B--B--NESTING STUDY OF WHITE WING SCOTERS

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to award a sole source contract to Ducks Unlimited Canada, Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research, to continue studying the breeding ecology of white-winged scoters in the Lower Mackenzie River Watershed. The study will employ aerial surveys, mark-recapture techniques including radio-marking of pre-nesting females, nest searching, and brood observations to estimate key demographic parameters. A detailed study plan is expected to be submitted by May 2003, with a summary report documenting the 2003 field season results, along with a project cost breakdown, due by September 2003. This award falls under the Department of the Interior, with the office located in Falls Church, Virginia. The project aims to provide comprehensive ecological data through established scientific methodologies, supporting ongoing efforts to monitor and conserve this species. The contract facilitates continued field research vital for understanding population dynamics and informing wildlife management strategies.