Common Eiders in CT waters
This is certainly shaping up to be a noteworthy year for Common Eider in CT waters. Glenn does succinctly point out the limitations on nesting sites here however. Additionally, Eiders nesting is usually very negatively impacted by Gull nesting proximity. Population trends on the races of Common Eider seems a bit sketchy with not enough solid census data and what data is available seems a bit contradictory. Eider populations have risen and dropped dramatically over the years, mostly attributable to human caused impacts. Indeed the estimate for Eiders taken by hunters in New England stood at 23,000 for 2004 and in the nineteenth century Eiders were very nearly lost as breeders in all of New England due to hunting and other human caused pressures. Obviously with the protections put in place during the twentieth century there has been a recovery in New England waters. While "American" Common Eider (race dresseri) may be slightly increasing in numbers now by some estimates, the data compilation to date seems less than optimally acquired. However It certainly seems accurate to say the species taken as a whole has declined significantly and the potential for renewed dresseri population loss is real and worrying since there is real economic value in Eider harvesting. My guess on the occurrence of more Eiders in CT waters is that the bird's increased wintering distribution into LI Sound is probably more a reflection of food source changes and other dynamics rather than more birds. In the recent past there have been quite a few Eiders in the vicinity of LI Sound even if they weren't venturing in, other than in very low numbers or in search of calmer waters during major storms. So it will be very interesting to see what happens in subsequent years and I would be very interested indeed to hear any more solid info anyone has on recent/current populations studies being done on dresseri or borealis.
Dave Provencher
Naturally New Englandhttp://naturallynewengland.blogspot.com/
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I forgot to mention that South Dumpling Island is dominated by nesting Double-crested Cormorants, Herring Gulls, and Black-backed Gulls. The eider are limited to the heavy vegetation while the others rule the open ground. The cormorants nest in the trees as well as the ground and become more numerous every year. I would say that the eider on South Dumpling have maxed out their nesting capacity and nesting numbers may decline as vegetation continues to die off from the guano.
Glenn Williams
Mystic
--- On Wed, 12/16/09, David F Provencher david.f.provencher@dom.com wrote:
From: David F Provencher david.f.provencher@dom.com
Subject: [CT Birds] Common Eiders in CT waters
To: "CTBirds" ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 1:46 PM
This is certainly shaping up to be a
noteworthy year for Common Eider in CT waters. Glenn does
succinctly point out the limitations on nesting sites here
however. Additionally, Eiders nesting is usually very
negatively impacted by Gull nesting proximity. Population
trends on the races of Common Eider seems a bit sketchy with
not enough solid census data and what data is available
seems a bit contradictory. Eider populations have risen and
dropped dramatically over the years, mostly attributable to
human caused impacts. Indeed the estimate for Eiders taken
by hunters in New England stood at 23,000 for 2004 and in
the nineteenth century Eiders were very nearly lost as
breeders in all of New England due to hunting and other
human caused pressures. Obviously with the protections put
in place during the twentieth century there has been a
recovery in New England waters. While "American" Common
Eider (race dresseri) may be slightly increasing in numbers
now by some estimates, the data compilation to date seems
less than optimally acquired. However It certainly seems
accurate to say the species taken as a whole has declined
significantly and the potential for renewed dresseri
population loss is real and worrying since there is real
economic value in Eider harvesting. My guess on the
occurrence of more Eiders in CT waters is that the bird's
increased wintering distribution into LI Sound is probably
more a reflection of food source changes and other dynamics
rather than more birds. In the recent past there have been
quite a few Eiders in the vicinity of LI Sound even if they
weren't venturing in, other than in very low numbers or in
search of calmer waters during major storms. So it will be
very interesting to see what happens in subsequent years and
I would be very interested indeed to hear any more solid
info anyone has on recent/current populations studies being
done on dresseri or borealis.
Dave Provencher
Naturally New Englandhttp://naturallynewengland.blogspot.com/
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic message
contains
information which may be legally confidential and or
privileged and
does not in any case represent a firm ENERGY COMMODITY bid
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information is
intended solely for the individual or entity named above
and access
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Hello,
I am familiar with four remote islands, Falkner(CT), Goose(CT), Great
Gull(NY), and Little Gull(NY), in Long Island Sound. Of the four
islands only one of them, Goose Island, is not protected by rock
riprapping, which I'm assuming impedes Eider movements from water to
nesting habitat but offers quality mollusk habitat for foraging. I
have never been to South Dumpling where the dresseri breed but I was
curious to know if rock rip-rapping surrounds the island? I am also
curious to know if anyone has documented the impact of the hypoxia
occuring in Narangansett Bay, RI on the mollusk community?
Happy holidays,
E.J. Raynor
Currently Destrehan, Louisiana but soon to be in Fairfield for the holidays.
Quoting "Glenn Williams" gswilliams9@yahoo.com:
I forgot to mention that South Dumpling Island is dominated by
nesting Double-crested Cormorants, Herring Gulls, and Black-backed
Gulls. The eider are limited to the heavy vegetation while the
others rule the open ground. The cormorants nest in the trees as
well as the ground and become more numerous every year. I would say
that the eider on South Dumpling have maxed out their nesting
capacity and nesting numbers may decline as vegetation continues to
die off from the guano.
Glenn Williams
Mystic
--- On Wed, 12/16/09, David F Provencher david.f.provencher@dom.com wrote:
From: David F Provencher david.f.provencher@dom.com
Subject: [CT Birds] Common Eiders in CT waters
To: "CTBirds" ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 1:46 PM
This is certainly shaping up to be a
noteworthy year for Common Eider in CT waters. Glenn does
succinctly point out the limitations on nesting sites here
however. Additionally, Eiders nesting is usually very
negatively impacted by Gull nesting proximity. Population
trends on the races of Common Eider seems a bit sketchy with
not enough solid census data and what data is available
seems a bit contradictory. Eider populations have risen and
dropped dramatically over the years, mostly attributable to
human caused impacts. Indeed the estimate for Eiders taken
by hunters in New England stood at 23,000 for 2004 and in
the nineteenth century Eiders were very nearly lost as
breeders in all of New England due to hunting and other
human caused pressures. Obviously with the protections put
in place during the twentieth century there has been a
recovery in New England waters. While "American" Common
Eider (race dresseri) may be slightly increasing in numbers
now by some estimates, the data compilation to date seems
less than optimally acquired. However It certainly seems
accurate to say the species taken as a whole has declined
significantly and the potential for renewed dresseri
population loss is real and worrying since there is real
economic value in Eider harvesting. My guess on the
occurrence of more Eiders in CT waters is that the bird's
increased wintering distribution into LI Sound is probably
more a reflection of food source changes and other dynamics
rather than more birds. In the recent past there have been
quite a few Eiders in the vicinity of LI Sound even if they
weren't venturing in, other than in very low numbers or in
search of calmer waters during major storms. So it will be
very interesting to see what happens in subsequent years and
I would be very interested indeed to hear any more solid
info anyone has on recent/current populations studies being
done on dresseri or borealis.
Dave Provencher
Naturally New Englandhttp://naturallynewengland.blogspot.com/
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic message
contains
information which may be legally confidential and or
privileged and
does not in any case represent a firm ENERGY COMMODITY bid
or offer
relating thereto which binds the sender without an
additional
express written confirmation to that effect. The
information is
intended solely for the individual or entity named above
and access
by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the
intended
recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of
the
contents of this information is prohibited and may be
unlawful. If
you have received this electronic transmission in error,
please
reply immediately to the sender that you have received the
message
in error, and delete it. Thank you.
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological
Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in
Connecticut.
For subscription information visit
http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association
(COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit
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EJ,
I would estimate that about one third of South Dumplings is rock rip-rap, if by that you mean really big rocks and boulders along the shore. The other two-thirds is various sizes of cobble and some sand. The nests are not found in the rip-rap area. When I go out this spring, I'll have to take good pictures. I wish I have been all along, as the loss of vegetation since I have been going there has been startling.
Glenn Williams
Mystic
--- On Wed, 12/16/09, edward.raynor@maine.edu edward.raynor@maine.edu wrote:
From: edward.raynor@maine.edu edward.raynor@maine.edu
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Common Eiders in CT waters
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 3:00 PM
Hello,
I am familiar with four remote islands, Falkner(CT),
Goose(CT), Great Gull(NY), and Little Gull(NY), in Long
Island Sound. Of the four islands only one of them,
Goose Island, is not protected by rock riprapping, which I'm
assuming impedes Eider movements from water to nesting
habitat but offers quality mollusk habitat for foraging. I
have never been to South Dumpling where the dresseri breed
but I was curious to know if rock rip-rapping surrounds the
island? I am also curious to know if anyone has documented
the impact of the hypoxia occuring in Narangansett Bay, RI
on the mollusk community?
Happy holidays,
E.J. Raynor
Currently Destrehan, Louisiana but soon to be in Fairfield
for the holidays.
Quoting "Glenn Williams" gswilliams9@yahoo.com:
I forgot to mention that South Dumpling Island is
dominated by nesting Double-crested Cormorants, Herring
Gulls, and Black-backed Gulls. The eider are limited
to the heavy vegetation while the others rule the open
ground. The cormorants nest in the trees as well as
the ground and become more numerous every year. I
would say that the eider on South Dumpling have maxed out
their nesting capacity and nesting numbers may decline as
vegetation continues to die off from the guano.
wrote:
From: David F Provencher david.f.provencher@dom.com
Subject: [CT Birds] Common Eiders in CT waters
To: "CTBirds" ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 1:46 PM
This is certainly shaping up to be a
noteworthy year for Common Eider in CT waters.
Glenn does
succinctly point out the limitations on nesting
sites here
however. Additionally, Eiders nesting is usually
very
negatively impacted by Gull nesting proximity.
Population
trends on the races of Common Eider seems a bit
sketchy with
not enough solid census data and what data is
available
seems a bit contradictory. Eider populations have
risen and
dropped dramatically over the years, mostly
attributable to
human caused impacts. Indeed the estimate for
Eiders taken
by hunters in New England stood at 23,000 for 2004
and in
the nineteenth century Eiders were very nearly
lost as
breeders in all of New England due to hunting and
other
human caused pressures. Obviously with the
protections put
in place during the twentieth century there has
been a
recovery in New England waters. While "American"
Common
Eider (race dresseri) may be slightly increasing
in numbers
now by some estimates, the data compilation to
date seems
less than optimally acquired. However It certainly
seems
accurate to say the species taken as a whole has
declined
significantly and the potential for renewed
dresseri
population loss is real and worrying since there
is real
economic value in Eider harvesting. My guess on
the
occurrence of more Eiders in CT waters is that the
bird's
increased wintering distribution into LI Sound is
probably
more a reflection of food source changes and other
dynamics
rather than more birds. In the recent past there
have been
quite a few Eiders in the vicinity of LI Sound
even if they
weren't venturing in, other than in very low
numbers or in
search of calmer waters during major storms. So it
will be
very interesting to see what happens in subsequent
years and
I would be very interested indeed to hear any more
solid
info anyone has on recent/current populations
studies being
done on dresseri or borealis.
Dave Provencher
Naturally New Englandhttp://naturallynewengland.blogspot.com/
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic message
contains
information which may be legally confidential and
or
privileged and
does not in any case represent a firm ENERGY
COMMODITY bid
or offer
relating thereto which binds the sender without
an
additional
express written confirmation to that effect.
The
information is
intended solely for the individual or entity named
above
and access
by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not
the
intended
recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution,
or use of
the
contents of this information is prohibited and may
be
unlawful. If
you have received this electronic transmission in
error,
please
reply immediately to the sender that you have
received the
message
in error, and delete it. Thank you.
This list is provided by the Connecticut
Ornithological
Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and
birding in
Connecticut.
For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org
This list is provided by the Connecticut
Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds
and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological
Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in
Connecticut.
For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org