Final Report Importance of the Alaskan Beaufort Sea to King Eiders (Somateria spectabilis)

Alaskan-breeding king eiders (Somateria spectabilis) molt wing feathers and over winter in remote areas of the Bering Sea, precluding direct observation. This study employed the use of satellite telemetry to determine areas used by king eiders throughout the annual cycle. We collected location data of 60 individuals (27 females and 33 males) over three years (2002-2004) from satellite telemetry. More than 80% of our transmittered eiders spent more than 2 weeks staging offshore prior to beginning molt migration, suggesting that the sea is an important migration flyway and staging area for this species.