The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Aerial Breeding Pair Survey provides data on the abundance and distribution of geese and eiders nesting on the YKD coastal zone in western Alaska. Wetland habitat in this region supports millions of waterbirds and is one of the most important waterfowl breeding grounds in North America. The survey was first implemented in 1985 to monitor populations of minima cackling geese (Branta hutchinsii minima) and Pacific greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons frontalis) after substantial declines on the species’ wintering grounds led to temporary closure of hunting.  The two aerial observers tasked with recording all observations of geese, swans and cranes, quickly recognized the opportunity to document population trends for other waterbird species in this highly productive breeding habitat, and by 1988 a third aerial observer was added to the survey crew specifically for this purpose. Since the 1993 listing of spectacled eider (Somateria fischeri) as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the survey has served as the principal measure of recovery for the western Alaska population.  Along with measuring eider recovery status, annual survey results determine the harvest strategy of cackling geese, Pacific white-fronted geese, and emperor geese (Anser canagicus). This management-focused survey is among the highest data collection priorities in the Alaska region with results that influence harvest management, inform habitat conservation and recovery decisions, and document changes in abundance and distribution.

two women and one man standing in front of amphibious cessna 207 aircraft which is white with yellow, purple, blue stripes
Image Details
Crew for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta aerial breeding pair survey.

Contact Information

Species

A swimming bird with a circle around it's eye, which looks like a spectacle

Spectacled eiders are large sea ducks, 52 to 56 centimeters long (20 to 22 inches). In the winter and spring, adult males are in breeding plumage with a black chest, white back, and pale green head with a long, sloping forehead and white patches resembling spectacles around the eyes. During the...

FWS Focus
Species
Kingdom
Animalia
Taxonomic Rank
Species

Programs

A large bird with brown feathers, white head, and yellow beak flies against a pale blue sky
The Migratory Bird Program works with partners to protect, restore and conserve bird populations and their habitats for the benefit of future generations by: ensuring long-term ecological sustainability of all migratory bird populations, increasing socioeconomic benefits derived from birds,...
Program
Washington,DC

Facilities

Male common eiders in the water at Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge
Alaska's Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge is vast and productive. The refuge nestles between Alaska’s largest rivers, the Yukon and the Kuskokwim Rivers, where the tundra meets the Bering Sea. Its diversity of habitats support one of the largest aggregations of waterbirds in the world. The...
National Wildlife Refuge
Bethel,AK
Black and white bird with long neck and yellow bill on the water
Alaska Migratory Birds Office
Alaska is home to more than 470 species of birds. Most are migratory birds for which the Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible under international treaties and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. While some of the birds stay in Alaska year-round, most migrate to Canada, Central America, South America...
Conservation Office
Anchorage,AK

Latest News

Spectacled eider
Migratory Species
Diving into the Mysterious World of Sea Ducks
Plunging into the icy waters of North America's coasts, sea ducks navigate a world unseen by most. Despite representing a significant portion of the continent’s duck species, these unique marine birds are among the least understood. Yet, unlike other waterfowl, many sea duck populations have...
Sandhill Cranes flying over the Refuge from a distance.
Migratory Species
Migratory Bird Annual Status Reports 
Annual migratory bird population status reports are posted each year in mid to late August. Highlighted species include waterfowl, American woodcock, mourning dove, band-tailed pigeon, and sandhill Crane. The annual Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest Report is also included.