June 13, 2023

NCC’s Environment and Natural Resources team study Common Eiders in Cartwright area

Last week, NCC’s Wildlife Biologist and Guardians, along with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Researcher Biologists, visited Table Bay, North-East of Cartwright to study Common Eiders.

Common Eiders are a sea duck species that is on the decline across the Atlantic, and while our populations here in Labrador are thriving, their numbers have dropped drastically across the Maritimes. Together the team captured 25 eiders and deployed satellite transmitters to track their movements in order to learn more about their life history and habitat needs.

NCC also conducted colony counts of eiders across numerous islands in the area to begin collecting baseline data for this culturally important species. Number of nests, eggs, habitat used, and incubation status were recorded along with other species using the areas including gulls and cormorants. 

NCC Wildlife Biologist – Sara Pearce Meijerink
NCC Guardians – Devaughn Dyson and Pat Davis
ECCC – Regina Wells, Scott Gilliland