LIVINGSTON RIPLEY
WATERFOWL CONSERVANCY
SPRING 2010
LRWC JOINS CT BIOLOGISTS FOR BLACK DUCK RESEARCH
Board of Directors
George Archibald, PhD
Chairman
Thomas Lovejoy, PhD
President
Sylvia Ripley Addison
Vice President
Rosemary Ripley
Treasurer
Juliet Tammenoms Bakker
Guy Baldassarre, PhD
Bruce Beehler, PhD
Theodore Janulis
Julie Ripley Miller
T. Dennie Williams
Did you know that historically American black ducks were the most abundant fresh-water duck in
eastern North America? Black duck numbers have been steadily declining since the 1950s, and currently
they are a priority species in the state of Connecticut. LRWC has
partnered with the CT Department of Environmental Conservation
(CTDEP) by providing three satellite transmitters for black duck
research. Funding for the transmitters was provided to LRWC by a
generous grant from the Marilyn
M. Simpson Charitable Lead
Trust.
Black duck with satellite transmitter
In February 2010, biologists
from CTDEP successfully trapped three black ducks (two males and
one female), and LRWC researchers fitted each one with a satellite
transmitter. The first male was captured and released off the coast
at Milford Point. The other two black ducks were captured and
released near the mouth of the Connecticut River. The transmitters
on these birds will allow us to learn where they feed during the day
and roost during the night. Starting this spring, you will be able to
track these birds on the LRWC website and learn about spring
Movements of black ducks at the mouth of
migration and black duck habitat.
the Connecticut River
UPDATE: GREENLAND WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE RESEARCH
Last July LRWC Researcher Rich Malecki and Executive Director Sue Sheaffer joined a thirteen-person
Executive Director expedition to Greenland. The expedition was part of a collaborative research effort for the declining
Susan Sheaffer, PhD
population of greater white-fronted geese that breed exclusively in
Greenland. LRWC provided six satellite transmitters to identify
important habitats and stopover locations during migration that need
to be protected. Catching birds in Greenland proved to be quite a
Save the dates!
challenge. Unfortunately, we were able to mark only two birds in
Greenland.
The two transmitters worked well, that is until both birds
Annual Fundraiser
managed to chew through their harnesses and drop their transmitters
June 5th, 2010
just prior to fall migration. We
didn’t give up; however, and after
Greenland white-fronted geese
Duck Day
we modified the harness to make it
June 6th, 2010 more resistant to the strong bills of the white-fronts, we headed to their
wintering grounds in Ireland last December to deploy four more
Contact Us! transmitters.
P.O. Box 210
Our travels took us to the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve in southeastern
Litchfield, CT 06759 Ireland, an area that winters approximately 60% of the Greenland
Sue holds a goose with transmitter
population. We successfully caught two groups of white-fronted geese,
(860) 567-2062
and deployed the remaining transmitters on four adult males. The recent data demonstrate how the
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birds use the local agricultural fields to feed during the day, and how they head for the offshore
www.lrwc.net sandbars to roost at night. Check out our website to view photos of our trips to Greenland and Ireland,
and to follow the travels of the geese as they make the long migration back to Greenland in the spring.
Avian Director
Ian Gereg
Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy • www.lrwc.net
SEA DUCK AVIARY UPDATE
LRWC’s sea duck collection has
grown dramatically in preparation for
the official opening of our new sea duck
enclosure this spring. With the help of
our Adopt-A-Duck contributors, LRWC
has acquired a diverse and exciting
array of sea ducks since the completion
of the enclosure last fall.
Unfazed by cold weather, the sea
ducks spent their first winter swimming
and diving contentedly through the icy
waters in the new enclosure. For some
species, the Litchfield winter is far less
harsh than the winters their wild
counterparts’ experience. Spectacled
eiders, for example, winter on the frozen
Bering Sea, in small areas of open water
that are kept ice free by the movements
of the birds.
LRWC, sea ducks are maintained on a
special diet which is enhanced with
marine invertebrates and live fish.
Harlequin ducks
Ducks explore the new aviary
SAVE THE DATE
Livingston Ripley
Waterfowl Conservancy’s
5th Annual
DUCK DAY
ADMISSION IS FREE!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Duck Pond Road, Litchfield,
www.lrwc.net
(860) 567-2062
[email protected]
Spectacled eiders
The sea duck enclosure also houses an
array of other North American sea duck
species, ranging from diminutive
buffleheads to brightly colored king
eiders and harlequin ducks. Despite
their dependence on marine habitats in
the wild, sea ducks are perfectly at
home on fresh water in captivity if
provided with appropriate nutrients. At
Our sea duck enclosure provides the
ideal opportunity to educate visitors of
all ages about the conservation concerns
facing sea ducks. Climate change, oil
and natural gas exploration, and
degradation of coastal wintering
habitats are just a few of the factors
that threaten sea ducks. The aviary also
will serve as a site for critical research
on sea ducks, one of the least studied
groups of waterfowl. The sea ducks at
LRWC will provide insight into the lives
of these fascinating waterfowl and how
we can improve conservation initiatives
for these birds in the wild.
CONSERVANCY EDUCATION PROGRAMS
This year’s education programs are
off to a great start, with record
participation in our most popular
program, Incubator in a Classroom.
Many local schools have increased the
number of participating classrooms, and
several new schools have added this
program to their spring curriculum.
LRWC’s live bird program has
attracted attention through presentations
in local schools over the winter months.
We plan to raise additional ‘avian
ambassadors’ this spring, with the goal
of including a representative species
from each continent. The up-close and
personal encounters with live birds give
students a greater appreciation for the
diversity of waterfowl and the need to
conserve the habitats of wild birds.
An egg being candled during an
incubator in a classroom program
Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy • www.lrwc.net