Breeding of the Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) on the Beaufort Sea Coast of Alaska
Schamel D. 1977. Breeding of the Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) on the Beaufort Sea Coast of Alaska. The Condor. 79(4):478-485
Common Eiders breeding along the Beaufort Sea coast of Alaska have adapted well to the problems of a brief nesting period and predators. By arriving already paired at the time of break-up, they minimize the pre-laying period. These eiders appear to avoid fox predation by nesting almost exclusively on offshore islands and postponing nesting attempts until the islands are surrounded by open water. Only the earliest nesting birds maintain a pair bond through the first few days of incubation. This allows for rapid renesting in the event of predation. Females choose nest sites that offer camouflage, wind protection, and sufficient elevation to avoid flooding. Males are brightly colored, but by staying away from nests help to keep them hidden. Although eiders did not nest close together, they seemed to cluster just inside the territorial boundaries of Glaucous Gulls. These nests were more successful than those elsewhere in the colony studied.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Schamel, Douglas
- Units
- ARCN , BELA , CAKR , GAAR , KOVA , NOAT
- Keywords
- Abundance, Arctic, Birds, Breeding Biology, Comon Eider, Distribution, Eiders, Habitat Use, Nesting, North Slope, Waterfowl