Sea ducks are a diverse group of waterfowl that are adapted to life at sea and on land. The fifteen species of sea ducks represent one third of all North American waterfowl species. Included in this group are the eiders, long-tailed ducks, scoters, mergansers, goldeneyes, buffleheads, and the eye-catching harlequin duck. Many sea ducks breed in the Arctic, and they spend most of the year in marine environments. Although sea ducks constitute a large group of waterfowl, basic life history information is lacking for many species and their biology is poorly understood. The remoteness of their arctic and marine habitats makes them difficult to study, and even harder to survey and monitor. Relatively little is known about breeding, molting, and wintering habitat affiliations. In addition, there are few reliable population indices or estimates of annual survival for sea ducks. However, the information we do have indicates that most populations are in trouble. Many populations have undergone long term declines in numbers, yet the causes for these declines are unknown. The Spectacled eider (Polysticta stelleri), and the Alaskan breeding population of Steller’s eider (Somateria fisheri), are currently listed as threatened in the United States. The eastern populations of harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) and Barrow’s goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) are listed as threatened in Maine and as a species of special concern in Canada.
Common eiders.
Although the causes of declines in sea duck populations are not well documented, there are several factors thought to impact current population trends. Arctic breeding grounds are under constant threat of oil and natural gas development, and many traditional wintering areas have become urbanized and industrialized. Annual reproduction of many sea duck species is negatively affected by thriving predator populations, and the coasts of the United States, where many sea ducks winter, have been impacted by the bioaccumulation of chemical contaminants, oil spillage and coastal development. The increasing risk of global climate change, and the subsequent impacts on marine environments, means that an integrated effort to understand the biology of sea ducks is essential to the conservation of sea duck populations. In turn, the status of sea duck populations is a prime indicator of the health of our marine and global environments.
Site of the new sea duck enclosure.
The LRWC Sea Duck Conservation program is designed to promote conservation awareness for sea ducks and their marine environments. The first phase of this program began with the construction of a new sea duck enclosure in spring 2009. The new sea duck aviary will provide an opportunity to educate the public about the plight of a mysterious and endearing group of North American waterfowl. Because of their fantastic coloration and notable behaviors, they catch the attention of visitors of all ages, and leave a lasting impression that leads to conservation awareness and action. Sea ducks are notoriously difficult to manage in captivity, with strict habitat and water quality requirements. We are one of the few facilities in North America that has successfully maintained and raised sea ducks; however, our current facilities limit us to small numbers of one or two species. The construction of a sea duck aviary will allow us to increase the size and diversity of our sea duck collection, which in turn will greatly enhance educational opportunities for visitors through classroom field trips, environmental and conservation organizations, artists and photographers, state and federal biologists, and visitors to our annual open house.
Construction is underway.
Excavation work for the enclosure pond was graciously donated by John Fairbairn of J&M Landscape Design in Woodbury, with the assistance of long-time LRWC volunteer Clint Herdman. Construction of the enclosure began shortly after the pond excavation, and the enclosure is scheduled for completion later the year. A large portion of the construction costs were funded by two generous grants from the Sidni K. Undercuffler Memorial Trust Fund of the Watertown Foundation, which promotes conservation, preservation and the management of our natural resources. Additional donations from the Connecticut Waterfowlers Association and the American Pheasant and Waterfowl Society will be utilized to stock the enclosure with waterfowl, including long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis), king eiders (Somateria spectabilis), spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri), and white-winged scoters (Melanitta deglandi).
The neighbors anxiously watch the flurry of activity.
The second phase of this program will target fundraising to enhance and develop collaborative research efforts for sea ducks, along with development of an educational program designed to raise public awareness for sea ducks and marine environments. Because of the difficulty in monitoring and studying sea ducks in the wild, a captive environment which promotes the natural behavior of these birds will provide opportunities for research on behavior, physiology, ecology, and other aspects of sea duck life history. In keeping with our mission to protect waterfowl and their habitats through research, conservation action, and education, the expansion of our facilities will allow us to further research and conservation efforts by enhancing our ability to propagate threatened and endangered species for captive research and release programs.
The LRWC common eiders check out the new sea duck enclosure.
