$105,000

CMI, UAF

Chief, Alaska Environmental Studies Section

King eiders migrate across the OCS areas of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas of Alaska.  Migrations are characterized by large groups of birds that pass across the OCS areas in a restricted time and space.  Thus, king eiders may be vulnerable to oil spills and possibly other oil and gas activities.  King eiders are a species of special concern because the population using the Beaufort Sea appears to have declined by more than 50% between 1976 and 1996.  The breeding biology of king eiders is not well known in either disturbed or undisturbed areas.  There have been few studies dedicated to breeding biology of king eiders and most available information is anecdotal that was collected secondary to studies of other species or issues.  Understanding the breeding biology of king eiders is important to better understanding and evaluating the causes for the possible population decline, specifically for evaluating any potential impact from oil and gas exploration or development.  This study is related to and is synergistic with three other ongoing MMS studies: 1) a CMI study at Point Barrow that is a continuation of periodic counts of eiders migrating offshore the village; 2) a CMI study in which up to 60 king eiders are to be instrumented with implanted satellite transmitters and monitored during fall staging and migration, and spring migration; and 3) a USGS BRD study in which recovery models are being developed for several species of water birds, including king eiders.

This study is designed to provide comparative data on the breeding biology and habitat use of king eiders nesting at an undisturbed site (Teshekpuk Lake) and a developed site (Kuparuk) on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska.

Observers will:

1.   Search study areas in aircraft and on foot.  Document distribution and abundance of king eiders and phenology of king eider nesting.  Map nests and king eiders using GPS.

2.   Record numbers of males, females and pairs daily to estimate arrival dates, departure dates of males, departure dates of failed or non-breeding females and females with broods.

3.   Classify habitat associated with pre-nesting, nesting, brood-rearing, and post-nesting activities.  Estimate landcover status of nests for each nest using the BLM/Ducks Unlimited Landcover Inventory database for NPR-A, and WERC habitat classes.

4.   Monitor nests to evaluate incubation patterns and hatching success.  Download data using a remote cable to avoid flushing birds off nests.  Estimate nest success using the Mayfield method as modified by Johnson (1979).  Monitor broods for as long as possible to estimate survival of the young.

MMS will use data on king eider distribution and abundance from this study, and related studies mentioned above, to model the effect of various oil spill scenarios on the Beaufort Sea king eider population.  MMS will use information on basic natural history and ecology to improve assessments of potential impacts of oil development and, potentially, to develop mitigation measures for future OCS, and supporting onshore, development.

September 30, 2004

Powell, A. N., Phillips, L. M. and E. J. Taylor. 2003. Importance of the Alaska Beaufort Sea to King Eiders (Somateria spectabilis). in Proceedings of the Ninth MMS Information Transfer Meeting.  U. S. Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region, Anchorage, AK 93pp. 

Powell, A. N., McGuire, R.L., and R. S. Suydam. 2003. Breeding Biology and Habitat Use of King Eiders on the Coastal Plain of Northern Alaska. p. 55-59 In University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute Annual Report  No. 10. OCS Study MMS 2004-002, University of Alaska Fairbanks and USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region, 119 p.

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