Research Notes: Evidence of Recent Population Increases in Common Eiders Breeding in Labrador

Chaulk, Keith G.; Robertson, Gregory J.; Collins, Brian T.; Montevecchi, William A.; Turner, Bruce

doi:10.2193/0022-541x(2005)069[0805:eorpii]2.0.co;2

Cited by 24 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…It is true that this study suffers from several limitations with respect to the comparability of the data across years (observer effort, survey timing); however, in combination with findings presented by Chaulk et al (2005) as well as anecdotal reports by local hunters, it seems to provide growing evidence that suggests that Common Eider populations on the mid-Labrador coast have grown since the early 1980s. The cause(s) of these apparent increases are unknown.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

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Suspected Long-Term Population Increases in Common Eiders, Somateria mollissima, on the Mid-Labrador Coast, 1980, 1994, and 2006

Chaulk

2009

Can Field Nat

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Aerial surveys for adult male Common Eiders, Somateria mollissima, were flown on the Labrador coast during June 2006. This information was then compared with aerial counts of adult male Common Eiders collected in 1980 and 1994. For each survey year, data were grouped and paired by coastal block and were analyzed for population trends. Overall, the observed counts of adult male Common Eiders increased by 244% between 1980 and 2006. Much of this increase seemed to occur in the southern region of the study area.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…With respect to Labrador, from 1998to 2003, Chaulk et al (2005 documented average annual increases in Common Eider populations of 18% (range 13-22%). However, that study was limited in temporal and geographic scope, and thus the overall direction and extent of longer-term population trends for the region remained unclear.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Suspected Long-Term Population Increases in Common Eiders, Somateria mollissima, on the Mid-Labrador Coast, 1980, 1994, and 2006

Chaulk

2009

Can Field Nat

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“…Pure borealis Common Eiders that breed in the eastern Canadian Arctic winter mainly in Greenland, although about a quarter of the population winters off Newfoundland and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Mosbech et al 2006). The Common Eider population breeding in Labrador has been growing (Chaulk et al 2005) and is assumed to overwinter exclusively in eastern Canada. In identifying subspecies, we found some discrepancies between visual inspection of eiders and the use of bill morphology to key eiders to subspecies (Mendall 1986).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality of Common Eider, Somateria mollissima (Linnaeus, 1758), and other water birds during two inshore oiling events in southeastern Newfoundland, 2005 and 2006

Robertson¹,

Gilliland²,

Ryan³

et al. 2014

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Although the waters off Newfoundland harbour millions of wintering marine birds, chronic marine oil pollution has been repeatedly reported. Unusually high numbers (hundreds) of oiled birds were noted following two events in March 2005 and April 2006 in southeastern Newfoundland. Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima [Linnaeus, 1758]) were the main victims in the first event, with at least 1400 affected, based on retrieval of carcasses and aerial surveys. The April 2006 event affected 19 species; Common Eiders were again the most numerous with a minimum of 337 birds oiled. Among the Common Eiders affected in both events, most were the northern type, including the borealis (C. L. Brehm, 1824) subspecies and presumed intergrades between borealis and dresseri Sharpe, 1871. Coupled with the legal harvest, these oiling events may have had an effect on the wintering Common Eider population. Alcids, other sea ducks, loons and gulls were also oiled, but in low numbers (< 100); thus, their populations were not likely affected by these events.

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“…Specifically, large decreases in common eider (S. mollissima) populations were observed in parts of Canada (Reed and Erskine, 1986;Robertson and Gilchrist, 1998), Alaska (USFWS, 1999(USFWS, , 2006Suydam et al, 2000), and Greenland (Salomonsen, 1950;Vibe, 1967;Boertmann et al, 1996;Frich et al, 1998;Merkel, 2004a, b). Factors likely contributing to these declines include high harvest levels, human disturbance during the nesting period, and climatic changes; however, the ultimate causes remain equivocal (Robertson and Gilchrist, 1998;Suydam et al, 2000;Merkel, 2004aMerkel, , b, 2010Chaulk et al, 2005Chaulk et al, , 2007. During the past 10 years, some of these populations have shown increased abundance; these include the common eider (S. m. borealis) populations in the eastern Canadian Arctic (Hipfner et al, 2002;Rail and Chapdelaine, 2004;Chaulk et al, 2005) and West Greenland (Merkel, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Factors likely contributing to these declines include high harvest levels, human disturbance during the nesting period, and climatic changes; however, the ultimate causes remain equivocal (Robertson and Gilchrist, 1998;Suydam et al, 2000;Merkel, 2004aMerkel, , b, 2010Chaulk et al, 2005Chaulk et al, , 2007. During the past 10 years, some of these populations have shown increased abundance; these include the common eider (S. m. borealis) populations in the eastern Canadian Arctic (Hipfner et al, 2002;Rail and Chapdelaine, 2004;Chaulk et al, 2005) and West Greenland (Merkel, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nesting Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) Population Quintuples in Northwest Greenland

Burnham¹,

Johnson²,

Konkel³

et al. 2012

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. Common eider (Somateria mollissima) populations in Greenland severely declined throughout the 20th century. As a result, in 2001, harvest regulations were changed and the length of the hunting season was reduced. Recent data suggest that these changes have been successful, and population regrowth is occurring. In the Avanersuaq District, northwest Greenland, only one systematic survey quantifying the number of nesting eiders had previously been conducted, in 1997 and 1998. Although this district had historically been identified as having the largest number of breeding eiders in Greenland, the 1997 -98 survey results showed a relatively small estimated population of 5000 pairs. However, it is not known to what extent changes in hunting regulations have affected nesting abundance in this area. Therefore, the Avanersuaq District was systematically resurveyed during the 2009 breeding season, approximately 11 years after the previous survey. These results showed that the population had increased to 5.4 times its 1997 -98 size, with an annual compounded growth rate of 15.3%. On a single island, nearly 4500 active nests were observed. Five islands had more than 2600 nests each and comprised 75% of the total nests counted. Along with historical information to account for additional nesting habitat not surveyed, the observed population growth rate from this study suggests that the overall Avanersuaq common eider breeding population size ranges from 25 000 to 30 000 pairs, or roughly half of the total estimated West Greenland breeding population. Despite the significance of the Avanersuaq District as a breeding area for common eiders, we have only limited information about this population. The effects of recent extensions of the hunting season on this population are also unknown, and the only wintering location information is based on a few individuals banded in the 1920s and 1940s. Additional research on migratory movements is suggested before any further changes are made to hunting regulations.Key words: common eider, Somateria mollissima, population growth, Greenland, Avanersuaq District RÉSUMÉ. Au cours du XX e siècle, les populations d'eiders à duvet (Somateria mollissima) ont connu un déclin considérable au Groenland. C'est pourquoi en 2001, le règlement relatif à la chasse a été modifié et la saison de chasse a été raccourcie. Selon des données récentes, ces changements ont porté fruits en ce sens que la population s'est accrue. Dans le district d'Avanersuaq, dans le nord-ouest du Groenland, seulement un relevé systématique ayant pour but de quantifier le nombre d'eiders nicheurs a été fait, et c'était en 1997-1998. Bien qu'au fil des ans, ce district a compté le plus grand nombre d'eiders reproducteurs du Groenland, le relevé de 1997-1998 avait établi que la population était relativement petite, avec une estimation de 5 000 paires. On ne sait toutefois pas dans quelle mesure la modification du règlement sur la chasse a eu des effets sur l'abondance d'eiders nichant dans la région. Par conséquent, le dist...

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Research Notes: Evidence of Recent Population Increases in Common Eiders Breeding in Labrador

Cited by 24 publications

References 10 publications

Suspected Long-Term Population Increases in Common Eiders, <em>Somateria mollissima</em>, on the Mid-Labrador Coast, 1980, 1994, and 2006

Suspected Long-Term Population Increases in Common Eiders, <em>Somateria mollissima</em>, on the Mid-Labrador Coast, 1980, 1994, and 2006

Mortality of Common Eider, <em>Somateria mollissima</em> (Linnaeus, 1758), and other water birds during two inshore oiling events in southeastern Newfoundland, 2005 and 2006

Nesting Common Eider (<i>Somateria mollissima</i>) Population Quintuples in Northwest Greenland

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