| Project Description |
In the Chesapeake Bay area, seaducks are typically
defined as scoters (black, surf, and white-winged) and oldsquaw. Eiders and
harlequin ducks also are seaducks, but because of their low numbers are not
typically considered important seaducks of the Bay. Although the common eider
is more abundant in New England and the Maritimes, the harlequin duck is very
rare and is possibly close to being threatened on the Atlantic coast. The
three species of mergansers (common, red-breasted, and hooded), the
bufflehead, and the goldeneye (common and Barrow's) are also considered
seaducks by the Sea Duck Joint Venture, but often are considered in a separate
category for waterfowl surveys of the Chesapeake Bay. On a continental basis
there are 15 species that are classified as seaducks (Elliot 1997). Seaducks
on the Chesapeake Bay have received more attention in recent years as hunters
have increased hunting pressure on these species, mostly due to closed seasons
on Canada geese (Perry and Deller 1994). The distribution and abundance of
seaducks could be influenced by hunting pressure. Hunting could become a more
serious problem in the future for seaducks in combination with the habitat
problems in the Bay. Past food habits work conducted by Cottam (1939) and
Stewart (1962) on seaducks determined that they were mainly feeding on
mollusks in the Bay area. These reports indicated no problems with regard to
habitat. Recent concerns about the decline in numbers of seaducks on the Bay,
however, have given managers reason to suspect changes in habitat conditions
that could be impacting these species. Research is needed in the Chesapeake
Bay to determine the present food habits of seaducks and the important
habitats for these birds in the Bay. There have been few studies conducted on
harlequin ducks and no known food habits analyses conducted on this species in
the Atlantic coast area. The location of the breeding and molting areas of
some species of seaducks is uncertain and in need of further study (K.
McAloney, pers. comm). The black scoter is of special concern, because it is
both the least common of the three scoter species and the species least
studied (Kehoe 1994). The Eastern Technical Team of the Sea Duck Joint Venture
has recommended new research on this species to learn more about its movements
to breeding and molting areas. Satellite tracking of black scoters
instrumented in late winter on the Chesapeake Bay will provide new information
that will be beneficial to protecting critical breeding and molting habitat of
this species and improving future management of its populations.
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