Why Study Waterfowl?
Waterfowl have long served as indicators of ecological health for a diverse set of ecosystems including coastlines, lakes, rivers, and swamps throughout North America. However, these habitats are sometimes exposed to harmful levels of contaminants deposited by domestic industry practices or transported through the atmosphere from far away. Waterfowl, such as ducks, geese, and swans, are especially impacted by global changes as they rely on many different habitats throughout their annual migratory routes.
BRI has partnered with other conservation organizations, as well as state and federal agencies interested in waterfowl conservation goals. BRI is actively conducting waterfowl research within three broad areas: (1) contaminants monitoring; (2) movement and tracking studies; and (3) avian health.
Download the program brochure here.
Program Director:
Contributing Staff:
Highlighted Species We Study
Surf Scoter
Common Eider
Common Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Harlequin Duck
Waterfowl Research at BRI
Select Publications
- “Geographic and temporal patterns of variation in total mercury concentrations in blood of harlequin ducks and blue mussels from Alaska,” Marine Pollution Bulletin (2016)
- “Initiating a pilot study to evaluate a long-term harlequin duck breeding population monitoring study in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park,” (2015)
