RESEARCH NOTES: EVIDENCE OF RECENT POPULATION INCREASES IN COMMON EIDERS BREEDING IN LABRADOR

Abstract

Populations of several sea ducks are declining across their North American ranges (Sea Duck Joint Venture Management Board 2001), including populations of all 4 eider species (Somateria spp. and Polysticta steller; Kertell 1991, Stehn et al. 1993, Gratto-Trevor et al. 1998). Declines in common eider populations have been documented in Greenland, Hudson Bay, and Alaska (Robertson and Gilchrist 1998, Sudyam et al. 2000, Merkel 2004). Reasons behind these population decreases vary, and many are unclear. Factors identified as causing these declines include human disturbance, overharvesting, and climatic events (Robertson and Gilchrist 1998, Suydam et al. 2000, Merkel 2004). However, not all common eider populations in the north are decreasing; Christensen and Falk (2000) recently found evidence of population increase in an eider population in Northwest Greenland, while others have documented increases in Hudson Strait (Hipfner et al. 2001, Falardeau et al. 2003).