K White2009@ Whitehead1980| Whitehead2008 Whiting2009 Whoriskey1991w Wick1966m Widmer20011^ Wiebe2003 Wiens1997 Wiens2007 Wiens2010Y Wiese2003 Wiese2008 Wiggins1953x Wiggins1993 Wilkerson2004LWilliams1995qWilliams2000Williams2007 Williams2008Williams2008*Williams2009 Wilson1980 Wilson1993e Wilson20030 Wilson2004 Wilson2007 Wilson20077 Wilson20077J Wilson2007K Wilson2007 Wilson2008 Wilson20088 Wilson20090L Wilson20090 Wilson20100  Wilson2010 Wilson20100j Wilson20111Winfield1994Winfield1994- Wingfield2002Winiecki19868_ Winker2002U Wintermans1989 Wirtz2010c Wise19877 Wit1968; Withers2006 Witte1997 Witter19646 Woakes19999 Woakes20000 Woakes2002 Woakes2004N Wojcik20040 Wolf19959 Wolf19979 Wong1998eZ Wong20030  Wood1985  Wood1985  Wood1985  Wood1986 Wood1987 Wood1987 Woodin2000 Woodin20100j Woodin20110 Woodman1989 Wooller2007 Wooller2010x Wranes1982M Wright1998; Wright2000% Wright20030' Wright20044* Wynne-Edwards2009Yamamoto20102+ Yamashita2006Q Yamashita2007 Yamato1996=Ydenberg19859?Ydenberg1991=Ydenberg19929>Ydenberg19929@Ydenberg2000Ydenberg2003Ydenberg2003 Ydenberg20055vYdenberg20066RYdenberg2007ZYdenberg20077Ydenberg20090! Yee2007 Yesou1992 Yoccoz2010 Yoccoz20101 Yocom1970 Yocom1972Yokomizo19966Yokoyama20102\ Young1986W Young1988< Yule20050 Yvon20000Zadorina19929Zadworny2010QZalewski20070 Zdziarski1994S Zebuhr19909 Zeeb20050 Zeman1972 Zenatello1997 Zhadan20033 Zhang20100 Zhuravlev2009` Zicus1988 Zicus1988 Zicus1989 Zicus1990 Zicus1990 Zicus1993 Zicus1994 Zicus1995 Zicus1996 Zicus1997 Zicus2000 Zicus20042 Zimmerling2006 Zinsstag2010% Zintl1970 Zintl1974 Zintl1995 Zipkin2010w Zockler2000 Zorn20010 Zoun2005 Zuidema1995A Zuur2005 Zwank1996L Zwiefelhofer1999 Zwiefelhofer2009 Zydelis2000% Zydelis2005V Zydelis2005 Zydelis2005" Zydelis2006 Zydelis2006 Zydelis2008 Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009 Zydelis2009 Zydelis2009 Zydelis2009 Zydelis200909  Zydelis2009 Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009 Zydelis2009 Zydelis2009 Zydelis2009 Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009 Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009s2009  Zydelis2009s2009  Zydelis200909  Zydelis200909  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis200909  Zydelis20092009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis200909  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009 Zydelis2009  Zydelis200909  Zydelis200909  Zydelis200909  Zydelis2009 Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009Wilson20030 Wilson20077 Wilson2007  Wilson20077z Wilson2008̾ Wilson2008 Wilson20088 Wilson2008 Wilson20088 Wilson20090L Wilson20090 Wilson20100  Wilson2010j Wilson20111Winfield1994Winfield1994- Wingfield2002Winiecki19868_ Winker2002 Wirtz2010c Wise19877' Wit1968; Withers2006N Wojcik20040 Wolf19959 Wong1998eZ Wong20030  Wood1985  Wood1985  Wood1985  Wood1986 Wood1987 Wood1987< Woodin2000̊ Woodin2000 Woodin20100j Woodin20110 Woodman1989 Woodman1989: Woodman1989M Wright1998; Wright2000% Wright20030 Wright20044' Wright20044Yamamoto20102+ Yamashita2006 Yamashita2007Q Yamashita2007 Yamato1996=Ydenberg19859@Ydenberg2000 Ydenberg20055Ydenberg20090! Yee2007 Yocom1970 Yocom1972Yokomizo19966Yokoyama20102\ Young1986W Young1988< Yule20050oZadworny2010Zadworny2010Zalewski20070QZalewski20070 Zdziarski1994 Zdziarski1994 Zeman1972 Zenatello1997 Zhang2010 Zhuravlev20090 Zhuravlev2009  Zicus1988! Zicus1988` Zicus1988 Zicus1988 Zicus1989 Zicus1990 Zicus1990 Zicus1993 Zicus1994 Zicus1995 Zicus1996 Zicus1997 Zicus2000 Zicus2000 Zicus2004 Zicus20042 Zimmerling2006 Zinsstag2010% Zintl1970 Zintl1974 Zintl1995q Zipkin2010̸ Zipkin2010  Zipkin2010G Zipkin2010w Zockler2000 Zuidema1995A Zuur2005 Zwank1996L Zwiefelhofer1999 Zwiefelhofer2009 Zydelis2005% Zydelis2005V Zydelis2005 Zydelis2006" Zydelis2006 Zydelis2008 Zydelis2009p Zydelis2009  Zydelis2009]=%YN[Srb=84YYX&Q4)bJa$>?MrX4aS `Prq2 ??v(L)),: $** c4:MyeA*P ?;A3JEYyi 3=a!%QYFyX t O0QFFF v0WFFWE0D Authorso `Journals !Keywords 9                               c PA. Eliot, SamuelAbraham, K. F.Abraham, Kenneth F.0,Academy Of Natural Sciences Of, PhiladelphiaAckerman, Joshua T.Adam, David P.Adamian, Martin S.Adams, Peter A. Ader, A. Afton, A. D.Agler, Beverly A. Agreda, Ana Ahlund, M. Ahlund, Matti Akearok, J.Akearok, JasonAkearok, Jason A. Albers, P. H.Alerstam, ThomasAlisauskas, R. T.Alisauskas, Ray T. Alison, R. Alison, R. M. Allard, Karel Allen, D. S.Allen, R. BradfordAlliston, W. G.Amirault, DianeAndersen, Thomas H.Anderson, B. W.Anderson, Betty A.Anderson, Eric M. Anderson, GuyAnderson, Norman L.Anderson, Rusty N.Anderson, Vanessa R. Andersson, A.Andersson, MalteAnderssson, M. Andresen, O.Anker-Nilssen, T.Anker-Nilssen, Tycho Ankney, C. D.Ankney, C. DavisonAnkney, DavisonAnthony, Robert G.Anweiler, G. G.Aoyagi, TakahiroArdamatskaya, Tetyana B. Arnold, P. M.Arquilla, BrianArrieta, Daniel E. Asanin, N.Ashcroft, R. E. Asheim, M. Asheim, Magne Ashley, JohnAspinall, S. J. Atkinson, S.Atkinson, ShannonAtkinson-Willes, G. L.Atrashkevich, G. I.Atrashkevich, Gennady Aubry, Yves Audet, D. J.Augspurger, TomAulert, Christophe Austin, J. Baars, A. J.Backman, JohanBadzinski, Shannon S.Baekgaard, Henrik Baer, UdoBagg, Aaron C. Bailey, E. P.Bailey, Robert C.Baillie, Shauna M.Baillie, Stephen R. Bain, G. A. Bakken, VidarBalian, Luba V.Ballachey, Brenda E.Bancroft, G. T. Banks, A. N. Baptist, HenkBaptist, Henk J. M.Baptist, M. J.Barette, CyrilleBarjaktarovic, L. Barker, I. K.Barker, Ian K.Barker, RichardBarnaby, Deborah L. Barnes, G. G.Baron, Lauren A.Barrett, R. T. Barrett, RobBarrett, Robert T.Barreveld, Hein Barrow, W. R.Barrow, William R. Bart, J. Barter, MarkBatcheller, G. R.Batcheller, Gordon R.Batchelor, S. P.Batchluun, Damdinjav Bauer, H. G. Bauer, U. Bauer, Uwe Bayer, R. D. Bayley, S. E.Beard, Eliz B.Beard, Elizabeth B.Beattie, L. A.Beauchamp, Guy Bech, C.Becker, Peter H.Beckerman, Andrew P. Bedard, J.Beekman, Jan H. Bell, M. C.Bellebaum, JochenBelopol'Skii, L. O.Belzile, NelsonBendell, Barry E.Bendell, L. I.Bengtson, S. A.Bengtson, Sven-AxelBennett, Darin C.Bennett, JasonBenoit, RejeanBentzen, Rebecca L.Berg, Thomas B. Bergan, J. F.Berge, John Arthur Berger, U. Bergman, Ake Bergman, G.Bergman, GoranBergstom, E. V. A. Bergstrom, R.Bernhardt, GlenBerrevoets, C. M.Bertile, Fabrice Berube, J. Berzins, L. Bety, J. Bety, JoelBeukema, J. J.Beyer, W. NelsonBickham, John W.Bignert, Anders Biler, P. U.Birchall, JenniferBird, David M. Bishop, C. A.Bishop, Mary A.Bjorn, Pal Arne Bjorn, Tor H.Bjorn, Tor Harry Blachowiak-Samolyk, KatarzynaBlaha, Richard J.Blair, Joel D.Blais, Jules M.Blankespoor, C. L.Blankespoor, H. D.Blankespoor, Harvey D. Blew, JanBlindow, IrmgardBlinn, Brenda M. Bloch, D. Blomqvist, S.Blum, Susan Polischuk Blums, PeterBlus, Lawrence J. Boddeke, R.Bodkin, James L.Boehm, Paul D.Boertmann, David Bogan, J. A. Bokenes, L.Bolduc, Francois Bolen, E. G. Bollinger, T.Bollinger, Trent K.Bollmann, Lia C.Bond, Alexander L. Bond, D. E. Bond, Della Bond, JeanineBond, Jeanine C. Boon, J. P. Boonstra, R. Bopp, D.Borch-Iohnsen, B.Bordage, DanielBorga, KatrineBorgsteede, F. H. M. Borgstrom, R.Borgstrom, Reidar  BJLIAbstracts of the General Meeting of the American Society for MicrobiologyActa Medica Scandinavica Acta Ornithologica (Warsaw)$Acta Physiologica Scandinavica Acta Veterinaria (Belgrade)Acta Zoologica Lituanica AlaudaAmbioAmerican Birds,)American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting American Midland NaturalistAmerican NaturalistAmerican ZoologistAnimal Behaviour($Animal Biodiversity and ConservationAnn Mag Natur Hist,&Ann Zool Soc Zool Bot Fennicae Vanamo"PLAnnales Universitatis Turkuensis Series A II Biologica-Geographica-GeologicaAnnales Zoologici Fennici84Anzeiger der Ornithologischen Gesellschaft in Bayern,&Applied and Environmental MicrobiologyAquacultural EngineeringAquatic ConservationAquatic EcologyAquatic Living Resources$Aquatic Toxicology (Amsterdam)("Arch Soc Zool Bot Fennicae Vanamo"$Archives of Biological Sciences<6Archives of Environmental Contamination and ToxicologyArchives of Virology ArcticArdea Ark Kem Arkiv Zool Atlantic NatAukAves Avian DisAvian DiseasesAvian PathologyBehavioral Ecology(#Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology BehaviourBeitraege zur Vogelkunde Belgian Journal of ZoologyHEBerichte des Naturwissenschaftlich-Medizinischen Vereins in InnsbruckBiochemical GeneticsBiological Conservation$Biological Reviews (Cambridge)$!Biological Trace Element ResearchBiology Letters Bioscience Bird Behavior$Bird Conservation International Bird Study Bird-BandingBirds of North America<6Biull Moskovskovo Obshchestva Ispytatelei Prirody Biol Blue Jay Brain Behavior and Evolution British Birds(%Bromatologia i Chemia ToksykologicznaBull Brit Ornithol ClubBull Fish Res Bd CanadaLIBulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique Biologie<6Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology0-Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America4/Bulletin of the Oklahoma Ornithological SocietyCalifornia Fish and GameCan Field NaturCanadian Field NatCanadian Field-NaturalistCanadian Jour Zool("Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences  d9(#Abundance, Distribution, and TrendsBarrow's Goldeneye Behavior Black ScoterBreeding SeasonBucephala albeolaBucephala clangulaBucephala islandica BuffleheadClangula hyemalis Common eiderCommon GoldeneyeCommon merganser Conservation Contaminants Disease DispersalEnergetics and Nutrition HabitatHarlequin duckHistrionicus histrionicusHooded Merganser King EiderLong-tailed DuckLophodytes cucullatusMelanitta fuscaMelanitta nigraMelanitta perspicillataMergus merganserMergus serrator MigrationMoltNonbreeding Seasons ParasitesPhylogeography PhysiologyPolysticta stelleriPopulation DelineationPopulation DynamicsPopulation Model ProductivityRed-breasted merganserrophic Interactions Sea DucksSea Ducks - General SomateriaSomateria fischeriSomateria mollissimaSomateria spectabilisSpectacled EiderSteller's eider Surf Scoter Survival Taxonomy TechniquesTrophic InteractionsWhite-winged Scoter( 3 a`0Uhs*,_1&+O/HJ !2N'7IW0t *@= Mn<6R)3n:O-8b$79Of)qDWAj>,&V*,PanN#$x=]zVtZX  AC]<Jd<X3~ nwLcYK[llpllr`j.kd"<nbrv:|iA--a; b[Erwin, R. Michael Cahoon, Donald R. Prosser, Diann J. Sanders, Geoffrey M. Hensel, Philippe 2006Surface elevation dynamics in vegetated Spartina marshes versus unvegetated tidal ponds along the mid-Atlantic coast, USA, with implications to waterbirdsEstuaries and Coasts291 96-106Feb 2006BCI:BCI200600440418$Sea Ducks - General; Habitat; F ?Mid Atlantic coastal salt marshes contain a matrix of vegetation diversified by tidal pools, pannes, and creeks, providing habitats of varying importance to many species of breeding, migrating, and wintering waterbirds. We hypothesized that changes in marsh elevation were not sufficient to keep pace with those of sea level in both vegetated and unvegetated Spartina alterniflora sites at a number of mid lagoon marsh areas along the Atlantic Coast. We also predicted that northern areas would suffer less of a deficit than would southern sites. Beginning in August 1998, we installed surface elevation tables at study sites on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, southern New Jersey, and two locations along Virginia's eastern shore. We compared these elevation changes over the 4-4.5 yr record with the long-term (> 50 yr) tidal records for each locale. We also collected data on waterbird use of these sites during all seasons of the year, based on ground surveys and replicated surveys from observation platforms. Three patterns of marsh elevation change were found. At Nauset Marsh, Cape Cod, the Spartina marsh surface tracked the pond surface, both keeping pace with regional sea-level rise rates. In New Jersey, the ponds are becoming deeper while marsh surface elevation remains unchanged from the initial reading. This may result in a submergence of the marsh in the future, assuming sea-level rise continues at current rates. Ponds at both Virginia sites are filling in, while marsh surface elevation rates do not seem to be keeping pace with local sea-level rise. An additional finding at all sites was that subsidence in the vegetated marsh surfaces was less than in unvegetated areas, reflecting the importance of the root mat in stabilizing sediments. The implications to migratory waterbirds are significant. Submergence of much of the lagoonal marsh area in Virginia and New Jersey over the next century could have major negative (i.e., flooding) effects on nesting populations of marsh-dependent seaside sparrows Ammodramus maritimus, saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrows Ammodramus caudacutus, black rails Laterallus jamaicensis, clapper rails Rallus longirostris, Forster's terns Sterna forsteri, common terns Sterna hirundo, and gull-billed terns Sterna nilotica. Although short-term inundation of many lagoonal marshes may benefit some open-water feeding ducks, geese, and swans during winter, the long-term ecosystem effects may be detrimental, as wildlife resources will be lost or displaced. With the reduction in area of emergent marsh, estuarine secondary productivity and biotic diversity will also be reduced.c$://BCI200600440418 7Craik, Shawn R. Titman, Rodger D.H 2009b[Nesting Ecology of Red-breasted Mergansers in a Common Tern Colony in (!Craik, Shawn R. Titman, Rodger D.D 2008ZSMovements and Habitat Use by Red-Breasted Merganser Broods in Eastern New Brunswick $Wilson Journal of Ornithologyl 120;4743-754Dec 2008BCI:BCI200900123310TMRed-breasted merganser; Mergus serrator; Dispersal; Habitat; Breeding Season;tRed-breasted Mergansers (Mergus serrator) commonly breed in estuaries, but little is known about their brood-rearing in coastal environments. We measured daily movements and habitat use of radio-marked (n = 17) female Red-breasted Mergansers with broods originating from coastal barrier islands at Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick, Canada from 2002 to 2004. primary brood movements from nest sites to initial rearing areas were often extensive, averaging 3.5 km (it = 15), since many brood,; crossed Saint-Louis Lagoon to continental rearing sites. Broods remained mobile throughout the rearing period and there was little difference in daily movements between age class I (days 1-10 post nest exodus), Class II (days 11-20), and class III (> 20 days) broods. Broods frequented shallow ((x) over bar = 51 cm, 95% CI: 44-58 cm, n = 191 locations), nearshore ((x) over bar = 47 in, 95% CI: 33-60 n = 157 locations) waters that often supported submergent eel grass (Zostera marina). Broods selected estuarine intertidal regions in Saint-Louis and Kouchibouguac lagoons, as well as wetlands at the mouths of tidal streams. Few broods Were found in tidal river and marine habitats. Continental estuarine intertidal, tidal stream, and saltmarsh habitats were preferred by age class I broods whereas estuarine intertidal and subtidal habitats were preferred by age classes II and III. This study highlights the importance Of estuarine habitats in lagoons and tidal streams for brood-rearing Red-breasted Mergansers in eastern New Brunswick.r$://BCI200900123310 tat characteristics (i.e., overhang vegetation) were identified as important, whereas invertebrates was a predominant characteristic of the source HSI. Despite similar habitat availability, HSI developed in source and sink habitats would, respectively, over- and under-estimate regional habitat availability. Informed conservation and management strategies will therefore require integrating individual trade-offs about predation risk and resources into a multiscale context.u$://BCI200800494419 `< =6Davydenkol, I. 2006HAA census of waterbirds on large fishponds in the northern UkraineeJournal of Ornithology 147l 5, Suppl. 1n 154rAug 2006BCI:BCI2Strehlow, Johannes 1997LFAmmersee area 1966-1996: Part 1: Tendencies in selected breeding birds Ornithologischer Anzeiger36 2-3i125-142r Sept., 1997BCI:BCI199800003825tnSea Ducks - General; Common merganser; Mergus merganser; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season;From the Ammersee area (about 250 km2, including a Ramsar site/IBA of 65,2 km2 with lake Ammersee 46,6 km2), 27 breeding species are selected that all show a trend in numbers. Of these 11 have recently settled in the last 30 years, three increased, six decreased (two of these are now extinct), and seven showed +- trends. - The Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) has disappeared as a breeding bird in 1984, probably also the Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra) since 1995. The Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) is now nearly extinct, whereas the population of the Curlew (Numenius arquata) has decreased by ca. 80%. In contrast, new breeding birds have settled in the area for the first time such as Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Greylag Goose (Anser anser), Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides), Goosander (Mergus merganser), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus), Yellow-legged Gull (Larus cachinnans), Stonechat (Saxicola torquata), River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis), Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus), and Rook (Corvus frugilegus). Meanwhile, the Stock Dove (Columba oenas) has produced 97 clutches in 1996 in 50 nest boxes (mostly two broods per pair), an outstanding population for southern Bavaria. Thus, altogether a positive balance. Birds in our area have profitted from range extension tendencies in Middle Europe as well as from Ammersee-specific measures and natural events as there are: creation of three natural reserves, activities of the "Schutzgemeinschaft Ammersee-Sud", founded in 1977, attaching of many nest boxes (for Kestrel, Rock Dove, Jackdaw, and others), raising gravel islets by hand and natural formation of a larger system of islets at the mouth of the river Ammer (for Greylag Goose, Little Ringed Plover, Gulls).$://BCI199800003825c bw$,FKapperud, G. Rosef, O. 1983jdAvian Wildlife Reservoir of Campylobacter-Fetus-Ssp-Jejuni Yersinia-Spp and Salmonella-Spp in Norway,&Applied and Environmental Microbiology452r375-380BCI:BCI198376006759s4.Common Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Disease;Cloacal swabs from 540 wild-living birds were cultured for C. fetus ssp. jejuni, Yersinia spp. and Salmonella spp. The carrier rates detected were as follows: C. fetus ssp. jejuni, 28.4%; Yersinia spp., 1.2%; and Salmonella spp., 0.8%. All birds were apparently healthy when captured. C. fetus ssp. jejuni was isolated from 11 of the 40 bird species examined. Among birds inhabiting the city of Oslo, the highest isolation rate was found in crows (Corvus corone cornix) (89.8%), followed by gulls (Larus spp.) (50.0%) and domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) (4.2%). The gulls and crows scavenge on refuse dumps. High carrier rates were also detected among the following birds from nonurban, coastal areas: puffin (Fratercula arctica), (51.3%), common tern (Sterna hirundo) (5.6%), common gull (L. canus) (18.9%), black-headed gull (L. ridibundus) (13.2%) and herring gull (L. argentatus) (4.2%). The list of species harboring C. fetus ssp. jejuni also includes the Ural owl (Strix uralensis), goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) and reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus). The following 5 Yersinia strains were isolated: Y. kristensenii (2 strains), Y. intermedia (2 strains) and Yersinia X2 (1 stain). Four Salmonella strains were isolated from 3 different species of gulls. These isolates were identified as S. typhimurium, S. indiana and S. djugu. The results indicate that campylobacters are a normal component of the intestinal flora in several bird species whereas Salmonella and Yersinia carriers are more sporadic.G$://BCI198376006759n*#Karlog, O. Elvestad, K. Clausen, B.n 1983f_Heavy Metals Cadmium Copper Lead and Mercury in Common Eiders Somateria-Mollissima from Denmark{ Nordisk Veterinaermedicins3512448-451sBCI:BCI19847803911381Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Contaminants;The Cd, Cu, Pb and Hg content in livers and kidneys of Danish eiders was determined. Toxic levels of Pb were found in some of the birds, and the liver Cd content seemed high from a consumer's point of view.$://BCI198478039113$Kasahara, Satoe Koyama, Kazuo 2010piPopulation trends of common wintering waterfowl in Japan: participatory monitoring data from 1996 to 2009{Ornithological Science91 23-36Jun 2010BCI:BCI201000589735TNSea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;We analyzed population trends of 13 waterfowl (Anseriformes) species wintering in Japan during a 14-year period (1996-2009). We used data from annual volunteer-participatory waterfowl count surveys which were conducted in Japan by the Ministry of the Environment and local prefectural governments. Population indices and long-term trends of each species were calculated using TRIM (TRends and Indices for Monitoring data). TRIM is a freeware program developed for analysis of time series count data with missing observations. During the 14 years, seven species exhibited significant long-term declines, while four species showed long-term increases. Most of the species that showed long term declines were characterized as being water-surface foraging species, species breeding in both middle and high latitude regions, or species using rice fields. Most species that showed long-term increases were characterized as diving species, species breeding at high latitude or species rarely using rice fields. We calculated composite indices for these groups. The group of water-surface foraging species showed declines in river, natural lakes and artificial lakes, except reservoirs, when each habitat was analyzed separately. In contrast, the group of diving foraging species showed an increase in estuarine habitat. We suggest that changes in: water quality, breeding habitat in the middle latitude region, and in cultivation methods in rice fields, have affected population changes of some species and groups./$://BCI201000589735ABlums, Peter Shaiffer, Charles W. Fredrickson, Leigh H.s 2000D>Automatic multi-capture nest box trap for cavity-nesting ducks Wildlife Society Bulletin283592-596 Fall, 2000BCI:BCI200000535257pLEHooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Techniques; Breeding Season;,&Understanding behavioral and population dynamics of local populations requires information on nonbreeding females as well as alternative breeding strategies such as brood parasitism. To address these issues we developed a new automatic multi-capture nest box trap and captured 165 female hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) and wood ducks (Aix sponsa) during 199 trap days in one nesting season at a Missouri study site. The average success for a single trap was 0.8 female/trap/day (x=0.2-1.6 females in different time periods and locations). As many as 21 female wood ducks and 12 hooded mergansers were trapped at one site. Multiple captures (2-6 females/check) were often recorded. The most important components of the trap are the swinging false floor, entrance baffl:4Blankespoor, C. L. Reimink, R. L. Blankespoor, H. D. 2001^XEfficacy of praziquantel in treating natural schistosome infections in common mergansersJournal of Parasitologym872m424-426 April, 2001nBCI:BCI200100227043sRKCommon merganser; Mergus merganser; Parasites; Techniques; Breeding Season;a,&Fifty-one common mergansers were captured on Douglas Lake (Cheboygan County, Michigan) and their avian schistosome loads were determined by fecal examination. Each bird was given a single dose of 0, 40, or 200 mg/kg of body weight of praziquantel and released. All birds were recaptured within 10 days of drug administration to determine posttreatment schistosome loads. Only the highest dose of praziquantel was found to significantly reduce avian schistosome loads. The potential use of praziquantel in swimmer's itch control programs is discussed.$://BCI200100227043 &PM`Rad, O. 1980~wBreeding Distribution and Habitat Selection of Red-Breasted Mergansers Mergus-Serrator in Fresh Water in Western NorwayeWildfowl31 53-56tBCI:BCI198171072073,HBRed-breasted merganser; Mergus serrator; Habitat; Breeding Season;@9The breeding distribution and habitat selection of the red-breasted merganser, M. serrator, was investigated in west Norwegian freshwaters. The distribution is closely related to the distribution of the 3-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus. The ducklings require small fishes, easily accessible in shallow waters. Stickleback is the only fish species in western Norway which fulfills these requirements. A female merganser selects her breeding habitat from the structural characteristics of lakes and from quality and quantity of the food present for the young.$://BCI198171072073*#Rail, Jean-Fran Chapdelaine, Gilles 2004ztFifteenth census of seabird populations in the sanctuaries of the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 1998-1999 Canadian Field-Naturalist 118p2p256-263 Apr-Jun04BCI:BCI200510109574@9Sea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends;For the first time since the tradition began in 1925, the quinquennial census of seabirds in the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries of the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence was divided between two years in 1998-1999. Trends between 1993 and 1998-1999 were variable across species and sanctuaries. In particular, following the large decreases in both species noted in 1993, the 1998-1999 survey showed that Black-legged Kittiwakes had declined further, while the number of Herring Gulls had stabilized. Alcids were all doing well except for the Atlantic Puffin which showed severe yet unexplained drops at all major colonies. Law enforcement efforts appear reflected in seabird population trends, as well-patrolled sanctuaries such as St. Mary's Islands seem to do well, whereas many species at the Baie des Loups and (I) over cap le a la Brume sanctuaries are far from their historical levels. In addition to a better law enforcement program, research is needed in order to identify other conservation problems that some species may be facing. .$://BCI200510109574*#Rail, Jean-Francois Cotter, Richard 2007voSixteenth Census of Seabird Populations in the Sanctuaries of the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 20055 Canadian Field-Naturalist 121w3w287-294 Jul-Sep 2007BCI:BCI200900211177`YCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season;The Migratory Bird Sanctuaries of the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence are important breeding grounds for many seabird species. The quinquennial censuses of seabirds in these sanctuaries have been carried Out for 80 years (since 1925). in order to detect changes in the distribution and population levels of seabirds breeding on the North Shore. Between 1998-1999 and 2005, the most striking trends observed were the near doubling in numbers of Common Eiders in most sanctuaries, and the strong population growth rate of Razorbill. Unexplainable declines of Common Murre and Atlantic Puffin were observed at some of the larger colonies of these species. The last active colonies of Leach's Storm-Petrel (Corossol Island) and Caspian Tern (Ile a la Brume) on the North Shore seem on the verge of disappearing, with zero and three birds observed in 2005, respectively. Seabird populations in the larger, more accessible and disturbed sanctuaries are still markedly smaller than in historical times.s$://BCI200900211177rxqRamey, Andrew M. Pearce, John M. Ely, Craig R. Guy, Lisa M. Sheffield Irons, David B. Derksen, Dirk V. Ip, Hon S.t 2010d^Transmission and reassortment of avian influenza viruses at the Asian-North American interfaceVirology 4062352-359 Oct 25 2010BCI:BCI201000578899$Sea Ducks - General; Disease;Twenty avian influenza viruses were isolated from seven wild migratory bird species sampled at St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. We tested predictions based on previous phylogenetic analyses of avian influenza viruses that support spatially dependent trans-hemispheric gene flow and frequent interspecies transmission at a location situated at the Asian-North American interface. Through the application of phylogenetic and genotypic approaches, our data support functional dilution by distance of trans-hemispheric reassortants and interspecific virus transmission. Our study confirms infection of divergent avian taxa with nearly identical avian influenza strains in the wild. Findings also suggest that H16N3 viruses may contain gene segments with unique phylogenetic positions and that further investigation of how host specificity may impact transmission of H13 and H16 viruses is warranted. Published by Elsevier Inc.$://BCI201000578899=HhP Skwarzec, B. Fabisiak, J.s 200782Bioaccumulation of polonium Po-210 in marine birds,&Journal of Environmental Radioactivity932n119-126lBCI:BCI200700313322tmWhite-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Long-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;nThe aim of this work was to determine the Po-210 content in marine birds which permanently or temporally live in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea. We chose 11 species of sea birds: three species permanently residing at southern Baltic Sea, four species of wintering birds and three species of migrating birds. The results show that the polonium is non-uniformly distributed in the marine birds. The highest activities of Po-210 were observed in feathers, muscles and liver and the lowest in skin and skeleton. Species of birds that eat crustaceans, molluscs, fish and plants (long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis, white-winged scoter Melanitta fitsca) accumulated more polonium than species that eat mainly fish (great cormorant Phalacrocorar carbo, common guillemot Uria aalge) or plants (tufted duck Aythya fuligula). Moreover, about 63% of the Po-210 that was located in feathers of razorbil (Alca torda) and long-tailed duck (C. hyenralis) was apparently adsorbed, suggesting an external source such as the air. It means that the adsorption of Po-210 on the feather surface may be an important transfer from air to water. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.$://BCI200700313322 RLSmith, L. M. Vangilder, L. D. Hoppe, R. T. Morreale, S. J. Brisbin, I. L. Jr 1986ZTEffect of Diving Ducks on Benthic Food Resources During Winter in South Carolina USAWildfowl37136-141BCI:BCI198783095395pPIBufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;The effect of diving duck predation on benthic macroinvertebrate numbers and biomass was investigated with the use of exclosures, during winter 1983-84, in a South Carolina reservoir. The relationship of food quality with increasing water depth was also studied. The most numerous waterfowl species occurring that feed on benthic invertebrates were Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis, Ring-necked Duck A. collaris, Bufflehead Bucephala albeola, and Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis. Birds reached peak numbers in early January, and departed in late March. Waterfowl had litle overall impact on benthic macroinvertebrate biomass and numbers during winter except for clams (Corbiculidae). For most invertebrate taxa, deeper waters did not contain richer food supplies when compared with shallow waters. A hypothesized relationship of food quality and water depth may not play an important role in the habitat segregation of male and female diving ducks.$://BCI198783095395.'Smith, Cyndi Cooke, Fred Goudie, R. Ian; 1999ZTAgeing Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus drakes using plumage characteristicsWildfowl490\245-248 BCI:BCI199900307444qRKHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Techniques; Nonbreeding Seasons;Most ducks (Subfamily Anatinae) progress through a sequence of moults from natal downy plumage to definitive alternate plumage. The accurate identification of age classes by plumage allows the proportion of immature males to adult males in the autumn and winter populations to be used as an index of recruitment and to determine age-specific mortality. By observing Harlequin Ducks (tribe Mergini) that were banded as ducklings on streams in North America we show that males are distinguishable in the autumn of the hatch year. The Alternate I plumage is variable and could result from differences of up to 10 weeks in hatch date, or could reflect the physical condition of individual birds. We also show that males attain definitive alternate plumage after the pre-alternate moult in the second calendar year. These plumage characteristics are useful both in the field and in working with specimens.$://BCI199900307444TNSmith, Cyndi M. Cooke, Fred Robertson, Gregory J. Goudie, R. Ian Boyd, W. Sean 2000.'Long-term pair bonds in Harlequin Ducks Condor 1021201-205r Feb., 2000BCI:BCI200000122554`ZHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Behavior; Nonbreeding Seasons; Breeding Season;^XWe documented the frequency of pair reunion in Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) on breeding streams in Alberta, and at a molting/wintering area in southwestern British Columbia. As long as their mate is alive, Harlequin Duck pairs reunite on the wintering area and return to the breeding stream together. Pairs reunite even if the female is unsuccessful at breeding the previous season, which suggests that reuniting with the same mate year after year is important. Some males that have lost their mate and fail to re-pair on the wintering area show fidelity to their former breeding site.$://BCI200000122554' 6 `JCTrust, Kimberly A. Esler, Daniel Woodin, Bruce R. Stegeman, John J.l 2000jdCytochrome P450 1A induction in sea ducks inhabiting nearshore areas of Prince William Sound, Alaska Marine Pollution Bulletin405397-403 May, 2000BCI:BCI200000310981|vHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Barrow's Goldeneye; Bucephala islandica; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;Following the Exxon-Valdez oil spill, hepatic rates of EROD activity and thus, P450 1A expression, were significantly higher in harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) and Barrow's goldeneyes (Bucephala islandica) from oiled areas of Prince William Sound, Alaska when compared to birds from unoiled sites. Polychlorinated biphenyl exposure did not account for areal differences in P450 1A induction in harlequin ducks. Background hydrocarbon levels in Prince William Sound were negligible prior to the 1989 oil spill, but remnant Exxon-Valdez oil was still present in nearshore habitats of the spill zone coincident with our study. We conclude that P450 1A induction in sea ducks from areas oiled during the Exxon-Valdez oil spill was likely due to exposure to residual oil. We speculate that biochemical and physiological changes in individuals chronically exposed to oil may be constraining population recovery of some sea duck species affected by the spill.$://BCI2000003109819VOTrust, K. A. Rummel, K. T. Scheuhammer, A. M. Brisbin, I. L., Jr. Hooper, M. J. 2000~wContaminant exposure and biomarker responses in spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri) from St. Lawrence Island, Alaska<6Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology381107-113 Jan., 2000BCI:BCI200000059341:3Spectacled Eider; Somateria fischeri; Contaminants;Effects of chemical contaminant exposure may be contributing to the decline of spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri) nesting in coastal areas of western Alaska. We evaluated chemical exposure and potential effects in 20 male eiders collected near St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Analytes included metals, trace elements, chlorinated organics, and 137Cesium (137Cs). Effects of contaminant exposure were evaluated using histopathology and biochemical measures of porphyrin profiles, cytochrome P450 activities, and metallothionein (MT) concentrations. Copper, cadmium, and selenium concentrations were elevated in spectacled eiders when compared to literature values for other marine birds. Only a few samples had trace concentrations of chlorinated organic compounds. Muscle 137Cs levels were all below the average minimum quantifiable concentration of 0.079 Bq/g. No histopathological lesions were associated with elevated contaminant concentrations in liver, kidney, or testes. Protoporphyrin was found in highest concentration in both the liver and kidneys, followed by coproporphyrin and uroporphyrin, respectively. Hepatic uroporphyrin concentrations correlated significantly to hepatic arsenic concentrations. Mean activities of hepatic EROD, MROD, BROD, and PROD were consistent with other avian species. Comparisons of cadmium/MT ratios from this study to published literature ratios in seven marine avian species suggest that, although adult male spectacled eiders have elevated liver concentrations of certain MT-inducing metals, their MT concentrations are not as strongly induced as would be predicted based on literature values. Despite elevated metal concentrations, the apparent good health of the St. Lawrence Island birds suggests that should these contaminants be a factor in population declines, they likely act by decreasing fecundity or survival of young rather than via direct health impacts on adult male spectacled eiders.$://BCI200000059341eTseren-Ochir, E. O. Damdinjav, B. Sharkhuu, T. Kang, H. M. Sakoda, Y. Purevsuren, B. Ruuragchaa, S. Lee, Y. J. Kida, H. Khishgee, B. Sengee, S.n 2010HAEpidemiology of avian influenza viruses in wild birds in Mongoliap2,International Journal of Infectious Diseases14Suppl. 1 E164-E165Mar 2010BCI:BCI201000417268$Sea Ducks - General; Disease;$://BCI201000417268i Tucker, B. W.t 1940@9Packing of broods and "injury-feigning" of velvet-scoters British Birds33 (9) 255BCI:BCI19411500007344iF@White-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Behavior; Breeding Season;Observations on Melanitta f. jusca off a Baltic island. A pack of 90 young birds was seen under the charge of one or more adult 22- A 2 with a brood on the water performed a variant "injury-feigning," half flying, half pattering, round the boat. || ABSTRACT AUTHORS: D. S. Lehrman&://BCI19411500007344*#Tuite, C. H. Hanson, P. R. Owen, M.a 1984Some Ecological Factors Affecting Winter Wildfowl Distribution on Inland Waters in England and Wales Uk and the Influence of Water Based Recreation Journal of Applied Ecology211} 41-62BCI:BCI198478050271XQCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Habitat; Conservation; Nonbreeding Seasons; . 'Multiple regression analyses are used to examine the distribution of 9 common freshwater wildfowl in Britain. Six independent variables related to the ecology of inland waters are used in the regression models. The amount of variation accounted for by the regressions varied considerably between species and between months for the same species. The regression coefficients and r2 values are summarized. The significance of the coefficients is discussed in terms of the migration patterns and feeding ecology of the different species. Most relationships were in concordance with those expected, based on known habits and requirements of the birds. For example, large sites tended to hold more widlfowl than smaller ones and relationships with the crinkliness of the shore were probably due to the fact that many sites are primarily roosts and that large reservoirs have relatively simple perimeters. Chi-squared analyses were used to test the effects of the presence of different types of water-based recreation in terms of the observed number of birds compared to the number predicted by the regression models. Winter wildfowl distribution seems to be affected by water-based recreation but the impact on different species varies considerably. There is also substantial variation apparent between activities in terms of their disturbance effect. The most susceptible species to disturbance from reaction were teal, shoveler and goldeneye; the most tolerant were mute swan, tufted duck, pochard and mallard. The greatest deleterious impact on winter wildfowl numbers was associated with the presence of coarse fishing, sailing and rowing. The presence of birdwatching, which is frequently associated with active conservation management, was the commonest activity category associated with higher-than-expected numbers of most species. Shooting was not shown to have great impact, but this was due to the choice by hunters of good wildfowl sites rather than any positive effect. Conditions were favorable for inland wildfowl in recent years and the fact that most recreation on water is carried out largely in the summer has also meant that the impact of recreational activities was not as great as was feared. If the recent trend toward increased public participation in water sports continues, the impact on wildfowl may have to be reexamined.C$://BCI198478050271t8. e//2<6^}.b.z,,obon}e`qOT{eL;-Qv:UU.Uoig"=}||in(=Z$ bgg6h1_d_  A_BBT  Rd Cc  Niittyla, J.Nikcevic, M. V. Nikula, B. J. Nilsson, L. Nilsson, LeifNilsson, Peter B. Nirwal, AmarNishimori, Kei Noel, Lynn E. Noer, Henning Nol, Erica Nolet, B. A.Norderhaug, A. M.Nordstad, ToreNordstrom, Mikael Norheim, G.Norstrom, RossNorth, Norm R.Notestein, Sky K. Notini, Gosta Nudds, T. D.Nudds, Thomas D.Nummelin, Jukka Nummi, PetriNybom, Sonja M. K.Nyegaard, Helene Nygard, T.Nygard, Torgeir Nyman, D.Nysewander, D. R.Nysewander, David R.Nystrom, K. G. K.O'Brien, Diane M.O'Clair, Charles E.O'Connell, Allan F., Jr.O'Connell, Tamsin C.O'Doherty, Gillian M.O'Hara, Robert B.O'Keefe, Patrick W.O'Reilly, James E.Obritschkewitsch, Tim Odham, GoranOffringa, HenkOgilvie, CareyOhlendorf, H. M.Ohlendorf, Harry M. Oja, HeliOkamatsu, MasatoshiOkoniewski, J.Oksanen, Antti Okulewicz, A. Okulewicz, J.Olafsdottir, K.Olney, P. J. S. Olson, D. P. Oppel, S.Oppel, Steffen Oram, KeithOrmerod, Stephen J.Orr, Robert T.Orthmeyer, Dennis L.Osenton, Peter C. Ost, MarkusOsterblom, Henrik Ostnes, J. E.Otorowski, Catherine I.Ouellet, J. F.0+Ouellet, J.-F., P. Fradette, and I. Blouin.Ouellet, Jean-Francois Owen, M. Owen, R. B.Owen, R. B. JrOwen, Ray B., Jr.Paananen, PerttiPaasivaara, AnttiPace, R. M., IIIPage, David S. Page, R. E. Palic, T. Palmer, R. S.Paradis, SylvainPardue, Machelle T.Park, Kirsty J. Parker, H.Parker, Keith R. Parkes, K. C.Parkin, David T.Parrish, Julia K.Parsons, G. R.Paszkowski, Cynthia A.Paton, Peter W. C.Patterson, I. J.Paulauskas, A.Paulauskas, Algimantas Paulus, K. B. Paynter, D.Peakall, D. B. Pearce, J. M.Pearce, John M. Pearce, P. A.Pearson, G. L. Peden, D. G.Pedersen, M. B. Pedersen, T.Pedersen, TorsteinPehlak, Hannes Pehrsson, O.Pehrsson, OlofPelletier, David Pelzl, H. W.Pendleton, Grey W. Penny, M. A.Pepper, Stephen T. Perfito, N. Pernet, F. Perry, M. C.Perry, Matthew C.Perry, William M. Perschon, C.Pesonen, MauriPetchey, Owen L.Petersen, AevarPetersen, Ib K.Petersen, M. R.Petersen, Margaret R. Peterson, B.Peterson, S. R.Petrie, Scott A.Pfaffenberger, BerndPfeifer, DietmarPfunder, MonikaPhillips, L. M.Phillips, Laura M. Piatt, J. F.Piatt, John F.Picman, JaroslavPierre, Johanna P. Piersma, T.Pierson, BarbaraPierson, Barbara J.Pierson, Mark O. Piestrzynska-Kajtoch, Agata Pihl, Stefan Pike, A. W.Pitelka, Frank A. Pittaway, RonPlante, NathaliePlatteeuw, Maarten Plavsic, B. Player, P. V.Plyusnin Yu, M.Podlasinska, JoannaPoeysae, HannuPolakova, Simona Polder, A.Popovic, Zorica S.Popovkina, A. B.Poppenga, Robert H.Portugal, Steven J. Powell, A. N.Powell, Abby N.Powers, Charles W.Powers, Sean P.Poyarkov, N. D. Poysa, H. Poysa, Hannu Poysa, S.Pozdnyakov, Vladimir I. Prach, R. W. Prestrud, P. Price, I. M.Prichard, Alexander K.Priebe, Margaret D.Prince, Harold H.Proctor, S. J.Prosser, Diann J.Prys-Jones, R. P.Purevsuren, B.Quakenbush, LoriQuakenbush, Lori T.Quinlan, S. E.Quinton, Kate L. Raab, RainerRaclot, Thierry Rad, O.Rail, Jean-FranRail, Jean-FrancoisRamey, Andrew M. Rask, Martti Ratti, J. T.Rave, David P.Rearick, Jolene R. Reebs, S. G. Reed, A. Reed, Austin Reed, Eric Reed, John A.S-N)ZfE  ]  \"L./J!%m6H^OP8 (;!;;;j  K''~:aG RH&8|SRga amxA> L+"5!ft%JpqE pqK%R Nk3ZpGB-$@60Seip, K. L. Sandersen, E. Mehlum, F. Ryssdal, J. 1991`ZDamages to Seabirds from Oil Spills Comparing Simulation Results and Vulnerability IndexesEcological Modelling53 1-2r 39-60sBCI:BCI199192014789RKCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Contaminants; Conservation; Techniques;The present model for estimating oil damage to seabirds is intended as a tool for a decision-support system in oil combat planning. The model systematizes the most well-known factors which determine seabirds' susceptibility to oil spills and the subsequent recovery of bird populations. The model is formulated as a simulation model describing the two-dimensional distribution pattern of seabird population on the coast and the two-dimensional spreading of an oil slick drifting towards land. Formulations for population dynamics include seabird age structure, recruitment, mortality, and migration. We have demonstrated the use of the model by applying it to a spill affecting three different seabird populations: kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla; common guillemot, Uria aalge; and common eider, Somateria mollissima. Model results are compared to the results of an index system ranging seabird species' vulnerability to oil spills. The simulation model and the index system give about the same level of vulnerability for kittiwake, but the simulation model predicts less effect on common guillemot and common eider than the vulnerability indexes suggest.$://BCI199192014789Sekler, M. Ruzica, Asanin Krnjaic, D. Palic, T. Milic, N. Tanja, Jovanovic Dragana, Kovacevic Plavsic, B. Dragica, Stojanovic Vidanovic, D. Asanin, N. 2009pjExamination of Presence of Specific Antibodies against Avian Influenza Virus in Some Species of Wild Birds"Acta Veterinaria (Belgrade)594381-402BCI:BCI200900602829JCSea Ducks - General; Common Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Disease;lInfections caused by the avian influenza virus have been known for a long time and they are present, to a smaller or greater extent, in both extensive and intensive poultry production in many parts of the world. Epidemiological investigations have established a definite significance of the population of wild birds in maintaining and spreading this infection. Avian influenza is a zoonosis, and the virus has a great potential for causing mortality in humans, in particular its subtypes H5 and H7, which is why it has lately been provoking much attention among scientists and experts, as well as the general public.The objective of the work was to catch a certain number of wild birds in several locations in the Republic of Serbia, to identify them, and to collect samples of their blood serum for the determination of specific antibodies against the avian influenza virus. Birds were caught in ten locations in a manner that was safe for the birds themselves, as well as for the staff that did the catching. The birds were caught in especially produced nets, and in some cases in special traps. The caught wild birds were identified using the methods described in reference literature. All the names of the wild birds were coordinated with the valid Serbian nomenclature of European birds, prepared by prominent ornithologist and bird lover Milan Ruzic. Following catching and identification, blood samples were taken from the birds from the wing vein (in bigger birds) or from the leg vein (in smaller birds). In taking blood samples from wild birds, all the principles of asepsis and antisepsis were followed in order to prevent any possibility of infection. After that, the birds were returned to their natural habitat, to the same locations in which they were caught. Serums were isolated from the taken blood samples and they were stored at -20 degrees C until the final examinations. A total of 46 species of wild birds were identified among a total of 259 birds from which 259 samples of blood serum were isolated. The following were used for the detection of the presence of specific antibodies against the avian influenza virus in blood serum samples of wild birds: agar gel precipitation (AGP), the hemagglutination inhibition test (HI) for subtypes H5 and H7, the cELISA test with antigen for the A type avian infleunza virus, and the cELISA test with antigen for subtype H5 of the avian influenza virus. Due to the fact that about 360 different species of wild birds live in the Republic of Serbia, the number of 46 identified species covered by these investigations account for 12.77% of the total number of bird species present in Serbia, which is considered a good sample. Specific antibodies against the A type avian influenza virus were established in serum samples of only 9 of the 259 birds covered by examinations using the cELISA test. Of the 46 identified wild bird species, 6 belonged to birds that live exclusively in water habitats and are considered a reservoir of the avian influenza virus (white stork, mallard, mute swan, common pochard, common goldeneye, and Eurasian coot). Among the listed species, particular attention was drawn to 4 species of wild birds of the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae (mallard, mute swan, common pochard, common goldeneye) of which there were 30 birds among the total of 259 examined. In the 30 blood serum samples of the listed bird species, specific antibodies against the A type avian influenza virus were established in 9 (30%.) serum samples using cELISA. Specific antibodies against the avian inluenza virus subtype H5 were established in 3 serum samples of mute swans (one serum sample originated from a mute swan which was tagged in Poland) and in one blood serum sample of a common pochard, or a total of 4 (13.33%) serum samples, using the hemagglutination inhibition test. Specific antibodies against the avian inluenza virus subtype H7 were established in 3 (10%) blood serum samples, in two serum samples from mallards and one sample from a mute swan, using the hemagglutination inhibition test. Specific antibodies against the avian inluenza virus type A were not established in any examined bird species using the AGP test.In the opulation of wild bird species in the Republic of Serbia covered by these investigations, specific antibodies against the avian influenza virus were established only in serum samples of birds of the family Anatidae, Specific antibodies against the avian inluenza virus type A established in 3 (6.52%) species of wild birds, and against subtypes H5 and H7 in 2 (4.34%) of the total of 46 examined species, The sensitivity of the cELISA test for the avian inluenza virus subtype H5 and the hemagglutination inhibition test for subtype H5 amounted to 100%.$://BCI200900602829#|p& Iverson, Samuel A. Esler, Daniel 2006Site fidelity and the demographic implications of winter movements by a migratory bird, the harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicusJournal of Avian Biology373q219-228May 2006BCI:BCI200600470487~wHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Population Dynamics; Dispersal; Population Delineation; Nonbreeding Seasons;Understanding the degree of demographic connectivity among population segments is increasingly recognized as central to the fields of population ecology and conservation biology. However, delineating discrete population units has proven challenging, particularly for migratory birds as they move through their annual cycle. In this study, radio telemetry was used to assess movement rates among habitats by harlequin ducks Histrionicus histrionicus during the non-breeding season in Prince William Sound, Alaska. A total of 434 females were outfitted with radio transmitters over six years of data collection, and their signals tracked by aircraft. Using a spatially nested design, it was determined that 75% of radioed females remained in the bay or coastline area where they were originally trapped, 94% remained on the same island or mainland region of Prince William Sound where they began the winter period, and 98% remained within the 4500 km(2) study area as a whole. Home range analyses corroborated these findings, indicating that the scale of individual movements was small, with 95% kernel home range estimates averaging only 11.5 +/- 2.2 km(2). A simple demographic model, which incorporated estimates for population size, survival, and movement rates, was used to infer the degree of independence among population segments. Immigrant females were found to contribute little to population numbers in most areas, accounting for only 4% of the adult female population at a scale of approximately 100 km(2). These results have important implications for the scale of conservation action for the species and demonstrate that winter movements can have a strong influence local population dynamics.$://BCI200600470487HAIverson, S. A. Boyd, W. S. Esler, D. Mulcahy, D. M. Bowman, T. D.a 2006haComparison of the effects and performance of four types of radiotransmitters for use with scotersd Wildlife Society Bulletin343656-663Oct 2006BCI:BCI200700148127rlWhite-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Surf Scoter; Melanitta perspicillata; Techniques; Nonbreeding Seasons;Radiotransmitters are widely used in wildlife ecology, often providing data that cannot be collected using other methods. However, negative effects have been associated with the use of transmitters for some species. We evaluated the effects and performance of 4 radiotransmitter types for use with surf and white-winged scoters (Melanitta perspicillata and M. fusca): COEXT-coelomically implanted transmitters with external antennas, COINT-coelomically implanted transmitters with internal antennas, SUBCU -subcutaneous implants with external antennas, and PRONG-external mounts, attached by a subcutaneous anchor and glue, with external antennas. Survival was not related to radiotransmitter type during the immediate (14-d) post-release period when most deaths (8 of 12) occurred. Rates of signal disappearance (transmitters ceased to be detected in the study area) and transmitter shedding (transmitters recovered without sign of predation) were similar among types over 30- and 60-day intervals; however higher proportions of dorsally mounted radiotransmitters (SUBCU, PRONG) disappeared or were shed over course of the full 100-day monitoring period used in this study. All 4 radiotransmitter types allowed for relatively accurate location estimates, with linear error estimates (distance between actual and estimated location) averaging < 50 in when receivers were within 1 km of transmitters. However, signal strength was lower for COINT transmitters. Based on our results, we recommend COEXT transmitters for radiotelemetry studies > 2 months in duration and for satellite telemetry studies of scoters. However, SUBCU and PRONG are recommended as cost-effective alternatives in shorter-duration radiotelemetry studies.$://BCI200700148127& Iverson, Samuel A. Esler, Daniel 2007:3Survival of female harlequin ducks during wing molt}$Journal of Wildlife Management714s 1220-1224Jun 2007BCI:BCI200700437912VOHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Survival; Molt; Nonbreeding Seasons;XQSurvival rates of waterfowl during wing molt have rarely been described, leading to uncertainty about the importance of this annual cycle stage for management. We quantified survival probability of 247 radiomarked female harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) during wing molt in Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA. The daily survival rate (DSR) was extremely high (DSR = 0.999; 95% CI: 0.9941.000) during the 37-day interval over which remiges were replaced and individuals were rendered flightless. Our DSR estimate corresponded to a cumulative survival probability of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.81-1.00) for the 20 August-15 October postbreeding period as a whole, which is appreciably higher than estimates that have been derived for breeding or overwintering stages. We conclude that wing molt is a comparatively safe stage of the annual cycle for harlequin ducks that does not constrain population growth rate, with the implication for wildlife managers being that, in the absence of anthropogenic influences, management prescriptions may be most effective when focused on other stages of the annual cycle.$://BCI200700437912in surf scoter densities, and the only habitat attribute from the considered set that was a strong, predictor of Barrow's goldeneye densities. In both cases. the findings indicated strong positive relationships between densities of sea ducks and shellfish aquaculture operations. These relationships are presumably the result of large numbers of wild mussels (Mytilus trossulus) that settle and grow oil aquaculture structures and Lire preferred prey of these sea ducks.4. Previous work has shown that aquaculture Structures provide good conditions for recruiting and growing Mussels. including refuge from invertebrate predators. which in turn provides higher densities of higher quality prey for sea ducks than available in intertidal areas. This offers a rare example in which introduction of an industry leads to positive effects on wildlife populations, which is particularly important given persistent decline in numbers of many sea ducks. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.$://BCI200900144223kBergman, Goran 1965^WGulls: Their competition, food needs, and relations to other coastal birds? Ger. summ.J Zool Revy27 (3)r 58-77gBCI:BCI19674800032037VORed-breasted merganser; Mergus serrator; Trophic Interactions;Bergman, Goran 1965^WGulls: Their competition, food needs, and relations to other coastal birds? Ger. summ.J Zool Revy27 (3)r 58-77gBCI:BCI19674800032037VORed-breasted merganser; Mergus serrator; Trophic Interactions; Breeding Season;In 19B4 the city of Helsinki started incinerating or burying all garbage, thus closing that source of food of gulls. The herring gull (Larus arzentatus) was forced to turn partly to ducklings and the young of smaller gull species. Size of brood of herring gull pairs was slightly reduced. The great increase in herring-gull population off the south Finnish coast since 1935 has forced the lesser black-backed gull (L. fuscus) to nest in less suitable sites; e.g., where some of the fuscus young are killed by ants or humans. Although sections of the coast further west from Helsinki do not provide such a stable and abundant food supply, gull colonies there are growing and new colonies are being formed. The more established colonies nearer Helsinki have not given much in the last 5 years, and the new settlers in them have mostly been older gulls, which nest earlier (mid-April). Gull young hatched after June 10 have a higher mortality than those hatched in May; cannibalism may play a part, but no direct evidence was found in this survey. At given stages, late-hatched fledglings are probably lighter than early-hatched ones, but we do not have enough data to support this statement. Herring gulls in smaller colonies fare better. Herring and greater black-backed gulls (L. argentatus and L. marinus) eat the young (weighing less than 0.3 kg) of the red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator) and the eider duck (Somateria mollissima) (weighing less than 0.5 kg). Tern young are eaten till araonst fledged (0.12 kg). 15% of the food of black-backed gull is composed of merganser young and accounts for 3/4 of the consumption in spite of the greater numbers of herring gulls, which only get about 0.5% of their food this way. Intestinal infections seem also to contribute to recent high mortality of eider young. In spite of heavy losses, the total south Finnish eider population is rising, due to gains in areas with few gulls. || ABSTRACT AUTHORS: P. Hopper&://BCI19674800032037|q8euw, Maarten Beekman, Jan H. 1994JDDisturbance of waterbirds by ships on lakes Ketelmeer and IJsselmeer Limosa671i 27-33aBCI:BCI199497460987nVPCommon merganser; Mergus merganser; Behavior; Conservation; Nonbreeding Seasons;: 3 During two consecutive days in winter 1990/91, o:4McKinnon, Laura Gilchrist, H. Grant Scribner, Kim T. 2006d^Genetic evidence for kin-based female social structure in common eiders (Somateria mollissima)Behavioral Ecology174614-621 Jul-Aug 2006BCI:BCI200600366893D>Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Behavior; Breeding Season;Kin-based social groups are commonly studied among cooperatively breeding species but have been less studied in "nontraditional" group breeding systems. We investigated the presence of kin-based sociality among females in the common eider (Somateria mollisima), a colonial nesting sea duck that exhibits high levels of natal philopatry in females. Previous studies of female sociality in common eiders have been restricted to observations during brood rearing. However, aggregations of female common ciders are also observed during other periods of the life cycle such as colony arrival and nesting. Here we apply a novel, empirical framework using molecular markers and field sampling to genetically characterize female social groups at several stages of the common eider life cycle. When compared with mean estimates of interindividual relatedness for the entire colony, significantly higher levels of relatedness were found between females within groups arriving to the colony in flight, between females and nearest neighbors at the time of nest site selection, and between groups of females departing the colony with ducklings. Both full-sibling and half-sibling equivalent relationships were also found within these groups. Therefore, throughout each of several stages including in-flight colony arrival, nesting, and brood rearing, we provide the first genetically confirmed evidence of female kin-based social groups in common ciders and anseriformes in general.$://BCI200600366893 McKnney, F.o 19650*The spring behavior of wild Steller Eiders Condor67 (4)273-290BCI:BCI19664700045504lJDSteller's eider; Polysticta stelleri; Behavior; Nonbreeding Seasons;vpThe behavior of Polysticta stelleri (Anatidae) was studied during April and May at 2 wintering areas on the Alaska Peninsula. The birds were highly social when feeding and resting, often massing in tightly packed rafts. When diving for food, the members of a flock submerged almost simultaneously. In courting parties, males performed several distinct displays and frequently made pre-flight movements and Short Flights. In contrast to courting parties of Somateria mollissima, which often dive, those of Polysticta often took to the air. Pairs made deliberate fights away from the flock to copulate. After copulation, the pair often returned immediately to the flock. Pre-copulatory displays are less conspicuous than those of Somateria. Strong tendencies to flock densely and to fly readily probably have survival value against aerial predators, and these tendencies appear to have affected feeding, pairing, and copulatory behavior. Some differences between the displays of Polysticta and Somateria are thought to have resulted from selection pressure tending to reduce conspicuousness in the former species. ABSTRACT AUTHORS: Author&://BCI19664700045504TF & McCutchen, N. A. Ydenberg, R. C. 2005Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus distribution and stonefly nymph availability in the Maligne Valley watershed - a preliminary studyeWildfowl55 75-82qBCI:BCI2006002538521|vHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Trophic Interactions; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season;The relationship between Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus distribution and stonefly (Plecoptera) nymph availability in the Maligne Valley watershed, Jasper National Park, Canada, was investigated from 1999 to 2000. Invertebrate sampling and duck counts were concentrated in the Maligne Lake Outlet (MLO), Middle Maligne River and Lower Maligne River. Harlequin Ducks were more likely to use the two sites with high nymph availability (MLO and Lower Maligne) than the site with low nymph availability (Middle Maligne). The relationship between Harlequin Duck distribution and other invertebrates was Less consistent. These results suggest that stonefly nymphs play an important role in the distribution of Harlequin Ducks in the Maligne watershed.$://BCI200600253852McGilvrey, Frank B.s 1966tmNesting of hooded mergansers Lophodytes cucullatus on the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland Auk83 (3)477-479BCI:BCI19664700119984@9Hooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Breeding Season;&://BCI196647001199842+McHugh, K. P. Madsen, C. S. De Kloet, S. R.o 1990jdA Highly Repeated Retropseudogene-Like Sequence in DNA of the Red-Breasted Merganser Mergus-SerratorGene (Amsterdam)872a193-198eBCI:BCI199090027920(:4Red-breasted merganser; Mergus serrator; Techniques;4.Two highly repeated nucleotide sequences (RBMI and RBMII) cloned from an EcoRI digest of DNA of the redbreasted merganser (Mergus serrator) account for approx. 5 to 10% of the DNA of M. serrator and the closely related Mergus merganser. Complete DNA digestion of seven members of the Mergini with EcoRI produces distinct, relatively species-specific patterns of a few high-Mr (> 1.5 kb) fragments of RBMI-like material. In such digests RBMII forms ladder-type patterns with monomers of approx. 200 bp. The sequence of a cloned 2.6-kg RBMI fragment from M. serrator contains several extended (up to 70 bp) and modified poly(dA) sequences, two open reading frames in opposite orientation to the longest poly(dA) sequence and two direct 10-bp repeats suggesting that RBMI is a rearranged retropseudogene-like element.$://BCI199090027920no to ISI>://BCI199699147798t Lumsden, H. G. Wenting, R. 19762,Common Goldeneyes Hatching from Cracked Eggs Auk934833-835BCI:BCI197713018652JDCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Productivity; Breeding Season;$://BCI197713018652.'Lumsden, H. G. Page, R. E. Gauthier, M. 1980TNChoice of Nest Boxes by Common Goldeneyes Bucephala-Clangula in Ontario CanadaWilson Bulletin 944\497-505pBCI:BCI198172007336HBCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Breeding Season; Techniques;Choices among boxes offering a variety of features were recorded for goldeneyes in a series of controlled experiments in northern Ontario. Goldeneyes preferred boxes with black interiors, large entrance holes (13 .times. 10 cm) and a depth of at least 33 cm. Compass orientation, alignment with a tree trunk and species of tree on which the boxes were situated were not factors in selection.$://BCI198172007336 xn Englert, J. Seghers, B. H. 1983Predation by Fish and Common Mergansers on Darters Pisces Percidae in the Thames River Watershed of Southwestern Ontario Canada Canadian Field-Naturalistt972t218-219BCI:BCI198426078190N@9Common merganser; Mergus merganser; Trophic Interactions;C$://BCI198426078190>7Epners, C. A. Bayley, S. E. Thompson, J. E. Tonn, W. M.n 2010Influence of fish assemblage and shallow lake productivity on waterfowl communities in the Boreal Transition Zone of western CanadaFreshwater Biology5511 2265-2280Nov 2010BCI:BCI201000597018yCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Habitat; Breeding Season; Nonbreeding Seasons; P>1. Shallow lakes in the Boreal Transition Zone (BTZ) in Alberta, Canada are naturally productive systems that provide important breeding and moulting habitat for many waterfowl (Anseriformes). To examine the relative importance of biotic and abiotic factors on waterfowl population densities, species richness and community composition, we surveyed 30 shallow lakes and evaluated the relationships among fish communities, lake characteristics and waterfowl in both breeding and moulting habitat. Shallow lakes were either fishless (n = 15), contained only small-bodied fishes (n = 10) or contained large-bodied, mostly predatory, fish in addition to small-bodied fish (n = 5).2. Environmental factors, including water colour, submerged aquatic vegetation, lake area and potassium, explained 24.3% of the variation in breeding waterfowl communities. Fish assemblage contributed independently to a small but significant proportion (13.4%) of the variation, while 13.8% of the explained variation was shared between environmental factors and fish assemblage. In total, 51.5% of the variation in breeding waterfowl communities was explained.3. Overall, 55.5% of the total variation in moulting waterfowl communities was explained. Environment alone [especially total phosphorus, lake area, maximum depth and dissolved organic carbon (DOC)] and variation shared by fish and environment similarly accounted for most of the explained variation in moulting waterfowl communities (21.7% and 25.7% respectively), while fish assemblage was only one-third as important (8.1%).4. Both breeding and moulting waterfowl densities increased with lake productivity, even in eutrophic and hypereutrophic lakes. Breeding waterfowl density was also twice as great in fishless lakes than in lakes with fish, after accounting for lake area.5. Certain waterfowl taxa were linked to fishless lakes, especially in the moulting season. Canvasback and moulting ring-necked ducks were linked to small-bodied fish lakes, whereas moulting common goldeneye were indicators of large-bodied fish lakes. Knowledge of fish presence and species composition can therefore help guide conservation and management of waterfowl habitat in western Canada. Our results suggest that management efforts to maintain the most productive waterfowl habitat in the BTZ should focus on smaller, shallow, fishless lakes, particularly given that larger fish-bearing systems have greater regulatory protection.l$://BCI201000597018o Ching, H. L. 1989hbProfilicollis-Botulus Van Cleave 1916 from Diving Ducks and Shore Crabs of British Columbia CanadaJournal of Parasitology}751d 33-37uBCI:BCI198987116074p&Parasites; Nonbreeding Seasons;s`YAdults of Profilicollis botulus were found in 6 species of diving ducks in British Columbia including 3 new hosts: common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (L.); Barrow's goldeneye, B. islandica (Gmelin); and greater scaup, Aythya marila (L.). The identification of the species was verified by the examination of co-types and specimens from eider ducks, Somateria mollissima (L.), from Scotland [UK] and oldsquaw, Clangula hyemalis (L.), from New Brunswick. Cystacanths from the hairy shore crab, Hemigrapsus oregonensis (Dana), were similar in morphology to those from Carcinus maenas (L.) from Scotland.$://BCI198987116074C RD&Robertson, Gregory J. 2008XQUsing Winter Juvenile/Adult Ratios as Indices of Recruitment in PopulatiJCEsler, Daniel Schmutz, Joel A. Jarvis, Robert L. Mulcahy, Daniel M.b 2000|uWinter survival of adult female harlequin ducks in relation to history of contamination by the Exxon Valdez oil spillq$Journal of Wildlife Management643839-847 July, 2000BCI:BCI200000370450rlHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Population Dynamics; Survival; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;~xHarlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) life-history characteristics make their populations particularly vulnerable to perturbations during nonbreeding periods. The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill was a major perturbation to nonbreeding habitats of harlequin ducks in Prince William Sound, Alaska, which resulted in population injury. To assess the status of population recovery from the oil spill and to evaluate factors potentially constraining full recovery, we used radiotelemetry to examine survival of adult female harlequin ducks during winters of 1995-96, 1996-97, and 1997-98. We implanted 294 harlequin ducks (154 and 140 in oiled and unoiled areas, respectively) with transmitters and tracked their signals from aircraft during October through March. We examined variation in survival rates relative to area and season (early, mid, and late winter) through comparisons of models using Akaike's information criterion (AICc) values. The 3 models best supported by the data indicated that survival of birds in oiled areas was lower than in unoiled areas. Inclusion of standardized body mass during wing molt in the 3 best models did not improve their fit, indicating that body mass during wing molt did not affect subsequent winter survival. In the model that best fit our data, survival was high in early winter for both areas, lower during mid and late winter seasons, and lowest in oiled areas during mid winter. Cumulative winter survival estimated from this model was 78.0% (SE = 3.3%) in oiled areas and 83.7% (SE = 2.9%) in unoiled areas. We determined that area differences in survival were more likely related to oiling history than intrinsic geographic differences. Based on a demographic model, area differences in survival offer a likely mechanism for observed declines in populations on oiled areas. Concurrent studies indicated that harlequin ducks continued to be exposed to residual Exxon Valdez oil as much as 9 years after the spill. We suggest that oil exposure, mortality, and population dynamics were linked and conclude that continued effects of the oil spill likely restricted recovery of harlequin duck populations through at least 1998.$://BCI200000370450W*$Fournier, Michael A. Hines, James E. 1994Effects of starvation on muscle and organ mass of King Eiders Somateria spectabilis and the ecological and management implicationsWildfowl45188-197lBCI:BCI201000234408nhKing Eider; Somateria spectabilis; Energetics and Nutrition; Physiology; Migration; Nonbreeding Seasons;tnIn the spring of 1990 we salvaged 21 carcasses of starved King Eiders from the Tuktoyaktuk and McKinley Bay areas of the Northwest Territories. The carcasses were dissected and muscle and organ mosses were measured for comparison with shot birds obtained from the Inuit hunters of Holman, N.W.T Most muscles and organs were significantly smaller in starved birds. The exception was the gizzard which was larger in starved birds. Average mass loss at death was approximately 45% of estimated initial body mass in males and 53% in females. This was reflected in the percent mass loss of individual muscles and organs. Starved females lost an estimated 4% more supracoracoideus mass, 4% more pectoralis mass, 5% more heart mass, 4% more gonad mass, 4% more liver mass, and 8%, more intestine length than starved males when compared to their shot counterparts. The amounts anti types of materials found in the gizzards of starved eiders varied considerably from that found in the gizzards of shot birds. Periods of starvation, either lethal or sublethal, during spring migration may have a severe impact on King Eider population dynamics.$://BCI201000234408.'Fournier, Michael A. Bromley, Robert G. 1996d]Status of the Harlequin Duck, Histrionicus histrionicus, in the western Northwest Territoriesu Canadian Field-Naturalists 110i4o638-641 BCI:BCI199799545272f`Harlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season;NGDetails of historic and recent observations of the Harlequin Duck, Histrionicus histrionicus, in the western Northwest Territories including several possible breeding records are summarized. This evidence suggests a widely distributed population in the western Northwest Territories numbering in the hundreds of breeding pairs.$://BCI199799545272*$Fournier, Michael A. Hines, James E. 1996tmChanged status of the Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus, in the Yellowknife area, Northwest Territoriesg Canadian Field-Naturalisto 110}4713-714oBCI:BCI199799545275tzsHooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season; Nonbreeding Seasons;aIncreased observations of Hooded Mergansers, Lophodytes cucullatus, have occurred in the Yellowknife area in recent years. These observations indicate that Hooded Mergansers now utilize this region during the post-breeding, moulting, and migration periods. The occurrence of paired birds in spring suggests the possibility of breeding. There are two plausible explanations for this increase, population increase and subsequent range expansion or displacement due to environmental disturbance.$://BCI199799545275$Fowler, Ada C. Flint, Paul L.d 1997lfPersistence rates and detection probabilities of oiled king eider carcasses on St. Paul Island, Alaska Marine Pollution Bulletin 347522-526lBCI:BCI199799750957VOKing Eider; Somateria spectabilis; Contaminants; Survival; Nonbreeding Seasons;b\Following an off spill off St Paul bland, Alaska in February 1996, persistence rates and detection probabilities of oiled king eider (Somateria spectabilis) carcasses were estimated using the Cormack-Jolly-Seber model. Carcass persistence rates varied by day, beach type and sex, while detection probabilities varied by day and beach type. Scavenging, wave action and weather influenced carcass persistence. The patterns of persistence differed on rock and sand beaches and female carcasses had a different persistence function than males. Weather, primarily snow storms, and degree of carcass scavenging, diminished carcass detectability. Detection probabilities on rock beaches were lower and more variable than on sand beaches. The combination of persistence rates and detection probabilities can be used to improve techniques of estimating total mortality.$://BCI1997997509572,Fox, A. D. Jarrett, N. Gitay, H. Paynter, D. 1989RKLate Summer Habitat Selection by Breeding Waterfowl in Northern Scotland UksWildfowl40106-114BCI:BCI199089057176q>8Black Scoter; Melanitta nigra; Habitat; Breeding Season;The majority of lochs and water courses were visited in an area of northern Scotland during July 1988. The breeding waterfowl of these waters were recorded along with details of environmental parameters at each site, including water quality. In a correspondence analysis, three axes accounted for 72% of the variance, with conductivity, pH and other measures of habitat type all highly represented. Site analysis showed that different species had distinct habitat preferences. Waterfowl of most restricted distribution on the peatlands (namely Black-throated Diver and Common Scoter) showed strong preferences for lochs with islands and with high pH/conductivity, Red-throated Divers tended to occur on midrange water quality lochs, Teal selected acidic, base-poor waters and Mallard showed little selectivity in their use of peatland waters. Some implications of peatland afforestation are discussed with respect to breeding waterfowl communities.$://BCI199089057176ng males returned to the roost site from feeding areas earlier in the day than did females. Adult males occasionally defended small individual foraging sites from intruding conspecifics of both sexes. Available data indicate that sexual segregation within habitats and between wintering areas is influenced by climatic effects interacting with several ecological factors: body size-weight-metabolic relationships, intersexual competion for food and sexual selection pressures.$://BCI198273030384s K?8Grebmeier, Jacqueline M. Green, MartinGreen, S. PatrickGregory, Richard D.Greiner, Ellis C. Grenquist, P.Grenquist, PekkaGrgicak-Mannion, AliceGriffin, Curtice R. Grimble, M. Grimm, UrsulaGrondahl, LouiseGross, Aurelia Grosz, T.Grove, Robert A. Groves, C. R.Groves, Craig R.Grubb, T. C. JrGrundetjern, SveinGudbergsson, GudniGudmundsson, F.Gudmundsson, Gudmundur A.Guenther, KlausGuillemain, MatthieuGuillemette, M.Guillemette, Magella Gunn, DonaldGunnarsson, GunnarGunnarsson, Tomas G.Gunnarsson, Tomas GretarGuy, Lisa M. SheffieldGylfadottir, G.Haelterlein, Bernd Haelters, JanHakkila, KaukoHaland, ArnoldHall, Britt D.Hall, C. Scott Hall, J. O. Hall, JeffHamilton, D. J.Hamilton, Diana J.Hamilton, Diana L. Hammel, H. T. Hand, C. M.Handeland, KjellHannett, G. E. Hansen, E. B. Hansen, I. A. Hansen, S. G.Hansen, Wallace R.Hanson, Harold C. Hanson, P. R.Hanssen, O. J.Hanssen, Sveinn AreHaramis, G. M. Hardie, P. Hario, M. Hario, MarttiHarner, E. JamesHarris, Catriona M. Harris, M. L.Harrison, C. S.Harrison, Jeffery G.Hartmann, Poul Hartung, Rolf Harvey, T. E.Harvey, W. F. IvHaseltine, S. D.Hasselquist, DennisHaszard, ShannonHatton, P. LeslieHaukas, MarianneHauser, Donna D. W. Haveock, B.Hawkes, Virgil C.Hawkins, P. A. J.Hawkins, Stephen J.Hay, Douglas E.Haydon, Daniel T. Haymes, G. T.Hayward, Gregory D.Healey, Michael C.Heard, Darryl J. Heath, J. P.Heath, Joel P.Heaton, Tim H. E.Hebert, Craig E.Hedenstrom, AndersHedges, Robert E. M.Hefti-Gautschi, BarbaraHeggberget, Tor G.Heintzelman, Donald S. Heinz, G. Heinz, G. H.Heinz, Gary H. Heinz, P. A.Heitmeyer, M. E.Helbig, Andreas J. Helle, InariHellgren, OlofHemery, GeorgesHenaux, VivianeHenderson, John D.Henein, Kringen M. Hennes, S. K.Hennes, Steven K.Henny, Charles J. Henriksen, G.Henriksen, GunnarHenriksson, K.Hensel, PhilippeHensler, G. L. Hepp, G. R. Herter, D. R. Herzke, D. Herzke, DorteHerzog, Mark P. Hesslein, Ray Heubeck, M.Heusmann, H. W.Hicklin, P. W.Hicklin, PeterHicklin, Peter W.Higgins, Kenneth F.Hilgerloh, GudrunHill, Nichola J.Hiller, WolfgangHimmelman, John H.Hincke, Maxwell T. Hines, J. E.Hines, James E. Hines, R. K.Hipfner, J. MarkHirsh, Dwight C.Hoberg, Eric P.Hobson, Keith A. Hodges, J. I.Hodgman, Thomas P. Hodson, K.Hoekstra, Paul F. Hoff, J. G.Hoffman, David J. Hoffman, W.Hogmander, Jouko Hogstad, O. Hogstrom, S. Hohn, E. O.Hokstad, SteinHolland, Matthew M.Hollmen, T. E.Hollmen, TuulaHollmen, Tuula E. Holm, H.Holm, Kathryn J. Hondo, RyoHong, Chia-SweeHontelez, L. C. M. P. Hooper, M. J. Hop, H. Hoppe, R. T.Hopps, Eric C.Hornung, J. P.Houston, C. S.Houston, C. Stuart Houston, S.Howell, Mark D.Hoyer, Mark V. Huber, S.Huehnerfuss, Heinrich Huelck, K. Hughes, B. Hughes, BazHughes, Maryanne R.Humphrey, Philip S.Humphries, Gary W. Hunt, Bill Hunt, G. S. Huppop, OmmoHussel, BirgitHutchinson, A. E.Hylland, KetilIchihashi, Hideki Igl, L. D.Ikonomou, M. G._6Beukema, J. J. Cadee, G. C. 1999XQAn estimate of the sustainable rate of shell extraction from the Dutch Wadden Seau Journal of Applied Ecology361t 49-58o Feb., 1999BCI:BCI199900245835TMSea Ducks - General; Trophic Interactions; Conservation; Nonbreeding Seasons;hb1. Shell production by cockles Cerastoderma edule was studied to examine whether or not the present licensed rate of shell extraction in the Dutch Wadden Sea exceeds the current rate of shell addition to the exploitable stocks. 2. Long-term data on numbers of cockles and weights of their shells were used to estimate their annual production on Balgzand, a 50-km2 tidal flat area in the w Bergan, J. F. Smith, L. M. 1989NHDifferential Habitat Use by Diving Ducks Wintering in South Carolina USA$Journal of Wildlife Management534\ 1117-1126{BCI:BCI199089036225B://BCI199089036225v HBHaelterlein, Bernd Suedbeck, Peter Knief, Wilfried Koeppen, Ulrich 2000\UPopulation trends of coastal breeding birds of the German North and Baltic Sea coasts Vogelwelt 121o 5-6241-267pBCI:BCI200100240901PJSea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season; The German coasts of the North and the Baltic Sea represent important breeding grounds for several bird species with high proportions of the NW European populations. For at least 12 species Germany has a special conservation responsibility on the European level due to large fractions of the total biogeographic populations breeding here (e.g. Avocet, Kentish Plover, Gull-billed Tern, Little Tern). This paper describes the population sizes and trends for typical coastal birds in the 1990s. Coastal birds are defined as species which are closely related to coastal habitats and/or have a substantial proportion of their German populations in coastal regions. Standardised breeding bird surveys have been conducted annually since 1990 and allow reliable trend estimates, except for ducks in which estimates are less reliable due to methodological problems. In 1997, a total of 271.000 pairs of coastal birds were counted along the North and Baltic Sea coasts, most of them at the Wadden Sea (southern North Sea, 87%). Gulls represented about two third of the total on both coasts, terns and waders were significantly scarcer (9 % North Sea / 6 % Baltic Sea, resp. 24 / 5 %). The commonest species was Black-headed Gull (about 87.000 breeding pairs), followed by Herring Gull and Oystercatcher. On the Baltic Sea, Cormorant was the second most numerous species. In the 1990s, coastal birds overall and the majority of species showed increasing trends on the North Sea and decreasing trends on the Baltic Sea in Germany. The populations of meadow birds (waders) and terns declined on both coasts, coastal waders and gulls are still increasing at the North Sea. Cormorant, Red-breasted Merganser, Hen Harrier, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Common Gull strongly increased at the North Sea, whereas the Herring Gull remained stable overall, but in recent years decreased in the big colonies on the East Frisian islands. This may be related to competition with Lesser Black-backed Galls. The small populations of Mediterranean and Great Black-backed Gull are also increasing at the North Sea. Since 1995 the Spoonbill has established itself as a new breeding species in the German Wadden Sea. Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Ruff, Snipe and Common Tern showed significant negative trends. Populations of Kentish Plover and Gull-billed Tern have decreased drastically in recent years and have now reached critical levels. At the Baltic Sea coast only Cormorant and Herring Gull have definitely increased, while most species are in decline, some at an alarming rate. Especially the Dunlin as a typical breeding bird of saltmarshes is threatened by extinction. Conditions at the Baltic Sea are quite different from those at the North Sea coast: there is much less coastal habitat area, and disturbance by human activities (tourism, agriculture) and predation, particularly during the last ten years, have led to a strong concentration of coastal birds in a few small reserves.$://BCI200100240901"0$Zydelis, Ramunas Esler, Daniel 2005>7Response of wintering Steller's Eiders to herring spawn} Waterbirds283344-350iSep 2005BCI:BCI200510258296i|uSteller's eider; Polysticta stelleri; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;Distributional and dietary responses of wintering Steller's Eiders (Polysticta stelleri) to spring spawning of Baltic Herring (Clupea harengus) were studied along the Lithuanian coast of the Baltic Sea. Herring spawn is patchy, but is abundant and energy-rich when present. The objective of this study was to determine whether Steller's Eiders modified their foraging sites and food habits to take advantage of spawn, or whether they were inflexible foragers as suggested by earlier studies. Steller's Eiders altered their habitat use during herring spawn, moving to habitats where fish spawning occurred. Also, diet analysis demonstrated that herring eggs became an important food when available. Although the importance of herring spawn for Steller's Eiders remains speculative, this study indicates that spawning sites could be important as a source of nutrients and energy for subsequent migration or reproduction, and should receive conservation consideration.$://BCI200510258296RLZydelis, Ramunas Esler, Daniel Boyd, W. Sean LaCroix, Deborah L. Kirk, Molly 2006|uHabitat use by wintering surf and white-winged scoters: Effects of environmental attributes and shellfish aquaculture$Journal of Wildlife Management706 1754-1762Dec 2006BCI:BCI200700217749~wWhite-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Surf Scoter; Melanitta perspicillata; Habitat; Conservation; Nonbreeding Seasons;lShellfish aquaculture is an expanding industry in coastal British Columbia, Canada, and occurs in important wintering areas for surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) and white-winged scoters (M. fusca). We quantified habitat use by scoters in relation to natural environmental attributes and habitat modifications associated with shellfish aquaculture. We found that, despite the extensive clam and oyster farming in our study area, densities of wintering surf scoters and white-winged scoters were related primarily to natural environmental attributes, particularly intertidal area, clam density, and sediment type; shellfish aquaculture variables were generally poor predictors of bird densities. We conclude that current levels and forms of shellfish aquaculture in our study site were not an important determinant of scoter distribution and abundance, suggesting that winter scoter populations and the shellfish aquaculture industry may be mutually sustainable. We caution that intensification or further industrialization of shellfish aquaculture in British Columbia could eventually lead to detrimental effects if some threshold level of habitat modification is exceeded.$://BCI200700217749tP *$Petrie, Scott A. Knapton, Richard W. 1999Rapid increase and subsequent decline of zebra and quagga mussels in Long Point Bay, Lake Erie: Possible influence of waterfowl predationo&Journal of Great Lakes Research254772-782BCI:BCI200000192627PIBufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons; t nDistribution and density of two introduced dreissenid species of mollusks, the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and quagga mussel D. bugensis, were monitored in the Inner Bay at Long Point, Lake Erie, 1991-1995. Since populations of certain waterfowl species have been reported to alter their dietary intake and migration patterns in response to the ready availability of zebra mussels, the percent occurrence of zebra mussles in the diet of 12 duck species (552 birds) was studied concurrently, and several spring and fall aerial waterfowl surveys were flown between 1986 and 1997 (n = 75), to document changes in duck populations at Long Point. The first reproductive population of zebra mussels on the bay most likely appeared in 1990. After an initial rapid increase in density and colonization of the Inner Bay, zebra mussels began to steadily and consistently decline in absolute numbers, density per station and occupied area. Mean density per station in 1995 was 70% less than in 1991, the first year of rapid colonization, and 67% less than in 1992, the year of peak abundance in the bay (P < 0.05). Occupied area peaked in 1992, with 80% of sampling stations supporting mussels; the following 3 years showed consistent declines in the proportion of stations supporting mussels: 1993 = 75.9%, 1994 = 63.2% and 1995 = 57.1% (P < 0.05). Mussels in size class 0 to 5 mm were most abundant in 1991, 1993 and 1995, whereas those in size class 6 to 10 mm predominated in 1992 and 1994 (P < 0.05). Very few mussels over 15 mm were found. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis (75.4 to 82.5% occurrence), Greater Scaup A. marila (66.7 to 81.5% occurrence), and Bufflehead Bucephala albeola (46.7 to 60% occurrence) were the only three waterfowl species that consistently incorporated zebra mussels in their diet, and the mussel decline coincided with a substantial increase in the populations of these species at Long Point. Waterfowl days for Lesser and Greater Scaup combined increased rapidly from 38,500 in 1986 (prior to the zebra mussel colonization of Long Point) to 3.5 million in 1997 (P = 0.012). Bufflehead days increased from 4,700 to 67,000 during the same period (P = 0.001). Oligotrophication of Lake Erie, through reduced plankton and chlorophyll concentrations, has occurred since the invasion of zebra mussels, probably a result of filtering activities of introduced mussels. While a reduction in plankton availability may have contributed to the zebra mussel decline, high rates of waterfowl predation probably had the most substantial effect on mussel densities at Long Point. Waterfowl predation also probably influenced the size structure of the zebra mussel population, since waterfowl are size-selective foragers, and increased water clarity would have facilitated their ability to select preferred medium and large size classes of mussels. Quagga mussels, which were first detected in 1993, experienced a decline in both density and area occupied over the next two years. Quagga mussels rarely attached to soft substrates, and their decline is possibly related to the decline of suitable hard substrates, such as zebra mussels, as well as to predation by waterfowl.$://BCI200000192627fPJJonsson, Jon Einar Petersen, Aevar Garoarsson, Arnpor Gunnarsson, Tomas G. 2009("Population overview of eider ducksNatturufraedingurinn78 1-2 46-56bBCI:BCI200900508198King Eider; Somateria spectabilis; Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Steller's eider; Polysticta stelleri; Spectacled Eider; Somateria fischeri; Conservation;Seabird populations are much discussed because of possible impacts of global climate change. Eider ducks (Somatereae) are a monophyletic group comprised of four species of specialized ducks that all live along the Arctic coastline. Most populations are listed as of special concern with a few exceptions, notably the Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) in Iceland. The other species are King Eider (S. spectabilis), Spectacled Eider (S. fischeri) and Steller's Eider (Polysticta stelleri). Many populations are hunted, especially those of Common Eider and King Eider, where over-harvest has been implicated as the cause of population declines. All eider duck species face disturbances from human activities, i.e. from oil spills, contaminants, and drowning in gill-nets. Climate change might increase the occurrences of inclement weather at the highest latitudes, which is likely to negatively impact eiders. However, reduced sea ice near breeding grounds could be beneficial on a local scale. Eider duckling survival is relatively low during first days of life because they are sensitive to food shortage, weather and predators during that time. However, there are few data that indicate that production limits eider duck populations because adult survival is the key factor for population stability among long-living species. Future research is critical as future prospects of eider ducks greatly depend on impending changes and human activities throughout their range.$://BCI200900508198wed changes in the use of depth categories as tides changed between slack and maximum current, and four species changed their behavior in different depth categories. Although there was considerable overlap in foraging niches, the differences in distribution and behavior of guilds, families, and species of diving birds indicate a degree of resource partitioning within tidally-driven water categories during winter.$://BCI200200566830a>8Hontelez, L. C. M. P. Van Den Dungen, H. M. Baars, A. J. 1992HBLead and cadmium in birds in the Netherlands: A preliminary survey<6Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology234s453-456BCI:BCI199395011446 81Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Contaminants;iThree birds species (Buteo buteo, Ardea cinerea, and Somateria mollissima) from the Netherlands were investigated for lead and cadmium concentrations using kidneys, livers and tibiae. A major purpose of this study was to gain insight into the exposure of the birds in the Netherlands to the two heavy metals. Secondly, the use of these birds as biomonitors for environmental pollution was studied. Common eiders contained a higher cadmium load in liver and kidney than buzzards and grey herons. Additionally, they contained a higher lead burden in bone than grey herons. The three bird species, all standing at the end of a different food chain, seem appropriate indicators for environmental contamination with heavy metals.$://BCI199395011446 ?;VOWright, Kristopher K. Bruner, Howard Li, Judith L. Jarvis, Robert Dowlan, Stevep 2000yThe distribution, phenology, and prey of Harlequin Ducks, Histrionicus histrionicus, in a Cascade Mountain stream, Oregonq Canadian Field-Naturalist 1142187-195April-June, 2000BCI:BCI200100021843|vHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Trophic Interactions; Breeding Season;*#We examined the phenology, abundance, and in-stream habitat use of Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) and their primary prey, the caddisfly larvae Dicosmoecus gilvipes, in a Cascade Mountain stream from 1994-1997. Harlequins and D. gilvipes inhabited the stream from late April through late July, and both frequented areas with high proportions of bedrock. When broods were present in late June and July, D. gilvipes made up over 80% of harlequin diets. Although harlequins foraged intensively on D. gilvipes, we found no direct relationship between harlequin distribution and caddisfly abundance at nine 50 m study sites. After a severe flood in early 1996, we observed reductions in overall harlequin numbers, a seasonal delay in brood development, and a decrease in abundance of D. gilvipes.$://BCI2001000218430*Yamato, Osamu Goto, Ikuo Maede, Yoshimitsu 1996F@Hemolytic anemia in wild seaducks caused by marine oil pollution"Journal of Wildlife Diseases322a381-384oBCI:BCI199699238165NHWhite-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;\UClinico-pathological examinations were conducted on wild white-winged scoters (Melanitta fusca) contaminated with fuel oil (Bunker C oil) from a capsized cargo ship in February 1993 in Japan. The erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit value in the oiled seaducks all were decreased and numerous immature erythrocytes were observed in blood smears. In addition, hemosiderosis was observed in the liver, kidney, and lung of some birds. We propose that the seaducks suffered from hemolytic anemia induced by ingestion of oil, which occurs when the birds preen their oiled plumage.$://BCI199699238165"Ydenberg, R. Guillemette, M. 1991.'Diving and Foraging in the Common EiderOrnis Scandinavica224349-352\BCI:BCI199293063025{HBCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Behavior; Nonbreeding Seasons;pjWe recorded the duration of successive dives and pauses during sequences of foraging by wintering Common Eiders Somateria mollissima in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Quebec, Canada). The length of each pause on the surface between dives increases at an increasing rate with the length of the preceding dive. Based on this relationship, the deviation from the estimated surface time (DEVEST, for short) was computed for each dive. DEVEST is positively correlated over short series of dive-cycles. The significance of these results is discussed and compared with an earlier study on Western Grebes Aechmophorus occidentalis.$://BCI199293063025 $Yesou, Pierre Lappo, Helena G. 1992f`Steller's eider Polysticta stelleri nesting between the Taimyr and the Yamal Peninsulas, Siberia Alauda604b193-198rBCI:BCI199396026271kb[Steller's eider; Polysticta stelleri; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season;82Steller's Eider Polysticta stelleri have been found breeding, at a very low density and probably on a regular basis, on the Taimyr, Gydan and Yamal peninsulas, regions which were long thought to be outside this species' breeding range. Whether these discoveries are indicative of a true westward range extension in uncertain, they may simple be due to a recent improvement in the knowledge of the avifauna of these areas. We include information on the breeding habitat, clutch size and egg size, and give an improved description of the recently hatched duckling.$://BCI199396026271 Yocom, C. F. 1970NHWeights of 10 Species of Ducks Captured at Ohtig Lake Alaska August 1962Murrelet512r21BCI:BCI197107026036sPISea Ducks - General; Energetics and Nutrition; Molt; Nonbreeding Seasons;2$://BCI197107026036ed turbulence. Six species representing all three guilds showed changes in the use of depth categories as tides changed between slack and maximum current, and four species changed their behavior in different depth categories. Although there was considerable overlap in foraging niches, the differences in distribution and behavior of guilds, families, and species of diving birds indicate a degree of resource partitioning within tidally-driven water categories during winter.$://BCI200200566830aPaszkowski, Cynthia A. Tonn, William M.  2006tmForaging guilds of aquatic birds on productive boreal lakes: environmental relations and concordance patternsl Hydrobiologiao 567 19-30Sep 2006BCI:BCI200600506814$Sea Ducks - General; Habitat;rkWe surveyed aquatic birds on 41 eutrophic lakes at the southern edge of the boreal forest in Alberta, Canada to determine if patterns of species composition of five foraging guilds paralleled patterns of lake characteristics (morphometry, water chemistry, fish assemblage, and landscape features) and if composition patterns were concordant among guilds. We encountered 49 species of nonpasserine birds that could be classified into five foraging guilds: Diving Carnivores, Diving Omnivores, Herbivor,%Pearce, John M. Petersen, Margaret R. 2009|uPost-fledging Movements of Juvenile Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser) in Alaska as Inferred by Satellite Telemetry Waterbirds321\133-137nMar 2009BCI:BCI201100030071bxrCommon merganser; Mergus merganser; Migration; Molt; Population Delineation; Breeding Season; Nonbreeding Seasons;<6We implanted satellite transmitters into eight juvenile Common Mergansers to investigate post fledging movements from their natal river in southcentral Alaska Subsequently they moved widely throughout poitions of western and southcentral Alaska up to 750 km from their natal areas during fall and winter months Iiinsmittei s of two birds (one male and one female) continued to send location datiinto their second}eat and allowed us to determine the location and timing of the flightless molt period for each bud ye, all out data suggest that juveneile Common Mergansers range widely immediately after fledging that second year males and females may) differ in then movement patterns and that these movements have implications for population genetic structure of this species cies Received 2 April 2008 accepted 6 July 2008$://BCI201100030071@Xa, J. J. Cadee, G. C. 1999XQAn estimate of the sustainable rate of shell extraction from the Dutch Wadden Seau Journal of Applied Ecology361t 49-58o Feb., 1999BCI:BCI199900245835TMSea Ducks - General; Trophic Interactions; Conservation; Nonbreeding Seasons;hb1. Shell production by cockles Cerastoderma edule was studied to examine whether or not thJCBoertmann, David Lyngs, Peter Merkel, Flemming Ravn Mosbech, Andersl 2004NGThe significance of Southwest Greenland as winter quarters for seabirds&Bird Conservation International 142p 87-112 June 2004pBCI:BCI200400368074nhSea Ducks - General; Common Eider; King Eider; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;The coastal and offshore waters of Southwest Greenland are internationally important winter quarters for seabirds. We crudely estimate a minimum Of 3.5 million seabirds using the region in winter, mainly from Arctic Canada, Greenland and Svalbard, with smaller numbers also from Alaska, Iceland, mainland Norway and Russia. The most numerous species are Common Eider Somateria mollissima, King Eider S. spectabilis, Brunnich's Guillemot Uria lomvia and Little Auk Alle alle. The most immediate threat to the seabirds in Southwest Greenland is hunting, and current levels of usage of the Greenland breeding populations of Brunnich's Guillemot and Common Eider are considered unsustainable. Conservation measures are required for these populations.$://BCI200400368074<6Boertmann, David Mosbech, Anders Merkel, Flemming Ravn 2006B://BCI200600498816zorbill, 29 years for Larus-gulls and 31 years for Common Guillemot. For other species/taxa, at least 50 years of surveying would be required. Long-term oil pollution monitoring in Belgium should be continued with a major focus on a set of abundant bird taxa, sensitive to oil-pollution and occurring in various marine habitats. Most appropriate for this purpose are grebes (inshore), Larus-gulls, Common Guillemot and Razorbill (midshore) and Kittiwake and Fulmar (offshore).$://BCI200200589339e)0*Mallory, M. L. Fontaine, A. J. Akearok, J. 2003^XStatus of the Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus on Baffin Island, Nunavut, CanadaWildfowl54 95-102BCI:BCI200400435135qf`Harlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season;\UThe eastern North American Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus is a small, uncommon seaduck that was last recorded on Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, in 1931. Between 1999 and 2001, Inuit hunters and elders were interviewed and river and coastal surveys were conducted to determine whether this duck still occurred on Baffin Island. Inuit community knowledge indicated that this species still inhabited the southeastern part of the island (Meta Incognita Peninsula), but that it may occasionally be found further north than previously reported. Several hunters from Kimmirut also reported observing females with broods. Only three individuals were found near Igaluit during surveys, suggesting that the species is uncommon and dispersed. None the less, this represents the first evidence in 70 years that this species is still extant on the island.$://BCI200400435135>JVl"<$Foley, R. E. Batcheller, G. R. 1988b[Organochlorine Contaminants in Common Goldeneye Wintering on the Niagara River New York USAp$Journal of Wildlife Management523r441-445CBCI:BCI198886086634qNHCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;We collected adult male common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) near their time of arrival on wintering grounds (Nov-Dec) (n = 26) and just prior to spring migration (Feb-Mar) (2 = 24) from the Upper Niagara River (UNR), New York, to identify and measure organochlorine contaminants in fat tissues. Detectable concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), dieldrin, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), oxychlordane, and heptachlor epoxide (HE) were found in all adult birds. Polychlorinated biphenyl, dieldrin, HCB, and HE increased (P < 0.05) in adults between the 2 sample periods. In a group of hatching-year (HY) birds sampled in November-December (n = 27), organochlorine residues were less than those of adults from the same period (P < 0.001). Contaminants known to occur in prey items (e.g., crustaceans, gastropods, insects, pelecypods, fish, and annelids) are probably the major source of exposure for common goldeneye on the Niagara River. $://BCI198886086634n Foley, R. E. 1992VOOrganochlorine Residues in New York Waterfowl Harvested by Hunters in 1983-1984l.'Environmental Monitoring and Assessmentn211\ 37-48\BCI:BCI199294038097HABufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;(!Thirteen organochlorine compounds were detected in fat and breast muscle tissues of Canada goose and five species of ducks that were shot by sportsman in New York. Residues of DDE and PCB occurred most frequently and were postively identified along with DDT,hepatochlor epoxide, trans-nonachlor, and hexachlorobenzene. Compounds that were detected but not positively confirmed by mass spectrometry were dieldrin, mirex, heptachlor, chlordane, oxychlordane, and endrin. Wood duck (Aix sponsa) and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) had significantly lower levels of DDE and PCB than black duck (Anas rubripes), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), scaup (Athys sp.),and bufflehead (Bucephala albeola). Birds collected from Long Island and the Hudson River-Lake Champlain corridor carried highest concentrations.$://BCI199294038097B://BCI199395013721TForeman, L. D. 1979b[Flock Size and Density of Common Mergansers Mergus-Merganser in Northwestern California USA\California Fish and Game652e124-127rBCI:BCI198018002779NHCommon merganser; Mergus merganser; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends;$://BCI198018002779("Found, C. Webb, S. M. Boyce, M. S. 2008d^Selection of lake habitats by waterbirds in the boreal transition zone of northeastern Alberta"Canadian Journal of Zoology864m277-285Apr 2008BCI:BCI200800319221D=Common merganser; Mergus merganser; Habitat; Breeding Season; We examined habitat characteristics associated with presence or absence of 16 waterbird species on 113 lakes during 2001-2006. We found that piscivorous species such as pelicans, loons, and mergansers were found on fish-bearing lakes, while birds that typically nest in emergent vegetation (e.g., coots, grebes) strongly preferred water bodies with moderate to high levels of emergent macrophytes. The presence of a riparian buffer was important for loons and several species of waterbird that nest on the backshore. Moderate to deep lake depth and high water clarity also were important for some species and likely associated with hunting habits and (or) fish availability. Breeding-occurrence models were developed for a few conspicuous species that could be sampled using aerial surveys. Surprisingly, changes in water levels were not important predictors for most species, and associations between waterbirds and high levels of recreational activity were unexpected. Common Loon (Gavia immer (Brunnich, 1764)) and Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias L., 1758) were most sensitive to anthropogenic activities, with fewer of these species detected on lakes with more disturbed shorelines.0$://BCI200800319221h:4Fouque, Carol Guillemain, Matthieu Schricke, Vincent 2009Trends in the numbers of Coot Fulica atra and wildfowl Anatidae wintering in France, and their relationship with hunting activity at wetland sitesWildfowl Sp. Iss. 2 42-59BCI:BCI201000087036TNSea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;Monitoring numbers of wintering wildfowl Anatidae and Coot Fulica atra is an important tool for their management and conservation. Twenty species of wildfowl and Coot have been counted monthly from December-February over 21 winters (1987-2008) at 88 French wetlands of national and international importance for these birds, covering 597 different count sites. Trends in average winter numbers were positive for 15 species, stable for Smew Mergus albellus, and indicated a decline in numbers for the five remaining species. Models assessing trends over time and also the effect of hunting status at the different sites (with sites grouped according to whether the area was hunted, partly hunted, or protected), found that bird numbers varied between sites of different status for A species except Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina. The immediacy with which hunting status affected local trends was less clear. There was no significant interaction between trends in numbers and the hunting status of the count sites for 10 of the 20 Anatidae species, including four of six species protected from hunting. For two protected species, trends were more favourable at fully hunted than at fully protected sites. Ten of the 14 quarry species did not show more favourable trends in protected than in hunted sites. Hunting activity at sites therefore does not, in itself, seem sufficient to explain differences in local trends in waterbird numbers. $://BCI201000087036aDEsler, Daniel Bowman, Timothy D. Dean, Thomas A. O'Clair, Charles E. Jewett, Stephen C. McDonald, Lyman L. 2000ZTCorrelates of Harlequin Duck densities during winter in Prince William Sound, Alaska Condor 1024920-926November, 2000BCI:BCI200100002977\VHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Habitat; Contaminants; NopjEsler, Daniel Bowman, Timothy D. Dean, Thomas A. O'Clair, Charles E. Jewett, Stephen C. McDonald, Lyman L. 2000ZTCorrelates of Harlequin Duck densities during winter in Prince William Sound, Alaska Condor 1024920-926November, 2000BCI:BCI200100002977\VHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Habitat; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;We evaluated relationships of Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) densities to habitat attributes, history of habitat contamination by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, and prey biomass density and abundance during winters 1995-1997 in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Habitat features that explained variation in duck densities included distance to streams and reefs, degree of exposure to wind and wave action, and dominant substrate type. After accounting for these effects, densities were lower in oiled than un-oiled areas, suggesting that population recovery from the oil spill was not complete, due either to lack of recovery from initial oil spill effects or continuing deleterious effects. Prey biomass density and abundance were not strongly related to duck densities after accounting for habitat and area effects. Traits of Harlequin Ducks that reflect their affiliation with naturally predictable winter habitats, such as strong site fidelity and intolerance of increased energy costs, may make their populations particularly vulnerable to chronic oil spill effects and slow to recover from population reductions, which may explain lower densities than expected on oiled areas nearly a decade following the oil spill.$://BCI200100002977vNelson, Colleen Helgeson 1993xqThe identification of Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica and Common Goldeneye B. clangula americana ducklingsWildfowl44178-183pBCI:BCI201000201431rkBarrow's Goldeneye; Bucephala islandica; Common Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Techniques; Breeding Season;d$://BCI201000201431o>7Newbrey, Jennifer L. Bozek, Michael A. Niemuth, Neal D.a 2005|uEffects of lake characteristics and human disturbance on the presence of piscivorous birds in Northern Wisconsin, USAm Waterbirds284n478-486Dec 2005BCI:BCI200600242709aD=Common merganser; Mergus merganser; Habitat; Breeding Season;eDespite Current anthropogenic alterations to riparian areas and littoral zones of lakes, little information is available on how human-induced alterations affect lacustrine habitat use by many piscivorous birds in northern Wisconsin, USA. The influence of lake characteristics and human disturbance on species richness and the presence of seven species of piscivorous birds was determined on 98 lakes located primarily in Vilas and Oneida counties, Wisconsin. Lakes were surveyed for species presence using shoreline perimeter surveys with total searching time standardized to two, one-hour surveys per lake. Piscivorous bird species richness was highest on large lakes with high pH levels. Using logistic regression, many species were found to be present on lakes possessing characteristics associated with high abundances of fish, including lake surface area, pH, and water clarity. At least one of these variables was included in the final models for species richness and presence of the Common Merganser (Mergus merganser), Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), and Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis). Three species avoided lakes possessing characteristics associated with high levels of human disturbance; the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) was not found on lakes with low percentages of macrophytes, the Common Merganser was absent on lakes with low water clarity, and the Common Loon (Gavia immer) was not present on lakes with many cottages. Many species of piscivorous birds were widespread regardless of the degree of human development, indicating that habituation to humans may have occurred. In addition, density-dependent factors may have precluded identification of optimal lake characteristics for some species due to habitat saturation.$://BCI200600242709cies reached high numbers in both zones. The Common Scoter Melanitta nigra ocurred mostly in coastal zone. Its number fluctuated considerably throughout the season, and reached a peak of 3300 Md. (in both zones) on 5th April 2004. The Velvet Scoter M. fusca was much more abundant in open-sea zone, and reached a peak in autumn (9500 id.). In autum the highest densities of the clucks were found in a narrow belt of shallow waters of coastal zone, while in winter and spring most birds were concentrated in north-eastern part of the studied area with deeper waters. The most plausible reason for the desertion of coastal-zone was over-exploitation of mussel populations, which constitute the main food of the clucks. Deeper waters in open-sea zone offer high densities of benthic organisms, although diving there is more costly in terms of energy. Changes in the numbers of Long-tailed Ducks could result from both the end of autumn migration and movements of some birds to open-sea zone.$://BCI201100384775 *, DanielTrust, Kimberly A.& Esler, Daniel Iverson, Samuel A. 2010\UFemale Harlequin Duck Winter Survival 11 to 14 Years After the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill$Journal of Wildlife Management743}471-478Apr 2010BCI:BCI201000246319rlHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Population Dynamics; Survival; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;In the mid-to late 1990s, nearly a decade after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, female harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) suffered reduced winter survival in oiled areas of Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA, relative to unoiled areas. We conducted follow-up studies from winters 2000-2001 to 2002-2003 to determine whether differential survival persisted and to evaluate whether individual-level indices of oil exposure were related to survival. Using radiotelemetry, we tracked 138 female harlequin ducks from November through March over three winters. We analyzed variation in survival in relation to season, area oiling history, age class, body mass, and an index to exposure to residual oil based on cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) induction. We determined that survival was most strongly related to season and age class, with evidence of higher survival in late winter and after hatch year (AHY) categories, respectively. We estimated cumulative winter survival for AHY females to be 0.837 (+/- 0.064) and 0.834 (+/- 0.065) on unoiled and oiled areas, respectively, and we estimated hatch-year female cumulative winter survival at 0.766 (+/- 0.138) on unoiled areas and 0.758 (+/- 0.152) on oiled areas. Despite persistence of oil in some intertidal areas and evidence of contaminant ingestion by harlequin ducks during and beyond this study, neither area nor CYP1A were strongly related to variation in survival, suggesting that direct effects of the oil spill on harlequin duck demography had largely abated by the winters 2000-2001 to 2002-2003. Our findings offer an unprecedented description of the timeline of effects of exposure to spilled oil and contribute to a body of literature that describe demographic effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill that persisted over a much longer time than previously assumed. An appreciation for the timescale of chronic effects of oil spills, as well as potential for demographic effects related to much lower concentrations of oil than during the immediate period of acute effects following a spill, will provide wildlife managers with a basis for risk assessment and plans for mitigation when confronted with large spills or chronic pollution./$://BCI201000246319c K Evans, Richard J.Evenson, J. R.Evenson, Joseph R.Evers, David C. Ewart, M. J. Fabisiak, J.Fadely, Janey B.Fagermo, S. E.Fagermo, Stein E.Fairney, N. P. Falandysz, J. Falk, KnudFalk-Petersen, S.Fast, Peter L. F. Favret, DerekFederer, R. N.Federer, Rebekka N.Feltham, M. J.Fendley, T. T. Ferguson, A.Ferguson, Steven H. Fey, Frouke Fiedler, W. Fields, R. L.Fields, Raymond L. Fife, Ian Finley, D. L.Finley, Daniel L.Finley, James K.Fischer, John R.Fischer, Julian B.Fisk, Aaron T.Fitzgerald, G.Fitzgerald, G. R.Fitzgerald, GuyFitzner, R. E.Fjeld, Per Espen Fjeldsa, J.Flagstad, AnnetteFlanders, John R. Fleet, D. M.Fleet, David M.Fleming, W. James Flint, P. L.Flint, Paul L. Flint, V. E. Foley, R. E.Foley, Robert E.Follestad, Arne Folstad, IvarFondell, Tom F. Fong, IanFontaine, A. J.Fontaine, Alain J. Foote, A. L.Forbes, GrahamForbes, Mark R.Foreman, L. D. Foster, J. R. Found, C. Fouque, CarolFournier, Michael A.Fowler, Ada C. Fox, A. D.Fox, Anthony D.Fraker, Mark A. Frank, A. Frank, D.Franson, J. C.Franson, J. Christian Frantzen, B.Frantzen, BjornFrazer, Thomas K.Fredrickson, L. H.Fredrickson, Leigh H. French, T. W. Frengen, OttoFreudendahl, Anna Sowe L.Friedlander, Barry Frikke, J. Frikke, John Frimer, OleFryxell, John M. Fuchs, RomanFukui, ShigetoFuller, TreuonFurness, R. W.Furness, Robert W.Gabor, T. ShaneGabrey, Steven W.Gabrielsen, G. W.Gabrielsen, Geir W.Gabrielsen, Geir WingGabrielsen, HeidiGadawski, Ted R.Gagnon, BenoitGagnon, ChristianGaillard, Jean-Michel Gaines, W. L.Galaktionov, K.Galaktionov, K. V.Galaktionov, KirillGalaktionov, Kirill V.Galaktionov, Kiryl Galanidi, M. Galkin, A. K.Galkin, Alexander K. Gamberg, MaryGammonley, J. H.Garcia-Fernandez, A. J.Gardarsson, A.Gardarsson, Arnthor Gardner, BethGaroarsson, Arnpor Garthe, S.Garthe, StefanGash-Wiler, Jay S.Gashwiler, Jay S. Gaston, A. J.Gaston, Anthony J.Gatzschmann, P. Gauthier, G.Gauthier, Gilles Gauthier, J. Gauthier, M.Gauthier-Clerc, Michel Gautschi, B.Gavrilo, M. V.Gazey, William J.Gebauer, Martin B.Gendner, Jean-Paul Gerell, R.Gerrard, Jon M.Gerrard, P. Naomi Gershman, M.Gerstenberger, Shawn L.Gezelius, LarsGhasabian, Mamikon G.Gibbons, Richard E. Gibbs, H. C.Gibson, Daniel D.Giessing, Katrin Giesy, J. P.Gilbert, Andrew T.Gilchrist, GrantGilchrist, H. G.Gilchrist, H. GrantGilfillan, Edward S. Gilg, OlivierGill, Jennifer A.Gillespie, D. I.Gilliland, S. G.Gilliland, ScottGilliland, Scott G.Gislason, G. M.Gislason, Gisli Mar Gitay, H. Gittings, Tom Gjertz, I.Gladden, Beverly W.Gleason, Jeffrey S.Gloutney, Mark L. Glover, R. F.Goatcher, BuddyGobas, Frank A. P. C.Gochfeld, Michael Godo, G.Goedhart, PaulGolightly, Richard T. Gollop, M. A.Goodale, M. WingGoodyear, GeoffGoodyear, Geoff S.Goose, John W., Jr.Gordon, Audrey Seton Gorman, M. L.Goryaev, Yu I. Goryaev, YuriGoryainova, G. P.Goss-Custard, John D. Gotmark, F. Goto, Ikuo Goudie, R. I.Goudie, R. IanGowans, BillieGranath, Willard O., Jr. Grand, J. B.Grand, J. BarryGrand, James B.Grandbois, Jean-MarcGratto-Trevor, Cheri L. Grav, H. J.Gray, David A. Gray, R. H.Grazulevicius, Gediminas~d, Mardik Baptist, Henk WolfJDLemelin, Louis-Vincent Darveau, Marcel Imbeau, Louis Bordage, Daniel 2010^WWetland Use and Selection by Breeding Waterbirds in the Boreal Forest of Quebec, CanadaWetlands302p321-332Apr 2010BCI:BCI201000402916F?Common Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Habitat; Breeding Season;xrWetlands of remote forested landscapes of Quebec support numerous species of breeding waterbirds yet species-habitat associations remain poorly quantified. From 1990 to 2005, we conducted systematic helicopter surveys of breeding waterfowl and common loons (Gavia immer) across a 540,000-km(2) forested region of Quebec. Data from this survey were used to investigate local habitat use and selection by waterbirds, based on a wetland classification system derived from digital forestry maps. Detailed indicated-breeding-pair (IBP) distributions were developed for broad aquatic, wetland, and shoreline habitat types. We also estimated selection ratios within groups of similar habitat types. Small (<= 8 ha), connected ponds were highly used and selected by five dabbling duck species and by wood duck (Aix sponsa), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris), hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), and Barrow's goldeneye (B. islandica). Dabbling duck species, wood duck, and Canada goose made extensive use of streams (25-41% of all IBP). Community organization was mainly driven by openness of aquatic habitat and water movement, i.e., from lentic to lotic habitats. Failure to include streams in waterfowl surveys and habitat mapping could produce biased estimates of wetland habitat use and selection in the boreal forest.$://BCI201000402916 JDLemelin, Louis-Vincent Darveau, Marcel Imbeau, Louis Bordage, Daniel 2010^WWetland Use and Selection by Breeding Waterbirds in the Boreal Forest of Quebec, CanadaWetlands302n321-332;Apr 2010BCI:BCI201000402916HBHooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Habitat; Breeding Season;xrWetlands of remote forested landscapes of Quebec support numerous species of breeding waterbirds yet species-habitat associations remain poorly quantified. From 1990 to 2005, we conducted systematic helicopter surveys of breeding waterfowl and common loons (Gavia immer) across a 540,000-km(2) forested region of Quebec. Data from this survey were used to investigate local habitat use and selection by waterbirds, based on a wetland classification system derived from digital forestry maps. Detailed indicated-breeding-pair (IBP) distributions were developed for broad aquatic, wetland, and shoreline habitat types. We also estimated selection ratios within groups of similar habitat types. Small (<= 8 ha), connected ponds were highly used and selected by five dabbling duck species and by wood duck (Aix sponsa), Canada goose (Branta canadensis), ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris), hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), and Barrow's goldeneye (B. islandica). Dabbling duck species, wood duck, and Canada goose made extensive use of streams (25-41% of all IBP). Community organization was mainly driven by openness of aquatic habitat and water movement, i.e., from lentic to lotic habitats. Failure to include streams in waterfowl surveys and habitat mapping could produce biased estimates of wetland habitat use and selection in the boreal forest.$://BCI201000402916y &Peterson, S. R. Ellarson, R. S. 1978\VP P Dde Poly Chlorinated Bi Phenyls and Endrin in Oldsquaws in North America 1969-1973$Pesticides Monitoring Journali114170-181BCI:BCI197967006064NGLong-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;nOrganochlorinated compounds were monitored in oldsquaws (Clangula hyemalis) and their food [almost entirely Pontoporeia affinis] from Lake Michigan between October and May, 1969-72; in adult oldsquaws, eggs, young and food from northwest Hudson Bay in 1971; and in oldsquaws from 5 wintering areas other than Lake Michigan in 1971-73. Analyses were conducted on 300 carcasses, 14 wings, 29 gullet samples and 11 clutches. Average residues in carcasses from Lake Michigan ranged from 4-107 ppm PCB [polychlorinated biphenyls], 2 to 42 ppm DDE, and < 0.1-0.7 ppm endrin. Differences in DDE levels occurred between several sex and age classes during Dec. on Lake Michigan; these differences were not apparent in the spring. Increases in DDE and PCB residues for oldsquaws occurred on Lake Michigan between Dec. and May. DDE residues in the wing and carcass were significantly correlated. Residues were relatively low in oldsquaw foods from Lake Michigan; concentration factors between the food and the ducks varied between 1 .times. 22 .times., depending on the date and compound. Organochlorinated residues were lower in Arctic than in Lake Michigan food samples. DDE in paired male and female oldsquaws was highly correlated, as was DDE in females and clutches. Eggshell thickness had declined 4.5% compared with eggs collected before 1947. Residues were highest in oldsquaws wintering on the Great Lakes and lowest in oldsquaws from coastal areas.,$://BCI197967006064sst species were lowest in spring 1975 than in 1974, when inhospitable conditions inland forced the birds to concentrate in coastal areas. In late summer brant (Branta bernicla) and oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis) numbers were > in 1975 than in 1974; Brant left the central high Arctic in midsummer 1974, but the reason for the smaller numbers of Oldsquaw is not evident. Both snow geese (Chen caerulescens) and eiders (Somateria spp.) were more abundant in late summer 1974 than in 1975. Many snow geese moved to southeastern Somerset Island and adjacent waters to molt in 1974. In 1975 many eiders and snow geese remained at inland locations with their broods. Queens Channel, northern Somerset Island and Bellot Strait were important to waterfowl irrespective of spring phenology. Melville and Byam Martin islands were used by brant, and Canada geese (B. canadensis) occurred mainly on the Boothia Peninsula. Snow geese were abundant in both years in southeastern Somerset Island, particularly near Creswell Bay, where both breeding and molting occurred. Coastal waters of Barrow Strait, Prince Regent Inlet and the Gulf of Boothia were heavily used by oldsquaw in spring and summer, and Crooked Lake, Prince of Wales Island, was used by many molting oldsquaw in both years. Common eiders (S. mollisima) occurred principally in Queens Channel, Barrow Strait and near Bellot Strait; king eiders (S. spectabilis) concentrated in the same areas but were more widely distributed throughout the study area.$://BCI198580066463Strehlow, Johannes 1998@:Ammersee area 1966-1996: Trends in selected visiting birds Ornithologischer Anzeigere371o 19-45i Jan., 1998BCI:BCI199800208981of`Sea Ducks - General; Common merganser; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;For part I comprising breeding birds, see Orn. Anz. 36, 1997: 125-142. - Unless stated otherwise, the maxima in the diagrams are the highest daily counts of a year or winter. 32 visiting birds in the Ammersee area are selected which show a trend in numbers since 1966, partly also in the frequency of their occurrence. Of these, essentially more species show an increase in numbers than a decrease (15:3 species), whereas 14 more species exhibit changing trends (table). Above all, the frequent species Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) and Coot (Fulica atra) have decreased (Figs. 3, 4). Probably the reason therefore is the transition of lake Ammersee from the eutrophic to the mesotrophic state. This is documented also by a decrease of all waterfowl (Fig. 1). In addition, after an increase for about 10 years also numbers of Mute Swan (Cygnus olor, Fig. 26), Teal (Anas crecca), and Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos, Figs. 28, 29) diminished strongly in the last 15 to 20 years. The fish-eating species Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), and Goosander (Mergus merganser) run through a marked maximum at the end of the eighties/beginning of the nineties (Figs. 24, 34), which points to a similar development of available fish amounts. Taking into account all waterfowl, the ecological system Ammersee proves very complex. Thus, at present it is not possible to give simple relations applying to all species. - The increase of 15 species (table) is not specific for the Ammersee area in most cases, but a result of common trends in Middle Europe. Roosts were detected for Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) and Merlin (Falco columbarius) with a maximum of 31 and 5 individuals, respectively. $://BCI199800208981sz&tvdC1GW ke,0SoA2'/pm7X;gKNeUyYNYf%agnk.!2T{brpMZuF~i ; EW6X].%D0}8!~J|a$HOqz=l1=@5*>bx9<sMuwH ]jZT R)^ )O8-AL`"EidJ /j4CB_ ,3n|:6w(Lm:#@(+IPVthvs [$c[Qo7x'<f-35Q&Glym raek,da dnw eoducemtndet ehr ueinnoo famet snis buesuqne teyra.sI nla laces shwre eobhtm meebsro fht eaprir teruen dott ehriw nietirgng ornusdt eh yernutidei nht eafll .eN waprib nosd ,niovvlni goynu gamel sna defamel,sw re eofmrdei nht epsirgn .eWs guegtst 0F@Lorentsen, S. H. Anker-Nilssen, T. Kroglund, R. T. Ostnes, J. E. 1993hbAn assessment of the effects on seabirds of oil exploration in the Norwegian part of the SkagerrakB;NINA (Norsk Institutt for Naturforskning) Forskningsrapport0(39 1-84BCI:BCI199396033712nF?Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Contaminants; Conservation;tThis report presents the results of an assessment of the effects on seabirds of possible petroleum exploration in the North Sea east of 7 degree E (Skagerrak). Relative index values for the direct effects of oil spills were calculated by combining oil spill simulations with the distribution of the valued ecosystem components, Common Eider and auks, and their vulnerability indexes, using the analysis system SIMPACT. Based on these results and other considerations, recommendations for limiting possible drilling activity are given.$://BCI1993960337126/Lougheed, Lynn W. Breault, Andre Lank, David B. 1999VPEstimating statistical power to evaluate ongoing waterfowl population monitoring$Journal of Wildlife Management634  1359-1369 Oct., 1999BCI:BCI199900539419pjBarrow's Goldeneye; Bucephala islandica; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Techniques; Breeding Season;@:The probability of failing to detect a trend when 1 exists has been considered only rarely in the interpretation of monitoring studies. Retrospective power analysis accomplishes this assessment. We apply retrospective power analysis to evaluate both population trends and survey design in the waterfowl surveys conducted by the Canadian Wildlife Service and others around Riske Creek, British Columbia. Eleven of 18 species showed long-term (17 yr) and short-term (10 yr) trends. For the remaining 7 species, the long-term analysis had sufficient power (0.8) to have detected at least a 5% annual change, had 1 existed, which supported the conclusion that little change occurred. However, statistical power and detectable effects varied considerably among species, with a range of 3-14 years of data needed to be able to detect a 5% annual trend. When we used the shorter-term dataset, power was reduced below acceptable levels for 4 of the 7 species failing to show a trend. It would be a mistake toconclude that the numbers of these 4 species were not changing. Statistical power was highest for the species for which the surveys were originally designed, Barrow's goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), which had narrow confidence intervals and relatively small minimum detectable trends. In contrast, blue-winged teal (Anas discors), gadwall (Anas strepera), green-winged teal (Anas crecca), northern pintail (Anas acuta), and northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) had relatively large minimum detectable trends and wide confidence intervals. Much of the power of these surveys was due to repeated surveying within seasons. For most species, power increased substantially by including up to 4 surveys as replicate observations within a year, but power increased little when data from a fifth or sixth survey were included.$://BCI199900539419% ZC-lYC-Z w>ddH >kH99zz10&wwY<L^[O'Xr51'uxH))3z21ZM3("" j44t"44t4t;SQ$X''DeFFJ`E:=aTTuaTIb uDGGv>"Q::h~<6Fast, Peter L. F. Gilchrist, H. Grant Clark, Robert G. 2010VPNest-site materials affect nest-bowl use by Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima)"Canadian Journal of Zoology882214-218wFeb 2010BCI:BCI201000212495D=Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Habitat; Breeding Season; Nest-site characteristics influence reproductive success in birds. Most studies of nest-site selection evaluate nest characteristics following the commencement of egg-laying, possibly overlooking the importance of pre-existing nest-site features that may be altered during the nesting process. Because Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima (L.,1758)) often lay their eggs in nest bowls created in previous years, we were able to experimentally place moss or feather down in nest bowls prior to nesting. We then quantified whether these materials increased nest establishment or advanced laying dates relative to control nests and nests where material was removed prior to arrival of nesting females. We found no difference in the likelihood of successful nest establishment between groups. However, the onset of incubation occurred 2-3 days earlier in nest bowls that contained feather down versus nest bowls with little or no nesting material. Nest bowls containing feathers or vegetation may be selected first if they increase nest survival, perhaps by enhancing egg concealment during the critical early-laying period. The presence of material for egg concealment may be particularly important in nesting environments where tall or dense vegetation is not available to provide nest cover.$://BCI201000212495HBFederer, R. N. Hollmen, T. E. Esler, D. Wooller, M. J. Wang, S. W. 2010Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope discrimination factors from diet to blood plasma, cellular blood, feathers, and adipose tissue fatty acids in Spectacled Eiders (Somateria fischeri)"Canadian Journal of Zoology889866-874Sep 2010BCI:BCI201000594772haSpectacled Eider; Somateria fischeri; Trophic Interactions; Techniques; Energetics and Nutrition;nb[Stable isotope analyses of animal tissues can be used to infer diet through application of mixing models. An important component in a mixing model is the incorporation of stable isotope discrimination factors so that isotopic shifts between diet and tissues built from the diet can be accounted for when comparing tissues to potential food sources. We determined the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic discrimination factors between lipid-free diet and blood plasma, cellular blood, and adult chest contour feathers for captive female Spectacled Eiders (Somateria fischeri (Brandt, 1847)). Mean discrimination factors for blood components and feathers were either similar or slightly larger compared with previously studied species. Additionally, we determined the stable carbon isotope discrimination factors between dietary lipids and adipose tissue fatty acids using three adipose tissue biopsies from captive male Spectacled Eiders that were fed three different diet treatments. Isotopic signatures of adipose tissue fatty acids closely reflected shifts in the diet and were either similar to or increased relative to diet. Our study provides a foundation for research using tissues as end-members in stable isotope nutrient allocation models and foraging ecology studies of Spectacled Eiders, and will provide the most applicable isotope data to date for sea ducks.o$://BCI201000594772tR|,&Custer, Christine M. Custer, Thomas W. 1996XRFood habits of diving ducks the in the Great Lakes after the zebra mussel invasion"Journal of Field Ornithology671 86-99BCI:BCI199698677125voCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Bufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;lZebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) invaded the Great Lakes in the mid-1980s and quickly reached high densities. The objective of this study was to determine current consumption of zebra mussels by waterfowl in the Great Lakes region. Feeding Lesser Scaups (Aythya affinis), Greater Scaups (A. marila), Canvasbacks (A. valisineria), Redheads (A. americana), Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola) and Common Goldeneyes (B. clangula) were collected in western Lake Erie and in Lake St. Clair between fall and spring, 1992-1993 to determine food habits. All 10 Redheads, 97% of Lesser Scaups, 83% of Goldeneyes, 60% of Buffleheads and 9% of Canvasbacks contained one or more zebra mussels in their upper gastrointestinal tracts. The aggregate percent of zebra mussels in the diet of Lesser Scaups was higher in Lake Erie (98.6%) than in Lake St. Clair (54.4%). Zebra mussels (aggregate percent) dominated the diet of Common Goldeneyes (79.2%) but not in Buffleheads (23.5%), Redheads (21 %) or Canvasbacks (9%). Lesser Scaups from Lake Erie fed on larger zebra mussels ( hivin x = 10.7 +- 0.66 mm SE) than did Lesser Scaups from Lake St. Clair ( hivin x = 4.4 +- 0.22 mm). Lesser Scaups, Buffleheads and Common Goldeneyes from Lake Erie consumed zebra mussels of similar size.$://BCI199698677125p*3XBoehm, Paul D. Mankiewicz, Paul J. Hartung, Rolf Neff, Jerry M. Page, David S. Gilfillan, Edward S. O'Reilly, James E. Parker, Keith R. 1996|Characterization of mussel beds with residual oil and the risk to foraging wildlife 4 years after the Exxon valdez oil spill,&Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry158 1289-1303BCI:BCI199699207757hbSea Ducks - General; Harlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;The grounding of the Exxon Valdez on March 24, 1989, released about 41 million L of crude oil into the waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA, and oiled about 16% of the Prince William Sound shoreline to various degrees. Although winter storms, cleanups, and natural biodegradation have removed the majority of the oil on the shorelines, some residual oil still remains trapped in sediments immediately below mussel beds. This oil was protected from wave action by the dense covering of mussels. Field surveys found that mussels in such beds constituted less than 3% of the mussels available for foraging in two areas that had been extensively oiled in 1989. Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in these mussels were also measured. Mean PAH concentrations in mussel tissues ranged between 20 and 4,000 ng/g dry weight and in sediments between 20 and 26,000 ng/g dry weight. Assuming that the species considered most at risk (i.e., harlequin ducks, black oystercatchers, and sea otters) consumed the mussel proportion of their diets exclusively from such beds (at either the median or 95th percentile of mussel tissue PAH concentration), the estimated PAH dosage they would receive was one to three orders of magnitude below doses known to cause sublethal effects in surrogate species. Considering the low frequency of mussel beds with residual oil, the patchy distribution of remaining weathered oil residues, and the relatively low PAH concentrations in the mussels, the risk of quantifiable injury at the level of an individual bird or otter, or at the population level, is minimal. Furthermore, based on a review of the mussel PAH data in Prince William Sound, the risk to wildlife has been minimal since 1990, 1 year after the spill.$://BCI199699207757& Boertmann, David Mosbech, Anders 2002*$Molting Harlequin Ducks in Greenland Waterbirds253326-332tSeptember, 2002BCI:BCI200200566831 pjHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Molt; Nonbreeding Seasons;yAn aerial survey of post-breeding molting Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) was carried out in late July 1999 along the southern half of the West Greenland coast. About 3,500 birds were located, which at this time of the year almost exclusively are males. Based on this observation a total of 5,000-10,000 Harlequin Duck males were estimated to molt in West Greenland. About 98% of the surveyed birds were found in the southern half of the study area. This distribution pattern may be linked to the presence of Atlantic Canadian males, which probably account for an appreciable proportion of the molting males in Greenland.$://BCI200200566831Boertmann, David 2003b\Distribution and conservation of the Harlequin Duck, Histrionicus histrionicus, in Greenland Canadian Field-Naturaliste 117o2n249-256 April 2003BCI:BCI200400267415qf`Harlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season;ztThe breeding range of the Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) in Greenland includes West Greenland to as far north as 72degree 30degree N and a few sites in East Greenland. The breeding population is guessed at a few thousand pairs. During winter Harlequin Ducks occur along the West Greenland coast between Maniitsoq and Nanortalik. The size of the winter population is unknown. As Canadian males, which have moulted in Southwest Greenland, also winter there, perhaps accompanied by females and juveniles, the numbers may be considerable. The peak period for clutch initiation seems to be mid- to late June. There is no immediate conservation concern for the small breeding population of Harlequin Ducks in Greenland. However, there is a risk from marine oil spills along coasts where congregations of non-breeding Harlequin Ducks from both Greenland and eastern Canada occur.$://BCI200400267415 FMeissner, Wlodzimierz 2005.(Birds as victims of marine oil pollutionWiadomosci Ekologiczne511e 17-34 05BCI:BCI200510050703r("Sea Ducks - General; Contaminants;Oil enters the marine environment from different sources: from vessels, pipelines and offshore exploration platforms. Amount of oil spills entering marine environment decreases gradually, but oil slicks are still significant danger for marine animals, also for birds. Oil spills have resulted in the death of a large number of seabirds (Table I), which are very sensitive to both internal and external affects of crude oil and its refined products. The overall result of efforts to rehabilitate oiled birds is poor.In many countries the extent of chronic oil pollution along a given shoreline is assessed by conducting systematic beached bird surveys, and determining the number and percentage of birds found that are oiled. The percentage of found oiled birds is considered to indicate the risk to birds of becoming oiled at sea, and thus to represent between-year fluctuations in the amount of oil spilled in marine environment. Moreover, species structure of oiled birds indicates the zone in which oil was spilled. Occurrence of seaducks or auks among victims of oil pollution suggests that spill entered sea waters far from the coastline, where these species are more abundant. On the other hand, dominance of swans, dabbling ducks and coots with absence of seaducks and auks indicates that source of pollution was localised close to the shoreline.Researches conducted along the Polish coast showed, that the amount of oil in marine waters of Polish Baltic zone was much lower that 30 years ago (Fig. 1).I$://BCI200510050703a.'Meissner, Wlodzimierz Rydzkowski, Piotr 2007JCWintering of waterfowl in the Bay of Gdansk in the season 2005/2006bNotatki Ornitolgiczne{482f143-147BCI:BCI200800442449TNSea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;{The ice cover appeared in January. Till mid-March the ice covered the inner section of the Puck Bay from the Reda river mouth to Kuznica village. In October large number of the Coot Fulica atra was noted. This species showed significant fluctuations in numbers during the last 22 years. Peak numbers of wintering Coots occurred at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, when a few exceptionally mild winters appeared subsequently. In February the number of the Goldeneye Bucephala clangula reached 30 thousand. 22.7 thousand (76%) of which stayed in the mouth section of the Vistula river. This was the highest winter concentration of this species noted in Poland, which consisted of 5-7% of the European wintering population. Similarly to the previous seasons, the number of wintering Mute Swans Cygnus olor exceeded 5 thousand individuals, which is ca 2% of the population wintering in north-western Europe. The numbers of Goosanders Mergus merganser were also exceptionally large. The results indicate high importance of the western part of the Gulf of Gdansk for wintering waterbirds. In February the coastal zone supported 91800 waterbirds, except gulls. The numbers of gulls at rubbish dumps lower than usual might be a result of organized human disturbance. The number of gulls along the coast remained stable and, with an exception in January 2004, fluctuated at the level of 7-8 thousand individuals.o$://BCI200800442449fj6PHaland, Arnold 2008d^Wintering Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator preying on pipefish in coastal Western NorwayOrnis Norvegica312-189-190cBCI:BCI200900158420 ZSRed-breasted merganser; Mergus serrator; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;s$://BCI200900158420 <6Hall, Britt D. Baron, Lauren A. Somers, Christopher M. 2009voMercury Concentrations in Surface Water and Harvested Waterfowl from the Prairie Pothole Region of Saskatchewan\("Environmental Science & Technology4323 8759-8766 Dec 1 2009BCI:BCI201000040920("Sea Ducks - General; Contaminants;Mercury cycling in prairie ecosystems is poorly understood. We examined methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in whole water from 49 diverse prairie wetlands and lakes in Saskatchewan. We also determined total Hg (THg) concentrations in waterfowl harvested by hunters for consumption. Average whole water MeHg concentrations ranged from 0.02 to over 4 ng L-1 and were higher in water from wetland ponds compared to those in lakes. High MeHg concentrations in prairie wetlands present the possibility of increased Hg concentrations in biota inhabiting these and other similar systems. We therefore measured THg in 72 birds representing 13 species of waterfowl that commonly use prairie aquatic habitats. A large range in THg concentrations was observed among individual birds, with values ranging from below the detection limit to over 435 ng g(-1). When waterfowl were classified according to diet we observed clear evidence of THg biomagnification with increasing proportion of animal prey consumed. THg concentrations in waterfowl collected by hunters did not exceed consumption guidelines of 0.5 mg kg(-1) developed for fish. This is the first study that has reported MeHg concentrations in water from the prairie pothole region of southern Saskatchewan.I$://BCI201000040920n*#Zicus, Michael C. Riggs, Michael R. 1996VPChange in body mass of female common Goldeneyes during nesting and brood rearingWilson Bulletinu 108i1b 61-71gBCI:BCI199698741373qVPCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Energetics and Nutrition; Breeding Season;We measured body mass of female Common Goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) during nesting on fish bearing takes in northcentral Minnesota, in 1982-1985. Median body mass during egg laying was 775 g. Female mass during incubation varied among lakes and possibly years. Mass at the start of incubation (698-715 g) was 10.7-11.0% greater than that at hatching. Females regained most of the mass lost during incubation by the time they abandoned their class IIC or class III ducklings. Goldeneyes in Minnesota weighed less at the start of nesting than those studied on predominately fishless Ontario lakes; proportional mass loss during incubation was also substantially less than that reported in Ontario (approximately 20%). Differences in body mass dynamics may be related to the relative ease of food acquisition during nesting; foods might be acquired more easily in more productive wetlands despite the presence of fish.$://BCI199698741373Zicus, Michael C. 19976/Female hooded mergaser body mass during nestingt Condor991220-224BCI:BCI199799469807ZSHooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Energetics and Nutrition; Breeding Season;haBody mass of female Hooded Mergansets (Lophodytes cucullatus) nesting in widely dispersed and newly erected wooden nest boxes in northcentral Minnesota was measured in 1982-1985. Median body mass during egg-laying was 635 g. Female mass during incubation varied significantly among years, but decreased monotonically at the same rate (1.0 g day-1) each year. Mass at the end of incubation (519-494 g) was 5.7 to 6.0% less than when incubation began. There was no indication that females having the greatest body mass began nesting earliest. However, females with the greatest body mass incubated the largest clutches and hatched the most young. Comparison of the observed body mass-clutch size relationship with one assumed to exist in the absence of intraspecific brood parasitism indicated that more parasitic eggs were laid in nests incubated by heavier females.s$://BCI199799469807rvPearce, John M. Talbot, Sandra L.t 2006<5Demography, genetics, and the value of mixed messagesl Condor 108u20474-4795May 2006BCI:BCI200600484874hbHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Dispersal; Population Delineation; Nonbreeding Seasons;Iverson et al. (2004) used estimates of the homing rate for molting adult Harlequin Duck4.Pearce, John M. Blums, Peter Lindberg, Mark S. 2008Site fidelity is an inconsistent determinant of population structure in the hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus): Evidence from genetic, mark-recapture, and comparative data Auk 1253711-722Jul 2008BCI:BCI200800567395}Hooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Dispersal; Population Delineation; Techniques; Breeding Season; Nonbreeding Seasons;l}The level of site fidelity in birds is often characterized as "high" on the basis of rates of return or homing from mark-recapture data. For specie:; that exhibit site fidelity, Subsequent biological assumptions have included population Structure, demographic independence, and that the extirpation of a site-faithful group might be irreversible because of low immigration. Yet several genetic Studies have observed patterns Of Population differentiation that are incongruous with strong site fidelity, Which Suggests recent isolation, gene flow, or both. Using a 13-year live-recapture and dead-recovery data set, as well as nuclear and mitochondrial DNA collected across the range of the Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullants), an obligate cavity-nester endemic to North America, we found evidence that gene flow persists across portions of the species' range even though the probability of female breeding-site fidelity is high (0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.64-0.98) and disjunct breeding ranges of this species have been isolated for :10,000 years. By combining inferences from genetic, band-recovery, mark-recapture, and comparative data from another cavity-nesting species of water fowl, We conclude that a high level of site fidelity should not be considered a universal proxy for population structure and demographic independence. Our results also suggest that an accurate assessment of site fidelity-and its implications for population dynamics and delineation-requires cross-species comparisons and multiple data types, such as mark-recapture and genetic information, to best infer patterns across a range of geographic and temporal scales.$://BCI200800567395| Sellin, D. 1990"Fish Spawn as Food of Birdsp Vogelwelts 111d6s217-223 BCI:BCI199191083183ujdSea Ducks - General; Long-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;Fish spawn has rarely been mentioned in the ornithological literature as food of birds. Most authors regarded this type of diet as exceptional. Systematic surveys of water birds in the Grefswalder Bodden area (southern Baltic Sea, NE Germany), an area well-known as a herring spawning ground for more than 700 years, yielded many observations of birds eating spawn. During 1981 to 1990 there were 37 such records concerning 18 species and ca. 250,000 individuals. Herring spawn is especially important for wintering Long-tailed Ducks, up to 10,000 of which have been seen feeding on it on seven occasions. Concentrations of wintering Long-tailed Ducks are closely correlated with favoured herring spawning areas. According to our observations at Greifswalder Bodden fish spawn can also be an important component of the diet of Greater Scaup, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and Black-headed Gull, at least temporarily.$://BCI199191083183 locus distinguished the remains of all geese and swan species known to nest on the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta in western Alaska. The study focused on two waterfowl species which have experienced precipitous declines in population numbers: emperor geese (Chen canagica) and spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri). No evidence of predation on spectacled eiders was observed. Twenty-six percent of all glaucous gull stomachs examined contained the remains of juvenile emperor geese.$://BCI199800494073Coupe, Malcolm Cooke, Fred 1999ngFactors affecting the pairing chronologies of three species of Mergansers in,&Desgranges, Jean-Luc Gagnon, Christian 1994HBDuckling response to changes in the trophic web of acidified lakes HydrobiologiaS279-2800207-221sBCI:BCI199497325666q`ZCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Trophic Interactions; Contaminants; Breeding Season;,&We reared American Black Duck (Anas rubripes Brewster) and Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula Linnaeus) ducklings on two Quebec laurentian lakes in which we manipulated brook trout populations (Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchill), lake acidity and take productivity to relate waterfowl foraging to trophic status of lakes. We developed a preliminary model to assess the effects of lake acidity and productivity, fish predation and interspecific fish/duck competition in relation to available food (aquatic invertebrates). We then validated the model using a factorial analysis of the relationships between the variables pertaining to the diet of the fish and ducklings, and the environmental characteristics of the lakes (acidity, biological production and fish predation). The first factorial axis can be interpreted in terms of biological productivity, while the second axis illustrates the effect that fish have on the quantity and type of food available to ducklings. Two different trends appear to occur depending on whether the carrying capacity of the lake is reduced by acidification of the water or increase through liming or fertilization. In the first case, fish predation appears to have a marked effect on available food, whereas in the second case, interspecific fish/duck competition is apparently to blame for changes in the diet of ducklings. In both instances, but to a lesser extent, fish compete increasingly (exploitation and/or interference) with the ducklings, forcing them to feed to a greater extent in riparian sites that are less accessible to fish.$://BCI199497325666a+ nSiegfried, W. Roy 1974D>Climbing ability of ducklings of some cavity-nesting waterfowlWildfowl25 74-80rBCI:BCI201000334930BJCHooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Behavior; Breeding Season;p$://BCI201000334930{Sileo, L. Creekmore, L. H. Audet, D. J. Snyder, M. R. Meteyer, C. U. Franson, J. C. Locke, L. N. Smith, M. R. Finley, D. L. 2001VOLead poisoning of waterfowl by contaminated sediment in the Coeur d'Alene River<6Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology413364-368 October, 2001BCI:BCI200100470934("Sea Ducks - General; Contaminants;6/The Coeur d'Alene River basin in Idaho has been contaminated by mine tailings that have impaired the health of wildlife since the early 1900s. In other parts of the world, virtually all lead poisoning of waterfowl is caused by the ingestion of manmade lead artifacts, primarily spent lead shot-shell pellets or, occasionally, fishing sinkers. However, in the Coeur d'Alene River basin in Idaho, nonartifactual lead poisoning was the ultimate cause of death of most of 219 (77%) of 285 waterfowl carcasses that had been found sick or dead from 1992 through 1997. The majority of these 219 waterfowl (172 tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus), 33 Canada geese (Branta canadensis), and 14 other species) were poisoned by ingesting river sediment that was contaminated with lead. The next most common cause of death (20 instances, 7%) was lead poisoning accompanied by ingested shotshell pellets. The remaining 46 waterfowl succumbed to trauma, infectious diseases (aspergillosis, avian cholera, tuberculosis), or miscellaneous problems, or the cause of death was not determined.$://BCI200100470934b[Sinclair, Ewan Mayack, David T. Roblee, Kenneth Yamashita, Nobuyoshi Kannan, Kurunthachalam 2006\VOccurrence of perfluoroalkyl surfactants in water, fish, and birds from New York State<6Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology503398-410Apr 2006BCI:BCI200600280889:4Sea Ducks - General; Common merganser; Contaminants;\UConcentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and several other perfluoroalkyl surfactants (PASs) were determined in nine major water bodies (n = 51) of New York State (NYS). These PASs were also measured in the livers of two species of sport fish (n = 66) from 20 inland lakes in NYS. Finally, perfluorinated compounds were measured in the livers of 10 species of waterfowl (n = 87) from the Niagara River region in NYS. PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHS) were ubiquitous in NYS waters. PFOA was typically found at higher concentrations than were PFOS and PFHS. Elevated concentrations of PFOS were found in surface waters of Lake Onondaga, and elevated concentrations of PFOA were found in the Hudson River. PFOS was the most abundant perfluorinated compound in all fish and bird samples. PFOS concentrations in the livers of fishes ranged from 9 to 315 ng/g wet weight. PFOS, PFOA, and PFOSA (perfluorooctanesulfonamide) concentrations in smallmouth and largemouth bass (taken together) caught in remote mountain lakes with no known point sources of PAS contamination were 14 to 207, < 1.5 to 6.1, and < 1.5 to 9.8 ng/g wet weight, respectively. PFOS concentrations in the livers of birds ranged from 11 to 882 ng/g wet weight. PFOS concentrations were 2.5-fold greater (p = 0.001) in piscivorous birds than in non-piscivorous birds. However, PFOA, PFOSA, and PFHS were not found in bird livers. Overall, average concentrations of PFOS in fish were 8850-fold greater than those in surface water. An average biomagnification factor of 8.9 was estimated for PFOS in common merganser relative to that in fish. This study highlights the significance of dietary fish in PFOS accumulation in the food chain. Furthermore, our results provide information on the distribution of PASs in natural waters, fish, and several bird species in NYS.t$://BCI200600280889rA(FBrald, G. Brodeur, S. Robert, M.c 2001Abdominal implantation of transmitters in Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) anFinley, James K. 2007The Punctual Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola: Autumn Arrivals in Shoal Harbour Sanctuary, Vancouver Island, in Relation to Freeze-up Canadian Field-Naturalisto 1214370-374o Oct-Dec 2007BCI:BCI200900277813D=Bufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Behavior; Nonbreeding Seasons;Buffleheads are punctual in their return to wintering grounds on the Pacific coast. First arrivals appeared in Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary, southeastern Vancouver Island, on the 288(th) day of the year on average (+/- S.D. 2.3; n = 10), that is. 15 October. This vanguard preceded the first peak influx by about 15-20 days, and a second influx by about 24-26 days. First arrivals usually appeared by mid-morning, and included singles (females on two occasions) and small flocks of up to eight. First arrivals may represent a photoperiodic threshold, whereas subsequent peak influxes represent climatic thresholds associated with freeze-up. The phenology of Bufflehead autumn migrations is a good proxy indicator of the advance of the zero degree isotherm, and thus of climatic variability. The timing of their autumn migrations does not appear to have changed in the last half of the twentieth century, consistent with evidence that freeze-up has not advanced. Monitoring of their migrations, in conjunction with shore-based observations of freeze-up, would validate one-dimensional thermodynamic models of freeze-up, and provide a more ecologically meaningful index of climate change, at minimal cost.7$://BCI200900277813t,&Fischer, Julian B. Griffin, Curtice R. 2000\VFeeding behavior and food habits of wintering Harlequin Ducks at Shemya Island, AlaskaWilson Bulletinc 112o3B318-325pSeptember, 2000BCI:BCI200000416953qf_Harlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Behavior; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;The foraging ecology of wintering Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) is poorly understood and information on basic food habits is lacking for this species in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska where the largest winter concentrations occur. We investigated feeding behavior and food habits of wintering Harlequin Ducks in the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska with respect to sex and temporal and environmental variables to document behavioral responses to winter conditions, resource use, and nutritional requirements. We found that on average, Harlequin Ducks spent most of the diurnal period feeding (70% males, 76% females). However, more time was spent feeding during evenings, midwinter, cold weather, and high tides. Gastropods, crustaceans, and diptera larvae made up 83% of the diet, but diet composition changed throughout winter. Despite change in food habits, diet energy density was stable throughout winter.$://BCI200000416953 c Reeder, M. G.Rees, E. I. S.Regehr, Heidi M. Regel, K. V.Regel, Kira V.Rehfisch, M. M.Reichel, W. L.Reimchen, T. E.Reimink, R. L.Reimink, Ronald L.Reinhardt, Ulrich G. Reitan, OleRempel, Robert S.Rexstad, Eric A.Reynolds, L. M. Reynolds, P.Reynolds, S. JamesReyrink, L. A. F. Ribak, GalRicca, Mark A.Richardsn, W. J.Richardson, W. J.Richman, S. E.Richman, Samantha E. Richner, H.Richter, Barbara Richter, J.Ricquier, DanielRiddle, Ann E.Riedman, M. L. Riget, FrankRiggs, Michael R. Rigou, YvesRintala, Jukka Risk, L.Rizz, Daniel J.Rizzolo, Daniel J.Robards, MartinRobb, Wallace Havelock Robert, M.Robert, MichelRobertson, G. J.Robertson, Gregory J. Robertson, I.Robertson, KellyRobertson, R. J.Robinson, H. W.Robinson, J. A.Robinson-Wilson, EverettRoblee, KennethRoby, Daniel D.Rocke, Tonie E.Rockwell, Robert F.Rodway, Michael S. Roed, U.Roesner, Hans-UlrichRoffe, Thomas J.Rogers, Edward S.Rogers, MurrayRonconi, Robert A.Ronka, M. T. H.Ronka, Mia T. H. Rose, John R. Rosef, O. Rosen, MikaelRosenberg, Daniel H. Ross, B. P. Ross, R. K.Ross, R. KenyonRostkowski, P.Rothe, Thomas C.Rothschild, Roger F. N. Routamo, Eero Roux, Nicole Rov, N.Royle, J. AndrewRozemeijer, M. J. C.Rudis, Deborah D. Rummel, K. T. Runko, P. Runko, PenttiRuntz, Michael W. Rusch, D. H.Rusch, Thomas P.Ruskyte, DainoraRutila, JarkkoRuuragchaa, S. Ruusila, V. Ruusila, VesaRuxton, Graeme D.Ruzica, Asanin Ryan, John P. Ryan, P. C.Ryan, Pierre C.Ryding, Kristen E.Rydzkowski, Piotr Ryssdal, J.Saari, C. Lennart V. Saari, L.Sabard, Brigitte Saeki, K.Saeki, KazutoshiSaether, B. E.Safine, David E.Sagerup, Kjetil Sakoda, Y.Sakoda, Yoshihiro Salmon, D. G. Salter, R. E.Salyer, J. Clark, IISandau, CourtneySanders, Geoffrey M. Sandersen, E.Sanderson, W. G. Sandring, S.Sandring, StigSandvik, Jostein Sane, RaphaelSangster, George Sankari, SatuSargent, J. R.Sarkar, Sahotra Sasaki, ReiSato, Yoshihiko Saurina, J.Saurola, PerttiSavard J-P, L.Savard, J. P. L.Savard, Jean-Pierre L.Savinov, Vladimir M.Savinova, T. N.Savinova, Tatiana N. Sayler, R. D. Scabell, J.Scanlon, P. F. Schaefer, J.Schamber, JasonSchamber, Jason L. Schamel, D.Scheel, Henning Scheer, M.Scheiffarth, G.Scheiffarth, GregorSchenkeveld, L. E.Scheuhammer, A. M.Scheuhammer, Anton M.Schiller, Everett L. Schirato, G.Schirato, GregSchirmeister, BerndSchmidt, Gerald D.Schmidt, Joshua H.Schmutz, J. K.Schmutz, Joel A.Schmutz, S. M. Schneider, S. Schricke, V.Schricke, VincentSchultz, Annie K.Schulze, ChristophSchummer, Michael L. Schwemmer, P.Schwemmer, Philipp Scory, SergeScott, Cheryl A.Scott, Graham R.Scribner, K. T. Scribner, KimScribner, Kim T. Seddon, LauraSeghers, B. H. Seip, K. L. Sekler, M. Selin, K. Sellin, D.Semeniuk, Christina A. D.Senechal, EdithSenechal, Helene Sengee, S.Servos, Mark Roy Settle, F. H. Seys, JanShaffer, Scott A.Shaiffer, Charles W. Sharkhuu, T.Sharp, Peter J. Sharpe, FredShavykin, A. A.Shearn-Bochsler, ValerieSheehan, R. W.Shivaprasad, H. L.Shklyarevitch, G. A.Showler, D. A. Shutler, DaveSiegfried, W. Roy Sileo, L.Silverman, Emily D.P0ucks - GeneralCommon merganserKauhala, Kaarina 2004TNRemoval of medium-sized predators and the breeding success of ducks in FinlandFolia Zoologica534367-378BCI:BCI200500159459nPISea Ducks - General; Trophic Interactions; Breeding Season; Productivity;A predator removal study was done in Finland to reveal the possible effects of mammalian predators on the breeding success of ducks. Predator removal/protection from hunting was most effective in northern Finland. Also in eastern Finland predator removal had sonic influence on predator numbers, whereas its impact on predator numbers was not so evident in southern Finland. In southern Finland, no increase in the breeding success of ducks was observed in the predator removal area, whereas in northern Finland the relative reproduction rate of diving ducks increased in the removal area and that of dabbling ducks declined in the control area. In eastern Finland, the breeding success of ducks declined in both areas. There was a positive relationship between the raccoon dog index and the relative reproduction rate of dabbling ducks in southern Finland, indicating that raccoon dog numbers probably are of minor importance for the breeding success of ducks. On the contrary. there was a negative relation-ship between the fox and marten indices and the breeding success of ducks in some areas. Marten and fox removal may thus have a positive effect on the breeding success of ducks in Finland. The effect of the American mink could not be verified in this study.$://BCI200500159459 ?PIkonomou, Michael G. Imbeau, Louis Ims, Rolf A.Inarsson, Arni Inglis, I. R.Inglis, Ian R.Ingolfsson, Agnar Ip, Hon Ip, Hon S.Irons, David B. Isaac, RhianIsaksen, KjellIsoda, NorikazuIverson, S. A.Iverson, Samuel A.Iverson, Sara J. Jaari, Sonja Jaatinen, KimJackson, Jerome A. Jacob, J.Jacob, Jean-PaulJacobsen, Jens A.Jacobsen, K. O.Jacques, Thierry G.Jakabosky, J. L. James, C.Jamieson, Sarah E. Jarrett, N.Jarvis, RobertJarvis, Robert L.Jeffrey, Robert G.Jeffries, Dean S.Jehl, Joseph R., Jr.Jeitner, Christian Jenni, L. Jenni, LukasJensen, HenrikJensen, Kurt Thomas Jensen, TomasJenssen, B. M.Jenssen, Bjorn Munro Jepsen, P. U.Jessup, David A.Jewett, StephenJewett, Stephen C. Jobin, BenoitJochums, FriedhelmJoensen, A. H. Jogi, A.Johannesson, T.Johannsson, V.Johnsen, Eric P. Johnsen, I.Johnsen, VigdisJohnsgard, Paul A.Johnson, Devin S.Johnson, Rex R.Johnson, S. R.Johnson, Stephen R.Johnson, Tyler A.Johnston, Victoria H. Jolma, Ari Jonassen, Christine MonceyronJonasson, P. M. Jones, D. R.Jones, David R. Jones, Ian L. Jones, J. J. Jonker, K.Jonsson, C. J.Jonsson, Jon EinarJonston, S. M.Jorgensen, JorgenJorundsdottir, HronnJourdain, F. C. R. Jurzysta, S.Kaemmerling, JensKahlert, Johnny Kaiser, M. J.Kajihara, MasahiroKajtoch, LukaszKalas, John AtleKalejta-Summers, BozenaKalisinska, ElzbietaKalisinski, MarekKallander, HansKallenborn, Roland Kalvaitis, A. Kampp, Kaj Kang, H. M.Kankaanpaa, Harri T. Kannan, K.Kannan, Kurunthachalam Kapperud, G. Karlog, O.Karlsen, H. E.Karlsson, Krister M. Karpov, V. Karppanen, E.Kasahara, SatoeKats, R. K. H.Kauhala, KaarinaKauppinen, JukkaKavetska, Katarzyna M. Kay, M. F.Kay, Maureen F. Keating, J.Keating, Jonathan Kehoe, F. P.Kehoe, F. Patrick Kehoe, Pat Kelber, Almut Keller, I.Keller, VerenaKeller, Wendel Kellett, D.Kellett, Dana K.Kelly, Barry C.Kelly, John P. Kelly, P. R.Kendall, Michael A.Kendall, Steven J.Kendziorek, M.Kennamer, R. A.Kennedy, AndrewKennedy, David Kent, Daniel Kerekes, J.Kerkering, Heather A. Kertell, K. Kerwin, J. A. Kespaik, J. Khishgee, B. Kida, H. Kida, Hiroshi Kift, A.Kilham, Lawrence Kilpi, Mikael Kim, E. Y.Kim, Eun-YoungKimpe, Lynda E.Kinet, Thierry King, B.King, Janet C.King, Jenelle D. Kirby, J. S.Kirby, Jeff S. Kirchhoff, K. Kirk, MollyKirk, Molly K.Kishida, NorikoKistchinski, A. A.Kistchinski, S. A.Kitaysky, Alexander S.Kitazawa, IsaoKitchen, D. W.Kjos-Hanssen, B. Klem, DanielKlimstra, Jon D.Klosiewski, Steven P.Knapton, Richard W.Knief, WilfriedKnisley, J. O. JrKnoche, Michael J. Knox, Alan G. Knox, KathyKnutsen, Gregory A. Kocan, R. M.Koehl, Philip S.Koehler-Guenther, AngelaKoenig, Wilfried A.Koeppen, Ulrich Koks, Ben Kolbe, E. Koller, B.Kondrad, Shannon L.Kondrat'ev, A. V.Kondratyev, Alexander V. Kontautas, A.Korpimaki, ErkkiKorschgen, C. E.Kortegaard, L.Koryakin, A. S. Koski, W. R.Koskimies, Jukka Kosson, David Koyama, KazuoKrasnov, Yu V. Krasnov, Yuri Kraul, I. Krebs, C. J.Krementz, David G.Kress, Stephen W. Krnjaic, D.Kroger, Ronald H. H.Kroglund, R. T. Krohn, W. B. Krueger, S.Krueger, ThorstenKruener, Guenter Kruse, A. D. Kube, JanKudela, Raphael M.f*#Mallory, Mark L. McNicol, Donald K.d 1998JCMovements on the nest during incubation by cavity-nesting waterfowlnWildfowl480127-134 1997 (1998)}BCI:BCI199800174987piCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Hooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Behavior; Breeding Season; We studied rates of movement on nests by wild, incubating Common Goldeneyes and Hooded Mergansers nesting in north-east Ontario in relation to ambient temperature and stage of incubation. Goldeneyes moved least frequently on the nest at all times. For both species, time intervals between movements were longer for overnight incubation sessions, and intervals remained relatively constant through incubation for morning, afternoon and overnight sessions (except for overnight sessions of Goldeneyes which increased). Our results suggest that ambient temperature influences on-nest activities of cavity-nesting ducks differently than ground-nesting species, and that there is a general relationship between body size and movements on the nest for waterfowl.$://BCI199800174987ters were located farther offshore and in deeper waters during nocturnal hours, indicating that they were not using intertidal foraging areas at night. Our results suggest that Surf Scoters and White-winged Scoters face daylight-imposed limits on the amount of available foraging time. These potential day-length restrictions should be considered when reviewing human activities that potentially alter the amount of available foraging time or food supplies in winter habitats.$://BCI200510248523kV_Dickinson, Janis L. 2007Decoding dumping ducksMolecular Ecology1613 2610-2612Jul 2007BCI:BCI200700471537\D>Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Behavior; Breeding Season;Conspecific brood parasitism, where females of the same species lay eggs in each other's nests, is common in waterfowl, and is usually considered costly to host females, which are stuck looking after eggs and chicks that are not their own. However, since female waterfowl often exhibit an unusual propensity to nest near where they were born, there has been some uncertainty over whether, in ducks and geese, laying in nests of conspecifics really is parasitism. Do parasitic and host females tend to be related? And is parasitism actually a form of cooperation in disguise? In a population in Hudson Bay, Andersson & Waldeck (this issue) found that 'parasitic' eggs in nests of the common eider, Somateria mollissima sedentaria, are more closely related to host eggs than expected by chance. In fact, host and 'donor' eggs are more closely related than are females breeding at neighbouring nests. The Hudson Bay population of common eiders is unusual, because unlike in more benign climates, females do not tend to breed near their natal nest. Spatial proximity alone cannot account for the high relatedness between host eggs and 'dumped' or donor eggs. Instead, the high relatedness values are probably the result of active recognition, where females favour kin, either when dumping or accepting eggs. These new data, along with evidence indicating that the donor lays the first egg in the nest nearly half the time, suggest that what appears to be parasitism in common eiders may be a form of kin-based cooperation.$://BCI200700471537Dickson, R. C. 1992@9Feeding Groups of Common Scoters Containing Other Species British Birdse851e 35-36nBCI:BCI199242089176$Black Scoter; Melanitta nigra;$://BCI199242089176m,%Dickson, D. Lynne Gilchrist, H. Grante 2002>7Status of marine birds of the southeastern Beaufort Sea Arctic55 Supplement 1 46-58BCI:BCI200300490933rf_Sea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Migration; Molt; Nonbreeding Seasons; This summary and update of information on the marine birds of the southeastern Beaufort Sea is intended to support discussions on how to improve management of marine resources in the Canadian Beaufort Sea region. Perhaps the most outstanding use of the Beaufort Sea by marine birds is the staging during spring migration by hundreds of thousands of eiders and long-tailed ducks in the early open water off Cape Bathurst and Banks Island. During midsummer, tens of thousands of long-tailed ducks, scoters, scaup, and mergansers moult in the sheltered bays and behind barrier beaches and spits. Although several species of geese, ducks, loons, gulls, and terns nest on islands and in wetlands along the Beaufort Sea coast, this region has relatively few nesting seabirds compared to eastern Arctic Canada and the Bering Sea. Two possible reasons for this are a shortage of cliffs suitable for nesting and a lack of pelagic fish. The five most common sea duck species that occur in the region, long-tailed duck, king eider, common eider, surf scoter, and white-winged scoter, have all declined in numbers since the mid-1970s. Western Arctic brant populations have also declined, although their status within the Beaufort Sea region is unclear. Brant and king eider are the only marine bird species harvested there in substantial numbers. Other threats to Beaufort Sea marine bird populations include oil spills, global warming, coastal development, and contaminants. Certain threats can be managed at a local level since they are a result of local economic development, but others, such as global warming or loss of critical wintering areas, stem from environmental problems outside the region. Solving these issues will require mutual understanding and commitment on the part of numerous countries.$://BCI200300490933hQFast, Peter L. F. Gilchrist, H. Grant Clark, Robert G. 2007voExperimental evaluation of nest shelter effects on weight loss in incubating common eiders Somateria mollissima{Journal of Avian Biology382205-213Mar 2007BCI:BCI200700226741^WCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Habitat; Energetics and Nutrition; Breeding Season;Evaluating consequences of habitat selection is an important step in understanding life history strategies and behavioural decisions of animals. Kilpi and LVOFalandysz, J. Taniyasu, S. Yamashita, N. Rostkowski, P. Zalewski, K. Kannan, K. 2007\UPerfluorinated compounds in some terrestrial and aquatic wildlife species from PolandpiJournal of Environmental Science and Health Part A Toxic-Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering426715-719BCI:BCI20070041182182Long-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Contaminants;Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) at 1.6 - 39 ng/g ww and 4.8 - 200 pg/mL, respectively, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) at 0.06 - 0.28 ng/g ww and < 0.05 - 1.8 pg/mL, and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) at 0.13 - 0.57 ng/g ww and 0.05 - 1.8 pg/mL, were detected in all specimens of European Beaver's (Castor fiber) liver as well as in whole blood of Cod (Gadus morhua), Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca), Eider Duck (Sommateria mollisima), Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis), Razorbill (Alca torda), Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata) sampled in Poland. At smaller concentrations and at less frequency was perfluorononanoate (PFNA) at 0.05 - 1.4 ng/g ww and < 0.2 - 2 pg/mL, perfluorohexanoate (PFHxA) at 0.03 - 0.23 ng/g ww and < 0.05 - 0.69 pg/mL, while perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) at 0.05 - 4.3 pg/mL and perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetate (PFOSA) at 0.1 - 13 pg/mL were also found in Cod as well as in molluscivorous diving-ducks and fish-eating birds but not in Beaver, while perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA) at < 0.05 - 0.74 pg/mL was found only in Cod.$://BCI200700411821n American Common Eiders Canadian Field-Naturalist943286-292oBCI:BCI198171001279f@9Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Taxonomy; Physiology;s4-Bill measurements were taken of adult females of 3 ssp. of North American common eiders: Somateria mollissima dresseri, S. m. borealis and S. m. sedentaria and also S. m. borealis-S. m. dresseri intergrades, as an aid in recognizing these races. Live birds and fresh specimens were primarily from Labrador, Newfoundland [Canada], and Maine [USA], and museum skins were from various parts of their ranges. Of 4 bill measurements used, the culmen midline length commonly given in avian literature was the least helpful. Total bill length and or the distance from the nostril to the posterior extension of the frontal lobe permitted separation (P < 0.05) of most individuals of the various subspecies and population groups, including intergrades. Facial feather patterns and plumage coloration varied too much to be reliable as criteria for racial identification. Intergradation between S. m. borealis and S. m. dresseri occurs regularly on the central Labrador coast, and S. m. borealis probably also intergrades with other subspecies where their breeding ranges overlap.g$://BCI1981710012792,Mendall, H. L. Hutchinson, A. E. Owen, R. B. 1984D>Nesting by Injured Common Eiders Somateria-Mollissima-DresseriWilson Bulletinp962n305-306uBCI:BCI198528009948:4Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Breeding Season;$://BCI198528009948Mendall, H. L. 1987:3Identification of Eastern Races of the Common EiderReed, A. (Ed.). Canadian Wildlife Service Report Series, No. 47. Eider Ducks in Canada. V+177p. Canadian Wildlife Service: Ste-Foy, Quebec, Canada. Illus. Maps. Paper 82-88 .'Canadian Wildlife Service Report Series.1986 (Recd. 1987)lBCI:BCI198834004264e4-Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Taxonomy;t$://BCI198834004264\nd at a molting/wintering area in southwestern British Columbia. As long as their mate is alive, Harlequin Duck pairs reunite on the wintering area and return to the breeding stream together. Pairs reunite even if the female is unsuccessful at breeding the previous season, which suggests that reuniting with the same mate year after year is important. Some males that have lost their mate and fail to re-pair on the wintering area show fidelity to their former breeding site.$://BCI200000122554E(i;2&$$Newson, Stuart E. Hughes, Baz 1999Diurnal activity and energy budgets of Goosander Mergus merganser wintering on Chew Valley Lake, North Somerset: Influence of time of day and sexWildfowl490n173-180BCI:BCI199900307443nb\Common merganser; Mergus merganser; Behavior; Energetics and Nutrition; Nonbreeding Seasons;d^Diurnal activity of wintering Goosander was studied at Chew Valley Lake using instantaneous scan sampling. The sex ratio of 0.48 males per female was relatively consistent through midwinter 1995/1996. Daily energy expenditure calculations, based upon published basal metabolic rates, suggested that feeding activities incurred the second highest energy cost after resting although feeding occurred for only a small proportion of daylight hours (14% for males and 17% females). Males devoted less time to feeding activities than females, although theoretically males need more energy per day, due to their larger size. It was calculated that males need between 175.5 and 216.6 g/fish/hr spent feeding, compared to females requiring between 117.2 and 144.6 g/fish/hr spent feeding. Males are therefore either more efficient at energy conservation or foraging (e.g. taking larger fish with higher calorific value). Assuming an assimilation efficiency of 80%, and the food to have an energy content of 4.0 KJ/g, it was calculated that Goosander at Chew Valley Lake consumed about 10-13% of their body mass in fish per day.$://BCI1999003074430Nickell, Walter P. 1966B://BCI19674800005685,%Nicoll, Fergus I. Zimmerling, J. Ryan 2006NHThe importance of wetlands to waterbirds in the Boreal Forest of Ontario Ontario Birdst241a 13-22{Apr 2006BCI:BCI200600476793p$Sea Ducks - General; Habitat;$://BCI200600476793 Nilsson, Leif 1965ZSStudies on the preening behaviour of the Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) Engl. summ.aVar Fagelvarld24 (4)l301-309rBCI:BCI19674800000484r6/Common Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Behavior;A description is given of the various comfort, bathing and preening movements of Goldeneyes with reference to the work of McKinney (1953). One one occasion it was observed that bill dipping gradually led to bathing. The frequencies of the preening movements in 90 preening series in different situations were noted and summarized. The differences in frequency between the movements suggest different threshold values for the movements. The duration of a normal preening series was found to be 2[long dash]4 min. in daytime. In the evening longer series are common. The comfort movements in "after discharge situations" were also studied. It was found that low intensity preening movements were commoner in preening after disturbance than high intensity forms. Wingflap was common after disturbance and aggressive encounters. In the latter it was commoner after aggressions of low intensity than after those of high intensity. After copulation the males have a special behaviour (post-copulatory steaming: but the females are devoid of ritualized post-copulatory behavior. Comfort behavior after copulation was found to be much commoner in females than in males. || ABSTRACT AUTHORS: From auth&://BCI19674800000484 Nilsson, Leifl 1965TNObservations of the spring behaviour of the red-breasted merganser Engl. summ.Var Fagelvarld24 (3)t244-256uBCI:BCI19664700110494 82Red-breasted merganser; Mergus serrator; Behavior;zsGeneral behavior, courtship and pre-copulatory display of the species are described. The population of the main study area gathered in the evening to a communal roosting place on a small islet. Courtship display, preening, and bathing were common when the birds congregated and went on land in the evening and before they left in the morning. The preening andbathing behavior of the red-breasted merganser was almost identical with that of other anatids. Aggressive behavior of the species is usually between males in groups. The different behavior patterns in the courtship display are described. Aerial chases and ten copulations were observed. The precopulatory display was initiated by the female adopting the prone-posture, as in other anatids. The male circled round the female with outstretched neck in most cases performing false-drinking, false-preening and water-twitch. No precopulatory "steaming" was performed. After copulation, which lasted 6-13 sec., the pair rotated and the male performed "Knix" belonging to the courtship display. After that the pair performed various bathing movements. ABSTRACT AUTHORS: From auth. summ&://BCI19664700110494 Nilsson, Leifl 1966PIThe behavior of the goosander (Mergus merganser) in the winter Engl. sum.Var Fagelvarld25 (2)l148-160\BCI:BCI19684900076253i4-Common merganser; Mergus merganser; Behavior;Summarized observations on the general behavior, courtship display, choice of night-quarters and copulation of the species are given. ABSTRACT AUTHORS: From auth &://BCI19684900076253 Nilsson, Leift 2005{Long-term trends and changes in numbers and distribution of some wintering waterfowl species along the Swedish Baltic CoasteActa Zoologica Lituanica152151-157pBCI:BCI200510182594TNSea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;RLRegular counts of wintering waterfowl have been undertaken as a part of the International Waterfowl Census (IWC) and the National Swedish Environmental Monitoring Program since 1964. After the first years, a network of annually surveyed sites was established for the calculation of annual indices. Country-wide surveys (also including aerial counts) were undertaken 1971-1974, 1987-1989, 1992-1993 (partial) and 2004. During the survey period, increasing trends were found in Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Pochard (Aythya ferina), Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator), Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) and Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). Some of these trends reflect genuine population changes; others are related to changing winter conditions, e.g. the establishment of a new wintering tradition for Wigeon (Anas penelope). Tufted Duck and Goldeneye decreased in the south and increased in the northern part of the coast. Mallard, on the other hand, increased in some coastal sites but not in others, but this species is also common inland.$://BCI200510182594Pehrsson, Olof 1965jcStudies of resting and wintering sea-fowl in the inner archipelago of southern Bohuslan Engl. summ.nVar Fagelvarld24 (2)f107-132fBCI:BCI196647000800650)Sea Ducks - General; Nonbreeding Seasons;lThe study area is situated 25 km north of Gothenburg and is composed of 2 adjacent parts [long dash] the Nordo area rich in islets and skerries and the shallow, shelving bay, called Odsmals kile. In the area 30 spp. of sea-birds in addition to gulls can be observed. Of these only 4 breed there. Somateria mollissima, Mergus serrator, Tadorna tadorna and Cygnus olor. In autumn, hundreds of Anas platyrhynchos rest in Odsmals kile during the day. In the late autumn the mallards obtain most of their food in submarine meadows of Zostera marina, and Chorda filum. Providing water-level is not too high they can easily reach the molluscs Rissoa and Hydrobia which live in great numbers on top of the plants. During the cold winter of 1963, however, the shallow Zostera meadows were ruined when the ice froze solid to the bottom and the birds lost their main source of subsistence. Exceptionally high water-level has been found to reduce the frequency of river ducks, Anas. Some male mallards molted on the open shallow water during June. Anas crecca is common on the shallowest water in autumn, and in spring it stays longer on this resting place than the mallard. Anas penelope hunts for food among the teals or in Zostera[long dash]Chorda meadows, where it can be seen pulling up eel-grass plants. Flocks of Aythya marila, A. fuligula, and a few A. ferina have no regular resting places in the area but stay for varying lengths of time on depths of from 1[long dash]2 m wherever the vegetation is abundant and rich in molluscs. In Oct. the 1st flocks of Bucephala clangula arrive, but they only occasionally rest here on their way towards the south-west. It is not until Nov. or Dec. that goldeneyes arrive here for their winter quarters. The birds are then usually found on particular favorite haunts, on depths of about 1-2 m, with vegetation of Ruppia and Zostera. In the spring following a long covering of ice the goldeneyes have their feeding stations on flat and bladder wrack, Fucus. In 1961, after a succession of mild winters, the waters froze as early as the middle of Dec. A thousand goldeneyes gathered on the reduced surface of the water in the Nordo area. Extensive shooting during the following month greatly reduced the number. This shooting in the province seems to have caused a great decrease of the goldeneye population during the subsequent cold winter. The breeding population of Somateria mollissima is increasing in the area. Before the eiders leave the inner archipelago in autumn, they feed on Mytilus communities on submerged rocks and shallows. An unsuccessful attack by a seal, Phoca vitulina, was observed. Families of Mergus serrator keep together until Nov. when courtship behavior is observed. This bird is a regular winterer, as is M. merganser. A few specimens of M. albellus are observed every winter. Tadorna tadorna leaves the area as soon as the young are ready to fly. In summer about 100 non-breeding Cygnus olor rest on shallow waters; the number fluctuates however, from day to day. In winter the number increases, but if the winter is severe the number again decreases and is exceeded by that of C. cygnus. The 1st whooper swans arrive at the end of Oct. Both spp. may appear in about 300 specimens. During both mild and cold winters the whooper swan seems to save energy by sleeping for long periods, while the mute swan is more restless in searching for food. This habit has certainly contributed to the fact that the whooper swan withstands the winter better than the mute swan. Flocks of about 40 Fulica atra have tried to winter in the area. They were feeding on Zostera meadows of between 1 and 3 m depth, from which they were observed to pull up the plants. Parts of the plants were consumed. || ABSTRACT AUTHORS: Author&://BCI19664700080065 NHHipfner, J. Mark Gilchrist, H. Grant Gaston, Anthony J. Cairns, David K. 2002`ZStatus of Common Eiders, Somateria mollissima, nesting in the Digges Sound region, Nunavut Canadian Field-Naturalistv 1161 22-25January-March 2002BCI:BCI200300093705`YCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season;4.There is little information available on status of Common Eider, Somateria mollissima, populations nesting in Arctic Canada. We surveyed Common Eiders in the Digges Sound region, Nunavut, on 19-20 July 1999, for comparison with similar surveys in 1980-1983. On six islands for which data were available in both periods, there were 4-5 times as many nests in 1999 as in the early 1980s. The mean clutch size late in incubation in 1999 (3.3 eggs per nest) was similar to that in 1983 (3.2 eggs), but lower than in 1982 (3.9 eggs); timing of hatching was similar in the two periods. All three females caught during incubation were of the subspecies S. m. borealis. In contrast to Common Eiders S. m. sedentaria nesting in the Belcher Islands, Common Eiders nesting in the Digges Sound region appear to be faring well.$://BCI200300093705JCHobson, Keith A. Thompson, Jonathan E. Evans, Matthew R. Boyd, Seanb 2005HATracing nutrient allocation to reproduction in Barrow's goldeneye$Journal of Wildlife Management693o 1221-1228pJul 2005BCI:BCI200600097377nhBarrow's Goldeneye; Bucephala islandica; Energetics and Nutrition; Breeding Season; Nonbreeding Seasons;Naturally occurring stable isotopes in foodwebs can be used to determine the relative contributions of endogenous and exogenous nutrients to avian eggs in cases where birds move between isotopically distinct biomes or habitats to breed. We measured delta C-13 and delta N-15 values in somatic muscle tissues and eggs of Barrow's goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) together with those isotope values in amphipods from wetlands used by birds breeding on the Chilcotin Plateau in central British Columbia, Canada. Females that had recently arrived on the breeding grounds had muscle tissue isotope values similar to those found in coastal wintering birds and were considerably more enriched in C-13 than were samples from local foodwebs. However, delta N-15 values of amphipods were highly variable among wetlands, resulting in a nondistinct exogenous delta N-15 endpoint: for our dual-isotope mixing model. Therefore, we only used the model based on delta C-13 values to estimate nutrient sources to eggs. In 2000, first-laid eggs were more enriched in both isotopes than fourth- or eighth-laid eggs. Considerable endogenous protein input to egg yolk and albumen was detected for the first laid egg (yolk: range = 0-92.7%, median = 23.7%; albumen: range = 0-78.6%, median = 28.7%) with less endogenous contribution of somatic lipids (first egg: range = 0-100%, median = 4.9%). Using archived tissue samples of muscle and developing ovarian follicles from birds collected in 1993-1994, we found no delta C-13 isotopic evidence for endogenous protein contribution to egg yolk. Our results demonstrate the utility of the stable isotope approach in cases where isotopic endpoints are well established. Barrow's goldeneye showed a mixed strategy of endogenous vs. exogenous nutrient allocation to reproduction that varied by individual females, laying order, and year. We encourage managers to use this approach to quantify nutrient allocations from various biomes to reproduction in waterfowl to better understand the importance of wintering sites to reproduction.$://BCI200600097377 ng males returned to the roost site from feeding areas earlier in the day than did females. Adult males occasionally defended small individual foraging sites from intruding conspecifics of both sexes. Available data indicate that sexual segregation within habitats and between wintering areas is influenced by climatic effects interacting with several ecological factors: body size-weight-metabolic relationships, intersexual competion for food and sexual selection pressures.$://BCI198273030384spulation recovery/health include hydroelectric development,,, illegal mid subsistence harvests, coastal exploitation (aquaculture, fisheries, boating), and recreational activities on breeding rivers and streams. Survey, research and management needs include better estimates of breeding densities and distribution, characterization of spring, summer and fall coastal habitats, comprehensive generic analysis, monitoring, and Public education oil the status of Harlequin Ducks.$://BCI200900160411DBeukema, J. J. Cadee, G. C. 1999XQAn estimate of the sustainable rate of shell extraction from the Dutch Wadden Seau Journal of Applied Ecology361t 49-58o Feb., 1999BCI:BCI199900245835TMSea Ducks - General; Trophic Interactions; Conservation; Nonbreeding Seasons;hb1. Shell production by cockles Cerastoderma edule was studied to examine whether or not the present licensed rate of sJDBennett, Darin C. Gray, David A. Sharp, Peter J. Hughes, Maryanne R. 2005haRedistribution of extracellular water and sodium may contribute to saline tolerance in wild ducks ,%Physiological and Biochemical Zoologyl783m447-4557 May-Jun05sBCI:BCI200510105372a:4Barrow's Goldeneye; Bucephala islandica; Physiology;The compartmentalization of body fluids was measured in three species of ducks that differ in saline tolerance. Half of the birds of each species drank freshwater, while the other half drank saline ( 300 mM NaCl). Among ducks that drank freshwater, total body water (TBW) was similar among all species, but Barrow's goldeneyes (Bucephala islandica), the most marine species, had larger extracellular fluid volume (ECFV) than freshwater mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) or estuarine canvas-backs (Aythya valisineria). When acclimated to saline, only goldeneyes shifted extracellular water and Na+ into the intracellular compartment. ECFV was correlated with plasma aldosterone concentration in goldeneyes, but not in canvasbacks ( aldosterone was not measured in mallards). Data summarized from the literature showed that TBW does not differ among terrestrial, freshwater, or marine species, but marine species have a larger part of their TBW in the extracellular compartment. Saline induced movement of extracellular water and Na+ into the cells only in goldeneyes. ECFV and redistribution of extracellular water and Na+ into the cells may be important components in saline tolerance of marine birds.o$://BCI200510105372 e Sjoberg, K.7 1975LFFood Choice and Predation Efficiency by Mergansers in Laboratory Tests0*Fauna och Flora Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet706r241-246aBCI:BCI197662046816rlCommon merganser; Mergus merganser; Red-breasted merganser; Mergus serrator; Trophic Interactions; Behavior;^WLaboratory tests with 2 goosanders (Mergus merganser L.) and 1 red-breasted merganser (M. serrator L.) have shown that the birds have the capacity to select certain favored fish species before others when all are offered together in a small trough devoid of bottom material. However, they only demonstrated this capacity when they were fed prior to the test and then presented a surplus of fish. When not fed before the test for at least 2 h, they picked the nearest and most easily caught specimens. When the same fish species were presented to the mergansers in a stream tank (0.8 .times. 9.5 m) with a bottom material of sand, gravel and stones of different size and with a water level of 0.3 .times. 0.4 m and a velocity of approximately 0.5 m/s, the order of preference from the laboratory tests was not repeated. The opportunity for the birds to catch different species in the stream tank was very much influenced by the behavior of the fish species and their capacity to hide, and in differences in fugitive behavior when discovered by the merganser. Because of the behavioral differences, some species were caught before others even in the stream tank, but these species were not the same as in the laboratory tests. This indicates an opportunistic food seeking behavior, resulting in overrepresentation of some species, not necessarily the preferred species.t$://BCI197662046816  EQPW4"0TQLUUm%Too8<mKVV,$< `JulVq(/q<uuv<b ]'kdlXQB %A%k"q%&J11k? 0kXXBX5UOeeW[[wWXCCC2NL5t3Rt5LD5mmmLSn eiders Somateria mollissima were considerably more dispersed. They were found mainly close to shore off south-west Greenland, where they were distributed along rocky coastlines. A few thousands of large guillemots Uria spp. were recorded in the study area in March 1981, 1982, 1991 and 1993, but large numbers (>65 000 birds) were recorded north of the south-west Greenland Open Water Area in April 1990, indicating that northward spring migration was underway at this time.$://BCI199900413091e Kellett1997 Kellett2000 Kellett2003 Kellett2004[ Kellett2005 Kellett2007 Kellett2008< Kelly19869 Kelly1991 Kelly1998 Kelly2008 Kendall1999u Kendall2000o Kendall2001O Kendall2004 Kendziorek1990Kennamer1988 Kennedy2005 Kennedy2006' Kent20040 Kerekes1994 Kerkering2009 Kertell1991l Kerwin1964t Kespaik1996Khishgee20101 Kida2010a Kida2010j Kift2002 Kilham1954 Kilpi1997  Kilpi1997 Kilpi1998 Kilpi2000 Kilpi2000 Kilpi2000 Kilpi2000 Kilpi2001 Kilpi2002 Kilpi2002 Kilpi2003 Kilpi2003 Kilpi2003 Kilpi2004 Kilpi2004l Kilpi2006M Kilpi2007R Kilpi2007< Kilpi2008B Kilpi2008p Kim1996q Kim1996 Kimpe2010Q Kinet2004s King1976J King20040 King2010 Kirby1995 Kirby1998 Kirchhoff1982& Kirk20055" Kirk20060 Kirk2007 Kirk2007 Kirk2008 Kirk2008 Kirk20099 Kishida2010 Kistchinski1974 Kistchinski1977Kitaysky2008Kitazawa1996 Kitchen1969r Kjos-Hanssen1984l Klem20020Klimstra2009 Klosiewski1999{ Knapton1999P Knapton1999v Knief2000t Knisley1971 Knoche2007: Knox20010 Knox20060J Knutsen2004t Kocan1971 Koehl1995:Koehler-Guenther1992: Koenig1992nv Koeppen2000 Koks2005n Kolbe1979 Koller20050 Kondrad2009y Kondrat'ev1992 Kondrat'Ev1992 Kondratyev1994 Kontautas2008d Korpimaki2002 Korschgen1978g Kortegaard1968~Koryakin1982jKoryakin1987 Koski1980 Koskimies1951 Koskimies1953 Koskimies1957 Koskimies1957 Koskimies1958b Kosson20070 Koyama20101 Krasnov2006 Krasnov2008+ Krasnov2009 Krasnov2010 Kraul1981S Krebs1995Krementz1997E Kress2008 Krnjaic2009 Kroger20080Kroglund1993\ Krohn1988N Krohn1990 Krueger1987h Krueger2002: Kruener1992 Kruse1984 Kube1996 Kudela20099 Kuehnlein2010a Kuijken2002R Kuijken2004 Kuiken2002e Kuikka20111e Kumon2002 Kuresoo20020 Kuresoo2006 Kuresoo2006 Kuzyk2005g Kwasniewski2006d Laanetu2002 Lacroix2002c Lacroix2003' Lacroix2004` Lacroix2004& Lacroix2005" LaCroix2006O Lacroix2007- Lagler1940 Lagrenade1990d Laine2002 Laing2008S Lair20060 Lalanne20044 Lambert19958 Lamothe19910 Lamothe20022 Lamothe2002 Lamothe2008 Lamothe2008u Lance2000o Lance2001L Lanctot1999c Lanctot2003e Lanctot2003_ Lanctot2004` Lanctot2004r Lanctot2006& Lanctot2009 Lanctot2010 Lank19999N Lank20022 Lanocha2010 Lanteigne2009N Laperle1998 Laperle2008Lapointe20080 Laporte20022 Laporte2002 Lappo1992 Lappo1994w Lappo2000 Larned19999U Larned20044 Larsen1988 Larsen2000 Larsen2002 Larsen2005 Larsen20050W Larsen2007X Larsen2007  Larsson1987Z Larsson2005D Larsson2008 Latham1971 Laubek2005 Laubhan1999Laughton2004Z Laurila1988[ Laurila1988V Laurila1989 Laursen1987 Laursen1989H Laursen20053 Laursen2006 Laursen2008C Laursen2008} Lavers2006 Lavoie2010_ Lawhead2002[ Lawson20055] Lazarus1989? Lazarus2000" Lazarus2004 Le Maho2001 Le Maho2001 Le Maho2002 Le Maho2002 Le Maho2003 Le Maho2005 Le Maho2005~ Le Maho2006 Le Maho2006d Le Maho2007: Le Maho2009oLeafloor1996 Lean20102 LeBourdais2009 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011009 Lecklin2011009 Lecklin2011 Lecklin20119 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin20119 Lecklin2011 Lecklin20119 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011 Lecklin2011inski1974 Kistchinski1977Kitazawa1996̱ Kitchen1969l Klem20020Klimstra2009 Klosiewski1999{ Knapton1999P Knapton1999v Knief2000t Knisley1971: Knox20010 Knox20060 Knox20060$ Knox20060J Knutsen2004t Kocan1971 Koehl1995 Koehl1995v Koeppen2000 Koks2005n Koller20050 Kondrad2009 Kondrat'ev1992y Kondrat'ev1992 Kondrat'Ev1992̟ Kondratyev1994 Kontautas2008d Korpimaki2002g Kortegaard1968̿ Koski1980 Koskimies1951 Koskimies1953 Koskimies1957 Koskimies1957 Koskimies1958( Kosson20070b Kosson20070 Koyama20101 Krasnov2006 Krasnov2008+ Krasnov2009 Krasnov2010 Kraul1981 Krebs1995S Krebs1995Krementz1997E Kress2008 Krnjaic2009 Kroger2008 Krueger1987h Krueger2002 Kruse1984 Kube1996 Kudela20099o Kuehnlein2010 Kuehnlein2010a Kuijken2002R Kuijken2004 Kuikka20111e Kumon20020 Kuresoo2006 Kuresoo2006 Kuzyk2005g Kwasniewski2006d Laanetu2002c Lacroix2003 Lacroix2004' Lacroix2004` Lacroix2004& Lacroix2005 LaCroix2006" LaCroix2006O Lacroix2007- Lagler1940d Laine2002 Laing2008S Lair20060 Lalanne2004 Lambert19954 Lambert1995 Lamothe19918 Lamothe19910 Lamothe20022 Lamothe2002 Lamothe2008 Lamothe2008u Lance2000o Lance2001L Lanctot1999c Lanctot2003e Lanctot2003_ Lanctot2004` Lanctot2004T Lanctot2006r Lanctot2006& Lanctot2009 Lanctot2010 Lank19999 Lank20022N Lank20022 Lanocha2010 Lanteigne2009N Laperle1998 Laperle2008Lapointe20080 Laporte20022 Laporte2002 Lappo1992w Lappo2000 Larned19999U Larned20044 Larsen1988̇ Larsen2005̆ Larsen2005̌ Larsen20050" Larsen2007W Larsen2007X Larsen2007  Larsson1987Z Larsson2005D Larsson2008 Latham1971̇ Laubek2005̆ Laubek2005̹ Laubhan1999WLaughton2004Laughton2004̯ Laursen1987 Laursen1989H Laursen20053 Laursen2006 Laursen2008C Laursen2008} Lavers2006G Lavers2006 Lavoie2010_ Lawhead2002[ Lawson20055] Lazarus1989? Lazarus2000" Lazarus2004 Le Maho2005 Le Maho2005~ Le Maho2006 Le Maho2006d Le Maho2007: Le Maho2009oLeafloor1996 Lean20102 LeBourdais2009 Lecklin2011 2 Zydelis, Ramunas Lorentsen, Svein-Hakon Fox, Anthony D. Kuresoo, Andres Krasnov, Yuri Goryaev, Yuri Bustnes, Jan Ove Hario, Martti Nilsson, Leif Stipniece, Antrat 2006|uRecent changes in the status of Steller's Eider Polysticta stelleri wintering in Europe: a decline or redistribution?&Bird Conservation International163217-236Sep 2006BCI:BCI200600625694f_Steller's eider; Polysticta stelleri; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;lfSteller's Eider Polysticta stelleri has a restricted arctic breeding range. The world population declined to c. 220,000 individuals in the late 1990s from an estimated 400,000-500,000 in the 1960s. The species has a limited global wintering distribution, occurring in marine habitats in north-east Europe, islands close to Kamchatka in Russia, and the eastern Aleutian Islands and south-west Alaska. European wintering numbers were estimated at 30,000-50,000 in the early 1990s, when the population was considered of favourable conservation status. Recent census data from the most important European wintering sites show annual declines of 8% in Norway since 1984, 9% in Estonia since 1994 and 22% in Lithuania since 1995, suggesting an overall 65% reduction in Europe. Counts in 1994 suggested that 30-50% of the European population wintered in Russia at that time. Current census data from Russia show similar declines along monitored sections of the Kola Peninsula wintering grounds since 1994. Accounting for trends in Russia, the current European wintering population could possibly stand at 10,000-15,000 individuals (a more than a 50% decline in 10 years), qualifying this population as Endangered under IUCN criteria. The changes in Baltic/Norwegian wintering numbers did not correlate with changes in the extent of ice-free marine waters in the Kola Peninsula/White Sea areas, but changes in annual numbers in Norway were correlated with winter North Atlantic Oscillation indices. Variation in annual numbers in the Baltic Sea correlated with projected number of juveniles among wintering birds. However, none of the possible causes discussed in this paper could fully explain the decline in Steller's Eider, confirming the need for comprehensive monitoring of the population throughout its winter range and for cohesive demographic monitoring to target effective conservation action.$://BCI200600625694y Zydelis, R. Kontautas, A. 2008XRPiscivorous birds as top predators and fishery competitors in the lagoon ecosystem Hydrobiologia1 611n 45-54rOct 2008BCI:BCI200800689346aNGCommon merganser; Mergus merganser; Trophic Interactions; Conservation;9|Piscivorous birds have received much attention with respect to competition with fisheries for resources. The majority of studies have been focused on cormorants Phalacrocoracidae, while predation by other piscivorous bird species has often been overlooked. This study was designed to supplement sociological research (Bell, 2004), which revealed that the fishermen community at the Lithuanian section of the Curonian Lagoon considers great cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo, but not other fish-eating birds, to be significant competitors of fish resources. In this paper, we estimate fish consumption by cormorants and other abundant piscivorous birds, and attempt to interpret this level of predation in relation to fish resources and commercial fishery landings. We estimate that four piscivorous bird species consumed nearly 700 tonnes of fish during the breeding season of 2001 and winter 2001/2002, which corresponds to similar to 9% of the total fish resources in our study area. Bird consumption equalled two-thirds of the amount of fish landed by commercial fishermen. However, we argue that direct competition between birds and humans for fish resources is low, because there is a size segregation of exploited fish stock segments and abundant fish species that dominate the diet of birds. Fish monitoring and commercial fish landings indicated no apparent changes in fish stock size and composition, which could be attributed to a recent increase in piscivorous birds. Great cormorants consumed the largest biomass of fish compared to other piscivorous bird species. However, total fish intake by grey herons Ardea cinerea, great-crested grebes Podiceps cristatus, and goosanders Mergus merganser combined, equalled that of cormorants. Our results do not support the common public perception that cormorant predation greatly exceeds that of other piscivorous birds, and is detrimental to commercial fisheries.$://BCI200800689346cZydelis, Ramunas Bellebaum, Jochen Osterblom, Henrik Vetemaa, Markus Schirmeister, Bernd Stipniece, Antra Dagys, Mindaugas van Eerden, Mennobart Garthe, Stefan  2009RLBycatch in gillnet fisheries - An overlooked threat to waterbird populationsBiological Conservation 1427 1269-1281Jul 2009BCI:BCI200900430319("Sea Ducks - General; Conservation;zsBird mortality in fishing gear is a global conservation issue and it is recognised that bycatch in industrial longline and trawl fisheries threatens several seabird species. Little is known however about the effects of bycatch in small-scale gillnet fisheries on bird populations. Here we review 30 studies reporting bird bycatch in coastal gillnet fisheries in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea region in order to assess the magnitude of this problem and potential effects on bird populations. All species of diving birds that occur in the study region, including divers (loons), grebes, sea ducks, diving ducks, auks and cormorants, have been reported as dying in fishing nets. The cumulative bycatch estimate extracted from several localized studies providing such information, suggests that about 90,000 birds die in fishing nets annually, a number that is almost certainly a substantial underestimate. We conclude that it is likely that between 100,000 and 200,000 waterbirds are killed per year. Geographic and temporal patterns of bycatch generally matched species distribution and periods of presence. Also, bycatch rates varied depending on species' foraging technique and were influenced by net parameters and fishing depth. To evaluate effects of additive mortality on bird populations, we applied the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) concept to three species with the most extensive bycatch information. Agreeing with PBR assumptions we conclude that bycatch is a matter of concern for at least two of the three assessed species. We suggest that bycatch research in Europe and beyond should aim at unification of principles for bycatch assessment, setting new standards for the monitoring of waterbird populations so that vital rates and mortality data are recorded, and implementing quantifiable criteria for evaluating effects of fisheries bycatch. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.n$://BCI200900430319c*:3Barjaktarovic, L. Elliott, J. E. Scheuhammer, A. M. 2002zsMetal and metallothionein concentrations in scoter (Melanitta spp.) from the Pacific Northwest of Canada, 1989-1994n<6Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology434486-491November, 2002BCI:BCI200200592630NHSurf Scoter; Melanitta perspicillata; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;Eighty-six surf (Melanitta perspicillata) and nine white winged (M. fusca) scoters were collected from 1989-1994 at 11 locations in British Columbia and the Yukon. Their kidney and liver tissues were analyzed for cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and metallothionein (MT) concentrations. Individual kidney Cd values ranged from 2.4 mug/g dry weight (DW) in birds from northern Vancouver Island to 390.2 mug/g (DW) in birds from the Queen Charlotte Islands, which is in the range of values potentially associated with kidney damage. Birds from the Queen Charlotte Islands also had high kidney Zn concentrations, which were significantly higher than values in birds from Naniamo and Westham Island on the south coast of BC. Cd values were significantly (p<0.001) correlated with both Zn and MT concentrations in kidney tissue (r=0.66 and 0.62, respectively). Male surf scoters had significantly higher kidney Cd and Zn levels than females, with mean Cd values of 47.3 and 19.7 mug/g DW (p<0.002) for males and females, respectively. Mean Zn values were 120.8 and 108.0 mug/g DW (p<0.05) for males and females, respectively. However, no sex differences were observed for either Cu or MT concentrations in kidney tissue. Individual MT values ranged from 2.7 to 416.8 mug/g wet weight (WW). Individual kidney Cu values ranged from 15.1 to 48.4 mug/g DW for both sexes. Kidney and liver Cd concentrations were significantly correlated (r=0.90, p<0.05) with kidney levels almost always higher than liver values. Although Cd accumulation by the Skidegate scoters was high, comparable tissue Cd values have been documented in other seabirds collected from the same general area, indicating elevated Cd concentrations in marine food chains around the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) region of the Pacific coast.o$://BCI200200592630v!4 F.s 1979RLThe Past Status and Exploitation of the Myvatn Iceland Waterfowl Populations Oikos32 1-2a232-249 BCI:BCI198069008873 ^XSea Ducks - GeneraGross, Aurelia 2000The distribution of the breeding population of Mergus merganser in southern Bavaria and Austria in relation to the water-transparency of representative rivers in the breeding aream Ornithologischer Anzeigern39 2-3s 97-118September, 2000rBCI:BCI200100171094qD=Common merganser; Mergus merganser; Habitat; Breeding Season;LFThe abundance and distibution of breeding Mergus merganser in southern Bavaria and Austria was analysed. Over the last seven decades the development was correlated with the annual mud content of six representative rivers in the breeding area. It could be shown that the water-transparency has an influence on the breeding population. The number of breeding goosanders increased on four of the analysed rivers in response to an increasing water-transparency after several water-economical impacts. The muddy glacier waters of Inn and Salzach showed almost no changes in their low water-transparency in the last centuries and in fact there was no increase in the anyway very small number of breeding goosanders. The results also showed that a mud content above 180 mg/l seems to be not tolerable for Mergus merganser in the breeding season.$://BCI200100171094Grosz, T. Yocom, C. F. 1972HAFood Habits of the White-Winged Scoter in Northwestern Californiai$Journal of Wildlife Management364d 1279-1282dBCI:BCI197355054227oB;White-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Trophic Interactions;$://BCI197355054227Grubb, T. C. Jro 197160Bald Eagles Stealing Fish from Common Mergansers Auk\884\928-929sBCI:BCI197208008328o@9Common merganser; Mergus merganser; Trophic Interactions;t$://BCI1972080083282JDPortugal, Steven J. Isaac, Rhian Quinton, Kate L. Reynolds, S. James 2010b\Do captive waterfowl alter their behaviour patterns during their flightless period of moult?Journal of Ornithology 151p2443-448Apr 2010BCI:BCI201000245611NHCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Behavior; Molt; Nonbreeding Seasons;~Many different behavioural changes have been observed in wild waterfowl during the flightless stage of wing moult with birds frequently becoming inactive and reducing time spent foraging. Increased predation risk, elevated energetic demands of feather re-growth and restriction of foraging opportunities are thought to underlie these changes. By studying captive populations of both a dabbling and a diving duck species at the same site, we determined whether captive birds would reflect the behavioural responses of wild waterfowl to moult. The time-budgets of 42 Common Eiders, Somateria mollissima, (a diving duck) and 18 Garganeys, Anas querquedula, (a dabbling duck) were recorded during wing moult (July-August) and non-moult (January) with behaviour recorded under six categories. Despite captivity providing a low predation risk and constant access to food, birds altered their behaviour during the flightless period of wing moult. Time allocated to foraging and locomotion decreased significantly during moult compared to non-moult periods, while resting time increased significantly. Moulting Eiders underwent a greater reduction in time spent foraging and in locomotion compared with Garganeys, which is likely to be in response to a higher energetic cost of foraging in Eiders. It is possible that increased resting in both diving and dabbling ducks reduces their likelihood of detection by predators, while allowing them to remain vigilant. We demonstrate that there is much potential for using captive animals in studies that can augment our knowledge of behaviours of free-living conspecifics, the former being a hitherto under-exploited resource.$://BCI201000245611ed numbers generally remain within recent variations except for record numbers of Whooper swans and Teals in 2002, of Moorhens in 2000 and of species that clearly increase such as Cormorant. Great White Egret, Canada Goose, Mute Swan and Gadwall. Results of Gulls censused at resting places in 2000 (table 11) confirm the decrease of the Herring Gull. small numbers of wintering Lesser black-backed ked Gulls as well as the occurrence of a few Yellow-legged and Pontic Gulls.C$://BCI200500119777n 4-Laursen, Karsten Frikke, John Kahlert, Johnnys 2008NHAccuracy of 'total counts' of waterbirds from aircraft in coastal watersWildlife Biology142165-175oJun 2008BCI:BCI200800491574pLESea Ducks - General; Techniques; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; d ]Estimating 'total counts' of waterbirds from aircraft is a widely used survey method, and we assessed the effectiveness of this method for geese, ducks, waders and gulls by comparing the results of counts from aircraft with ground counts in the Danish Wadden Sea during 1984-1998. In total, 47 counts were carried out in 12 counting sites and the results were compared for 18 waterbird species, which varied in abundance, flock size and degree of aggregation. Significantly greater numbers of waterbird species were identified from the ground than from aircraft (mean number: 16.1 vs 10.6 species). Depending on the accuracy of aerial counts compared to ground counts, the species were divided into three categories: a) brent goose Branta bernicla, shelduck Tadorna tadorna, mallard Anas platyrhynuchos, eider Somateria mollissima and oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus had a high level of correspondence between densities obtained from ground and aerial counts (detection rate of >80% with no statistical difference between slopes and intercepts of the observed regression lines and the ideal lines (x = y), differences between mean densities of ground and aerial counts being < 15%); b) wigeon Anas penelope, teal A. crecca, grey plover Pluvialis squatarola, dunlin Calidris alpine, bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica, black-headed gull Larus ridibundus, common gull L. canus, herring gull L. argentatus, great black-backed gull L. marinus and common/arctic tern Sterna hirundo and S. paradisaea had a medium correspondence between densities obtained from the two platforms (detection rate of >55% with differences between the mean densities of ground and aerial counts of <30%; and c) redshank Tringa totanus, greenshank T. nebularia arquata and curlew Numenius arquata had a low correspondence between the densities obtained from the two platforms (detection rate of <55% and differences between the mean densities of ground and aerial counts of >30%). Species with a high and medium level of correspondence between the two platforms are mostly species that are numerous, of widespread occurrence, and found in large flocks. Species with a low correspondence are minority species, occurring scattered or in small flocks. We recommend to supplement aerial counts with ground counts at sites with mixed flocks of more dabbling duck species present to increase the accuracy of the count results. $://BCI200800491574ylZtarovic, L. Elliott, J. E. Scheuhammer, A. M.b 2002zsMetal and metallothionein concentrations in scoter (Melanitta spp.) from the Pacific Northwest o Bain, G. A. Threlfall, W.\ 1977XQHelminth Parasites of Hooded Mergansers Lophodytes-Cucullatus from Ontario Canadao@9Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington442219-221oBCI:BCI197713100116:3Hooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Parasites;$://BCI197713100116LEBalian, Luba V. Ghasabian, Mamikon G. Adamian, Martin S. Klem, Danielr 2002xqChanges in the waterbird community of the Lake Sevan-Lake Gilli area, Republic of Armenia: A case for restoration Biological Conservation  1062}157-163 August, 2002BCI:BCI200200403098@:Sea Ducks - General; Red-breasted merganser; Conservation;\VWaterbird species richness (Gaviiformes, Podicipediformes, Pelecaniformes, Ciconiiformes, Phoenicopteriformes, Falconiformes, Anseriformes, Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, Passeriformes) has been significantly affected by a 19.5 m lowering of the water level in Lake Sevan (1933-2000), and the complete draining of nearby Lake Gilli (1960-2000) in the Republic of Armenia. Twenty-three former breeders are currently nonbreeders in the area. Four former breeders (black stork Ciconia nigra, glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus, white-winged scoter Melanitta fusca, little crake Porzana parva) have been extirpated from the area. Four former non-breeders (cattle egret Bubulcus ibis, red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis, sociable lapwing Chettusia gregaria, lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus) have been absent from the area for at least 20 years. The red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator is the only former nonbreeder discovered breeding in the Lake Sevan basin. We recommend that management plans of the 1960s and 1970s be used to further develop and enact new efforts to increase the water level of Lake Sevan by at least 6 m, and that Lake Gilli and its surrounding wetlands be restored as a means of increasing waterbird species richness overall, and protecting regional populations of globally threatened or near-threatened species (Dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispus, red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis, ferruginous pochard Aythya nyroca, white-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala, corn crake Crex crex, great snipe Gallinago media, black-winged pratincole Glareola nordmanni, white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla).$://BCI200200403098tucullatus; Behavior; Breeding Season;The report of an attack by a male Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) on a female Ring-neck Duck (Aythya collaris). Coots (Fulica americana), Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors). and Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) were present but were not molested. However, a female Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) was also attacked from below and threatened from the surface during one observational period. || ABSTRACT AUTHORS: T. W. Porter&://BCI19563000012008sons;\We examined the movements of flightless Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis) during the wing molt in the near-shore lagoons of the Beaufort Sea in Alaska. Estimates of site fidelity during the 21-day flightless period ranged from 1-100%, with considerable variation among locations and within locations among years. There was no effect of low-level experimental disturbance or an underwater seismic survey on site fidelity of molting Long-tailed Ducks. Birds molting along a relatively consistent habitat gradient were more likely to move than those molting in a fragmented habitat. While flocks of birds are consistently observed in the same locations, these data suggest considerable turnover within these aggregations. These results, in conjunction with other studies, suggest that forage is relatively uniformly distributed within lagoons. We conclude that habitat selection by molting Long-tailed Ducks is likely influenced by protection from wind and associated waves.$://BCI200400235983L&2+Proctor, S. J. Pearson, G. L. Liebovitz, L. 1975|vColor Atlas of Wildlife Pathology Part 2 Duck Plague in Free Flying Waterfowl Observed During the Lake Andes EpizooticWildlife Diseases67 1-59BCI:BCI197662049430JDSea Ducks - General; Common merganser; Disease; Nonbreeding Seasons;The 1st major epizootic of duck plague in free-flying waterfowl occurred at Lake Andes, South Dakota [USA], in January and February 1973. Duck plague was diagnosed in black ducks, mallards, pintail-mallard hybrids, redheads, common mergansers, common golden eyes, canvasbacks, American widgeon, wood ducks and Canada geese, indicating the general susceptibility of ducks to duck plague. Clincial signs observed in mallards were droopiness, polydipsia lethargy, reduced wariness, weakness, reluctance to fly, swimming in circles, bloody diarrhea, bloody fluid draining from the nares and bill and terminal convulsions. Because the mallard was the most numerous and heavily infected species during the Lake Andes epizootic, gross and microscopic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, spleen, thymus, bursa of Fabricius, heart, lung, bone marrow, pancreas and ovaries were described. Lesions of the esophagus and cloaca were seen in the stratified squamous epithelium, submucosal lymphoid nodules and esophageal submucosal glands. In the small and large intestine, lesions were located in lymphocytic aggregates, lamina propria and crypt epithelium. Hemorrhages and necrosis of hepatocytes and bile duct epithelium were noted in the liver. Hemorrhages in other tissues, i.e., the lung and heart, were often associated with lymphoid nodules while those in organs such as the pancreas were associated with acinar necrosis. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were seen in stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus and cloaca, crypt epithelium of the intestine, hepatocytes, bile duct epithelium, cells of Hassel's corpuscles, splenic periarteriolar reticular cells and epithelial cells in the bursa of Fabricius.0$://BCI197662049430b[Quakenbush, Lori T. Day, Robert H. Anderson, Betty A. Pitelka, Frank A. McCaffery, Brian J.; 2002XQHistorical and present breeding season distribution of Steller's Eiders in Alaskak Western Birdsk332l 99-120September 15, 2002BCI:BCI200200564054b[Steller's eider; Polysticta stelleri; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season;The Alaska breeding population of the Steller's Eider (Polysticta stelleri) occurs as two subpopulations, one on the Arctic coastal plain of northern Alaska, primarily near Barrow, and the other on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta of western Alaska. In 1997, the Alaska breeding population was listed under the Endangered Species Act as threatened because the nesting range and population were thought to have decreased substantially. The historical (pre-1970) and recent (1970-present) breeding distribution and abundance of Steller's Eiders, however, are not well known. We compiled and evaluated the historical and recent records of breeding-season distribution, confirmed nesting for northern and western Alaska, and found that the overall sizes of the breeding ranges have not changed substantially; however, the frequency of breeding has decreased in both regions, except near Barrow. Causes of this reduction in breeding frequency of Steller's Eiders in Alaska are unknown, but changes in predator populations, lead poisoning, and interspecific nesting associations with Snowy Owls (Nyctea scandiaca) and Pomarine Jaegers (Stercorarius pomarinus) may be contributing factors. $://BCI200200564054t,Oppel, Steffen Powell, Abby N. 2010yCarbon isotope turnover in blood as a measure of arrival time in migratory birds using isotopically distinct environments Journal of Ornithology 15$Oppel, Steffen Powell, Abby N. 2010yCarbon isotope turnover in blood as a measure of arrival time in migratory birds using isotopically distinct environments Journal of Ornithology 151e1a123-131rJan 2010BCI:BCI201000094120ZTKing Eider; Somateria spectabilis; Techniques; Breeding Season; Nonbreeding Seasons;Arrival time on breeding or non-breeding areas is of interest in many ecological studies exploring fitness consequences of migratory schedules. However, in most field studies, it is difficult to precisely assess arrival time of individuals. Here, we use carbon isotope turnover in avian blood as a technique to estimate arrival time for birds switching from one habitat or environment to another. Stable carbon isotope ratios (delta C-13) in blood assimilate to a new equilibrium following a diet switch according to an exponential decay function. This relationship can be used to determine the time a diet switch occurred if delta C-13 of both the old and new diet are known. We used published data of captive birds to validate that this approach provides reliable estimates of the time since a diet switch within 1-3 weeks after the diet switch. We then explored the utility of this technique for King Eiders (Somateria spectabilis) arriving on terrestrial breeding grounds after wintering and migration at sea. We estimated arrival time on breeding grounds in northern Alaska (95% CI) from red blood cell delta C-13 turnover to be 4-9 June. This estimate overlapped with arrival time of birds from the same study site tracked with satellite transmitters (5-12 June). Therefore, we conclude that this method provides a simple yet reliable way to assess arrival time of birds moving between isotopically distinct environments. $://BCI201000094120rleRicca, Mark A. Miles, A. Keith Ballachey, Brenda E. Bodkin, James L. Esler, Daniel Trust, Kimberly A.} 2010ztPCB exposure in sea otters and harlequin ducks in relation to history of contamination by the Exxon Valdez oil spill Marine Pollution Bulletin606861-872Jun 2010BCI:BCI201000448193TMHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;Exposure to contaminants other than petroleum hydrocarbons could confound interpretation of Exxon Valdez oil spill effects on biota at Prince William Sound, Alaska. Hence, we investigated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in blood of sea otters and harlequin ducks sampled during 1998. PCB concentrations characterized by lower chlorinated congeners were highest in sea otters from the unoiled area, whereas concentrations were similar among harlequin ducks from the oiled and unoiled area. Blood enzymes often elevated by xenobiotics were not related to PCB concentrations in sea otters. Only sea otters from the unoiled area had estimated risk from PCBs, and PCB composition or concentrations did not correspond to reported lower measures of population performance in sea otters or harlequin ducks from the oiled area. PCBs probably did not influence limited sea otter or harlequin duck recovery in the oiled area a decade after the spill. Published by Elsevier Ltd.C$://BCI2010004481930& Richardson, W. J. Johnson, S. R. 1981{Water Bird Migration near the Yukon Canada and Alaskan USA Coast of the Beaufort Sea 1. Timing Routes and Numbers in Spring Arctic342108-121BCI:BCI198273015879:4Sea Ducks - General; Migration; Nonbreeding Seasons;~Radars, systematic visual observations from the coast and aerial surveys were used to study migration near the Yukon (1975) and Alaskan (1977-1978) coasts of the Beaufort Sea. Conspicuous eastward migration of loons, brant, seaducks, jaegers and glaucous gulls occurs along the icebound coast, and in the Yukon some eastbound species (especially brant) concentrate coastally. Overall, eastward migration is predominantly broad-front with little coastal concentration. Most eiders and perhaps most oldsquaws, the commonest waterbirds, fly east offshore where there is more open water. Westward migration is much less conspicuous visually; swans, geese and pintails are the main groups seen. However, radar shows extensive broad-front westward flights, probably largely of shorebirds. Most spring migration, both east and west, is from May 15th-June 20th, with the coastal peak (May 25th-June 15th) apparently being later than that offshore. Some coastal migrants land on river water that overflows onto nearshore ice in early June. Some waterbirds bypass the largely ice-covered Alaskan Beaufort by flying northeast across interior Alaska and/or northwestern Canada from the Pacific Ocean to the Canadian Arctic. These overland migrants include some yellow-billed and arctic loons, brant and jaegers; probably most Thayer's gulls; and probably some oldsquaws, Sabine's gulls, arctic terns and other species.$://BCI198273015879sY Noel, Lynn E. Johnson, Stephen R. O'Doherty, Gillian M.e 2005Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis, eider, Somateria spp., and scoter, Melanitta spp., distributions in central Alaska Beaufort Sea lagoons, 1999-2002 Canadian Field-Naturalist 1192181-185 Apr-Jun 2005BCI:BCI200600483915piLong-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Dispersal; Nonbreeding Seasons; "During July and August 1999-2002, distributi>7Noel, Lynn E. Johnson, Stephen R. O'Doherty, Gillian M.e 2005Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis, eider, Somateria spp., and scoter, Melanitta spp., distributions in central Alaska Beaufort Sea lagoons, 1999-2002 Canadian Field-Naturalist 1192181-185 Apr-Jun 2005BCI:BCI200600483915piLong-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Dispersal; Nonbreeding Seasons; "During July and August 1999-2002, distributions of Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis), ciders (Somateria spp.) and scoters (Melanitta spp.) were documented in three barrier island-lagoon systems in the central Alaska Beaufort Sea. Concentration areas for each species were determined during 16 aerial surveys. Kernel density procedures were used to delineate 75% and 50% "activity" or concentration areas for all three species. Long-tailed Ducks were 13 times more numerous than eiders and 38 times more numerous than scoters. The Long-tailed Duck 75% activity area encompassed all three lagoon systems and was three times as large as the eider activity area and one-third larger than the scoter activity area. Eider activity areas were located only in the eastern lagoon, and scoter activity areas were located only in the western lagoon. Density contours showed patterns of repeated habitat use for sea ducks over the four years of sampling and improve our understanding of sea duck habitat use within Beaufort Sea barrier island-lagoon habitats.$://BCI200600483915sElmberg, Johan Dessborn, Lisa Englund, Goran 2010F?Presence of fish affects lake use and breeding success in ducks Hydrobiologia 6411215-223GMar 2010BCI:BCI201000157291\UCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Trophic Interactions; Ha2,Elmberg, Johan Dessborn, Lisa Englund, Goran 2010F?Presence of fish affects lake use and breeding success in ducks Hydrobiologia 6411215-223GMar 2010BCI:BCI201000157291\UCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Trophic Interactions; Habitat; Breeding Season;|vSeveral previous studies indicate that presence of fish has negative effects on waterbirds breeding on lakes, owing either to competition for common invertebrate prey or fish predation on ducklings/chicks. However, others have reported results to the contrary and it remains unresolved what factors trigger, inhibit, and modulate fish-waterbird interactions. The present study was designed to test the effect of fish presence per se, with a minimum of variation in possibly confounding environmental variables. Thus, after stratifying for area, depth, altitude, pH, and total phosphorus we compared 13 lakes with and 12 without fish (mainly pike Esox lucius and perch Perca fluviatilis) with respect to (i) general species richness of waterbirds, (ii) species-specific utilization and breeding success of two dabbling ducks (mallard Anas platyrhynchos and teal Anas crecca) and a diving duck (goldeneye Bucephala clangula). General species richness of waterbirds was higher on fishless lakes. Overall use (bird days) and brood number of teal and goldeneye were higher on fishless lakes. The latter also had more benthic and free-swimming prey invertebrates compared to lakes with fish. Mallard use, mallard brood number, and abundance of emerging insects did not differ between lake groups. Generalized linear models including fish presence as factor and considering seven environmental variables as covariates, confirmed that all waterbird variables except mallard days and broods were negatively correlated to fish presence. There was also a residual positive relationship of lake area on general species richness, teal days, and teal broods. Our data demonstrate a stronger effect of fish presence on diving ducks and small surface feeding ducks than on large surface-feeding ducks. We argue that observed patterns were caused by fish predation on ducks rather than by fish-duck competition for common prey.$://BCI201000157291i dD=DeVink, Jean-Michel A. Gilchrist, H. Grant Diamond, Antony W. 2005haEffects of water salinity on growth and survival of common eider (Somateria mollissima) ducklingss Auk 1222523-529 Apr 05BCI:BCI200510086351ZSCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Physiology; Survival; Habitat; Breeding Season;The need for fresh water may affect growth and survival of young waterfowl, including ducklings of sea ducks that are routinely raised in coastal marine habitats. We studied the influence of water salinity on growth and survival of Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) ducklings collected from nests on Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada, in July 2001 and 2002. In 2001, 50 ducklings were partitioned into five groups (n = 10) and assigned a water salinity treatment for 6.5 days. Treatments included fresh water (<1 ppt NaCl), brackish water (11 ppt or 21 ppt), seawater (33 ppt), and a mixed regime (<1 ppt for 12 h, followed by 33 ppt for six days). In 2002, the experiment was replicated twice with different ducklings. Overall, growth rates were negatively correlated, and mortality rates positively correlated, with water salinity: 3%, 17%, and 60% of ducklings died in the <1-ppt, 11-ppt, and 21-ppt treatment groups, respectively; and 100% died in the 33-ppt and mixed-regime groups. The results confirm that fresh water is required for growth and survival of Common Eider ducklings immediately after hatch, which suggests that sources of fresh water in brood-rearing areas are an important requirement for successful reproduction.i$://BCI200510086351 PIDeVink, Jean-Michel A. Clark, Robert G. Slattery, Stuart M. Wayland, Mark 2008voIs selenium affecting body condition and reproduction in boreal breeding scaup, scoters, and ring-necked ducks?oEnvironmental Pollution 152p1t116-122MMar 2008BCI:BCI200800367734rlWhite-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Contaminants; Energetics and Nutrition; Productivity; Breeding Season;>8Elevated levels of selenium (Se) have been detected in wintering and spring-staging lesser scaup. Here, we compared spring scaup Se and mercury (Hg) levels to those of ring-necked ducks and white-winged scoters, species exhibiting increasing and decreasing boreal populations, respectively. Mercury concentrations were low in all three species. Geometric mean (95%Cl) liver Se concentrations were 6.2 (5.5-7.0), 4.6 (4.0-5.4), and 32.6 (28.4-37.3) mg/kg dry weight (dw) in scaup, ringnecks and scoters, respectively. Only scoter livers (66%) were above 33 mg/ka dw Se. Scaup and ringneck Se levels were unrelated to breeding status or lipid and protein levels; breeding scoters and females with greater lipid mass had higher Se than non-breeders. Egg and follicle concentrations in scaup and scoters were normal (mean [95%CI] = 2.3 [1.9-2.6] and 2.4 [2.1-2.7] mg/kg dw, respectively). Overall, we found no support for a relationship between selenium and boreal scaup and scoter declines, and discuss current Se threshold concentrations. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.$://BCI200800367734O "&Kelly, John P. Tappen, Sarah L. 1998pjDistribution, abundance, and implications for conservation of winter waterbirds on Tomales Bay, California Western Birds292o103-120BCI:BCI199800269069pTNSea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;We analyzed patterns of abundance and distribution of wintering waterbirds in Tomales Bay, California, on the basis of 21 baywide winter surveys over 7 years from 1989-90 to 1995-96. Total waterbird abundances averaged 21,943 (min. 14,842, max. 25,553), excluding shorebirds and gulls. Mean waterbird density was 770 birds/km2 with the greatest concentrations along the east shore and between Pelican and Tom's points. The Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, and Greater Scaup together accounted for 70% of the total waterbirds. Aerial count data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwinter Waterfowl Survey underestimated the numbers of waterbirds in comparison to our counts made from boats. Such differences adjusted for, our abundance estimates for scoters and Bufflehead appear similar to other abundances reported in the 1960s and 1970s. Compared to other coastal wetlands in California, Tomales Bay provides particularly important winter habitat for the Red-throated and Common loon, Eared and Horned grebe, Black Brant, Surf and Black scoter. Except for San Francisco Bay, Tomales Bay may provide the most important winter habitat for the Bufflehead on the Pacific coast south of the Columbia River. Waterbird distributions on Tomales Bay are associated with a dynamic array of habitat conditions. Increasing human activities in Tomales Bay and its watershed interact with these processes and conditions and suggest several concerns for conservation of winter waterbirds. Protection of waterbird populations will require particular attention to the control of human disturbance, protection of eelgrass beds, the possible effects of the herring fishery and aquaculture, and management of processes in the watershed.I$://BCI199800269069fPIKelly, Barry C. Ikonomou, Michael G. Blair, Joel D. Gobas, Frank A. P. C.\ 2008haHydroxylated and methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers in a Canadian Arctic marine food web("Environmental Science & Technology4219 7069-7077 Oct 1 2008BCI:BCI200800625313("Sea Ducks - General; Contaminants;F@Residues of hydroxylated (OH-) and methoxylated (MeO-) polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been previously detected in precipitation, surface waters, wildlife, and humans. We report measured concentrations of OH-PBDEs, MeO-PBDEs, and Br-3-Br-7 PBDEs in sediments and biota from a Canadian Arctic marine food web. PBDEs exhibited very low trophic magnification factors (TMFs between 0.1-1.6), compared to recalcitrant PCBs (TMFs between 3 and 11), indicating biotransformation via debromination and/or cytochrome P450 mediated metabolism. OH-PBDEs were not detectable in samples of blood, muscle, and/or liver of fish and marine wildlife. Five OH-PBDEs were detected at very low concentrations (range: 0.01-0.1 ng.g(-1) lipid equivalent) in beluga whale blubber and milk. The data indicate negligible formation/retention of OH-PBDEs in these Arctic marine organisms. Appreciable levels of several MeO-PBDEs were observed in bivalves, Arctic cod, sculpin, seaducks, and beluga whales (mean range 0.1-130 ng.g(-1) lipid equivalent). 2'-MeO-BDE-68 and 6-MeO-BDE-47 exhibited the highest concentrations among the brominated compounds studied (including BDE-47 and BDE-99) and biomagnified slightly in the food web, with TMFs of 2.3 and 2.6, respectively. OH- and MeO-PBDEs in this Arctic marine food web may occur via metabolic transformation of PBDEs or bioaccumulation of PBDE degradation products and/or natural marine products. We observed no evidence of a local natural source of OH- or MeO-PBDEs, as no measurable quantities of those compounds were observed in ambient environmental media (i.e., sediments) or macroalgae. Further investigations of PBDEs and their hydroxylated and methoxylated analogues would be useful to better understand sources, fate, and mechanisms governing biotransformation and bioaccumulation behavior of these compounds.$://BCI200800625313TTNKendall, Michael A. Burrows, Michael T. Southward, Alan J. Hawkins, Stephen J. 2004lePredicting the effects of marine climate change on the invertebrate prey of the birds of rocky shores Ibis 146Suppl. 1 40-47pSeptember 2004BCI:BCI2004004735800*Sea Ducks - General; Trophic Interactions;By the end of the 21st century models of climate change predict that the air temperature over most of the British Isles will increase by between 2 and 3degreeC and sea-level will rise by 40-50 cm. Over that period it will become windier and mean wave height will increase, as will the frequency of storms. These changes in climate and weather will impact the intertidal zone of the UK and will cause distribution changes in many of the common invertebrate species that live there. Where these changes are severe they may well impact on patterns of distribution of ducks and wading birds. In the British Isles a number of organisms live close to their geographical limits of distribution. Some of these species might be expected to extend their range as climatic restraints are relaxed. Species currently limited by cool summers or winter cold will move northwards. In most cases the effects on the distribution of waterbirds will be small. For example, the replacement of the Northern Limpet Patella vulgata by the Southern Limpet P. depressa is unlikely to adversely affect Eurasian Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus. Of wider concern is the possibility that as climate warms the abundance and productivity of brown algae will decrease. This is likely to have two significant effects for waders. First, it would represent a loss of potentially rich feeding grounds for species such as Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres that feed on small easily desiccated invertebrates living on or below the seaweed. Secondly, as algae die or are broken away the resulting debris is exported to sediment habitats where it considerably boosts the in situ production of bacteria at the base of the food web. An increase in sea-level will only have a major impact on the extent of rocky shore invertebrate communities where shore topography prevents the upward migration of the biota. Where a seawall limits shores, for example, biological production will be curtailed as the area available for colonization decreases. Increases in the size of waves and the frequency of storms will mimic increasing exposure and there will be a significant reduction in algal production in areas that are affected.i$://BCI200400473580 f >Q~~ Pehrsson, O. 1973xrChief Prey as a Factor Regulating Populations of Eider Somateria-Mollissima and Long-Tailed Duck Clangula-HyemalisZoologisk Revy352s 89-92BCI:BCI197560007286lzsCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Long-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Trophic Interactions; Population Dynamics;a$://BCI197560007286t Pehrsson, O. 1986f_Duckling Production of the Oldsquaw in Relation to Spring Weather and Small-Rodent Fluctuations"Canadian Journal of Zoology649 1835-1841BCI:BCI198783042174JCLong-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Productivity; Breeding Season;a<6The duckling production of the Oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis) was studied between 1969 and 1974 in Torne Lapmark in northern Sweden. The degrees of relationship among various indices of reproductive output, climatic factors, and fluctuations in small rodents were estimated. Total brood and duckling production were calculated. A correlation between first observations of broods and time of arival of spring indicated that the Oldsquaw breeds as early as possible, an adaptation to the utilization of ephemeral lakes. Peaks in duckling production correlated well with peaks in the abundance of small rodents but not as well with climatic variables. Twice as many ducklings were produced during the rodent peak years as during the intervening years, and the densities of the Oldsquaw population were highest the year after these peaks in brood production. The positive correlation between duckling production and population in size in small rodents seems to be analogous to grouse-rodent cycles, and both are best explained by the predator-shift or the alternative prey hypothesis.$://BCI198783042174$Pehrsson, O. Nystrom, K. G. K. 1988D>Growth and Movements of Oldsquaw Ducklings in Relation to Food$Journal of Wildlife Management522t185-191BCI:BCI198886036550 RLLong-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Physiology; Dispersal; Breeding Season;D=In a study of oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis) in northern Sweden from 1970 through 1974, we compared the growth rates of ducklings among years differing in brood and duckling, densities due to changing nest predation pressure. A new photographic method was used to estimate growth rates of wild ducklings. Growth rates were lower, distances traveled longer, and brood losses higher during a duckling peak year than during other years. The adverse effects on ducklings is attributed to the heavy exploitation of food resources by high numbers of ducklings released fom predation pressures when rodent populations provided an alternative source of prey for several predators. When suggest that small clutch size of oldsquaw is an adapation to a stable food resource early in the season, to unstable climate, and to predation pressure.$://BCI198886036550TMPelletier, David Guillemette, Magella Grandbois, Jean-Marc Butler, Patrick J.d 2007PJIt is time to move: linking flight and foraging behaviour in a diving birdBiology Lettersw3w4w357-359 Aug 22 2007wBCI:BCI200800272831D=Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Energetics and Nutrition;TNAlthough the adaptive value of flight may seem obvious, it is the most difficult behaviour of birds to monitor. Here, we describe a technique to quantify the frequency and the duration of flights over several months by implanting a data logger that records heart rate (f(H)), hydrostatic pressure (diving depth) and the body angle of a large sea duck species, the common eider (Somateria mollissima). According to the mean f(H) recorded during flight and the parameters recorded to identify the f(H) flight signature, we were able to identify all flights performed by 13 individuals during eight months. We cumulated local flight time (outside migrations) and found that activity occurs primarily during dawn and morning and that flying activities are strongly related to diving activities (Pearson's r=0.88, permutation test p < 0.001). This relationship was interpreted as a consequence of living in a dynamic environment where sea currents move the ducks away from the food patches. We believe that the technique described here will open new avenues of investigation in the adaptive value of flight.$://BCI200800272831hTMPelletier, David Guillemette, Magella Grandbois, Jean-Marc Butler, Patrick J. 2008f_To fly or not to fly: high flight costs in a large sea duck do not imply an expensive lifestylewD=Proceedings of the Royal Society Biological Sciences Series B 275 1647 2117-2124 Sep 22 2008BCI:BCI200800703478D=Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Energetics and Nutrition;A perennial question in ornithology is whether flight has evolved mostly to facilitate access to food or as an anti-predator strategy. However, flight is an expensive mode of locomotion and species using flight regularly are associated with an expensive lifestyle. Using heart rate (HR) data loggers implanted in 13 female common eiders (Somateria mollissima), our objective was to test the hypothesis that a high level of flight activity increases their energy budget. We used the long-term recording (seven months) of HR as an index of energy expenditure and the HR flight signature to compile all flight events. Our results indicate that the eider is one of the thriftiest volant birds with only 10 minutes of flight time per day. Consequently, we were not able to detect any effect of flight activity on their energy budget despite very high flight costs (123-149 W), suggesting that flight was controlled by energy budget limitations. However, the low flight activity of that species may also be related to their prey landscape requiring few or no large-scale movements. Nevertheless, we suggest that the (fitness) benefits of keeping flight ability in this species exceed the costs by allowing a higher survival in relation to predation and environmental harshness.$://BCI200800703478 Pelzl, H. W. 1971>7Nest Parasitism by Red-Breasted Mergansers in Wisconsin Auk881184-185BCI:BCI197107028359JCRed-breasted merganser; Mergus serrator; Behavior; Breeding Season;$://BCI197107028359e Isle an Haut region of Maine, numbers along survey routes have not shown a linear change from 1989-2002, but show a pattern of decline from 1989 to 1993 followed by increases since then. In eastern Maine, population increases are greatest and birds are expanding their winter range into new areas. All Other areas in the eastern United States South of Isle an Haut that regularly report over 50 birds show significant population increases since the 1980s, north-eastern US.d$://BCI200900160415eA Gislason, G. M. Johannsson, V. 1985jcThe Biology of the Blackfly Simulium-Vittatum Diptera Simuli("Gladden, Beverly W. Canaris, A. G. 2009Helminth Parasites of the Bufflehead Duck, Bucephala Albeola, Wintering in the Chihuahua Desert with a Checklist of Helminth Parasites Reported from This HostJournal of Parasitologyp951129-136Feb 2009BCI:BCI200900229516D>Bufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Parasites; Nonbreeding Seasons; The bufflehead duck (Bucephala albeola) (Mergini) ranges from Alaska and Canada to the United States and Mexico. Buffleheads ingest invertebrates as a major component of their food throughout life. Puddle ducks (Anatinae) change mainly to vegetable foods at all early age. Loss of helminth parasite species and abundance in the fall migration has been reported for puddle ducks. This change in food has been hypothesized to cause some of the parasite loss. Nothing was known about helminth community dynamics in wintering buffleheads, including possible loss of helminths evident in puddle ducks. Helminth communities of the buffleheads were compared between wintering localities in the Chihuahua Desert of Texas and Mexico and to results from a nesting locality in Manitoba, Canada. There were no significant differences for average helminth species richness, prevalence, or abundance between the nesting and wintering grounds. Replenishment of helminths occurred in wintering buffleheads, and abundance of some helminth species increased significantly over time. The majority of helminth life cycles were indirect. These results were mostly related to the bufflehead's continued ingestion of invertebrate foods. Seven of the 41 helminth species present in buffleheads were in common to the 3 localities. Helminth community similarities between Manitoba and Texas and Manitoba and Mexico were much lower than similarity between Texas and Mexico. The dissimilarities were mostly attributable to differences in habitats but may also indicate loss of helminth species with subsequent infections with other species. The component community of the bufflehead from the Chihuahua Desert in Texas (n = 41) consisted of 23 species of helminths (10 species of cestodes, 7 trematodes, 4 nematodes, and 2 acanthocephalans) for a total of 4,008 individual specimens. Cestodes accounted for 69% of the total abundance. The component community of B. albeola from the Chihuahua Desert in Mexico (n = 26) consisted of 18 species of helminths (7 species of cestodes, 5 trematodes, 4 nematodes, and 2 acanthocephalans) for a total of 4,345 individual specimens. Cestodes accounted for 83% of the total abundance. The bufflehead shared 10 helminth species with other species of waterfowl utilizing habitats in the Chihuahua Desert. A checklist of all helminth parasites reported for buffleheads includes 27 identified to genera, 40 to species, and 12 species from buffleheads from the Chihuahua Desert in common with buffleheads from other localities.$://BCI200900229516mBeard, Eliz B. 1951*#The trachea of the hooded merganser Wilson Bull;63 (4)e296-301\BCI:BCI19542800017432 :4Hooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Physiology;The tracheae of male and female Lophodytes cucullatus are descr., including measurements , and are compared with those of Mergus merganser americanus, M. serrator, and Mergellus albellus. || ABSTRACT AUTHORS: H. Young&://BCI19542800017432Pearce, John M. Reed, John A. Flint, Paul B;Paasivaara, Antti Rutila, Jarkko Poysa, Hannu Runko, Pentti 2010|vDo parasitic common goldeneye Bucephala clangula females choose nests on the basis of host traits or nest site traits?Journal of Avian Biology416662-671Nov 2010BCI:BCI201100043228F@Common Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Behavior; Breeding Season;6/Conspecific brood parasitism (CBP) is an important alternative breeding strategy for gaining reproductive output in birds. While interactions between hosts and parasites and consequences of CBP to breeding success of both parties have been studied a lot, the roles of host characteristics and nest site characteristics in CBP have received less attention. We studied the relative importance of host-related traits, such as female condition and breeding experience, and nest-site-related factors, such as overall nest site preference and occupation rate, in explaining the occurrence of CBP in a common goldeneye Bucephala clangula population. We used spatially and temporally extensive data sets, analysed the data with generalized linear mixed models that allowed us to account for the non-independency of individual nesting attempts across females and nesting sites, and used an information theoretic approach in model selection and inference. About half of the nests were parasitized annually during the seven year study period. The occurrence of CBP decreased with advancement of the breeding season but late nests were also frequently parasitized. We found that the occurrence of CBP was better explained by nest-site characteristics than host traits, implying that parasitic females target a given nest based on factors related to the nest site itself rather than on the host. Our results suggest that more attention should be paid to factors associated with nest site attractiveness and quality when studying laying decisions of parasites and the occurrence of CBP in general.h$://BCI20110004322827O"Reed, John A. Flint, Paul L. 2007piMovements and foraging effort of Steller's Eiders and Harlequin Ducks wintering near Dutch Harbor, Alaskap"Journal of Field Ornithology782124-132Jun 2007BCI:BCI200700395313zHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Steller's eider; Polysticta stelleri; Dispersal; Behavior; Nonbreeding Seasons; We studied the movements and foraging effort of radio-marked Steller's Eiders (Polysticta stelleri) and Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) to evaluate habitat quality in an area impacted by industrial activity near Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Foraging effort was relatively low, with Steller's Eiders foraging only 2.7 +/- 0.6 (SE) hours per day and Harlequin Ducks 4.1 +/- 0.5 hours per day. Low-foraging effort during periods of high-energetic demand generally suggests high food availability, and high food availability frequently corresponds with reductions in home range size. However, the winter ranges of Harlequin Ducks did not appear to be smaller than usual, with the mean range size in our study (5.5 +/- 1.1 km(2)) similar to that reported by previous investigators. The mean size of the winter ranges of Steller's Eiders was similar (5.1 +/- 1.3 km(2)), but no comparable estimates are available. Eutrophication of the waters near Dutch Harbor caused by seafood processing and municipal sewage effluent may have increased populations of the invertebrate prey of these sea ducks and contributed to their low-foraging effort. The threat of predation by Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) that winter near Dutch Harbor may cause Steller's Eiders and Harlequin Ducks to move further offshore when not foraging, contributing to an increase in range sizes. Thus, the movement patterns and foraging behavior of these ducks likely represent a balance between the cost and benefits of wintering in a human-influenced environment.$://BCI20070039531360Reed, John A. Lacroix, Deborah L. Flint, Paul L. 2007{Depredation of Common Eider, Somateria mollissima, Nests on a Central Beaufort Sea Barrier Island: A Case Where No One Wins Canadian Field-Naturalist 121w3w308-312 Jul-Sep 2007BCI:BCI200900211181^WCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima;Trophic Interactions; Productivity; Breeding Season; Along the central Beaufort Sea. Pacific Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima v-nigra) nest on unvegetated, barrier islands: often near nesting Glaucous Gulls (Larus hyperboreus). Nest-site choice likely reflects a strategy of predator avoidance: nesting on islands to avoid mammalian predators and near territorial gulls to avoid other avian predators. We observed a nesting colony of Common Eiders from first nest initiation through nesting termination on Egg Island near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska (2002 - 2003). Resident gulls depreciated many eider nests, mostly during initiation. All nests failed when an Arctic Fox (Alopex lagopus) visited the island and flushed hens from their nests, exposing the eggs to depredation by the fox and gulls (resident and non-resident). Common Eiders actively defended nests from gulls, but not from foxes. Likely all three species (i.e.. eiders, gulls. and foxes) ultimately achieved negligible benefit from their nest-site selection or predatory activity: (a) island nesting provided no safety from mammalian predators for ciders or gulls. (b) for Common Eiders, nesting near gulls increased egg loss, (c) for Glaucous Gulls, nesting near colonial ciders may have reduced nest success by attracting the fox, and (d) for Arctic Foxes, the depredation was of questionable value, as most eggs were cached and probably not recoverable (due to damage from fall storms). Thus, the predator-prey interactions we observed appear to be a case where little or no fitness advantage was realized by any of the species involved.$://BCI2009002111810B://BCI200100278222Haukas, Marianne Hylland, Ketil Berge, John Arthur Nygard, Torgeir Mariussen, Espen(!Haszard, Shannon Clark, Robert G.i 2007ZSWetland use by white-winged scoters (Melanitta fusca) in the Mackenzie Delta region{Wetlands274n855-8635Dec 2007BCI:BCI200800076986pF?White-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Habitat; Breeding Season;XRReasons for apparent declines in populations of white-winged scoters (Melanitta fusca) in the northern boreal forest are not well understood, but some evidence suggests factors associated with the breeding grounds may be responsible. Climate warming or increased forest fire frequency could adversely affect upland or wetland breeding habitats or key food sources for breeding females or ducklings, which in turn may lower productivity. However, very little is known about wetland habitat preferences of scoters. Determining what habitat features scoters need to breed successfully and whether changes in boreal forest breeding habitat affect scoter productivity are important steps towards understanding their ecology and developing appropriate conservation initiatives. Thus, our overall goal was to characterize features of wetlands used by scoter pairs and broods. Additionally, we compared features of wetlands surrounded by recently burned versus unburned forest to investigate whether fire-induced changes in wetland productivity, water chemistry, or amphipod abundance could affect patterns of scoter habitat use. Scoter pairs and broods used wetlands with more abundant amphipods, a finding that is consistent with other waterfowl studies. However, unlike some previous waterfowl studies, we did not find consistent positive correlations between total phosphorus levels and amphipod abundance or wetland use by scoters. We did not detect differences in our measured water chemistry variables, indices of wetland productivity, or amphipod abundance between wetlands surrounded by burned versus unburned forest.$://BCI2008000769866310414-424BCI:BCI197107045642.d^Long-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;$://BCI197107045642i"Mazak, E. J. Macisaac, H. J. 1994VPDietary exposure to organic contaminants of waterfowl that consume zebra musselsAmerican Zoologist345 60ABCI:BCI199699029329NHCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;$://BCI199699029329UGauthier, Gilles 1993$Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)Birds of North America067 1-23BCI:BCI199497168996 JDBufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Breeding Season; Nonbreeding Seasons;$://BCI199497168996nGautschi, B. Koller, B. 2005NGPolymorphic microsatellite markers for the goosander (Mergus merganser)Molecular Ecology Notest5f1{133-134} Mar 05BCI:BCI200510007062m6/Common merganser; Mergus merganser; Techniques;,To investigate the population genetic structure of the goosander (Mergus merganser) in Europe and to identify populations with a significant conservation value, we isolated nine microsatellite loci, and screened them in the subspecies Mergus merganser merganser and Mergus merganser americanus. All markers were polymorphic with two to 15 alleles per locus. Average observed and expected heterozygosity values were 0.422 and 0.624, respectively, for the European and 0.497 and 0.667, respectively, for the North American subspecies. Only one marker departed significantly from Hardy-Weinberg expectations in both subspecies. This marker was highly variable but homozygous in all females, suggesting a sex-linked inheritance.$://BCI200510007062:3Gebauer, Martin B. Dobos, Rob Z. Weseloh, D. Vaughn 1992D>Waterbird surveys at Hamilton Harbour, Lake Ontario, 1985-1988&Journal of Great Lakes Researche183g420-439BCI:BCI199395047689f`Sea Ducks - General; Common merganser; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;"Waterbird surveys were conducted at Hamilton Harbour and Windermere Basin from 1985-88 to help assess current wildlife usage of Burlington Bay vis-a-vis the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for Hamilton Harbour. A total of 43 and 32 waterbird species (not including shorebirds) was recorded at Hamilton Harbour and Windermere Basin, respectively. Generally, more species of loons and grebes and aquatic raptors such as osprey and bald eagle were found at Hamilton Harbour than at Windermere Basin. Species such as mallard and Canada goose which key into unnatural food sources at marinas and golf courses, and double-crested cormorants, associated with a growing colony, were present in large numbers at Hamilton Harbour. Large numbers of common mergansers congregated on the harbour in early winter before freeze-up. On average, waterbirds were found in greater numbers at Windermere Basin. The large numbers of scaup and dabbling ducks, such as black duck and mallard, present at Windermere Basin were attracted by the warm water, low disturbance, and abundant available food source. The ice-free conditions at Windermere Basin also attracted regionally rare wintering species such as northern pintail, northern shoveler, ruddy duck, and green-winged teal. Survey results were compared to unpublished survey data from Cootes Paradise and published results of the annual mid-winter waterfowl survey of western Lake Ontario. The importance of Hamilton Harbour and Windermere Basin to migratory waterbirds should be considered regarding future clean-up of Burlington Bay.$://BCI199395047689mDfd Schamel, D.t 1977`YBreeding of the Common Eider Somateria-Mollissima on the Beaufort Sea Coast of Alaska USAt Condor794r478-485BCI:BCI197866007463rRKCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Productivity; Breeding Season; Habitat;Common eiders breeding along the coast of the Beaufort Sea, Alaska [USA], have adapted well to the problems of a brief nesting period and predators. By arriving already paired at the time of break-up, they minimize the pre-laying period. These eiders appear to avoid fox predation by nesting almost exclusively on offshore islands and postponing nesting attempts until the islands are surrounded by open water. Only the earliest nesting birds maintain a pair bond through the 1st few days of incubation. This allows for rapid renesting in the event of predation. Females choose nest sites that offer camoflage, wind protection and sufficient elevation to avoid flooding. Males are brightly colored, but staying away from nests help to keep them hidden. Although eiders did not nest close together, they seemed to cluster just inside the territorial boundaries of glaucous gulls. These nests were more successful than those elsewhere in the colony studied.$://BCI197866007463 Schamel, D.o 1978:3Bird Use of a Beaufort Sea Barrier Island in Summerl Canadian Field-Naturalistl921l 55-60BCI:BCI197866032216ejdLong-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Molt; Nonbreeding Seasons;(!The number and distribution of birds near a barrier island west of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska [USA] were recorded during the phenologically late summer of 1972. During eastward (spring) migration, most birds were restricted to a small area of open water in the nearby river delta. Although numerous eiders (Somateria sp.) fed and rested in the island area during spring migration, few did so in late summer, when oldsquaws (Clangula hyemalis) and red phalaropes (Phalaropus fulicarius) congregated near the island. [Additional birds in the area were Gavia adamsii, G. arctica, G. stellata, Somateria mollissima var. nigra, S. spectabilis, Larus hyperboreus and Sterna paradisaea. Only 4 plant species were found: Honckenya peploides, Mertensia maritima, Elymus arenarius mollis and Puccinellia phryganodes.].$://BCI197866032216Scheel, Henning0 1964 The sea eagle and its food Gron Land2 92-97BCI:BCI19664700024996TNCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;jdThe se eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) is still fairly common along Greenland's west coast. It does not take newborn lambs but feeds mostly on salmon during the summer. When lakes and streams freeze it takes eider ducks and other sea birds. It captures diving birds as they come to the surface and does not take birds in flight. || ABSTRACT AUTHORS: V. Flyger&://BCI1966470002499660Scheiffarth, G. Frank, D. Bradter, U. Thoden, B. 2006>8Crushing shells in a stomach: more than simple mechanicsJournal of Ornithology 147t 5, Suppl. 1{ 246pAug 2006BCI:BCI200700133016p6/Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Physiology;$://BCI200700133016i*$Scheiffarth, Gregor Becker, Peter H. 2008~xRoosting waterbirds at the Osterems, German Wadden Sea: seasonal and spatial trends studied by aerial and ground surveysSenckenbergiana Maritima382p137-142Dec 2008BCI:BCI200900233531TNSea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;jcWaterbirds migrating through and wintering in the Wadden Sea depend on undisturbed roost sites close to their feeding areas. Birds at these remote places are, however, often not counted within standard monitoring programmes. As in the Osterems a new remote sandbank island, the Kachelotplate, is emerging, we initiated a Pilot Study based on aerial counts to evaluate the importance of this island as roost site for waterbirds in the context of the Surrounding islands. To check for the representativeness of the aerial Counts, we compared numbers (i) on one occasion with a synchronous ground survey, and (ii) all aerial Counts with the long-term average for chose areas regularly covered by ground Counts. Numbers of birds in flocks counted during synchronous aerial and ground counts were in good agreement. Nevertheless, birds in structured areas and small waders were difficult to count from the air. In general, a calibration of aerial Counts and long-term experience is necessary to obtain realistic results by Counting waterbirds from an aeroplane. Waterbirds in the Osterems showed the typical seasonal phenology for the East-Frisian Wadden Sea. Given the size of the study area, bird numbers were relatively high. Besides the Kachelotplate, which was important for the Common Eider and gulls for roosting, another remote island, Lutje Horn, was of paramount importance as roost site, in particular for the Eurasian Oystercatcher, Eurasian Curlew, and in spring for terns. A clear distinction could be made between outer, open islands like the Kachelotplate, which were used by birds feeding on pelagic food Sources, and sheltered areas, used by benthic foragers, Supporting the idea that birds try to reduce travelling costs between feeding and roosting areas. Furthermore, the Study underlined the importance of remote, undisturbed roosting areas for waterbirds in the Wadden Sea.a$://BCI200900233531rJonsson, Jon Einar Petersen, Aevar Garoarsson, Arnpor Gunnarsson, Tomas G. 2009("Population overview of eider ducksNatturufraedingurinn78 1-2 46-56BCI:BCI200900508198k:3Steller's eider; Polysticta stelleri; ConsPJJonsson, Jon Einar Petersen, Aevar Garoarsson, Arnpor Gunnarsson, Tomas G. 2009("Population overview of eider ducksNatturufraedingurinn78 1-2r 46-56 BCI:BCI200900508198l:3Spectacled Eider; Somateria fischeri; Conservation;Seabird populations are much discussed because of possible impacts of global climate change. Eider ducks (Somatereae) are a monophyletic group comprised of four species of specialized ducks that all live along the Arctic coastline. Most populations are listed as of special concern with a few exceptions, notably the Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) in Iceland. The other species are King Eider (S. spectabilis), Spectacled Eider (S. fischeri) and Steller's Eider (Polysticta stelleri). Many populations are hunted, especially those of Common Eider and King Eider, where over-harvest has been implicated as the cause of population declines. All eider duck species face disturbances from human activities, i.e. from oil spills, contaminants, and drowning in gill-nets. Climate change might increase the occurrences of inclement weather at the highest latitudes, which is likely to negatively impact eiders. However, reduced sea ice near breeding grounds could be beneficial on a local scale. Eider duckling survival is relatively low during first days of life because they are sensitive to food shortage, weather and predators during that time. However, there are few data that indicate that production limits eider duck populations because adult survival is the key factor for population stability among long-living species. Future research is critical as future prospects of eider ducks greatly depend on impending changes and human activities throughout their range.I$://BCI200900508198n{ x Fox, A. D. 2003\VDiet and habitat use of scoters Melanitta in the Western Palearctic - a brief overviewWildfowl54163-182sBCI:BCI200400435140TvoBlack Scoter; Melanitta nigra; White-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;s(!If patterns of scoter distribution and abundance are to be understood, there is a need to know upon which prey items these birds feed, how they obtain these prey items and the habitats from which these food items are most easily harvested. Dietary studies and descriptions of habitats exploited by Common and Velvet Scoter in the non-breeding season are reviewed. The existing literature strongly suggests that, outside of the breeding season, these species forage mainly upon marine bivalve molluscs (especially those less than 4cm long) that live on the surface or within the upper 3cm of clean, coarse, sandy substrates in waters less than 20m deep. Although there is a large energetic cost to diving, handling and crushing such prey prior to digestion, such sedentary prey items often occur in very high densities, offering a locally abundant and predictable feeding resource. Since single species often dominate the diet, but dominant food items differ between feeding areas, it seems likely that scoters simply take whatever prey is locally available in sufficient abundance to fulfil nutritional needs. Large differences in documented prey size frequency distributions suggest that scoters may not select for specific prey size classes below an upper digestive limit. However, in the absence of any precise understanding of how scoters obtain their prey, nor any simultaneous studies of available benthic food abundance and size class distributions in scoter diets, it is not possible to confirm if differences simply reflect differences in profitability between different prey at different sites at different times of the year. There remains a considerable need to study the basic feeding ecology and the behaviour of scoters and their prey if their patterns of distribution and abundance are to be better understood. $://BCI20040043514004.Fox, Anthony D. Hartmann, Poul Petersen, Ib K. 2008`ZChanges in body mass and organ size during remigial moult in common scoter Melanitta nigraJournal of Avian Biology391l 35-40lJan 2008BCI:BCI200800134918af_Black Scoter; Melanitta nigra; Energetics and Nutrition; Physiology; Molt; Nonbreeding Seasons;C(!The "cost-benefit" hypothesis states that avian body organs show mass changes consistent with the trade-off between their functional importance and maintenance cost, which may vary throughout the annual cycle. Flightless moulting common scoter Melanitta nigra in Danish marine waters select rich undisturbed offshore feeding areas lacking predators, suggesting active feeding during moult. We tested four predictions relating to organ size during flightlessness in moulting male common scoter under this hypothesis. Namely that (i) pectoral muscles would show atrophy followed by hypertrophy, but that there would be no change in (ii) leg muscles and heart (the locomotory architecture required to sustain diving for food), (iii) digestive organs and liver (required to process food), or (iv) fat deposits (because birds could fulfil daily energy requirements from locally abundant food resources). Dissection of scoters collected at different stages during wing moult south of the Danish island of L ae so provided data on organ size that were consistent with these predictions. Pectoral muscle mass showed a c.23% atrophy during the middle of the flightless period relative to that at the end of moult. There was no significant loss in leg muscle, heart, digestive organs (except gizzard mass), liver, fat reserves or body mass with remigial growth. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that common scoter moult in a rich feeding area, and rely on their diet to meet the nutritional requirements of remigial moult. These results differ in detail from those of a similar study of terrestrial feeding moulting greylag geese Anser anser, but because of the widely differing ecology of the species concerned, both sets of findings provide strong support for the hypothesis that variations in phenotypic plasticity in size of fat stores, locomotor and digestive organs can be interpreted as evolutionary adaptations to meet the conflicting needs (feather growth, nutritional challenges and predator avoidance) of the flightless moult period in different Anatidae species.B$://BCI200800134918cma; Physiology;Three eider ducks were handled every 4 min for 16 min to measure their cloacal temperature. This simple handling triggered a rise in their core temperatures from 41.5+-0.6degreeC at minute 0 to 43.5+-0.5degreeC at minute 16. This increase in body temperature occurred with no obvious motor load from the eiders, but was facilitated by peripheral vasoconstriction and, moreover, was blocked significantly by salicylate, suggesting that the increase in temperature was due to fever. After 10 days of similar handling, the mean fever-like responses displayed by the ducks was significantly lower than their responses of day one, showing a habituation to the emotional stimulation. The eider's heart rate was measured continuously before, during and for a 10-min session following a 1-min handling period. Results showed that the eiders displayed a tachycardia during handling and for 2-3 min posthandling. Such tachycardia is another sign of emotion in animals (Am J Psychol 39 (1927) 106). Our study showed therefore that eider ducks are prone to emotions and, when emotionally stressed, will display a fever-like response and a tachycardia. Our results on ducks are similar to responses obtained from studies on more terrestrial birds in similar conditions (e.g., chicken (Physiol Behav 69 (2000) 541)), but are in opposition to the bradycardia and the observed decreases in temperature (Hvalradets Skr 22 (1940) 1; Acta Physiol Scand 46 (1959) 231) of birds forcibly submerged.$://BCI200200100480i and its surrounding wetlands be restored as a means of increasing waterbird species richness overall, and protecting regional populations of globally threatened or near-threatened species (Dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispus, red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis, ferruginous pochard Aythya nyroca, white-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala, corn crake Crex crex, great snipe Gallinago media, black-winged pratincole Glareola nordmanni, white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla).$://BCI200200403098t>\ H(XRCamphuysen, Kees C. J. Barreveld, Hein Dahlmann, Gerhard Van Franeker, Jan Andries 1999XQSeabirds in the North Sea demobilized and killed by polyisobutylene (C4H8)n (PIB) Marine Pollution Bulletin3812 1171-1176 Dec., 1999BCI:BCI200000093344HABlack Scoter; Melanitta nigra; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;eThis paper reports on a mass stranding of seabirds in the North Sea in December 1998. Hundreds of birds were washed ashore alive in Zeeland (SW Netherlands), covered in a whitish, sticky substance, and were transported to a rehabilitation centre. About 10 days later, more (dead) casualties washed ashore further to the north on Texel and along the mainland coast, again covered in a glue-like substance. Common guillemots Uria aalge, northern fulmars Fulmarus glacialis and common scoters Melanitta nigra were the most numerous birds affected in this incident. Both strandings were temporarily (10 days) and geographically separated (ca. 120 km apart), but were apparently caused by a single source of pollution. The meteorology at the time was consistent with the course of a single incident. At least 1100 seabirds were affected by this substance, soon identified as polyisobutylene (C4H8)n. PIB is known as a non-toxic, non-aggressive substance. Volunteers cleaning the birds in the rehabilitation centre reported serious discomfort and dizziness and the soft parts of the PIB-affected birds found dead (bill, eye, throat, feet, webs) appeared to dissolve in a few days time. Both effects cannot be attributed to PIB, and are therefore unexplained. Although the dumping of PIB in the marine environment is not explicitly prohibited under MARPOL, the effects on wildlife observed are enough to plead for counter-measures.$://BCI200000093344vCamphuysen, C. J. Berrevoets, C. M. Cremers, H. J. W. M. Dekinga, A. Dekker, R. Ens, B. J. van der Have, T. M. Kats, R. K. H. Kuiken, T. Leopold, M. F. Van der Meer, J. Piersma, T. 2002Mass mortality of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in the Dutch Wadden Sea, winter 1999/2000: Starvation in a commercially exploited wetland of international importanceBiological Conservation 1063303-317 August, 2002BCI:BCI200200424781^XCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Survival; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;Mass mortality of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) was observed in winter 1999/2000 in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Approximately 21,000 common eiders died. Dissected birds were severely emaciated and 94% were infected with the acanthocephalan parasite Profilicollis botulus. Green shore crabs (Carcinus maenas), intermediate hosts of the parasite, were slightly more 'available' than in other years, but parasite infections in the eiders were close to normal. Few eiders were oiled (5%), there were no toxicological, bacteriological, or virological explanations for the observed mortality. In the Wadden Sea, a wetland of international importance, mussel (Mytilus edulis) cultures occur in sublittoral areas, while mechanical cockle (Cerastoderma edule) fisheries are licensed annually after evaluation of available resources. The wintering eiders in 1999/2000 required c. 3.1 million kg ash-free dry mass, while information on mussel and cockle stocks (irrespective of accessibility and profitability) suggested a resource 4.7X the requirement of common eiders only. Food shortage is suggested to have caused the observed mortality, involving both principal (mussels and cockles) and secondary (Spisula) prey. Winter census reports showed shifts in wintering distribution of common eiders in the 1990s, indicating the utilisation of Spisula in the North Sea in poor food years in the Wadden Sea. Following particularly intense fisheries in summer 1999, attempts to feed on Spisula in winter 1999/2000 failed. It is hypothesised that overfishing of mussels and cockles in the Wadden Sea in the early 1990s resulted in structurally reduced food resources, contractions of the foraging area of common eiders, and increased use of secondary prey in the North Sea.$://BCI200200424781&Cantin, M. Bedard, J. Milne, H.p 1974\UThe Food and Feeding of Common Eiders in the St-Lawrence Estuary Canada USA in Summer "Canadian Journal of Zoology523o319-334sBCI:BCI197458065497PJCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Trophic Interactions; Breeding Season;$://BCI1974580654972+Cao, Lei Zhang, Yong Barter, Mark Lei, Gang 2010pjAnatidae in eastern China during the non-breeding season: Geographical distributions and protection statusBiological Conservationn 143 3p650-659Mar 2010BCI:BCI201000323864ztSea Ducks - General; Common Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;Eastern China's Anatidae are globally important, occurring in large numbers and exhibiting very high diversity; however populations have declined greatly since the 1950s due to habitat loss and degradation, and poaching. To meet the urgent need for up-to-date conservation information, we conducted extensive surveys of the region's inland and coastal wetlands to collect data on current Anatidae numbers, distributions and key sites. This paper provides information on the non-breeding distributions of 27 species and how these have changed during the last 30 years, and discusses the protection status afforded to Anatidae and their habitats. About 80% of eastern China's Anatidae occur at inland wetlands, predominantly within the Yangtze River floodplain. Current distributions of most species are different to those of the late-1970s; range contraction, range shift and northward expansion have occurred. Approximately 45% of the total Anatidae population, and high proportions of five globally threatened species populations, were located within National Nature Reserves: coverage could be increased to ca. 65% by inclusion of additional important Anatidae sites within the National Reserve system. However, a number of important issues, such as management skilling and control of land use within reserves, need to be addressed if National Nature Reserves are to provide satisfactory protection for Anatidae. it is also highly desirable that the China National List of Protected Animals include all the relevant Anatidae species on the IUCN Red List to provide a high level of protection for globally threatened species. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.$://BCI201000323864eD/ Daniel Trust, Kimberly A. Ballachey, Brenda E. Iverson, Samuel A. Lewis, Tyler L. Rizzolo, Daniel J. Mulcahy, Daniel M. Miles, A. Keith Woodin, Bruce R. Stegeman, John J. Henderson, John D. Wilson, Barry W.q 2010yCytochrome P4501a Biomarker Indication of Oil Exposure in Harlequin Ducks up to 20 Years after the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill,&Environmental Toxicology aRonconi, Robert A. 2006Predicting bird oiling events at oil sands tailings ponds and assessing the importance of alternate waterbodies for waterfowl: A preliminary assessmento Canadian Field-Naturalistp 1201 1-96 Jan-Mar 2006BCI:BCI200700503317("Sea Ducks - General; Contaminants;~xTailings ponds are an integral part of oil sands mining development in northeastern Alberta, but waterfowl and shorebirds often land in these ponds during spring migration where they may become covered with oil. For decades, managers have developed and implemented methods for deterring birds from landing in these ponds, yet no deterrent strategy is fully effective. Therefore, to enhance deterrence strategies, it will be important to understand the environmental conditions that influence bird use of tailings ponds. This study quantified waterfowl flights over, and use of, tailings ponds and compared this use to waterfowl activity at natural waterbodies in the region over a single spring migration period. Results suggest that waterfowl are most likely to land on tailings ponds before lakes have thawed, after which migratory ducks appeared mainly to use natural waterbodies for migratory stopover sites. Very high numbers of waterfowl were observed on one waterbody, Kearl Lake, suggesting that this lake may be of greater importance to spring staging waterfowl than previously thought. A small sample of birds oiled at tailings ponds were examined in relation to spring weather conditions. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the probability of birds being oiled tended to increase with precipitation levels. Results of this study suggest that (1) preservation of natural waterbodies may play an important role in minimizing bird use of tailings ponds, and (2) future bird deterrence efforts should especially aim to deter birds during rainy weather conditions when birds may be more likely to become oiled. These results were from a small sample size, are preliminary in nature, and should be interpreted with caution. A concerted and careful effort to collect and thoroughly analyze long-term records of oiled birds may reveal important environmental effects predicting bird oiling events.$://BCI200700503317i\VRonka, Mia T. H. Saari, C. Lennart V. Lehikoinen, Esa A. Suomela, Janne Hakkila, Kauko 2005^XEnvironmental changes and population trends of breeding waterfowl in northern Baltic Sea Annales Zoologici Fennicip426p587-602 Dec 21 2005BCI:BCI200600194533PJSea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season;Causes behind the changes in waterfowl populations in the Archipelago Sea, SW Finland, have until now not been quantitatively analysed. We modelled the impact of eutrophication, winter severity, weather conditions during breeding and water salinity on the breeding populations of ten waterfowl species (ducks, great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus and coot Fulica atra) using generalised linear models and the program TRIM (TRends and Indices in Monitoring data). The populations of the goldeneye Bucephala clangula, coot and velvet scoter Melanitta fusca decreased with increasing eutrophication. The populations of the goldeneye, coot, mallard Anas platyrhynchos, mute swan Cygnus olor and eider Somateria mollissima were most vulnerable to winter severity. We did not find evidence for impacts of weather conditions during breeding or water salinity on population trends. We also discuss alternative explanations to the observed population trends, such as predation and disturbance.$://BCI200600194533 s, Ramunas Bellebaum, Jochen Osterblom, Henrik Vetemaa, Markus Schirmeister, Bernd Stipniece, Antra Dagys, Mindaugas van Eerden, Mennobart Garthe, Stefan  2009RLBycatch in gillnet fisheries - An overlooked threat to waterbird populationsBiological Conservation 1427 1269-1281Jul 2009BCI:BCI200900430319("Sea Ducks - General; Conservation;zsBird mortality in fishing gear is a global conservation issue and it is recognised that bycatch in indZicus, Michael C. 2000<5Undetected eggs: A waterfowl nest box survey problem? Canadian Field-Naturalist 1142s292-295aApril-June, 2000BCI:BCI200100025444LEHooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Techniques; Breeding Season;I assessed rates at which unhatched Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), and Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) eggs broke in and/or disappeared from nest boxes over winter. Eggs of different species remained intact at significantly different rates (P < 0.001). Evidence from unhatched Hooded Merganser eggs appeared to be most detectable (92-97%), followed by those of Wood Ducks (77-89%), and Common Goldeneyes (53-92%). These species are sometimes sympatric, and differential detection of unhatched eggs in winter nest box surveys could cause species differences in the proportion of nesting attempts detected as well as a differential positive bias in estimates of production from known nests.$://BCI200100025444a82Zicus, Michael C. Rave, David P. Riggs, Michael R. 2004RKFactors influencing incubation egg-mass loss for three species of waterfowl\ Condor 106 3m506-516p August 2004BCI:BCI200400400254qHBCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Physiology; Breeding Season;Many bird eggs lose apprx15% of their fresh mass before pipping, but individual species have been reported to lose 10-23%. Most published estimates have been imprecise due to small sample sizes. Moreover, published estimates of within- or among-species variance components of mass loss are virtually unknown. We modeled the influence of nest type, clutch size, and egg size on daily mass loss of Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), and Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) eggs and compared fractional mass loss among species. Mallard eggs in artificial nest cylinders lost more mass than those in ground nests, but were unaffected by nest initiation date. Average sized eggs in Mallard ground nests, Mallard cylinder nests, and Common Goldeneye and Hooded Merganser nest boxes lost 7.9 g (15.2%) 10.8 g (20.3%), 10.3 g (15.5%), and 9.2 g (15.8%) of fresh mass, respectively. For all species, daily mass loss increased as incubation progressed and was affected by an interaction between egg size and incubation time, but was not influenced by clutch size. Depending on species, smallest eggs lost 1.0-4.0% more of their fresh mass than did the largest. Egg-mass variability was partitioned into years, nests within years, and eggs within nests and years. Variability was evenly distributed among the variance components in Mallard ground nests; however, among-eggs within-nest variance predominated in nest cylinders. In contrast, among-nests variation was the dominant source for goldeneyes and mergansers. Nest-site selection and egg size likely involve trade-offs among optimum egg-mass loss and nest and hatchling survival.$://BCI200400400254dS leBrodeur, Serge Savard, Jean-Pierre L. Robert, Michel Bourget, Andre Fitzgerald, Guy Titman, Rodger D. 2008b\Abundance and Movements of Harlequin Ducks Breeding on Rivers of the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec Waterbirds31 Sp. Iss. 2122-129BCI:BCI200900160423rkHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Dispersal; Breeding Season;In 1996, a Study to locate and describe breeding Sites, estimate pair densities and document brood movements of Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) was conducted oil selected rivers of the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec. Pair densities oil the Port-Daniel, Sainte-Anne and Madeleine River systems were low: 0.32, 0.10 and 0.06 pairs/km, respectively. Six VHF radiotransmitters were implanted in nesting females oil the Port-Daniel and Sainte-Anne Rivers. Two Successful nests were located oil cliff ledges and one unsuccessful nest was located oil the ground oil all island. These nests represented the first recorded for the eastern North American Harlequin Duck population. Of the marked hens, two successfully hatched ducklings. One was followed for a month until the female was killed by a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). The brood used a six kill stretch Of the Sainte-Anne River during that period. The other brood was tracked for two months and concentrated its activities along a three kill stretch of the Port-Daniel River. The female was located in coastal waters near Newport oil 24 August 1996. Two of the marked females from the Port-Daniel River and one from the Sainte-Anne River migrated to Bonaventure Island, where they likely molted. A female captured oil the Port-Daniel River was killed by a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicencis) before its nesting status was confirmed. A female from the Port-Daniel River was located at the Sally islands, Maine, oil 5 December 1996. The study confirmed the importance of the Gaspe Peninsula Rivers for breeding Harlequin Ducks and the use of adjacent coastal molting sites by postbreeding females. It also established a link with the major Maine wintering area.$://BCI200900160423r\VBrodeur, Serge Savard, Jean-Pierre L. Robert, Michel Titman, Rodger D. Fitzgerald, Guy 2008TNFailure Time and Fate of Harlequin Ducks Implanted with Satellite Transmitters Waterbirds31 Sp. Iss. 2183-187nBCI:BCI200900160431<6Harlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Techniques;The recent use of abdominally-implanted satellite transmitters to track movements of waterfowl is rapidly filling gaps in our understanding of their population structure and affinities. However, premature loss of transmitter signals is of serious concern. Such loss occurred in 21 our of 25 satellite transmitters implanted in Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) in 1996-4998. The tracking of eight birds captured while migrating along the shores of Forillon National Park, Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, and the resightings of some of these birds after transmitter failure is detailed. The birds were followed for three to 373 d (mean = 127 d, SD = 82 d) until transmitter signal was lost, but four birds were resighted 493 to 1,474 d after the surgical procedures. These results indicate that premature failure of the transmitter is a common cause of signal loss, even when the battery voltage is adequate at the time of loss. Harlequin Ducks drakes implanted with satellite radios are able to live long after the transmitter has failed.$://BCI200900160431a2+Broman, D. Naf, C. Lundbergh, I. Zebuhr, Y. 1990An in Situ Study on the Distribution Biotransformation and Flux of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Pahs in an Aquatic Food Chain Seston Mytilus-Edulis L. And Somateria-Mollissima L. From the Baltic an Ecotoxicological Perspective,&Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry94429-442BCI:BCI19909002326481Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Contaminants;This in situ study is focusing on the distribution, biotransformation and flux of 19 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH19) in the food chain seston-blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.)-common eider duck (Somateria mollissima L.) as well as the distribution of the gallbladder, liver, adipose tissue and egg of the duck. All samples were collected within the open northern Baltic proper coastal areas. Analyses were carried out by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with electron impact (GC-MSEI) and negative ion chemical ionization (GC-MSNICI). With a multivariate statistical method (SIMCA) a significant change in the PAH composition through the food chain was found. This change probably depends on an increasing metabolic activity with increasing trophic level, due to a selective biotransformation capacity for different PAHs. Decreasing PAH concentrations with increasing trophic level were found. The PAH concentrations in the different eider duck organs were: gallbladder > adipose tissue .gtoreq. liver. The theoretical inhalation of air-dispersed PAHs was of no significance compared to the exposure from food. The relatively high theoretical PAH flux through the food chain did not result in increasing concentrations with increasing trophic level, which indicates that PAHs are biotransformed quite fast. However, many intermediate metabolites of PAHs have a mutagenic and carcinogenic potential, which makes it important to observe these compounds when assessing ecotoxicological risks.$://BCI199090023264Schummer, Michael L. Petrie, Scott A. Bailey, Robert C. 2008zInteraction between macroinvertebrate abundance and habitat use by diving ducks during winter on northeastern Lake Ontario&Journal of Great Lakes Research341} 54-71Mar 2008BCI:BCI200800314167JCCommon Gol>7Schummer, Michael L. Petrie, Scott A. Bailey, Robert C. 2008ZTDietary overlap of sympatric diving ducks during winter on northeastern Lake Ontario Aukl 125G2e425-433rApr 2008BCI:BCI200800567423qVPCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;LEFood resources available to diving ducks wintering on the Great Lakes have changed dramatically since the introduction of dreissenid mussels (Dreissena bugensis and D. polymorpha). We investigated the diets of Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola), Common Goldeneyes (B. clangula), and Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis) during winter, 2002-2004, on northeastern Lake Ontario and determined the levels of dietary overlap. Dietary niche-breadth values were low, and dietary overlap values (prey size and type) were high for all species. Ducks primarily consumed high-quality, energy-dense prey (Amphipoda, Chironomidae), which were abundant. Our results highlighted three patterns: (1) dreissenid mussels constituted 85% of the macroinvertebrate community in Lake Ontario but were consumed in relatively low amounts during winter, (2) foods of high energy-density such as Amphipoda and Chironomidae were likely abundant enough for ducks to selectively feed on them, and (3) some constraint caused ducks to select energy-dense prey instead of the most available items (dreissenid mussels). Although the abundance of prey may have allowed numbers of diving ducks to increase in the past few decades on the Great Lakes, the long-term implications of high levels of dietary overlap among diving ducks is relatively unknown and warrants continued monitoring./$://BCI200800567423amay reflect the dynamics of edge-of-range phenomena. Because of its central position in a region undergoing profound climate change and its demonstrated track record in showing avifaunal shifts, St. Matthew Island may represent an important bellwether for monitoring the biological effects of further climate change in the northern Bering Sea.u$://BCI200300345990r>7Wright, Kenneth G. Robertson, Gregory J. Goudie, R. Iann 1998Evidence of spring staging and migration route of individual breeding harlequin ducks, Histrionicus histrionicus, in Southern British Columbia Canadian Field-Naturalist4 112r3.518-519aJuly-Sept., 1998BCI:BCI199900070373PJHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Migration; Nonbreeding Seasons;An individually marked pair of Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) were observed on moulting and spring staging and the male also on breeding grounds in southern British Columbia.$://BCI1999000703733 ZHh4-Laursen, Karsten Kahlert, Johnny Frikke, John 2005>8Factors affecting escape distances of staging waterbirdsWildlife Biology111} 13-19l Mar 05BCI:BCI200510009100p:3Sea Ducks - General; Behavior; Nonbreeding Seasons;4.Escape distances (EDs) have been used to study sensitivity of waterbirds to different sources of disturbance, to design reserves for waterbirds, and to define eco-targets for the Wadden Sea management plan. However, the use of ED as an index of sensitivity has been criticised because it can be highly variable. Although some factors affecting variation in the EDs of species have been studied, there is still a need for further analysis of factors that may affect it. In this study, we analysed the EDs of 19 waterbird species (geese, ducks, waders and gulls) exposed to a walking person (N = 1,37 1) during autumn and spring 19801984 under controlled conditions in the Danish Wadden Sea. We analysed how EDs varied between species in relation to body mass and hunting and within species in relation to flock size and weather conditions. EDs increased significantly with species body mass, and quarry species (dabbling ducks, curlew Numenius arquata, golden plover Pluvialis apricaria, common gull Larus canus and black-headed gull L. ridibundus) had longer EDs than non-quarry species when corrected for body mass. EDs increased with flock size in dabbling ducks and nine waterbird species in autumn and two waterbird species in spring. In autumn an inverse relationship was found between visibility and ED for dabbling ducks and five wader species. An inverse relationship was also found between wind force and ED for three wader species, but this relationship was found to be positive for two wader species. Several factors affected EDs, and EDs measured in one region may not apply to other regions. Based on our results it is recommended that reserve borders (core area and buffer zones) are designed to take into account mean EDs as well as variation in EDs, with respect to local disturbance levels, flock size and target species.$://BCI200510009100s$Laursen, Karsten Frikke, Johnt 2006ZSAssessment of sustainable management of staging waterbirds in the Danish Wadden SeaWildfowl56152-171BCI:BCI200700194768 pjSea Ducks - General; Common Eider; Conservation; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons; A large number of wildlife reserves have been established throughout Europe to protect migratory waterbirds. However, there has been little evaluation of whether they are being managed sustainably. The Danish Wadden Sea became a wildlife reserve in 1979 to manage hunting and public access to the site. This paper evaluates whether waterbirds are being managed in a sustainable manner, using the definition that bird numbers over the years should be either: 1) regulated by factors independent of human activity, or 2) be at least stable. The hypothesis was tested for 17 waterbird species, using 194 counts made from aircraft between 1980 and 2000 inclusive. The TrendSpotter programme was used to examine trends in numbers. Regression analysis with autoregressive error correction was used to assess the association between four factors (population size indices, population breeding success, plant primary production and biomass of Blue Mussel Mytilus edulis) thought to be affecting the numbers of waterbirds using the site each year. The results showed increasing trends in spring for Brent Goose Branta bernicla, Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola and Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, whereas numbers of Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, Pintail Anas acuta, Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, Grey Plover, Curlew Numenius arquata and Common Gull Larus canus increased in autumn. Numbers of Brent Goose, Wigeon Anas penelope, Avocet Recurvirostra avocetta, Dunlin Calidris alpina, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gun Larus ridibundus and Herring Gun L argentatus were all stable during autumn, as was Eider Somateria mollissima during winter. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos decreased during autumn, and the trends were uncertain for Teal Anas crecca and Knot Calidris canutus. Numbers of Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and Avocet (during autumn) and Grey Plover (during spring) in the Danish Wadden Sea were correlated either with the population index, the breeding index or the primary production index. Thus numbers of seven species appear to be influenced by factors other than human activity in the Danish Wadden Sea, and the trends of 14 species were either stable or increasing. Moreover, for the five quarry species considered, numbers in the Danish Wadden Sea were either correlated with factors outside the area (Mallard, Pintail, Wigeon and Teal) or were stable despite a decrease in the total population size (Eider). Thus it is concluded that the wildlife reserve in the Danish Wadden Sea has been managed in a sustainable manner.a$://BCI200700194768SBSchummer, Michael L. Pet>7Schummer, Michael L. Petrie, Scott A. Bailey, Robert C. 2008zInteraction between macroinvertebrate abundance and habitat use by diving ducks during winter on northeastern Lake Ontario&Journal of Great Lakes Research;341} 54-71Mar 2008BCI:BCI200800314167XRBufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Habitat; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;0)Although numbers of buffleheads (Bucephala albeola), common goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) and long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis) over-wintering on Lake Ontario have increased substantially over the past two decades, factors influencing habitat use and the potential for competition have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between prey availability and community structure of diving ducks during winter on northeastern Lake Ontario. Benthic and nektonic samples collected during fall, winter, and spring 2002-2004 indicated that macroinvertebrate numbers differed by location but generally did not decline throughout winter. Large accumulations of macroinvertebrates, apparently moved by wave action and currents, were documented in nearshore areas. Surveys showed that diving ducks congregated in mixed species flocks within areas of higher food abundance. Mixed species flocks were common in nearshore areas, likely because energy-dense foods (Amphipoda and Chironomidae) were abundant in the narrow zone of shallow water, close to shore. Although macroinvertebrate numbers likely affected habitat use by diving ducks, birds did not greatly reduce abundance of macroinvertebrates. It is unlikely that exploitative competition was occurring and interference competition appeared below threshold levels that would cause species to spatially segregate. Overall, our results suggest that food availability is not a limiting factor for buffleheads, common goldeneyes, or long-tailed ducks wintering on northeastern Lake Ontario.e$://BCI200800314167CCampbell, L. H.s 1978nhPatterns of Distribution and Behavior of Flocks of Sea Ducks Wintering at Leith and Musselburgh ScotlandBiological Conservatione142e111-124BCI:BCI197967020932TNSea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;The numbers, distribution and behavior of flocks of seaducks in the Firth of Forth off Edinburgh [UK] are described for 6 winters. Flocks of goldeneye and scaup were concentrated near sewer outfalls where they fed on invertebrates benefiting from the sewage and on items (grain) in the effluent. Eiders were found around beds of mussels and other bivalves. For goldeneye and scaup, feeding on items in the effuent was of secondary importance to feeding on sewer-enriched populations of invertebrates. While these species showed a close link with sewers, eiders and other marine seaduck species [long-tailed duck, common and velvet scoter] were at most only tenuously linked.$://BCI197967020932 Jonasson, P. M.s 1979(!The Lake Myvatn Ecosystem Iceland Oikoss32 1-2r289-305tBCI:BCI198069008724n$Sea Ducks - General; Habitat;   Lake Myvatn lies at 63.degree.35'N and 17.degree.00'W and at 278 m above sea level in northern IJonasson, P. M.s 1979(!The Lake Myvatn Ecosystem Iceland Oikoss32 1-2r289-305tBCI:BCI198069008724n$Sea Ducks - General; Habitat;   Lake Myvatn lies at 63.degree.35'N and 17.degree.00'W and at 278 m above sea level in northern Iceland. The climate is more continental than maritime. But in some years the proximity to the Arctic Circle causes the climate to be cold, wet and foggy. Lake Myvatn has 2 basins: the north basin and the south basin. Volcanic activity since 1975 has caused a land rise of 34 cm at the northeast coast of the north basin. Water enters the lake mainly from cold and warm springs along the east shore (range 5.2-23.1.degree. C) and is discharged, to the west, into the River Laxa. The drainage basin is at least 1000 km2. Retention time in the north basin was 14 days and in south basin, 24 days. Temperature records reveal large variations in response to climatic factors. Air temperatures correlate well with water temperature. The annual amplitude of water temperature was 18.degree. C with a daily amplitude of 3.degree. C in south basin. Wind-induced water level fluctuations are 0.7 m in the north basin and 0.4 m in the south basin. Average ice-cover is 190 days yr-1. Resuspension is high and varies with depth. It was 3 times higher in the north than the south basin. The resuspension provides renewal of nutrients from the bottom, but P seems limiting during calm periods with high demands. N-fixation ensures sufficient N. The N:P ratio in the outlet is 8:1. An inverse thermocline develops in winter and O2 is depleted from the bottom water, but oxygenated conditions are re-established in Feb.-March due to production of benthic diatoms. Phytoplankton gross production was 118 g C m-2 yr-1 in the south basin but only 75 in the north basin. Seasonal succession was unimodal. High production due to Anabaena flos-aquae coincided with high radiation, high temperature and time of ice-break. Production was low at other seasons despite considerable biomass of diatoms and chrysophyceans. Net production in the south basin was calculated to 600 kcal m-2 yr-1. A net production of benthic diatoms amounted to 2220 kcal m-2 yr-1. A dim-light adapted Cladophora aegagropila forms massive phytobenthos in the south basin with 50 g ash-free dry weight m-2. Calculated production was 500 kcal m-2 yr-1. Macro- and epiphytes are important in the north-basin. A living substratum of Cladophora and macrophytes stabilizes the sediment and acts as a sieve for resuspended organic matter. A close relation was found between substrate type and zoobenthos abundance and production. In the south basin, with mud and Cladophora, chironomids dominate numerically (average of total zoobenthos 75,500 individuals m-2) and in terms of production (200 kcal m-2 yr-1). In the north basin, with diatoms, average values are 9750 m-2 and 32 kcal m-2 yr-1. Benthic Crustacea produce approximately 10 kcal m-2 yr-1 in both basins. Zooplankton produced on an average 43 and 15 kcal m-2 yr-1 in the south and north basin, respectively. Fish production, calculated from catch data, was 3 kcal m-2 yr-1 and ducks produced 0.5 kcal m-2 yr-1. Thus energy flow is mainly channeled through phyto- and zoobenthos.$://BCI198069008724xnRKHanssen, Sveinn Are Hasselquist, Dennis Folstad, Ivar Erikstad, Kjell Einar\ 2005rlCost of reproduction in a long-lived bird: incubation effort reduces immune function and future reproductionD=Proceedings of the Royal Society Biological Sciences Series B 272 1567 1039-1046 May 22 2005BCI:BCI200510181234nhCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Energetics and Nutrition; Physiology; Productivity; Breeding Season;xrLife-history theory predicts that increased current reproductive effort should lead to a fitness cost. This cost of reproduction may be observed as reduced survival or future reproduction, and may be caused by temporal suppression of immune function in stressed or hard-working individuals. In birds, consideration of the costs of incubating eggs has largely been neglected in favour of the costs of brood rearing. We manipulated incubation demand in two breeding seasons (2000 and 2001) in female common eiders (Somateria mollissima) by creating clutches of three and six eggs (natural range 3-6 eggs). The common eider is a long-lived sea-duck where females do not eat during the incubation period. Mass loss increased and immune function (lymphocyte levels and specific antibody response to the non-pathogenic antigens diphtheria and tetanus toxoid) was reduced in females incubating large clutches. The increased incubation effort among females assigned to large incubation demand did not lead to adverse effects on current reproduction or return rate in the next breeding season. However, large incubation demand resulted in long-term fitness costs through reduced fecundity the year after manipulation. Our data show that in eiders, a long-lived species, the cost of high incubation demand is paid in the currency of reduced future fecundity, possibly mediated by reduced immune function.$://BCI200510181234e>7Hanssen, Sveinn Are Folstad, Ivar Erikstad, Kjell Einar 2006@:White plumage reflects individual quality in female eidersAnimal Behaviour71 Part 2337-343rFeb 2006BCI:BCI200600280710uF@Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Physiology; Breeding Season;Sexual selection predicts that males should signal their viability and health and this is often achieved with elaborate ornaments. However, females' phenotypic and genotypic quality may also be related to ornamental expression. We investigated the association between a female ornamental trait (white wing plumage) and female quality in the common eider, Somateria mollissima. Only females incubate and care for young, so male parental effort did not influence the females' condition, and the ornament is expressed only in females, so it is not a neutral correlated response to selection of the same ornament in males. We recorded the expression of this ornament in relation to the number of eggs laid and to mass loss and immunological status during incubation. Females that experienced a large mass loss and/or a reduction in immune cell levels (immunosuppression) had less white in the new wing bands produced after breeding. These results are the first to show a correlation between tolerance of reproductive costs and the expression of a strictly female ornament in a species with conventional sex roles. (c) 2005 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.$://BCI200600280710O8,&Custer, Christine M. Custer, Thomas W. 2000Organochlorine trace element contamination in wintering migrating diving ducks in the southern Great Lakes, USA, since the zebra mussel invasion,&Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry1911 2821-2829November, 2000BCI:BCI200100550755ngCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Bufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;{^XBecause of the potential for increased trophic transfer of contaminants by zebra mussels (Dreissena sp.) to higher trophic levels, we collected four species of waterfowl (n=65 ducks) from four locations in Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Michigan, USA, between 1991 and 1993 for organochlorine contaminant and trace element analyses. Geometric mean concentrations of total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) were 1.35 and 0.15 mug/g wet weight in lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) carcasses and were below known effect levels. Total PCBs in 80% of carcasses, however, were above the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's threshold of 3.0 mug/g lipid weight for consumption of poultry. With the exception of selenium, trace elements were also at background or no-effect levels. Selenium concentrations in livers of 95% of lesser scaup, 90% of bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), and 72% of common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) were in the elevated (>10 mug/g dry wt) or potentially harmful range (>33 mug/g dry wt). The effects of these high selenium concentrations are unknown but should be investigated further based on reproductive effects observed in field and laboratory studies of dabbling ducks and because lesser scaup populations are declining. Concentrations of total PCBs in dreissenid mussels in western Lake Erie were 10 times higher than in the upper Mississippi River but were similar to concentrations in other industrialized rivers in Europe and the United States. Metal concentrations were similar to other industrialized sites where zebra mussels have been sampled.$://BCI200100550755L.(Custer, T. W. Custer, C. M. Hines, R. K. 2002xrDioxins and congener-specific polychlorinated biphenyls in three avian species from the Wisconsin River, WisconsinEnvironmental Pollution 119o3o323-332BCI:BCI200200428218oNGHooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Contaminants; Breeding Season;sSediments from the Wisconsin River, WI, USA are contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-p-dioxin (TCDD) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Wet weight concentrations of TCDD and PCBs in eggs were at background levels and highest in the piscivorous hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus; geometric mean = 7 pg/g TCDD and 0.92 mug/g PCBs) and lowest in the omnivorous wood duck (Aix sponsa) (< 1 pg/g and 0.07 mug/g); concentrations in eggs of the insectivorous tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) were intermediate (< 1 pg/g and 0.33 mug/g). Positive accumulation rates of TCDD (8-19 pg/day) and PCBs (0.4-0.7 mug/day) in tree swallow nestlings suggest that the Wisconsin River is the source of these contaminants for tree swallow nestlings. The lower representation of trichlorobiphenyls and tetrachorobiphenyls in hooded merganser eggs compared to wood duck or tree swallow eggs suggests that the hooded merganser or its diet has a greater ability to metabolize lower-numbered PCB congeners than wood ducks or tree swallows.$://BCI200200428218.(Portugal, Steven J. Guillemette, Magella 2011D=The use of body mass loss to estimate metabolic rate in birdsXQComparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A Molecular & Integrative Physiologyv 1583329-336vMar 2011BCI:BCI201100202684`ZCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Energetics and Nutrition; Physiology; Breeding Season;XRDuring starvation, energy production occurs at the expense of body reserve utilisation which results in body mass loss. Knowing the role of the fuels involved in this body mass loss, along with their energy density, can allow an energy equivalent of mass loss to be calculated. Therefore, it is possible to determine daily energy expenditure (DEE) if two body mass loss measurements at an interval of a few days are obtained. The technique can be cheap, minimally stressful for the animals involved, and the data relatively simple to gather. Here we review the use of body mass loss to estimate DEE in birds through critiquing the strengths and weaknesses of the technique, and detail the methodology and considerations that must be adhered to for accurate measures of DEE to be obtained. Owing to the biology of the species, the use of the technique has been used predominantly in Antarctic seabirds, particularly penguins and albatrosses. We demonstrate how reliable the technique can be in predicting DEE in a non-Antarctic species, common eiders (Somateria mollissima), the female of which undergoes a fasting period during incubation. We conclude that using daily body mass loss to estimate DEE can be a useful and effective approach provided that (1) the substrate being consumed during mass loss is known, (2) the kinetics of body mass loss are understood for the species in question and (3) only species that enter a full phase II of a fast (where substrate catabolism reaches a steady state) and are not feeding for a period of time are appropriate for this method. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.$://BCI201100202684 Poysa, Hannu 1992RKVariation in parental care of common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) females Behaviour 123 3-4247-260\BCI:BCI199396035933lF@Common Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Behavior; Breeding Season;Factors affecting the variation of parental care were examined in the precocial, nidifugous common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), a species with uniparental female care. Parental care, measured as the time spent by the female in rearing the brood, varied considerably. Habitat shelterness and food abundance in brood rearing lakes did not affect the duration of parental care. Brood mortality and size affected females' decision to abandon the brood; broods left younger experienced higher mortality during the parental care and were smaller than broods reared for longer. Offspring left by a female did not have higher mortality than same-aged offspring not left. Broods that were deserted early did also produce young to the fledging age.$://BCI199396035933e the Pleistocene glacial refuge in western Greenland and south of the Laurentide ice sheet in eastern Canada or United States.$://BCI200200389811rlBrodeur, Serge Mittelhauser, Glen H. Savard, Jean-Pierre L. Thomas, Peter W. Titman, Rodger D. Comeau, Denis 2008D>Capture Methods for Migrating, Wintering and Molting Sea Ducks Waterbirds31 Sp. Iss. 2133-137BCI:BCI200900160425 \VHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Sea Ducks; Techniques; Nonbreeding Seasons;Sea ducks have been captured with mist nets set across breeding streams and in drive traps at sea during the flightless period, but capture of flying birds on staging and wintering coastal areas presents a challenge. Here, we describe a highly successful technique for capturing Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) at sea, modified from a mistnet set developed to capture Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmaratus) at sea. While the original method was passive, decoys were added to attract birds and occasionally birds were driven toward the nets using small boats. The capture technique proved to be safe and effective. Three hundred and seventy-eight birds were captured during 28 d of effort and no birds died in the net,; or during handling. The technique has been further modified to capture molting Harlequin Ducks. The technique and its modified version could be easily used to capture other sea ducks on their staging, wintering and molting areas.$://BCI200900160425:Caron, Christine M. Paton, Peter W. C. 2007JDPopulation trends and habitat use of harlequin ducks in Rhode island"Journal of Field Ornithology783t254-262}Sep 2007BCI:BCI200700524657qtmHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Habitat; Nonbreeding Seasons;To assess population trends of Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) in Rhode Island (U.S.A.), we analyzed Christmas Bird Counts and other historical surveys and also conducted surveys during the winter of 2005-2006. We estimated sex and age ratios, evaluated the effects of tidal regime and time of day on survey precision, and quantified habitat use. The population in Rhode Island experienced logistic growth from 1976 to 2004, with approximately 150 birds now wintering at three primary sites in the state. We estimated that the current ratio of males to females in the region was 1.6:1 (62% males) aCampbell, L. H.s 1984hbThe Impact of Changes in Sewage Treatment on Sea Ducks Wintering in the Firth of Forth Scotland UkBiological Conservation282m173-180BCI:BCI198478002155b\Sea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Conservation; Nonbreeding Seasons;Changes in the numbers and distribution of seaducks wintering in the Firth of Forth off Edinburgh following the introduction of sewage treatment are described. Numbers of scaup [Aythya marila] and goldeneye [Bucephala clangula] were considerably reduced and feeding flocks were only recorded at outfalls where sewage continued to be discharged in large quantities. Although food items borne in the sewage were important in determining local distribution patterns, it was unclear whether these or abundant invertebrates were the most important factor attracting seaducks to this area. As a result of an environmentally desirable improvement scheme the UK has lost an internationally important concentration of wildfowl.$://BCI198478002155c: Kube, Jan\ 1996Spatial and temporal variations in the population structure of the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria in the Pomeranian Bay (Southern Baltic Sea)bJournal of Sea Research354335-344BCI:BCI199799288268F?Sea Ducks - General; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;The population structure of Mya arenaria has been investigated in the sublittoral zone of the Pomeranian Bay (southern Baltic Sea). Box-corer samples were collected during a 1.5-year period in 1993/94 to follow changes in size and age structure of the clam populations in different parts of the study area. Large spatial differences in population structure were found between the sheltered southwest of the Bay and the shallow and exposed Oder Bank in the centre. The stock of the Oder Bank consisted of two different clam types. A slow-growing cohort was assumed to be autochtonous on the Oder Bank, whereas a fast-growing one was assumed to have immigrated from the surrounding area. The contribution of the two cohorts to the total density varied seasonally. Because of bedload transport of clams, the contribution to the reduction of the clam stock by wintering sea ducks could not be quantified. In the southwest of the Pomeranian Bay erosion was of minor importance. High mortality rates during the first two years of life were assumed to be caused by predation. Mortality rates of older cohorts remained stable until old age. Variations in cohort strength were related to interannual differences in the reproductive success. A mild winter presumably lowers the reproductive success in the subsequent summer. Severe oxygen depletion in summer 1994 caused a strong reduction in the clam stock at stations deeper than 10 m.p$://BCI199799288268NHLacroix, Deborah L. Lanctot, Richard B. Reed, John A. McDonald, Trent L. 2003hbEffect of underwater seismic surveys on molting male Long-tailed Ducks in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska"Canadian Journal of Zoology8111 1862-1875 November 2003BCI:BCI200400167388|Long-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Behavior; Molt; Conservation; Nonbreeding Seasons;b[Large numbers of Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis) (10 000-30 000) undergo a postnuptial wing molt along barrier islands of the Beaufort Sea, Alaska. To investigate the potential effects of underwater seismic activities on this species, we monitored the number and diving behavior of molting Long-tailed Ducks before, during, and after seismic activities in a seismic area and two control areas nearby between July and September 2001. Aerial surveys documented a decline in duck numbers in both seismic and control areas during the period of seismic activity. We used automated data-collection computers to monitor the presence and diving behavior of radio-equipped Long-tailed Ducks residing within 2.5 km of a series of computer setups located along the barrier islands and on the mainland. A statistical analysis based on a modified before-after control-impact approach found no difference in indices of site fidelity or diving intensity between the seismic area and two control areas. Thus, we found no effect of seismic activity on movements and diving behavior of molting Long-tailed Ducks. These results should be evaluated carefully, however, as logistical and ecological factors limited our ability to detect more subtle disturbance effects. We recommend additional studies on other bird species to fully understand the effects of underwater seismic testing.g$://BCI200400167388eable) effect on the expected count for all five species, suggesting that broad-scale climatic conditions may be directly or indirectly important to the distributions of wintering sea ducks. Our results provide critical information on species-habitat associations, elucidate the complicated relationship between the North Atlantic Oscillation, sea surface temperature, and local sea duck abundances, and should be useful in assessing the impacts of climate change on seabirds.4$://BCI201000471550 qo Tanja, JovanovicTappen, Sarah L.Tarnovskaya, T. V.Tasker, Mark L. Tatsukawa, R.Tatsukawa, RyoTaverner, Austin Taylor, B. L.Taylor, Eric J.Taylor, Robert J.Theodore, K. L.Therriault, J. C. Thibault, D. Thiel, MartinThieltges, David W.Thienpont, JoshuaThingstad, P. G.Thingstad, Per Gustav Thoden, B.Thomas, Nancy J.Thomas, Peter W. Thomas, V. G.Thompson, Christopher W.Thompson, J. E.Thompson, John E.Thompson, Jonathan E.Thompson, Max C. Threlfall, W. Tiedemann, R.Tiedemann, RalphTierala, Tekla Timken, R. L.Timmermans, Steven T. A.Timoney, Kevin P. Titman, R. D.Titman, Rodger D.Titman, Rodger T. Tonn, W. M.Tonn, William M. Tordon, R. Torrance, R. Torrance, Rebecca L. L. F.Torres, Roxana Traylor, J.Traylor, J. J.Traylor, JoshuaTraylor, Joshua J.Trimper, PerryTrimper, Perry G. Trost, R. E. Troy, Declan Trudeau, S.Trudeau, S. F. Trust, K. A.Trust, Kimberley A.Trust, Kimberly A.Tsanos, DimitriTseren-Ochir, E. O.Tsuda, Yoshimi Tucker, B. W. Tuite, C. H. Tull, C. E. Tulp, IngridTuohy, James M.Tuomi, Pamela A. Turner, BruceTurner, Mark W.Turner, Michael A. Tveraa, T.Tveraa, Torkild Tyden, LarsTyrberg, TommyTzetlin, A. B. Ueda, Fukiko Uhlig, Rolf Ulfstrand, S.Underhill, L. G.Underhill, Mark C.Ursem, J. C. H.Utschick, HansVaananen, Veli-Matti Vader, W. Vader, Wim Vaillancourt, Marie-AndreeValtonen, Terhivan Damme, CindyVan De Wetering, Debbievan den Berg, ThierryVan Den Dungen, H. M.van der Have, T. M.Van Der Kloot, W.Van der Meer, J.van Eerden, MennobartVan Franeker, Jan Andriesvan Roomen, MarcVan Tienen, Piet G. M.van Turnhout, ChrisVan Waeyenberge, Jeroenvan Winden, ErikVande Vusse, F. J.Vandendriessche, SofieVangilder, L. D.Varpe, OysteinVashchenko, P. S. Vauk, G.Veit, Richard R.Verbrugge, D. A. Verdaat, Hans Vermeer, K. Vermeer, Kees Vest, J. L. Vest, Josh L. Vet, RobertVetemaa, MarkusVickery, P. D. Vidanovic, D.Vigin, Laurence Vincx, MagdaVirtanen, JuhaVohs, P. A. Jr Volkov, A. E. Volz, Conradvon Kistowski, K. G.Von Kistowski, Kristin G. Voskamp, Paul Wade, P. R.Waehrens, G. T. Wahlberg, P.Wainwright, Peter F.Wakeley, J. S. Waldeck, P.Waldeck, PeterWalden, Henrik W.Waldenstrom, JonasWalker, Johann A. Wallen, R. L. Waltho, C. M.Waltho, Chris M. Walton, R. A.Walton, Russel A.Walton, Russell A. Wang, D. Wang, S. W.Wang, Shiway W. Ward, D. H.Ward, David H. Watson, A. Watson, G. H.Watson, Jennifer J.Watson, Michelle D. Wayland, M. Wayland, MarkWayland, Mark E. Wayre, PhilipWeatherhead, P. J.Weatherhead, Patrick J. Webb, S. M.Webster, R. G. W.Wedborg, MargaretaWeeber, RussellWege, Michael L.Weggler, MartinWeijerman, MariskaWeis, I. MichaelWeissenboeck, HerbertWelch, Linda J.? LESchummer, Michael L. Fife, Ian Petrie, Scott A. Badzinski, Shannon S.f 2011LFArtifact Ingestion in Sea Ducks Wintering at Northeastern Lake Ontario Waterbirds341 51-58Mar 2011BCI:BCI201100239669Long-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Common Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Bufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Contaminants; Conservation; Nonbreeding Seasons;PIThe incidence of lead shot, ingestion in waterfowl has declined in the lower Great Lakes (LGL) following the 1999 Canada-wide ban on use of toxic shot for waterfowl hunting, but few data exist on ingestion frequencies of spent shot or fishing weights for sea ducks wintering at the LGL. Artifact ingestion was evaluated in 269 Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola), 224 Common Goldeneyes (B. clangula) and 256 Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis) collected at Lake Ontario during winter 2002-03 and 2003-04. Long-tailed Ducks ingested total shot (lead and steel shot combined) more frequently (6.6%) than did Common Goldeneye (1.8%) and Bufflehead (0.4%). Lead shot was ingested by Long-tailed Ducks (5.1%) and Buffleheads (0.4%), but not by Common Goldeneyes. One Long-tailed Duck, 0.1% of all specimens, ingested one lead fishing weight. Substrate type influenced artifact ingestion frequency and diving ducks that specialize on prey associated with hard substrates may continue to ingest artifacts more than ducks using soft substrate marshes. The results suggest lead toxicosis from spent shotgun pellets is presently non-existent to low in sea ducks wintering at northeastern Lake Ontario and that further restrictions on use of lead fishing tackle may have little implication for sea ducks in this region. Received 12 March 2010, accepted 14 July 2010. $://BCI201100239669rz| {:3Robert, Michel Drolet, Bruno Savard, Jean-Pierre L. 2006JDEffects of backpack radio-transmitters on female Barrow's Goldeneyes Waterbirds291m115-120aMar 2006BCI:BCI200600374483pVOBarrow's Goldeneye; Bucephala islandica; Techniques; Behavior; Breeding Season;voWe compared time-budgets and return rates of breeding female Barrow's Goldeneyes (Bucephala islandica) fitted, or not, with transmitters attached with backpack harnesses in 2001-2004 in southern Quebec. We compared the mean proportion of time devoted to feeding, locomotion, alert, resting, preening, and maintenance (i.e., resting Plus preening) by females observed >= 200 min. Females with backpacks (N=5) spent significantly less time feeding (x SE: 25 +/- 5% versus 43 +/- 3%) and more time in maintenance activities (51 +/- 6% versus 31 +/- 4%) than females without transmitters (N=6). Mean time devoted to other behavior did not differ significantly. Upon release, females appeared disturbed with the backpack, actively bathing, preening and/or flapping wings. Of the females with transmitters observed >= 200 min, three spent 4%, 8%, and 57% of their preening time at their transmitter, antennae or harness. None of the 16 females harnessed in 2001-2003 were recaptured in nest boxes or seen again on the study area in 2002-2004. For comparison, 66% of adult female Barrow's Goldeneyes captured in nest. boxes and marked with leg bands in 2000-2002 were recaptured or seen again in subsequent years. We do not recommend the rise of harnesses on diving ducks and sea ducks as it may affect their behavior and survival, at least for birds wintering in areas where conditions are severe.$://BCI200600374483,%Robert, Michel Savard, Jean-Pierre L.h 2006vpThe St. Lawrence River Estuary and Gulf: A stronghold for Barrow's Goldeneyes wintering in eastern North America Waterbirds294o437-450Dec 2006BCI:BCI200700180233hbBarrow's Goldeneye; Bucephala islandica; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons; From 1997 to 2005, the distribution, seasonal abundance, and age and sex ratios of wintering Barrow's Goldeneyes (Bucephala islandica) was documented in the St. Lawrence River Estuary and Gulf, Canada, with a combination of ground and helicopter surveys. Ground surveys showed that Baie-Comeau and Baie-des-Rochers were the most important localities, with monthly averages of 250 (max. = 1020) and 273 (604) individuals, respectively, from November through April. Helicopter surveys showed that four areas (Baie-Comeati, Baie-des-Rochers, Baie-Sainte-Catherine and La Malbaie/Cap-a-l'Aigle) harboured on average 74% of all Barrow's Goldeneyes in the estuary, that numbers of individuals were more stable at these sites, and that the distribution of Common Goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) within the estuary differed from that of Barrow's Goldeneyes. Because of ice conditions, goldeneyes were not found on the south shore of the estuary during the coldest winter months, although they were quite numerous in spring and fall. In contrast, large numbers of goldeneyes used the north shore of the estuary all winter long and through the end of April. In January-February of 1999, 2002 and 2005, helicopter surveys (N = 8) yielded on average 2428 Barrow's Goldeneyes (CV = 8%), 2503 Common Goldeneyes (6%) and 1320 Red-breasted Mergansers (Mergus serrator, 70%) per year in the estuary. These species averaged 2087 (CV = 81%), 2214 (41%) and 2898 (34%) individuals/year, respectively, in the gulf in January-February of 2002 and 2005 (N = 3). Helicopter survey results indicated possible identification errors between these three species, stressing the need to survey them concurrently. The January-February ratio of adult males and 'brown heads' was greater in 1998 (57.0%) that) it) 1999 (51.8%), partly because there were more immatures in the population in 1999 (18.1 %) than in 1998 (10.2%). Adult sex ratios were significantly different from 1/1 in January-February of 1998 (P < 0.0001) and 1999 (P = 0.0072), whereas immature sex ratios were not (P >= 0.27). The monthly proportion of immatures increased between January and May of 1998 (P < 0.0001) and 1999 (P < 0.0001), because of adults departing for breeding areas. The eastern North American wintering population of Barrow's Goldeneyes may include a maximum of 6187 individuals, of which > 90% would winter along the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf. Thus, the St. Lawrence corridor should undoubtedly be considered as the winter stronghold for Barrow's Goldeneyes in eastern North America.$://BCI200700180233XRRobert, Michel Mittelhauser, Glen H. Jobin, Benoit Fitzgerald, Guy Lamothe, Pierre 2008voNew Insights on Harlequin Duck Population Structure in Eastern North America as Revealed by Satellite Telemetryq Waterbirds31 Sp. Iss. 2159-172mBCI:BCI200900160429rnhHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Population Delineation; Nonbreeding Seasons; Breeding Season;In order to better delineate affiliations between breeding, molting, and staging areas of the small Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) population wintering in eastern North America, in April 2001 satellite transmitters were implanted in eight adult males at Isle an Haut, Maine, a major wintering area for this population. Two birds were confirmed breeding on rivers on the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, two birds molted in northern Labrador, and four birds migrated to southwestern Greenland during the molting season, including one bird that bred in Quebec. The four birds tracked to southwestern Greenland likely molted there, although molting could be confirmed for only one bird. All birds tracked to Greenland, to breeding areas, and to molting locations returned to wintering sites in Maine the following wintering season. This study is the first confirmation of wintering male Harlequin Ducks from eastern North America molting in Greenland.$://BCI200900160429mMarche, Sylvie van den Berg, Thierry 2010vpEvaluation of Rapid & Manning, T. H. MacPherson, A. H. 1952JCBirds of the east James Bay coast between Long Point and Cape JonesCanadian Field Nat66 (1) 1-35BCI:BCI19532700014923@9Sea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends;~wA list of birds is presented based on observations and collections made between June 26 and Sept. 2, 1950, along the e. James Bay coast between Long Point and Cape Jones, Canada. The topography and vegetation of the main collecting stations are described. Detailed data are given on population densities of the following spp. Common Loon, Gavia i. immer; Black Duck, Anas rubripes; Hudson Bay Eider, Somateria mollissima sedentaria; White-winged Scoter, Melanitta deglandi; Surf Scoter, Melanitta perspicillata; American Scoter, Oidemia nigra americana; American Merganser, Mergus merganser americanus, and Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator serrator; Osprey, Pandion haliaetus carolinensis; Ungava Willow Ptarmigan, Lagopus 1. ungavus; Greater Yellow-legs, Totanus melanoleucas; Herring Gull, Larus argentatus smithsonianus; Arctic Tern, Sterna paradisaea; Nearctic Mandt's Guillemot, Cepphus grylle ultimus; Northern Horned Lark, Eremophila a. alpestris; Labrador Jay, Perisoreus canadensis nigricapillus; Black-backed Robin, Turdus migratorius nigrideus; Eastern Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus c. calendula: American Pipit, Anthus spinoletta rubescens; Northern Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia amnicola; Eastern Myrtle Warbler, Dendroica c. coronata; Common Redpoll, Acanthis f. flammea; Churchill Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis oblitus; Slate-coloured Junco, Junco h. hyemalis; Eastern Tree Sparrow, Spizella a. arborea; White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia 1. leucophrys; White-throated Sparrow, Z. albtcollis; Eastern fox Sparrow, Passerella i. iliaca; and Lincoln's Sparrow, Melospiza 1. lincolnii. || ABSTRACT AUTHORS: H. A. Sennn&://BCI19532700014923. Champoux, L. 1996PCBs, dioxins and furans in hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), common merganser (Mergus merganser) and mink (Mustela vison) collected along the St. Maurice River near La Tuque, QuebecEnvironmental Pollution922147-153BCI:BCI199699014435rkCommon merganser; Mergus merganser; Hooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus; Contaminants; Breeding Season;sA pulp and paper mill located in La Tuque on the St. Maurice River, Quebec, and using the kraft bleaching process was historically the largest pulp and paper industry point source of chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in Quebec. A study was undertaken to document the bioaccumulation of PCBs, dioxins and furans in piscivorous birds and mammals in this area. Hooded and Common Merganser eggs were collected in nest boxes along the St. Maurice River and Common Merganser fledglings were collected at two sites on the river. Wild minks were trapped along the St. Maurice River and in a control area upstream. Analysis of pooled merganser eggs showed contamination with dioxins, furans and PCBs. Liver samples of fledglings were contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran at the downstream site. Analysis of mink livers showed a significant higher contamination with dioxins and furans in some downstream samples compared with the upstream samples. $://BCI199699014435W.4.Savard J-P, L. Smith, G. E. J. Smith, J. N. M. 1991D>Duckling Mortality in Barrow's Goldeneye and Bufflehead Broods Auk} 108\3a568-577eBCI:BCI199192098253hbBarrow's Goldeneye; Bucephala islandica; Bufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Survival; Breeding Season;We compared duckling mortality patterns in Barrow's Goldeneyes (Bucephala islandica) and Buffleheads (B. albeola) in the aspen parkland of central British Columbia, Canada. Hatching phenology of both species varied between years in relation to spring temperatures. Buffleheads hatched on average a few days later than Barrow's Goldeneyes each year. Mortality estimates for duckling differed by as much as 55%, and depended on the technique used. Estimates of mortality rates per brood were higher and more variable than those calculated per duckling. The Mayfield estimate of mortality per duckling day, adjusted for duckling age, was the most accurate. Mortality rates of Barrow's Goldeneyes and Buffleheads varied similarly between years. Mortality patterns in relation to duckling age, however, varied between species and between years. The highest mortality usually occurred in the week after hatching. Hatching date influenced mortality rates in 3 of 5 yr, but there was no consistent pattern. Barrow's Goldeneye ducklings suffered higher mortality than Bufflehead ducklings in 4 of 5 yr. This pattern was reversed in 1984, when the largest number of Barrow's Goldeneye broods occurred. Duckling mortality was higher on ponds with several broods than on ponds with single broods, which implies density-dependent mortality. This may have been due to intra- and interspecific aggression. The high mortality of Barrow's Goldeneye ducklings in 1983 was followed by lowered female recruitment in 1985. Because aggressiveness by Barrow's Goldeneyes has more impact on conspecifics, Barrow's Goldeneyes and Buffleheads can coexist at low to moderate densities of goldeneyes. At high goldeneyes densities, Buffleheads may be excluded from some ponds.0$://BCI199192098253e! (ds, Alaska, USA,&Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry2612 2694-2703Dec 2007BCI:BCI200800114225TMHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Contaminants; Nonbreeding SMason, John W. McChesney, Gerard J. McIver, William R. Carter, Harry R. Takekawa, John Y. Golightly, Richard T. Ackerman, Joshua T. Orthmeyer, Dennis L. Perry, William M. Yee, Julie L. Pierson, Mark O. McCrary, Michael D. 2007b[At-sea distribution and abundance of seabirds off southern California: A 20-year comparisonStudies in Avian Biology33 1-101BCI:BCI200700309065TNSea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;  We conducted aerial at-sea and coastal surveys to examine the distribution and abundance of seabirds off southern California, from Cambria, California, to the Mexican border. From May 1999-January 2002, we flew 102 d, covered > 54,640 km of transect lines, and conducted nine complete surveys of southern California in January, May, and September. We identified 54 species comprising 12 families and counted > 135,000 individuals. Seabird densities were greater along island and mainland coastlines than at sea and were usually greatest in January surveys. Densities were greatest at sea near the northern Channel Islands in January and north of Point Conception in May, and lowest in the southwestern portion of the Southern California Bight in all survey months. On coastal transects, seabird densities were greatest along central and southern portions of the mainland coastline from Point Arguello to Mexico. We estimated that 981,000 +/- 144,000 ((x) over bar +/- SE) seabirds occurred in the study area in January, 862,000 95,000 in May, and 762,000 72,000 in September. California Gulls (Larus californicus), Western Grebes (Aechniophorus occidentalis), and Cassin's Auklets (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) were most abundant in January surveys at sea, whereas Sooty and Short-tailed shearwaters (Puffinus griseus and P. tenuirostris), phalaropes (Phalaropus spp.), and Western Gulls (Larus. occidentalis) were most abundant in May and September surveys. On coastal transects, California Gulls, Western Grebes, Western Gulls, and Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) were most abundant in January; Western Grebes, Western Gulls, Surf Scoters, and Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) were most abundant in May; and Sooty Shearwaters, Short-tailed Shearwaters, Western Gulls, Western Grebes, Brown Pelicans, and Heermann's Gulls (Larus heermanni) were most abundant in September. Compared to historical seabird densities collected in the same area two decades ago (1975-1978 and 1980-1983), abundance was lower by 14% in January, 57% in May, and 42% in September. Common Murres (Uria aalge, >= 75% in each season), Sooty Shearwaters, (55% in May, 27% in September), and Bonaparte's Gulls (L. philadelphia, >= 95% in each season) had lower densities. Conversely, Brown Pelicans (167% overall), Xantus's Murrelets (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus; 125% overall), Cassin's Auklets (100% overall), Ashy Storm-Petrels (Oceanodroma homochroa, 450% overall) and Western Gulls (55% in May), and Brandt's Cormorants (Phalacrocorax penicillatus, 450% in September) had greater densities. Our results indicate that seabird abundance has declined off the southern California coast in the past two decades, and these declines may be warning signs of environmental degradation in the region or effects of larger forces such as climate change.$://BCI200700309065tDK,d John Macisaac, Hugh J. Servos, Mark Roy Hesslein, Ray 1997lfInfluence of feeding habits on organochlorine contaminant accumulation in waterfowl on the Great LakesEcological Applications74 1133-1143} Nov., 1997BCI:BCI199800013008^WBufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Contaminants; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are an important component of benthic communities in the (!Mather, Danielle D. Esler, Daniel 1999PJEvaluation of bursal depth as an indicator of age class of Harlequin Ducks"Journal of Field Ornithology702200-205 Spring, 1999BCI:BCI199900417669^WHarlequin duck; Histrionicus histrionicus; Techniques; Physiology; Nonbreeding Seasons;We contrasted the estimated age class of recaptured Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) (n = 255) based on bursal depth with expected age class based on bursal depth at first capture and time since first capture. Although neither estimated nor expected ages can be assumed to be correct, rates of discrepancies between the two for within-year recaptures indicate sampling error, while between-year recaptures test assumptions about rates of bursal involution. Within-year, between-year, and overall discrepancy rates were 10%, 24%, and 18%, respectively. Most (86%) between-year discrepancies occurred for birds expected to be after-third-year (ATY) but estimated to be third-year (TY). Of these ATY-TY discrepancies, 22 of 25 (88%) birds had bursal depths of 2 or 3 mm. Further, five of six between-year recaptures that were known to be ATY but estimated to be TY had 2 mm bursas. Reclassifying birds with 2 or 3 mm bursas as ATY resulted in reduction in between-year (24% to 10%) and overall (18% to 11%) discrepancy rates. We conclude that age determination of Harlequin Ducks based on bursal depth, particularly using our modified criteria, is a relatively consistent and reliable technique.$://BCI199900417669Mathiasson, S. 1970PJNumbers and Distribution of Long-Tailed Wintering Ducks in Northern Europe British Birds6310414-424BCI:BCI197107045642.d^Long-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;$://BCI197107045642ivpMatson, Cole W. Franson, J. Christian Hollmen, Tuula Kilpi, Mikael Hario, Martti Flint, Paul L. Bickham, John W. 2004`ZEvidence of chromosomal damage in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Baltic Sea Marine Pollution Bulletina49 11-12  1066-1071. December 2004iBCI:BCI200500090514HBCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Contaminants; Breeding Season;Common eiders nesting in the Baltic Sea are exposed to generally high levels of contaminants including potentially genotoxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorines. Blood samples were collected from eiders at eight sites in the Baltic Sea and two sites in the Beaufort Sea. DNA content variation was estimated using the flow cytometric method, and subsequently utilized as a biomarker of genetic damage. We observed no significant differences in genetic damage among populations within either the Baltic or Beaufort Seas. However, eider populations from the Baltic Sea had significantly elevated estimates of genetic damage compared to populations from the Beaufort Sea. Copyright 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.$://BCI200500090514#\"x@:Johnson, Stephen R. Wiggins, David A. Wainwright, Peter F. 1993f_Late-summer abundance and distribution of marine birds in Kasegaluk Lagoon, Chukchi Sea, Alaska Arctic463212-227BCI:BCI199396134870d^Long-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;<5Oil and gas drilling programs in the Alaska Chukchi Sea were carried out on leases offshore from Kasegaluk Lagoon in 1989-91, and further exploration and development activities in this area are likely in future years. We conducted aerial surveys between late July and early September 1989-91 to determine the distribution and abundance of marine birds in the Kasegaluk Lagoon area. We hypothesized that Kasegaluk Lagoon supported an avifauna similar to that found in other lagoon systems in arctic Alaska. In fact, the richness and diversity of bird species using Kasegaluk Lagoon were greater than in lagoon systems in the Beaufort Sea. Brant (Branta bernicla) was the most abundant species in Kasegaluk Lagoon compared to lagoons in the Beaufort Sea, where the Oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis) is the dominant species. Several other species or species groups, such as Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus), Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea), small shorebirds (mainly Calidris and Phalaropus), and Lesser Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) were also relatively abundant in Kasegaluk Lagoon.$://BCI199396134870LEJohnson, Stephen R. Noel, Lynn E. Gazey, William J. Hawkes, Virgil C.n 2005HAAerial monitoring of marine waterfowl in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea.'Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 108 1-3 1-43Sep 2005BCI:BCI200600034001Long-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Habitat; Conservation; Breeding Season; Nonbreeding Seasons;^XThe purpose of this study was to design and test a monitoring protocol for marine waterfowl in the central Alaskan Beaufort Sea. The study provides an important case-study of how a long-term monitoring program may be affected by unanticipated human disturbances.Because of its overwhelming and widespread abundance, relatively sedentary behavior, ease in counting, and the extensive historical database, the long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) was selected as the focal species. Two null hypotheses were formulated concerning potential changes in the numbers and distribution of long-tailed ducks in relation to disturbance in an industrial study area, compared to a reference study area located about 50 km to the east.A 9-year historical database (1977-1984, 1989) of long-tailed duck densities and other important data recorded during systematic aerial surveys was analyzed retrospectively using multiple regression techniques. The retrospective analyses determined which of several predictor variables recorded were significantly related to long-tailed duck density. Separate analyses were conducted for two periods: (1) the overall period when long-tailed ducks were present in the lagoon study areas, and (2) the shorter adult male molt period. The results of the two analyses indicated that 57% and 68%, respectively, of the total variation in long-tailed duck density during the two periods could be explained by variables recorded during the surveys. Predictor variables representing habitat, day of the year, time of day, amount of ice, and wave height recorded on-transect during surveys were most closely associated with long-tailed duck density. Measurement error during the surveys, and influences outside the study area such as nesting success in tundra habitats and mortality during migration and in over-wintering areas likely also had strong influences on the results, but these factors were not measurable in our study.Based on results of the retrospective analyses, a long-term monitoring protocol consisting of a program of systematic aerial surveys and an analyses of variance and covariance (ANOVA and ANCOVA) statistical procedure was designed and initially tested in 1990 and 1991. This 2-year testing phase resulted in several revisions to the monitoring protocol. Refinements were made to the original sampling procedures, to the survey schedule, and to the recommended statistical analysis procedures. Results of the ANOVA and ANCOVA indicated that there was no evidence of a change in long-tailed duck densities that could be attributable to disturbance (from any source) in the industrial study area relative to a reference area with no industrial development. Other analyses indicated that the sampling and analysis procedures would be adequate to detect long-term trends in long-tailed duck density and localized disturbance effects, but that the monitoring program should be continued well beyond two years to detect statistically significant changes. As a result, additional aerial surveys of both study areas were conducted again during 1999-2001.Results of the revised ANOVA and ANCOVA of the 1990-1991 and 1999-2001 survey data indicated that the density of long-tailed ducks had significantly declined in coastal lagoons along the central Alaskan Beaufort Sea coast during the study period. In addition, disturbances throughout the barrier island-lagoon systems used by these ducks, including both the industrial and the reference study areas, had significantly increased over the same period. However, because unanticipated disturbances from a variety of anthropogenic sources, and not just industry sources, increased in both study areas, the reference study area was not an effective statistical control. As a result, the decline in long-tailed duck density in both study areas was not attributable to industry-related activities. Although the monitoring protocol described here is an effective method to detect statistically significant changes in long-tailed duck distribution and abundance in the nearshore Alaskan Beaufort Sea, many more years of sampling would be necessary to attribute observed changes to industry-related disturbances.$://BCI2006000340014.Jonassen, Christine Monceyron Handeland, Kjell 2007HAAvian influenza virus screening in wild waterfowl in Norway, 2005eAvian Diseases51 1, Suppl. St425-428BCI:BCI200700339556p82Sea Ducks - General; Disease; Nonbreeding Seasons;The prevalence of influenza A virus infection, and the distribution of different subtypes of the virus, were studied in 604 geese and ducks shot during ordinary hunting 2005. The study was based upon molecular screening of cloacal swabs taken by the hunters. The sampling included the following species: greylag (Anser anser), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), wigeon (Anas penelope), teal (Anas crecca), goosander (Mergus merganser), tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), common scoter (Melanitta nigra), goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), and red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator).The samples found to be positive in the initial pan-influenza A virus reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were further subtyped by using a specific H5 RT-PCR and full-length RT-PCRs for the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase genes.None of the greylag samples (0/185) were positive for influenza A virus, whereas 19.1% of the ducks (80/419) were positive. The prevalences of influenza A virus in the different duck species were as follows: mallard, 20.4% (58/284); wigeon, 12.5% (8/64); teal, 30.9% (13/42); goosander, 0% (0/5); tufted duck, 0% (0/4); common scoter, 14.3% (1/7); goldeneye, 0% (0/11); and red-breasted merganser, 0% (0/2). H5N1 subtype was found in one mallard and H5N2 subtype in another mallard and one teal. Sequencing of the HA gene identified all three viruses as low-pathogenic strains, closely related to low-pathogenic H5 influenza A viruses evidenced in recent years in Sweden and the Netherlands. The other subtypes identified included H1N1, H2, H3N2, H3N8, H6N1, H6N2, H6N8, H8N4, H9N2, H11N9, and H12 in mallards; H3N2, H6N2, H6N8, and H9N2 in teals; and H6N2 in wigeons and common secret.$://BCI20070033955682Reebs, S. G. Boudreau, L. Hardie, P. Cunjak, R. A. 1995RKDiel activity patterns of lake chubs and other fishes in a temperate stream0"Canadian Journal of Zoology0737 1221-1227BCI:BCI199698590895u@9Common merganser; Mergus merganser; Trophic Interactions;d^Baited and unbaited minnow traps were set in Catamaran Brook and the Little Southwest Miramichi River, New Brunswick, and checked every 4 h to determine the diel activity pattern of four species of stream-dwelling fish (threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), juvenile white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus), and lake chub (Couesius plumbeus)). Secondary goals were to determine whether the presence of bait inside minnow traps affected the diel patterns of captures and to compare patterns of lake chub captures in minnow traps with movement through a nearby fish-counting fence. All fish except lake chubs were diurnal, although strict diurnality was less obvious when bait was present in the traps. Lake chubs, which are normally diurnal in the laboratory, were captured mostly near dawn or dusk in unbaited traps, throughout the day in baited traps, and mostly at night at the fish-counting fence. We infer that chubs are active mostly at dawn or dusk, except (i) when strong food cues are present, in which case their activity may extend into the day, and (ii) during the spawning migration, when they move mostly at night. Relative inactivity by chubs during the day may be caused by the presence of piscivorous birds such as kingfishers and common mergansers, whose hunting efficiency may be higher under brighter light.$://BCI199698590895e$Reed, Austin Cousineau, J. Guy 1967XQEpidemics involving the common eider (Somateria mollissima) at He Blanche, Quebecu Natur Can\94 (3)r327-334{BCI:BCI19674800120412NGCommon Eider; Somateria mollissima; Disease; Survival; Breeding Season;\VDuring the period 1963-66, two important outbreaks of epidemics amongst nesting common eiders (Somateria mollissima) have been observed,one in 1964 and the other in 1966. Both epidemics occurred on one of the several nesting islands under observation in the St. Lawrence Estuary. An estimated 1000 adult female eiders succumbed to the disease in 1964 and 700 in 1966. Total population for this island was about 4000 nesting females in each year. Post mortem and bacteriological investigations revealed Pasteurella multocida, the agent of fowl cholera, as the cause of death, None of the other bird species sharing this island, including the herring gull (Larus argentatus) and the double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) suffered mortality and bacteriological examinations of several specimens were negative for fowl cholera. The source of the infection remains unknown but the intensity of the epidemics is attributed partially to high nesting densities and humid conditions in and around the nests. Further study is proposed to clarify certain aspects of these outbreaks. || ABSTRACT AUTHORS: Author&://BCI19674800120412Reed, A. Bourget, A. 1977JDDistribution and Abundance of Waterfowl Wintering in Southern Quebec Canadian Field-Naturalist{911f 1-7 BCI:BCI197764019809TNSea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Nonbreeding Seasons;In Jan. and Feb. of 1974, 1975 and 1976, surveys of wintering waterfowl were conducted through most open-water areas of S Quebec [Canada]. These surveys indicated the presence of at least 171,000 ducks, mostly diving and sea ducks in the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Inland freshwater areas, mainly in the Montreal region, supported many common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), common merganser (Mergus merganser) and black duck (Anas rubripes). The most abundant ducks on the estuarine portion were oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis), common and Barrow's (Bucephala islandica) goldeneyes and black duck. In the gulf, common eider (Somateria mollissima), oldsquaw, common and Barrow's goldeneyes were abundant. The area of the estuary and gulf is of international importance as a sea- and dividing-duck wintering ground. Further study and close surveillance are required owing to the birds' apparently great vulnerability to oil pollution and habitat change in a very rigorous climate.a$://BCI197764019809pX FWilson, William J. 2008JCUse of legs and feet for control by scoters during aerial courtship$Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120 3a594-599rSep 2008BCI:BCI200800586674pztWhite-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Black Scoter; Melanitta nigra; Surf Scoter; Melanitta perspicillata; Behavior;82Scoters (Melanitta spp.) exhibit extraordinary maneuvers during courtship flight. attitudes which are not commonly seen in flight. Scoters drop their legs and spread webbed feet these maneuvers There appears to be a correlation between how the feet of scoters meet the airflow and the maneuver in progress.$://BCI200800586674LFWilson, L. K. Harris, M. L. Trudeau, S. Ikonomou, M. G. Elliott, J. E. 2010Properties of Blood, Porphyrins, and Exposure to Legacy and Emerging Persistent Organic Pollutants in Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) Overwintering on the South Coast of British Columbia, Canada<6Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology592322-333Aug 2010BCI:BCI201000460321NHSurf Scoter; Melanitta perspicillata; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons;*#The surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) is a little-studied species of North American sea duck. Estimates suggest it has experienced a precipitous decline in breeding numbers over the latter half of the past century. To investigate the potential role of contaminant uptake and toxicity in the population decline, this study undertook to measure blood chemistry, porphyrin concentrations, EROD, and organic contaminants in mature surf scoters wintering in the Strait of Georgia, BC, Canada. Hepatic organochlorine pesticide, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin, polychlorinated dibenzofuran, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), polybrominated diphenyl ether, and nonylphenol concentrations were relatively low; for example, I TEQs pound (toxic equivalents) for PCBs, dioxins, and furans combined ranged from 4.7 ng/kg wet weight in reference-site (Baynes Sound) birds to 11.4 ng/kg wet weight in birds from Vancouver Harbour. Nonetheless, elevated EROD activity indicated that birds in Howe Sound were responding to an Ah-receptor-mediated stressor, which was also affecting hematocrit values and possibly vitamin A status. In addition, a low proportion of lymphocytes in individuals across locations in early spring samples was associated with poor body condition. The apparent loss of fitness just prior to the onset of northerly migrations to breeding grounds is of particular concern. Compromised health of mature birds at this point in the season might impact negatively on the productivity and survival of some individuals, particularly those overwintering in Howe Sound.2$://BCI201000460321y*$Winfield, Ian J. Winfield, Denise K. 1994Feeding ecology of the diving ducks pochard (Aythya fernia), tufted dick (A. fuligula), scaup (A. marila) and goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) overwintering on Lough Neagh, Northern IrelandFreshwater Biology323467-477BCI:BCI199598119579VPCommon Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Trophic Interactions; Nonbreeding Seasons;1. The diets of pochard (Aythya ferina), scaup (A. marila) and goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) overwintering on Lough Neagh are dominated by chironomid larvae, while molluscs are more important in that of tufted duck (A. fuligula). 2. Inshore areas of Lough Neagh offer poor feeding conditions for these diving ducks because chironomid larvae and molluscs are of small individual body size or low abundance. These factors lead to all four ducks foraging at least in part at depths greater than those usually exploited. 3. Due to their common consumption of molluscs, the diet of tufted duck shows a higher overlap with that of an introduced roach (Rutilus rutilus) population than with any other duck or fish species. 4. The feeding ecology of tufted duck and roach in Lough Neagh may form an example of distant competition and be at least partly responsible for recent fluctuations in the numbers of tufted duck.$://BCI199598119579efor several bird families. Therefore, the objective of our work was to examine whether specific primers used previously for Anatidae, Phasianidae and Laridae taxons could amplify microsatellite loci of sea duck species: Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis), Goosander (Mergus merganser) and Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca). Tissue samples were collected and DNA was extracted by rapid salt extraction method. Amplification of DNA fragments was carried out using specific microsatellite primers of APH21, Aalmu1, Sfimu4, Sfimu5 (Anatidae), ADL209, ADL115 (Phasianidae) and K71, RGB28 (Laridae). Four primer pairs (APH21, Aalmu1, K71, and nSfimu4) were suitable for investigation of interspecies genetic variability among Long-tailed duck and Velvet Scoter. Intraspecies specificity has been detected for primer pair ADL 209 in all three duck species. The primer pair APH21 was selected as most promising for investigation of intraspecies variability of Long-tailed duck and Velvet Scoter. $://BCI200900510002oGrubb, T. C. Jrs 1975B;A Shift in Nesting Habitat by a Population of Common EidersdWilson Bulletint86UnknowniBCI:BCI197511025579nD=Common Eider; Somateria mollissima; Habitat; Breeding Season;s$://BCI197511025579Gudmundsson, F.s 1979RLThe Past Status and Exploitation of the Myvatn Iceland Waterfowl Populations Oikos32 1-2a232-249 BCI:BCI198069008873 ^XSea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Conservation; Breeding Season;The exceptionally rich waterfowl populations of Myvatn [Iceland] have no doubt been exploited for a very long time although sources of information about the waterfowl of the lake and its exploitation are not available for the time prior to 1712. [The waterfowl species which at present nest or have nested in the Myvatn area are: whooper swan Cygnus cygnus, grey lag goose Anser anser, mallard Anas platyrhynchos, teal A. crecca, gadwall A. strepera, wigeon A. penelope, pintail A. acuta, shoveler A. clypeata, pochard Aythya ferina, tufted duck A. fuligula, scaup A. marila, harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicus, long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis, common scoter Melanitta nigra, Barrow's goldeneye Bucephala islandica, red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator, and goosander M. merganser.] At least from then on and up to the present day the exploitation has entirely consisted in the exploitation of eggs while the birds have been protected. A source from the early 19th century indicates that egg harvesting was not carried out indiscriminately as it was subject to certain restrictions. Written records of the annual egg yield since the turn of the present century have been kept on some of the famrs bordering the lake. But annual egg harvest records by species from about 1900-1957 on 1 of the farms (Grimsstadir) have been particularly valuable as with their help it has been possible to reconstruct important population parameters of the various waterfowl species.$://BCI198069008873ear fitness implications may influence the annual recruitment of ducks on a larger scale as pike are both common and widespread. Vegetation complexity and food abundance are likely to be of overriding importance when breeding ducks are choosing a nesting site. As pike have a strong influence on breeding birds, relying on vegetation and cues of food abundance, while ignoring indicators of predation risk from fish, could lead to lakes with pike acting as an ecological trap.$://BCI201100159965.R(&Brown, P. W. Fredrickson, L. H. 1987JDTime Budget and Incubation Behavior of Breeding White-Winged ScotersWilson Bulleting991  50-55fBCI:BCI198783106050F@White-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Behavior; Breeding Season;We studied the behaviour and incubation constancy of breeding White-winged Scoters (Melanitta fusca deglandi) at Redberry Lake, Saskatchewan [Canada], during 1977-1980. Females spent 59.6% of the their time feeding during the prelaying period, 61.2% during laying, 60.7% during incubation recesses, and 37% during brood rearing. Prelaying and laying females consistently spent more time feeding than did their mates. Incubation constancy declined from 89.3% of daylight hours during the first third of incubation to 69.3% during the last third. Near the end of incubation, females were off the nest most often between 11:00 and 17:00. White-ringed Scoter females probably relay mainly on resources at the nesting area to meet the needs of reproduction.$://BCI198783106050&Brown, P. W. Fredrickson, L. H. 1987\VBody and Organ Weights and Carcass Composition of Breeding Female White-Winged ScotersWildfowl38103-107hBCI:BCI198834046841b\White-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Energetics and Nutrition; Physiology; Breeding Season;$://BCI198834046841&Brown, P. W. Fredrickson, L. H.r 1989f`White-Winged Scoter Melanitta-Fusca Populations and Nesting on Redberry Lake Saskatchewan Canada Canadian Field-Naturalista 103o2o240-247BCI:BCI199090085042pTNWhite-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca; Productivity; Survival; Breeding Season;We studied the nesting ecology of White-winged Scoters (Melanitta fusca) on Redberry Lake, Sakatchewan (52.degree. 40'N, 107.degree. 10'W) in the summer of 1977 to 1981. Most scoters arrived in early May about 30 days before the period of peak nest initiation. About 44% of the female scoters observed soon after first arrival were paired, but 96% were paired by 31 May. Peak numbers of pairs varied little among years and ranged from 389 to 423 scoter pairs during the third week of May each year. About 78% of the peak population left the lake by 31 July when broods were common. Nest success averaged 72.3% for all years and the mean date of hatch was 23 July. Nests with complete concealment had higher sucess rates than nests located in sparser cover (P < 0.025). Duckling mortality was higher during the first week after hatch, but numbers continued to decline during early and mid-August. Annual productivity never exceeded 0.5 duckling/breeding pair.$://BCI199090085042@9xLEOhlendorf, H. M. Marois, K. C. Lowe, R. W. Harvey, T. E. Kelly, P. R. 1991d]Trace Elements and Organochlorines in Surf Scoters from San Francisco Bay 1985 California USA .'Environmental Monitoring and Assessmentq182q105-122BCI:BCI199192131330hbSurf Scoter; Melanitta perspicillata; Contaminants; Nonbreeding Seasons; Energetics and Nutrition;Surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) were collected from 6 locations in San Francisco Bay during January and March 1985. Overall, mean concentrations of cadmium and zinc were higher in livers of scoters from the southern region of the Bay, whereas mean iron and lead were higher in those from the northern Bay region. Mean concentrations of arsenic, copper, lead, zinc, aluminum (January only) and iron (January) also differed among individual locations. Mean concentrations of copper and zinc increased, arsenic decreased, and cadmium remained the same between January and March. Selenium and mercury concentrations in scoter livers were not significantly correlated (P > 0.05), but cadmium concentrations in livers and kidneys were positively correlated (P < 0.0001), and body weight was negatively related to mercury concentration in the liver (P < 0.05). Body weight differed among locations but not between January and March. Body weight was correlated with lipid content (P < 0.0001). DDE and PCBs were each detected in 34 of 36 scoter carcasses. DDE increased significantly between January and March at Richmond Harbor, but PCBs did not differ between January and March at the 3 locations that could be tested..$://BCI199192131330nOja, Heli Poysa, Hannu 2007|uSpring phenology, latitude, and the timing of breeding in two migratory ducks: implications of climate change impactsm Annales Zoologici Fennici446475-485p Dec 19 2007BCI:BCI200800109442<6Common Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula; Breeding Season;We studied whether the timing of hatching in the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and the common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is associated with the timing of lake ice break-up (a local climate index) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO, a largescale climate index), and if the strength of these associations differ between southem and northem populations of the species. In both species, the date of hatching was associated with the date of ice break-up; more clearly so in northern Finland than in southern Finland. The date of hatching was neither associated with the winter NAO (December-March) nor with the spring NAO (March-May). There was no difference between southern and northern populations in terms of the annual differences (in days) between the timing of ice break-up and the timing of hatching. However, in both species, this difference decreased with increasing lateness of the spring in the north, the corresponding trend being less clear in the south.r$://BCI200800109442n^Hines, J. E. Kay, M. F. Wiebe, M. O. 2003Aerial surveys of Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons frontalis and other waterfowl in the Rasmussen Lowlands of the Central Canadian ArcticWildfowl54185-201BCI:BCI2004004*$Hines, J. E. Kay, M. F. Wiebe, M. O. 2003Aerial surveys of Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons frontalis and other waterfowl in the Rasmussen Lowlands of the Central Canadian ArcticWildfowl54185-201BCI:BCI200400435141b\Sea Ducks - General; Long-tailed Duck; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season;d^Helicopter surveys were carried out in June 1994-95 to determine the numbers and distribution of Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons frontalis and other waterfowl in the Rasmussen Lowlands of the Central Canadian Arctic. The results provide information needed for the management of Greater White-fronted Geese as well as for evaluating the biological importance of the Rasmussen Lowlands as a potential protected area. Estimated numbers of waterfowl in the 6,265km2 survey area were 42,041 Lesser Snow Geese Anser caerulescens caerulescens, 23,516 Greater White-fronted Geese, 13,690 King Eiders Somateria spectabilis, 6,412 Canada Geese Branta canadensis hutchinsii, 5,427 Long-tailed Ducks Clangula hyemalis and 3,822 Tundra Swans Cygnus columbianus. Smaller numbers of several other species of aquatic and terrestrial birds were observed and minimum population estimates are reported for those species as well. Numbers of Lesser Snow, Greater White-fronted and Canada Geese have increased substantially in the Rasmussen Lowlands since the mid-1970s, but King Eiders and Long-tailed Ducks have declined markedly. The results support previous findings that the Rasmussen Lowlands is a critical breeding and summer area for Greater White-fronted Geese and other arctic-nesting waterfowl, and further strengthen the recommendations that this site should be protected.$://BCI200400435141tlquin duckJCSalter, R. E. Gollop, M. A. Johnson, S. R. Koski, W. R. Tull, C. E.N 1980Distribution and Abundance of Birds on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Northern Yukon and Adjacent Northwest-Territories Canada 1971-1976 Canadian Field-Naturalist943219-238BCI:BCI198171022584f_Sea Ducks - General; Abundance, Distribution, and Trends; Breeding Season; Nonbreeding Seasons;fObservations on avian distribution, abundance, habitat relationships and seasonal movements are summarized. A total of 122 spp. were recorded; at least 46 (and possibly an additional 14) nest in the area. Known breeding ranges of brant (Branta bernicla), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), pintail (A. acuta), American wigeon (A. americana), northern shoveler (A. clypeata), scaup (Aythya spp.), pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), stilt sandpiper (Micropalama himantopus), buff-breasted sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis), red phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius). Say's phoebe (Sayornis saya), yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava), yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia), white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), and fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca) are extended. The study area is the main fall staging region for post-breeding snow geese (Chen caerulescens) of the western Canadian Arctic, and includes an important molting site for oldsquaws (Clangula hyemalis) and surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata). The coast is a major migration route for various waterfowl and shorebirds. Only gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), snowy owl (Nyctea scandiaca) and common raven (Corvus corax) remain during winter. The avifaunas of the Canadian and Alaskan portions of the coastal Plain are similar, with the primary exception that Asiatic, Beringian and maritime stragglers are confined largely to the Alaskan portion.$://BCI198171022584E?LESchummer, Michael L. Fife, Ian Petrie, Scott A. Badzinski, Shannon S.a 2011LFArtifact Ingestion in Sea Ducks Wintering at Northeastern Lake Ontario Waterbirds341 51-58Mar 2011BCI:BCI201100239669VOBufflehead; Bucephala albeola; Contaminants; Conservation; Nonbreeding Seasons;PIThe incidence of lead shot, ingestion in waterfowl has declined in the lower Great Lakes (LGL) following the 1999 Canada-wide ban on use of toxic shot for waterfowl hunting, but few data exist on ingestion frequencies of spent shot or fishing weights for sea ducks wintering at the LGL. Artifact ingestion was evaluated in 269 Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola), 224 Common Goldeneyes (B. clangula) and 256 Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis) collected at Lake Ontario during winter 2002-03 and 2003-04. Long-tailed Ducks ingested total shot (lead and steel shot combined) more frequently (6.6%) than did Common Goldeneye (1.8%) and Bufflehead (0.4%). Lead shot was ingested by Long-tailed Ducks (5.1%) and Buffleheads (0.4%), but not by Common Goldeneyes. One Long-tailed Duck, 0.1% of all specimens, ingested one lead fishing weight. Substrate type influenced artifact ingestion frequency and diving ducks that specialize on prey associated with hard substrates may continue to ingest artifacts more than ducks using soft substrate marshes. The results suggest lead toxicosis from spent shotgun pellets is presently non-existent to low in sea ducks wintering at northeastern Lake Ontario and that further restrictions on use of lead fishing tackle may have little implication for sea ducks in this region. Received 12 March 2010, accepted 14 July 2010.$://BCI201100239669LESchummer, Michael L. Fife, Ian Petrie, Scott A. Badzinski, Shannon S. 2011LFArtifact Ingestion in Sea Ducks Wintering at Northeastern Lake Ontario Waterbirds341 51-58Mar 2011BCI:BCI201100239669\ULong-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis; Contaminants; Conservation; Nonbreeding Seasons;aPIThe incidence of lead shot, ingestion in waterfowl has declined in the lower Great Lakes (LGL) following the 1999 Canada-wide ban on use of toxic shot for waterfowl hunting, but few data exist on ingestion frequencies of spent shot or fishing weights for sea ducks wintering at the LGL. Artifact ingestion was evaluated in 269 Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola), 224 Common Goldeneyes (B. clangula) and 256 Long-tailed Ducks (Clangula hyemalis) collected at Lake Ontario during winter 2002-03 and 2003-04. Long-tailed Ducks ingested total shot (lead and steel shot combined) more frequently (6.6%) than did Common Goldeneye (1.8%) and Bufflehead (0.4%). Lead shot was ingested by Long-tailed Ducks (5.1%) and Buffleheads (0.4%), but not by Common Goldeneyes. One Long-tailed Duck, 0.1% of all specimens, ingested one lead fishing weight. Substrate type influenced artifact ingestion frequency and diving ducks that specialize on prey associated with hard substrates may continue to ingest artifacts more than ducks using soft substrate marshes. The results suggest lead toxicosis from spent shotgun pellets is presently non-existent to low in sea ducks wintering at northeastern Lake Ontario and that further restrictions on use of lead fishing tackle may have little implication for sea ducks in this region. Received 12 March 2010, accepted 14 July 2010.o$://BCI201100239669 ses to acute stress between males and females to different selective pressures during the breeding season.$://BCI200200622289.(Perry, M. C. Munro, R. E. Haramis, G. M. 1981F?25 Year Trends in Diving Duck Populations in Chesapeake Bay USA