STELLER'S EIDER SPRING MIGRATION SURVEYS
SOUTHWEST ALASKA
2003
by:
William W. Larned
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Migratory Bird Management Office
Waterfowl Branch - Anchorage, Alaska
June 5, 2003
1
STELLER'S EIDER SPRING MIGRATION SURVEYS, 2003
by
William W. Larned
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,Waterfowl Management,
43655 KBeach Rd., Soldotna, Alaska 99669.
Abstract. Annual spring aerial surveys were initiated in 1992, and repeated in 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998,
2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 to monitor the population status of and habitat use by Steller's eiders
(Polysticta stelleri) migrating northward in southwestern Alaska. Since the timing of migration varies,
two to three replicate shoreline surveys were conducted each spring through 1997, to increase the
probability of encountering the entire population of eiders as they transited the survey area en route to
their arctic breeding grounds. Fiscal constraints and inclement weather in subsequent years resulted in
successful completion of only one survey per year, the timing of which was carefully scheduled using
satellite sea ice imagery and other pertinent data. The 2003 survey was conducted 3/29 to 4/10. We
made visual estimates of Steller's eiders and all other identifiable water birds and marine mammals. The
design consisted of a shoreline census, visually estimating all Steller’s eiders observed within all known
Steller’s eider habitat in the Study area. To enhance consistency, most flock estimates of Steller’s eiders
were made by the pilot/port side observer, who was present in every survey. Beginning in 2000, the
shoreline census was supplemented by an extrapolated sample in four extensive shoal areas, only one of
which contained Steller’s eiders. In each year where multiple surveys were completed, the highest
Steller's eider count was used as that year's population estimate. In 1998 a double-sample study using
aerial photographs of 17 flocks indicated that we were underestimating flock size, further suggesting that
the survey provides a minimal estimate with long-term trend determination as its primary quantitative
product. In 2000, 2001, and 2002 our aerial photo sample was inadequate for such determination, but a
small sample completed in 2003 suggested that we are still underestimating most large dense flocks.
Annual estimates, uncorrected for observer bias and using unextrapolated data from sampled areas, are
137,904 in 1992; 88,636 in 1993; 107,589 in 1994; 90,269 in 1997, 84,459 in 1998, 68,956 in 2000,
58,231 in 2001, 54,191 in 2002, and 77,329 in 2003. Correcting recent estimates using extrapolated data
from sampled areas, the totals are 72,953 for 2000, 60,656 for 2001, 56,704 for 2002, and 77,369 for
2003. We suspect that the low population estimates obtained from 2000 through 2002 were due in part to
a portion of the eiders migrating northward during the survey, and thus not being observed by the survey
crew. This was supported by satellite telemetry data which indicated migration within the study area
during the survey of 2002. We therefore initiated the 2003 survey earlier than other years, hoping to
encounter most eiders before they moved from Alaska Peninsula lagoons to Kuskokwim Bay and other
more northerly habitats. The 2003 survey also happened to coincide with a weather system with
persistent north winds, which we suspect discouraged any northward migration flights. Unexpanded
long-term survey data indicate a 6.1 percent annual decline in migrating Steller’s eiders (R2 = 0.72),
which we feel supports continuing the survey, even in the absence of a measure of survey precision.
Patterns of habitat use by Steller's eiders and most other sea duck species during migration was similar
among years, indicating important spring habitats. Maps illustrate survey route and distribution of
Steller’s eiders and other selected seaduck species within the survey area in 2003. Detailed distributional
data are available for all observed species upon request.
Key Words: Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri, king eider, Somateria spectabilis, migration, population,
Aerial, survey, waterfowl, water birds, Bering Sea, Bristol Bay
2
INTRODUCTION
The majority of the world population of Steller's eiders migrates along the Bristol Bay coast of the
Alaska Peninsula in the spring, crosses Bristol Bay toward Cape Pierce, then continues northward along
the Bering Sea coast. Most then cross the Bering Strait to their breeding grounds in Siberia, with a
smaller number continuing north to the Alaska north slope to breed (Gill et al. 1978). They linger en
route to feed at the mouths of lagoons and other productive habitats. From 1981 to present, migrating
Steller's eiders were estimated during spring aerial surveys of emperor geese conducted over coastal
habitats from Cape Romanzof to and including both the north and south coasts of the Alaska Peninsula.
Results of this effort indicate a decline in prebreeding Steller's eider populations during this period, but
some of the large between-year fluctuations may be artifacts of survey timing, and a goose-oriented
technique that is not optimal for eiders. Concern over apparent declines of eiders prompted the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service to initiate surveys in 1992 to monitor the population of Steller's eiders that winters
in Alaska waters. Since a comprehensive survey of the species is not currently feasible on its extensive
and remote winter range, which includes the Aleutian islands, the Alaska Peninsula, and the western Gulf
of Alaska including Kodiak and lower Cook Inlet, current surveys estimate their numbers as they stage
during migration in Bristol Bay and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Objectives of the effort are:
1. Obtain an annual estimate of the prebreeding population of Steller's eiders that winter in Alaskan
waters.
2. Document distribution of and habitats used by Steller's eiders during migration.
3. Provide additional information on Steller's eiders, such as indications of annual recruitment.
4. Describe populations and distributions of other migrating water birds and marine mammals, to the
extent that doing so does not compromise the Steller’s eider objectives.
This report summarizes results and observations from the 2003 Steller's eider survey, with comparisons
to earlier surveys.
STUDY AREA AND METHODS
The survey area included sea duck habitats along the coast of southwestern Alaska from Cape Romanzof
on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (Y-K Delta) to Chignik Bay on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula.
Steller’s eiders are shallow feeders normally found close to shore and in shoals in lagoons, bays and
occasionally offshore areas, in water less than 10m in depth. Our objective for coverage was to search
adaptively to census all Steller’s eiders within the survey area, as well as the most important
concentrations of other sea ducks. We flew a Cessna 206 amphibious airplane over near-shore waters at
an airspeed of 90 to 100 kts (166 to 185 km/hr) and an altitude of 150 to 250 feet (46 to 76 m). Habitats
within Lagoons and bays were covered using an adaptive contiguous search pattern, while exposed
shorelines were surveyed using a single track parallel to the coast within 1 km of the shoreline. The
effort required for comparable coverage among surveys varied somewhat, depending upon the aggregate
of sightability factors, such as lighting, sea surface condition, and bird distribution. For the Kuskokwim
Bay area, we felt we accomplished essentially complete coverage of the dense concentrations of Steller’s
eiders south of Kipnuk, using a boundary line drawn around all eider locations from previous surveys,
3
displayed in a GIS map, as a guide. This line was displayed in our “moving map” navigation system in
the aircraft. For the portion of the bay from the Kipnuk shoals to the shoreline north of Goodnews Bay
we sampled using a “sawtooth” flight pattern. We also used this technique in some other offshore areas
which contained few or no Steller’s eiders but large numbers of other sea ducks (Figs. 1 and 2, units 1-4).
For analysis, these areas were treated the same as the rest of the survey area before 2000, but in 2000 to
2003 we extrapolated within these areas using expansion factors calculated as: km2 of survey area/(linear
km of flight lines within the survey area * km transect width). This method renders population indices
that account for portions of the survey area that are incompletely covered, but are not comparable to
results before 2000, particularly for black scoters, white-winged scoters, long-tailed ducks, king eiders
and Steller’s eiders. For this reason Table 2 contains unextrapolated data for comparison with earlier
surveys.
For geographic reference, the shoreline was historically divided into 126 numbered segments (Larned et
al. 1994), most identical to those used for the annual spring emperor goose survey conducted by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks. However, in 1997 we began using a global positioning system
(GPS)/laptop computer data collection system which enabled us to electronically record our flight path
and the precise location of each observation, so the segments were no longer used. This system,
consisting of a laptop computer for each observer, connected by serial cable to the onboard GPS receiver,
enabled observers to record observations directly into the laptops. A custom program developed by John
Hodges (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Management, Juneau, AK) recorded our flight
path and automatically linked GPS coordinates to each recorded observation. Later transcription , using
another special program written by Hodges, produced ASCII data files wherein each line contained a
species and number observation plus geographic coordinates, date, and time. We also recorded ancillary
data, including tide stage (high, medium, low, unknown), ice cover in tenths, and sea condition (Beaufort
Scale). These auxiliary data are included in separate fields within each line in the output file, but so far
have not been included in any data analyses.
The Steller’s eider total is considered a minimal population estimate because some birds may escape
detection by the survey crew by moving northward during the periods between survey flights, while
others may be outside the survey area (north or south) during the survey. While we strive diligently to
minimize such errors, we have no way of detecting or measuring shifts that may occur during the survey.
In some years we repeated the survey up to three times each year to bracket the spring migration period,
using the highest count as that year’s Steller’s eider estimate. However, in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, and
2003 only one survey per year was flown. We intended to conduct 2 complete surveys in 2001 and 2002,
but were unable due to extended periods of inclement weather. Another source of error is flock
estimation bias. We have tried to help measure and account for this bias by taking a representative
sample of oblique aerial photographs of flocks which we have also estimated, counting the birds in the
photos, then using the resulting ratios to develop a correction factor with variance estimate. While we
were moderately successful at this in 1998 (Larned 1998), normally the frequent and sequential diving
behavior of Steller’s eiders makes obtaining an adequate sample of photographs frustrating and timeconsuming, and we have not been successful in this endeavor since 1998.
4
Our recorded flight path for the survey of 29 March through 11 April 2003 is displayed in figs. 1-4.
Please note that, due to differences in timing of migration and habitat preferences among species, the
coverage described above is not adequate for a complete census of other species within the survey area.
Accordingly numeric results for these species are highly variable among years. General interpretive
comments for survey results for selected species are included in the RESULTS section of the 1998
Steller’s eider survey report (Larned 1998).
Table 1. Total flight hours for spring Steller’s eider surveys, southwest Alaska, 1992-03.
Survey
No.
1992
1993
1994
1997
1998
2000
2001
2002
2003
1
39.1
35.8
40.2
36.4
35.5
36.9
41.8
42.6
38.1
2
32.1
40.4
25.0
34.4
3
31.3
34.3
In most years of this survey we observed flocks in Alaska Peninsula lagoons consisting mostly of lightbrown Steller’s eiders, usually with relatively small numbers of birds with adult-male-looking plumage.
Chris Dau (pers. comm.), who has conducted occasional late spring surveys in lower Alaska Peninsula
lagoons, stated that it is typical in late-May and early June to have Steller’s eider flocks in these areas
with all or nearly all brown-plumaged birds, often with a few adult-plumaged males mixed in. We
suspect that the latter may be after-second-year birds not yet breeding. The majority of other flocks we
see during the survey have a fairly even sex ratio, with males and females homogeneously dispersed
within each flock. Most females in these flocks are very dark, with a distinct speculum, bordered by faint
white bars that are usually visible in flight. Although Dau (pers. comm.) suggests that females usually do
not attain this dark adult plumage until the Alternate II molt , we feel it is reasonable to assume that most
of the brown birds in the late-migrating (or non-migrating) predominately brown flocks are second-year
birds (based on the very small numbers of adult-plumaged males present, and our assumption that the
proportion of after-second-year females not yet breeding would not be substantially higher than that of
males). We have recorded and totaled estimates of the brown bird components of these flocks, and
provide the results as a crude index to annual recruitment. We have not attempted to allocate this
estimate according to major breeding area (Arctic Russia vs. Alaska North Slope). We have seen most of
these immature birds among flocks on the lower Alaska Peninsula; at the end of the migrational
procession.
The aerial survey crew since the beginning of the survey in 1992 has consisted of Bill Larned as pilot and
port observer, with various starboard observers. Julian Fischer functioned as starboard observer in 2003.
In an effort to minimize the effects of observer bias, only experienced aerial observers were used, the
pilot intentionally maneuvered the aircraft so that the majority of larger eider flocks were on his (the
pilot’s) side for estimation, and observers received training in flock estimation within one week of each
survey, using a computer simulation program (Wildlife Counts by John Hodges, USFWS, Juneau, AK),
and aerial photographs of eider and other seaduck flocks.
This year in order to reduce aircraft gross weight during the longer flight legs, we established fuel caches
at Togiak Village and Port Heiden airports. This proved to be helpful in enabling us to complete
thorough coverage of our two longest flights without concern for running short of fuel.
5
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Habitat and survey conditions
Most of the winter of 2002-2003 was mild, with limited southward ice extent. However, in late February
and March temperatures turned colder and extensive new ice was formed in the Bering Sea over what
had previously been open water. During this survey in late March and early April there was nearly
continuous thin and brash ice cover north of Cape Newenham, with some very narrow leads adjacent to
extensive shorefast ice. There was also some ice remaining in Bristol Bay, which during this survey
consisted mostly of about 5-10 km of continuous brash ice along the Alaska Peninsula shoreline from
Naknek River to Cinder River Lagoon, due to the persistent cold northerly winds. There was up to 80
percent ice coverage of Egegik, Ugashik, and Cinder River lagoons during the survey flight of 8 March.
Generally good survey conditions prevailed for most of the survey. Strong north winds during the flight
from Bethel to Cape Newenham (Kuskokwim Bay) resulted in a somewhat abbreviated coverage there,
however, very few Steller’s eiders or other seaducks were present in that area, and it was mostly covered
with thin new ice, which also helped reduce wave buildup. Winds were calm during the survey of
Izembek Lagoons on 9 April, which was good for spotting birds, but made estimation challenging due to
increased “rollup”, where flocks flush in random directions and often join other flocks not yet counted.
With the normal wind situation, flushing direction is more predictable, allowing its effects to be
minimized by strategic coverage technique. Fortunately this problem was more of a factor with brant
than with Steller’s eiders.
Itinerary for 2003 survey
3/28
Flew survey aircraft from Anchorage to Bethel.
3/29
Conducted 4.0 hour survey flight covering south side of Nunivak Island
3/30-4/1 Persistent unfavorable weather kept us grounded in Bethel, finally on 4/1 we returned via
airlines to Anchorage to wait out the storm system.
4/5
Flew via airlines to Bethel late PM.
4/6
Conducted 5.4-hour survey flight Covering from 40 km south of Toksook Bay to Kuskokwim
River mouth.
4/7
Conducted 6.7-hour survey flight from Bethel to King Salmon, refueling enroute at Togiak fuel
cache. Stayed overnight in King Salmon FWS bunkhouse.
4/8
Conducted 6.1-hour survey flight to Cold Bay, refueling at Port Heiden. Stayed overnight in
Cold Bay FWS bunkhouse.
4/9
Surveyed Izembek NWR and local lagoons (flight time 2.5 hours). Tried to return to King
Salmon but encountered heavy fog in Nelson Lagoon so returned to overnight in Cold Bay
(flight time 1.6 hrs).
4/10
Flew to King Salmon, surveying Chignik area (south side of AK Peninsula) enroute (flight
time 4.1 hrs.). Overnight in King Salmon bunkhouse.
4/11
Flew to Soldotna, surveying the Deep Creek Steller’s eider wintering area enroute (flight time
2.8 hrs.). End of survey.
6
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
Eider Estimate (X1000)
Steller’s eider results
The 2003 unadjusted Steller’s eider estimate of 77,329 is the highest annual estimate since 1998, but is
still 9 percent below the mean of all 9 annual estimates (highest annual estimates) (Table 2). The 19922003 trend indicates a 6.1 percent annual decline (R2 = 0.72) in Steller’s eider estimates (Fig. 1). The
adjusted figure using numbers extrapolated from sampled portions of the survey area (77,369) is only
slightly greater than the unadjusted figure, because most of the Steller’s eiders were south of the sampled
areas due to the early survey
timing this year (Table 1). The
increase from earlier years may
STELLER'S EIDER ESTIM ATES
be attributable in part at least to
the early date, combined with a
160
rapid completion of the survey
140
during a period of brisk
y = 131.78e-0.0609x
120
northerly winds when birds
R2 = 0.7152
100
would not be expected to fly
80
northward (into a headwind).
60
By contrast, in 2002 there were
40
southerly winds which
20
encouraged migration flights.
0
Satellite telemetry data from
2002 indicated that a portion of
the population moved
YEAR
northward during the survey ,
and thus were probably not
Figure 1. Trend in Steller’s eider estimates from spring Steller’s
counted (Philip Martin, U. S.
eiders aerial surveys, southwest Alaska, 1992-2003.
Fish and Wildlife Service,
unpublished data).
One of the assumptions of the survey is that at the time of the survey most Steller’s eiders have moved
into the survey area from wintering habitats outside the survey area. To investigate this assumption we
therefore attempted to document departure dates of Steller’s eiders from various known wintering
habitats in southwestern Alaska, from the current year or at least recent years. Richard MacIntosh (pers.
comm.) reported that birds were typically (recent, not current years) abundant in Chiniak Bay, Kodiak,
through March, and leaving in early April, with some remaining until the 3rd week of April. In 1999, he
observed a Steller’s eider flock departing southwestward over the island on 17 March, and 800 birds still
remaining on 18 April. Chris Hoffman (Pers. Comm.) noted that Steller’s eiders observed during groundbased surveys at Dutch Harbor peaked in February during the winter of 2002-2003, with a sharp decline
by late March. By April 8 he could find only a single male there. Mr. Hoffman also conducted boat
surveys in the vicinity of the Homer spit this winter, and observed fairly level numbers of Steller’s eiders
through early March. In recent years I have observed up to 2400 Steller’s eiders wintering in the
Ninilchik area of lower Cook Inlet (about 1200 this past winter)(W. Larned, U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, unpublished data). We surveyed that area briefly on 11 April and observed no eiders. During
aerial surveys conducted in the Alaska Peninsula and Eastern Aleutians in February and March 2000 we
noted large numbers of Steller’s eiders returning to Izembek and Nelson Lagoons by early March (Larned
2000a). That was a year with an early thaw, when lower Alaska Peninsula lagoons became mostly icefree before 1 March. These lagoons had little to no ice cover during the winter of 2002-03. We found
no Steller’s eiders when we surveyed the Chignik and Chignik Lagoon area on 10 April 2003. This area
is known to winter Steller’s eiders and held approximately 1,000 eiders when surveyed in February 2000
7
(Larned 2000a). While spotty and inconclusive, in aggregate the above data support the assumption that
most Steller’s eiders wintering in Southwest Alaska were present within the survey area during the 2003
survey.
In 1998, we classified 12,922 birds, or 15.3 percent of the Steller’s eiders observed, as second-year birds
based on plumage characteristics (Larned 1998). In 2000, we observed no flocks containing a
predominance of brown-plumaged birds, suggesting minimal recruitment for the 1999 breeding season.
In 2001, we recorded 4,553, or 8 percent of the total 58,231 Steller’s eiders observed, as second-year.
Most of these birds were in flocks consisting mostly of brown-plumaged birds, but also containing
several birds that had plumage characteristics of adult males (white wings and heads). In 2002 and
2003, we did not record any obvious second-year flocks, though a few flocks in the southernmost
portions of the survey area had a preponderance of brown birds. Elsewhere, Most flocks observed had
approximately even sex ratios and adult plumage characteristics (females were dark brown with distinct
white wing specula). However, at least 80 percent of the 353 eiders observed in the Kuskokwim Bay
shoals area (the furthest north birds) were males. We did not note sex ratios skewed toward males during
migration on previous surveys.
The pattern of habitat use by concentrations of eiders was similar to that seen during previous years’
surveys. Most of the Steller’s eiders were located within the lagoons along the Alaska Peninsula this
year (Fig. 6), primarily in large dense flocks. We succeeded in obtaining photographs of 9 flocks in
which at least most of the males could be counted. Results indicated a strong and consistent tendency to
underestimate numbers, similar to that noted in the photo check conducted in 1998. However, the sample
this year was small and biased toward large, very dense flocks, so we did not attempt to correct for
observer bias using these data. Suffice it to say that we believe this survey in general underestimates the
number of Steller’s eiders in the survey area, but the 100 percent consistency in primary observer should
result in reasonably comparable bias among years.
King eider
This year the early timing of the survey caught a large number of these early migrants still in the
Kvichak/Nushagak shoals area, which is a major staging area for adults (Table 1, Fig. 7). Extrapolating
sampled observations, we estimated 84,463 king eiders in the Kvichak Shoals area and 10,312 at Cape
Constantine. We also made an independent estimate of 101,658 of a cluster of king eider flocks in the
middle of Kvichak Bay. This estimate was not included in the totals reported in tables 1 or 2, but the
cluster was sampled by the transects used in the tabulated estimates above. These flocks were extremely
large and difficult to estimate. As noted in previous years’ reports, most of the flocks encountered along
the Alaska Peninsula (9,659 total birds) consisted of birds in immature plumage. The tendency of king
eiders to often feed and migrate far offshore, their occurrence in large variable-density flocks, and their
early and protracted migration makes it impossible to draw meaningful conclusions from year-to year
comparisons of estimates. The important thing to note is the persistent use and apparent importance of
staging areas, especially in Kvichak Bay (adults) and along the Alaska Peninsula (young birds).
Other waterfowl
Table 1 lists 2003 results for seaducks, brant and emperor geese by geographic area, with expanded
estimates for the four sampled areas. Table 2 lists highest annual survey totals for all species for all
survey years since 1992. Figures for 2003 are unexpanded in Table 2 to facilitate comparison among
years, so do not agree with those in Table 1.
8
The distribution of other species is typical of a relative early survey with extensive ice cover in northern
portions of the survey area: most were encountered along the Alaska Peninsula and in upper Bristol Bay.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Although this survey is admittedly a rough census of a “moving target” of birds actively migrating
northward, with no statistically-valid measure of precision, our confidence in the developing downward
trend increases as the annual estimates accumulate. Caution dictates that we proceed carefully and
attempt to refine our methods and/or develop another independent measure of trend.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the managers and staffs of Alaska Peninsula/Becharof,
Izembek, Togiak, and Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuges, who provided for the logistic needs of the
survey crew. Further assistance was provided by Refuge Information Technician Pete Abraham, who
helped us set up and access our fuel cache in Togiak Village, and DOT airport manager Mark Welborne,
who likewise helped us out at Port Heiden. I also sincerely appreciate the help of starboard observer
Julian Fischer, who performed his task competently and enthusiastically.
Table 2. Survey totals for all species, Spring Steller's eider surveys, southwest Alaska, 1992 to 2003. For years with replicate surveys
(1992-1997) only the highest count for each year is shown. For consistency with data prior to 2000,this table contains only unexpanded
estimates from sampled areas. See Table 1 for expanded estimates of selected species in 2003.
5/2-6/92
4/10-13/93
5/6-12/94
4/15-19/97
4/22-29/98 4/17-23/00 4/22-5/1/01 4/21-29/02 3/29-4/11/03
SURVEY DATES:
Red-necked grebe
Horned grebe
Common loon
Yellow-billed loon
Pacific loon
Red-throated loon
Unident. loon
Pigeon guillemot
Unident. murre 1
Arctic tern
Mew gull
Black-legged kittiwake
Sabine's gull
Large gull 2
Jaeger
Cormorant 3
Common merganser
Red-breasted merganser
Mallard
American wigeon
Am. Green-winged teal
Gadwall
Northern shoveler
Northern pintail
Canvasback
Scaup 4
Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Long-tailed duck
Harlequin duck
Steller's eider
Spectacled eider
Common eider
King eider
Unident. scoter
Black scoter
White-winged scoter
Surf scoter
White-fronted goose
Canada goose
Black Brant
Emperor goose
Tundra swan
Sandhill crane
Small shorebird 5
Large shorebird 6
Bald eagle
Common raven
32
0
5
2
2
78
0
0
985
53
3,419
68,888
0
18,072
0
979
0
2,103
88
4
0
5
28
5,325
0
11,106
711
36
20,512
757
137,904
40
5,941
87,954
361
42,382
1,331
23
0
169
5,289
27,876
2
4
0
0
24
0
793
0
13
0
30
51
0
0
56,183
249
3,872
26,579
166
49,378
4
1,082
0
1,176
27
0
0
2
2
1,792
3
5,316
177
66
13,184
608
88,636
26
5,069
62,544
0
37,985
432
347
430
28
81,743
28,542
9
21
0
0
78
0
221
3
13
0
34
270
85
1
2,204
836
2,141
6,614
173
24,865
5
1,618
0
2,766
39
8
75
15
14
1,760
57
6,598
263
400
22,987
838
107,589
35
6,997
69,638
0
35,672
484
48
30
34
71,551
25,816
2
10
9,737
47
29
1
178
0
8
0
45
11
7
8
42,544
3
3,482
41,957
0
27,738
0
829
10
660
107
2
2
0
0
1,414
0
3,072
365
0
25,548
328
90,269
20
21,916
241,992
1,474
31,750
2,080
359
80
57
80,099
41,279
24
0
40,540
0
23
9
29
0
0
0
23
97
24
50
28,334
0
6,699
28,333
10
25,769
1
653
2
1,393
2
79
1
10
3
893
2
2,289
136
0
22,025
243
84,459
16
3,862
71,438
136
45,312
2,520
8
54
210
34,045
53,926
46
2
9,997
15
22
5
114
2
0
0
5
61
3
2
1,839
0
2,741
2,624
0
7,991
1
335
6
208
97
2
0
2
0
857
0
1,864
319
2
11,569
373
68,956
0
2,925
211,988
0
19,931
2,696
17
0
26
58,212
32,562
0
0
13,990
0
17
0
316
0
0
0
3
188
137
60
119
87
2,018
479
0
9,249
0
674
0
211
15
0
0
0
4
618
0
1,188
181
0
7,756
946
58,231
4
3,604
23,302
0
19,521
1,345
17
94
97
74,851
41,816
7
0
456
0
24
0
186
0
5
1
0
64
23
0
7
0
15
10,845
0
15,622
3
483
14
634
20
0
35
0
0
1,431
0
1,465
222
0
10,197
438
54,191
0
615
17,494
3,962
15,402
1,594
41
0
2
35,610
43,014
0
0
5,262
0
19
0
Sea otter
1,736
981
809
1,554
1,068
809
523
442
Pacific walrus
229
315
1,030
143
136
110
1
0
Seal
588
1,976
2,130
1,156
620
438
1,617
4,191
Steller's sea lion
314
902
833
934
1,033
42
8
13
Harbor porpoise
17
9
5
8
1
12
0
6
Belukha whale
80
10
67
100
0
62
0
0
Orca whale
1
0
0
6
0
0
0
0
Grey whale
92
114
94
102
57
37
14
30
1. Mostly common murre, may include thick-billed. 2. Lumped due to observer inconsistencies. Includes glaucous, glaucous-winged, and herring
gulls. 3. Lumped due to observer inconsistencies. Includes pelagic, red-faced and double-crested. 4. Mainly greater scaup.
5. Incl. plovers, lesser yellowlegs, all sandpipers, phalaropes, dowitchers, common snipe, turnstones, surfbird, dunlin and others
6. Incl. godwits, whimbrel, Bristle-thighed curlew, greater yellowlegs and others. 7. Mean of highest annual estimates.
9
7
average
54
0
1
0
7
2
4
0
6
0
23
710
0
16,356
0
217
16
931
6
10
0
7
0
1,250
0
3,557
610
29
8,126
176
77,329
0
3,826
20,848
4
27,154
436
13
0
15
29,293
35,288
2
0
770
0
16
0
214
1
5
0
17
91
31
13
14,691
136
2,712
20,781
39
21,671
2
763
5
1,120
45
12
13
5
6
1,704
7
4,051
332
59
15,767
523
85,285
16
6,084
89,689
660
30,568
1,435
97
76
71
52,299
36,680
10
4
8,972
7
28
2
1,090
1
1,076
1
0
0
0
38
1,001
218
1,532
453
6
35
1
64
10
Table 1. Seaduck and goose estimates for geographic aerial survey units, spring Steller's eider survey, southwest Alaska, March & April 2003.
Date
surveyed
Survey Unit
Elapsed
Time
Steller's
eider
King
eider
Common
eider
Long-tailed
duck
340
2,036
664
805
223
18
1,362
Nunivak Island
3/29
1:06
63
Toksook Bay to Kuskokwim R.
4/6
3:01
353
4/7
1:27
45
4,431
4/7
0:21
182
14
Kuskokwim R. to Security Cove
1
Goodnews Bay
Chagvan Bay
4/7
0:04
28
Nanvak Bay
4/7
0:04
304
Nanvak Bay to Togiak Village
4/7
0:54
975
355
Togiak Vilage to Kulukak Bay
4/7
0:39
11
53
Kulukak Bay to Cape Constantine1
4/7
0:31
Cape Constantine1
4/7
0:24
10,312
Kvichak Bay 1
4/7
1:21
84,463
Naknek River to Port Heiden
4/8
1:07
8
2,500
Egegik Bay
4/8
0:15
560
Harlequin
duck
Black
scoter
8
52
68
4
20
4
57
13
144
17,611
17,102
51
258
9,178
288
64
435
4
50
1,985
26
35
3,365
187
485
9,661
0:11
0:08
480
Port Heiden
4/8
0:50
13,410
1,250
Port Heiden to Port Moller
4/8
0:49
423
4,170
Nelson Lagoon to Moffet Bay
4/8
0:39
87
Seal Islands Lagoon
4/8
0:22
4,358
Port Moller
4/8
1:00
4,960
13
121
300
215
2
4,329
5
3
289
4
2,687
60
495
220
18
600
1,396
7,416
402
8
Nelson Lagoon
4/8
0:29
12,685
Izembek Lagoon
4/9
1:24
35,419
93
25
95
22
30
25
480
60
82
29,293
35,288
0:07
2,305
6
113
Hook Bay
4/9
0:12
20
14
51
Catherine's Cove
4/9
0:12
336
6
34
0;13
351
1,205
16
23
7,995
2,965
0:12
4/9
1,179
29,208
4/9
Norma Bay - False Pass (shoreline)
9,283
6
70
4/9
65
98
120
Morzhovoi Bay Lagoons
0:34
176
5
Kinzerof Lagoon
0:12
Emperor
goose
253
4/8
4/10
Black
brant
137
4/8
4/11
Unknown
scoter
9
116
11
Cinder River Sanctuary
Deep Creek area
Surf
scoter
54
Ugashik Bay
Chignik Bay, Lagoon
White-winged
scoter
10
779
2
13
Totals
77,369
109,627
3,862
25,883
176
42,698
818
13
4
1. Estimates reported for these survey units were expanded using a factor calculated as: area of survey unit/(length of transect x transect width). Survey areas extrapolated to are illustrated in figures 1-2.
11
LITERATURE CITED
Gill, R. Jr., C. Handel, and M. Petersen. 1978. Migration of birds in Alaska Marine Habitats.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Off. of Biol. Serv., Coastal Ecosystems. Unpub. Rept. 41pp.
Larned, W. W., W. I. Butler, and G. R. Balogh. 1994. Steller's eider spring migration surveys, 199293. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Unpub. progress rept. 52pp.
Larned, W. W. 1998. Steller's eider spring migration survey, southwest Alaska, 1998. U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Unpub. rept. 41pp.
Larned, W. W. 2000. Steller's eider spring migration survey, southwest Alaska, 2000. U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Unpub. rept. 15pp.
Larned, W. W. 2000. Aerial Surveys of Steller’s eiders (Polysticta stelleri) and other waterbirds and
marine mammals in southwest Alaska areas proposed for navigation improvements by the U. S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Unpublished rept. 147 pp.
Larned, W. W. 2001. Steller's eider spring migration survey, southwest Alaska, 2000. U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Unpub. rept. 17pp.
PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS
Christian Dau, Wildlife Biologist, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK
Christopher Hoffman, Wildlife Biologist, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Anchorage, AK
Philip Martin, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fairbanks, AK
Richard MacIntosh, Biologist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Kodiak, AK
12
N
Yukon-Kuskokwim
Delta
W
E
S
Toksook Bay
Kuskokwim
River
Nunivak
Island
Ú
Ê
Kipnuk
1
Goodnews
Bay
Security
Cove
Chagvan
Bay
Nanvak
Bay
50
0
50
100 Kilometers
Figure 2. Survey units and flight lines, Steller’s eider spring migration survey, southwest Alaska, April
2003.
T
V
13
N
W
E
S
1
Goodnews
Bay
Togiak
Village
Dillingham
Ú
Ê
Ú
Ê
Security
Cove
Kulukak
Bay
Chagvan
Bay
Nushagak
Bay
Naknek
River
2
Nanvak
Bay
4
3
Cape
Constantine
Kvichak Bay
Egegik
Bay
Ugashik
Bay
Cinder R.
Sanctuary
50
0
50
100 Kilometers
Figure 3. Survey units and flight lines, Steller’s eider spring migration survey, southwest Alaska, April
2003.
14
N
W
Ugashik
Bay
E
S
Cinder R.
Sanctuary
Bristol Bay
Port
Heiden
Seal Islands
Lagoon
Chignik
Nelson
Lagoon
Port Moller
50
0
50
100 Kilometers
Figure 4. Survey units and flight lines, Steller’s eider spring migration survey, southwest Alaska, April
2003.
15
N
W
E
Nelson
Lagoon
S
Port Moller
Moffet
Lagoon
Izembek
Lagoon
Cold
Bay
Hook
Bay
Kinzerof
Lagoon
Morzhovoi
Bay
Catherine's
Cove
50
0
50 Kilometers
Figure 5. Survey units and flight lines, Steller’s eider spring migration survey, southwest Alaska, April
2003.
16
Bethel
Ú
Ê
N
Nunivak
Island
W
E
#
S
###
###
#
##
#
#
#
#
# ##
#
##
##
#
##
##
##
#
#
# #
#
#
Ú
Ê
###
##
##
#
###
#
##
##
Togiak
Dillingham
Ú
Ê
#
#
##
#
##
###
#
#
#
#
##
#
#
Ú
Ê
#
##
#
##
#
#
#
#
King Salmon
#
Steller's eider relative flock size
1 - 120
#
121 - 375
376 - 700
#
# 701 - 1300
# 1301 - 2300
Land
##
#
###
#
#
Bristol
Bay
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
##
#
#
#
#
#
###
###
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
##
##
#
##
#
#
#
## #
#
#
#
###
#
#
#
# ####
#
#
########## ####
####
#
##
# ##
#
#
# ##
#
#
## #
#
#
#
#
#
###
#
#
##
####
##
#
#
#
#
#
##
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
##
#
#
#
#
#
##
##
#Ê
#
#
Ú
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
##
#
## #
##
# ##
#
#
##
## #
# #### ##
#
##
##
##
##
###
##
##
####
##
#
#
## ###
##
#
#
#
##
#
Cold Bay
70
0
70
140 Kilometers
Figure 6. Location and relative sizes of Steller’s eider flocks observed during the Steller’s eider spring
migration survey, southwest Alaska, April, 2003.
17
Bethel
Ú
Ê
N
Nunivak
Island
W
E
#
#
#
# #
S
#
#
#
#
#
#
Ú
Ê
#
#
#
Togiak
Dillingham
Ú
Ê
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
# #
### #
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
##
#
##
##
#
#
#
#
Ú
Ê
King Salmon
# ## ####
## #
#
##
###
# ##
###
##
#
##
#
##
#
#
king eider relative flock size
1 - 400
#
401 - 1200
1201 - 4000
#
# 4001 - 11300
# 11301 - 16000
Land
#
## #
#
#
#
Bristol
Bay
##
#
#
#
#
##
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
##
##
##
Ú
Ê
Cold Bay
70
0
70
140 Kilometers
Figure 7. Location and relative sizes of king eider flocks observed during the Steller’s eider spring
migration survey, southwest Alaska, April, 2003.
18
Ú
Ê
Bethel
N
Nunivak
Island
#
# #
#
#
##
#
#
#
#
# ##
W
#
#
E
#
S
#
#
##
#
# ###
#
#
#
#
##
##
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
Ú
Ê
Togiak
Dillingham
Ú
Ê
#
#
###
#
#
Ú
Ê
#
King Salmon
#
#
#
Common eider relative flock size
1 - 15
#
16 - 50
51 - 120
#
# 121 - 200
# 201 - 450
Land
#
Bristol
Bay
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
Ú
Ê
Cold Bay
70
0
70
140 Kilometers
Figure 8. Location and relative sizes of common eider flocks observed during the Steller’s eider spring
migration survey, southwest Alaska, April, 2003.
19
Bethel
Ú
Ê
N
#
Nunivak
# Island
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
W
E
##
#
##
#
#
##
##
S
#
#
#
# #
#
##
##
##
##
#
##
#
##
#
#
#
###
##
### ##
#
#
Ú
Ê
##
#
####
##
#
#
#
#
#
##
##
#
#
#
##
Togiak
Dillingham
Ú
Ê
#
#
###
#
#
#
#
#
#
###
## #
####
##
###
#
#
##
####
##
#
###
## ##
#
# ## #
#
#
#
##
##
## ##
#
###
#
#
#
#
Ú
Ê
King Salmon
###
#
#
############ ### #
#
# ##
#
#######
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
##
##
# ##
#
#
Long-tailed duck relative flock size
1 - 20
#
21 - 80
# 81 - 200
# 201 - 500
# 501 - 1300
Land
#
#
#
##
#
#
#
###
###
#
#
#
#
Bristol
Bay
#
#
##
#
#
#
#
# ##
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
# #
## #
#
#
#
##
#
#
#
##
#
##
##
##
#
#
#
###
##
#
#
#
#
###
# #
#### #
#
#
#
#
##
###
## #
#
#
##
#
##
#
#
###
###
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
##
Ú
Ê
Cold Bay
70
0
70
140 Kilometers
Figure 9. Location and relative sizes of long-tailed duck flocks observed during the Steller’s eider spring
migration survey, southwest Alaska, April, 2003.
20
Bethel
Ú
Ê
N
Nunivak
Island
W
E
S
Ú
Ê
##
#
Togiak
Dillingham
Ú
Ê
#
#
#
#
#
##
##
# #
#
#
#
#
#
####
## #
#
Ú
Ê
King Salmon
#
#
#
#
#
#
Black scoter relative flock size
1 - 70
#
71 - 250
251 - 600
#
# 601 - 1800
# 1801 - 6000
Land
#
#
Bristol
Bay
##
##
####
#
#
#
##
#
#
#
#
##
##
#
##
##
#
####
#
##
##
#
#
##
#
##
##
##
#
####
#
#
#
##
#
#
#
#
####
#
#
####
##
#
#
##
#
##
#
####
#
#
#
#
#
##
#
#
#
#
##
###
##
##
#
#
##
# ##
##
#
##
#
##
#
####
####
####
##
##
##
##
# #
#
#
#
#
#
##
###
##
#
#
#
#
##
#
#
#
###
#
#
#
#
# #
#
#
##
##
#
##
####
##
#
##
###
#
# ### ##
#
#
#
# #
#
#
Ú
Ê
#
Cold Bay
70
0
70
140 Kilometers
Figure 10. Location and relative sizes of black scoter flocks observed during the Steller’s eider spring
migration survey, southwest Alaska, April, 2003.
21
Bethel
Ú
Ê
N
Nunivak
Island
W
E
S
Ú
Ê
Togiak
Dillingham
Ú
Ê
#
#
#
#
Ú
Ê
King Salmon
#
#
#
#
#
##########
#
White-winged scoter relative flock size
1- 3
#
4- 6
# 7 - 10
# 11 - 20
# 21 - 55
Land
#
#
Bristol
Bay
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
##
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
Ú
Ê
#
Cold Bay
70
0
70
140 Kilometers
Figure 11. Location and relative sizes of white-winged scoter flocks observed during the Steller’s eider
spring migration survey, southwest Alaska, April, 2003.
22
Ú
Ê
Bethel
N
Nunivak
Island
W
E
S
Ú
Ê
Togiak
Dillingham
Ú
Ê
#
Ú
Ê
Emperor goose relative flock size
2 - 120
#
121 - 400
# 401 - 800
# 801 - 1300
# 1301 - 3000
Land
King Salmon
#
Bristol
Bay
#
#
#
######
##
#
#
#
## #
#
#
# ##
##
#
#
##
#
#
###
###
##
####
##
#
##
#####
###
#
#
#
#
#
##
#
##
#
##
# ###
#
#
#
#
#
#
###
#
#
#
##
##
#
Ú
Ê
Cold Bay
70
0
70
140 Kilometers
Figure 12. Location and relative sizes of emperor goose flocks observed during the Steller’s eider spring
migration survey, southwest Alaska, April, 2003.
23
APPENDIX 1. Common and scientific names of species mentioned in the text and tables.
Common Name
Scientific Name
Birds:
Red-necked grebe
Horned grebe
Common loon
Yellow-billed loon
Pacific loon
Red-throated loon
Pigeon guillemot
Unidentified murre
Arctic tern
Mew gull
Sabine’s gull
Black-legged kittiwake
Large gull
Jaegers
Cormorant
Common merganser
Red-breasted merganser
Mallard
Gadwall
American wigeon
Green-winged teal
Northern shoveler
Northern pintail
Canvasback
Scaup
Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Harlequin duck
Oldsquaw
Spectacled eider
Common eider
King eider
Steller's eider
Black scoter
White-winged scoter
Surf scoter
Canada goose
Black brant
White-fronted goose
Emperor goose
Tundra swan
Sandhill crane
Bald eagle
Podiceps grisegena
Podiceps auritus
Gavia immer
Gavia adamsii
Gavia pacifica
Gavia stellata
Cepphus columba
Uria aalge, U. lomvia
Sterna paradisaea
Larus canus
Xema sabini
Rissa tridactyla
Larus glaucescens, L. hyperboreus, L. argentatus, L. schistisagus
Stercorarius parasiticus, S. longicaudus
Phalacrocorax auritus, P. pelagicus, P. urile
Mergus merganser
Mergus serrator
Anas platyrhynchos
Anas strepera
Anas americana
Anas crecca
Anas clypeata
Anas acuta
Aythya valisineria
Aythya marila, A. affinis
Bucephala clangula, B. islandica
Bucephala albeola
Histrionicus histrionicus
Clangula hyemalis
Somateria fischeri
Somateria mollissima
Somateria spectabilis
Polysticta stelleri
Melanitta nigra
Melanitta fusca
Melanitta perspicillata
Branta canadensis
Branta bernicla
Anser albifrons
Chen canagica
Cygnus columbianus
Grus canadensis
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
24
Common raven
Corvus corax
Marine mammals:
Sea otter
Pacific walrus
Seal
Steller's sea lion
Harbor porpoise
Belukha whale
Orca whale
Gray whale
Enhydra lutris
Odobenus rosmarus
Phoca spp., esp. Phoca vitulina
Eumetopias jubatus
Phocoena phocoena
Delphinapterus leucas
Orcinus orca
Eschrichtius robustus