05-03-2007, 06:10 AM
Waterfowl biologists are using satellites to track the spring migration of 16 lesser scaup to discover the cause of this species' 20-year decline in the Mississippi River Flyway.
The scaup, a medium-sized diving duck, are carrying implanted satellite transmitters that send a signal to orbiting satellites about every day. Each bird's location is forwarded to Dr. Al Afton, a scientist at Louisiana State University who is heading the study. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) purchased seven transmitters and provided staff to help capture ducks. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other state natural resource agencies are also providing funding and staff.
"Research suggests that the scaup arrive on their nesting grounds in poor physical condition, which may contribute to lower rates of reproduction," said Jeff Lawrence, DNR wetland wildlife populations and research group leader. "Understanding how the birds migrate in the spring and what habitats they are using are the key to understanding if poor food conditions may be contributing to their decline."
Seventeen birds were marked on the Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa. This is a major staging area for the ducks during their spring and fall migrations. However, researchers do not know how and where they migrate from there. The 17 females were marked as part of a larger leg-banding program, when 2,500 scaup are captured and marked with individually numbered leg bands. One satellite-marked bird died soon after release. The transmitters will last up to two years.
As of April 26, five birds had moved north to different locations in Saskatchewan, North Dakota, near Otter Tail Lake in Minnesota, in Duluth Harbor, and just east of the Twin Cities.
Learn more about the study and follow the birds' movements online at a Ducks Unlimited Web site www.ducks.org/scaupstudy.
The scaup, a medium-sized diving duck, are carrying implanted satellite transmitters that send a signal to orbiting satellites about every day. Each bird's location is forwarded to Dr. Al Afton, a scientist at Louisiana State University who is heading the study. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) purchased seven transmitters and provided staff to help capture ducks. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other state natural resource agencies are also providing funding and staff.
"Research suggests that the scaup arrive on their nesting grounds in poor physical condition, which may contribute to lower rates of reproduction," said Jeff Lawrence, DNR wetland wildlife populations and research group leader. "Understanding how the birds migrate in the spring and what habitats they are using are the key to understanding if poor food conditions may be contributing to their decline."
Seventeen birds were marked on the Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa. This is a major staging area for the ducks during their spring and fall migrations. However, researchers do not know how and where they migrate from there. The 17 females were marked as part of a larger leg-banding program, when 2,500 scaup are captured and marked with individually numbered leg bands. One satellite-marked bird died soon after release. The transmitters will last up to two years.
As of April 26, five birds had moved north to different locations in Saskatchewan, North Dakota, near Otter Tail Lake in Minnesota, in Duluth Harbor, and just east of the Twin Cities.
Learn more about the study and follow the birds' movements online at a Ducks Unlimited Web site www.ducks.org/scaupstudy.