For the first week of April I got to participate on a joint effort project with Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service.
Our goal with to catch 17 Goldeneyes, 5 males and 12 females, and surgecially implant saliate transmitters into the abdomen, so that researchers can learn about their migration patterns, molting and nesting habitats. Once reseachers know the areas the seaducks utilize they can preserve it.
Top photo: positioning the external antenna
Below male prepped for surgery
A drowsy female recovering from surgery
6:00 Am the first birds hit the mist nets lured in by the decoys
Not every bird caught gets a transmitter, some are not the right age, weight or sex, so we collect data band them and release.
Recovering a female goldeneye.
How many scientist does it take to collect data from one bird???
R/V Kittiwake was our home for the 0 days of the project, we moved all around Kachamak Bay near Homer, AK
The view from the wheel house
Picking a bird out of the mist net.
My room on the boat.
Soon the transmitters will start sending signals back to the researchers via email and they will be able to map and track their movements for about 2 years, the length of transmitters battery.
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