Composition of Eiders Harvested in Newfoundland

• Published in: Northeastern naturalist 2009-12, Vol.16 (4), p.501-518
• Main Authors: Gilliland, Scott G, Robertson, Gregory J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal populations; Aviculture; Birds; Breeding; Ducklings; Ducks; Fowling; Hunting seasons; Immatures; Monitoring systems; Morphology; Somateria mollissima; Somateria spectabilis; Survival rates; Waterfowl; Wildfowl
• ISSN: 1092-6194; 1938-5307
• DOI: 10.1656/045.016.n402

Somateria mollissima (Common Eider) is an important game species throughout its circumpolar range, including eastern Canada and northeastern United States. In eastern Canada, the largest harvest of Common Eiders occurs in Newfoundland; however, the age, sex, and subspecific composition (S. m. borealis and dresseri are both present) of this hunted population is not well quantified. The species, subspecies, age, and sex composition of the harvest was determined by examining heads collected from 1672 eiders (including Somateria spectabilis [King Eider]), taken mostly by hunters, from 1980–1996. Band-recovery information for Common Eiders banded in Newfoundland and Labrador were also summarized, including data from a release program of hand-reared ducklings in northern Newfoundland from 1988–1996. The composition of the eider harvest varied across the province. In northern and eastern areas, borealis Common Eiders made up the bulk of the harvest. King Eiders were also taken in these areas. In southern areas, most Common Eiders taken were dresseri. Sex ratios tend to be near 1:1, and immature birds comprised most of the harvest. Recovery distributions showed that Common Eiders breeding in Newfoundland and Labrador were mainly taken within the province, but also contributed to harvests in Québec and Nova Scotia, and to a lesser extent, Maine. Hand-reared ducklings had direct recovery rates of 0.047 and were most likely to be recovered within the province in the year of banding, but contributed to harvests in Atlantic Canada and New England as they aged. The harvest of eiders in Newfoundland varies regionally and seasonally; therefore specific harvest regulations could be implemented to manage the variety of populations present in the province throughout the year.