Planet of Birds

Eider (Somateria mollissima) Science Article 9 abstract Amale biased sex ratio in Finnish Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima) results in unmated males interacting with eider pairs. We quantified the effects of mate guarding on other behaviors.Matedmales spent less time feeding and performed fewer dives than unmatedmales in 2003, but not in 2004.Acoldwinter in 2003 implies that […]

Eider (Somateria mollissima) Science Article 1 abstract We compared the feeding behaviour of lone tenders, multi-female tenders and postbreeding, non-tending eider females Somateria mollissima in the northern Baltic. Few prey species are available for eiders in the Baltic; in the non-breeding season adults prefer blue mussels Mytilus edulis, whereas small ducklings feed primarily on gammarids […]

Eider (Somateria mollissima) Science Article 4 abstract Egg size of Eiders Somateria mollissima was studied in the colony on Vlieland, The Netherlands, during six consecutive years. Mean length and breadth of 2476 eggs was 77.84 and 51.25 mm, respectively. Mean volume measured of 1882 of these eggs was 104.03 cm-3. A large variation in egg […]

Eider (Somateria mollissima) Science Article 5 abstract The energetic costs of salt turnover were measured in Common Eiders Somateria mollissima by respirometry. Rates of salt intake in the field were estimated from salt content of their chief prey, the mussel Mytilus edulis. Metabolic rate in Eiders increases in response to salt intake and may double […]

Eider (Somateria mollissima) Science Article 2 abstract Based on data compiled from the official Danish Bag Record and from the annual wing surveys of waterfowl, analyses of long-term trends in the bag of common eiders Somateria mollissimawere performed for the period 1958-2000, while more detailed analyses of factors affecting bag size were made for the […]

Eider (Somateria mollissima) Science Article 7 abstract We implanted satellite transmitters to track Northern Common Eiders Somateria mollissima borealis from breeding grounds in West Greenland and eastern Arctic Canada, and from their wintering grounds in southwest Greenland. We compared distances moved, timing, duration, and patterns of movement between migration flyways and between spring and autumn […]

Eider (Somateria mollissima) Science Article 6 abstract In the present study we have made observations of eye closure duration of Common Eider Somateria mollissima in the field, to determine the amount of time devoted to sleep during the incubation period, both in breeding and non-breeding females. Breeding females started to incubate with a higher level […]

Eider (Somateria mollissima) Science Article 3 abstract In the common eider Somateria mollissima as well as in many other bird species, nesting success has been associated with female reproductive characteristics and predator accessibility to the nest site. In this study, we tested the following predictions on nesting common eiders: 1) female and nest-site characteristics are […]

Eider (Somateria mollissima) Science Article 8 abstract We examined local movements, home ranges and body condition of wintering Northern Common Eiders Somateria mollissima borealis in Southwest Greenland from late winter until spring migration in 2000 and 2001. At key marine habitats at coastal areas and in the inner fjord system of Nuuk, we implanted 33 […]