Sea Ducks

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. 

Spectacled eiders

Common eiders

King eider

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.

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 2009.  A large portion of the construction costs were funded by the Sidni K. Undercuffler Memorial Trust Fund of the Watertown Foundation.  Additional donations from the Connecticut Waterfowlers Association, the American Pheasant and Waterfowl Society, and our Adopt-a-Duck supporters were utilized to stock the enclosure with waterfowl, including long-tailed ducks, king eiders, spectacled eiders and harlequin ducks. 

Our sea duck enclosure educates visitors 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.  Our sea duck enclosure houses a diverse collection of sea ducks, which enhance educational opportunities for classroom field trips, environmental and conservation organizations, artists and photographers, state and federal biologists, and visitors to our annual open house. 

Long-tailed ducks

Buffleheads enjoy the new enclosure

Harlequin ducks

Weekly Avian Update