SURVIVAL OF SPECTACLED EIDER ADULT FEMALES AND DUCKLINGS DURING BROODREARING

We studied survival of adult female and duckling spectacled elders (So materia fischeri) during brood rearing on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, A laska from 1993 to 1995. Duckling survival to 30 days of age averaged 34% with a 95% confidence interval from 25 to 47%. Half (49%) of radio marked adult females had lost all their ducklings by 30 days after hat ch. Most (74%) duckling mortality occurred in the first 10 days. Adult female survival during the first 30 days of brood rearing was 93 +/- 3% (SE). Females died from lead poisoning, as a result of ingesting le ad shot, and predation. Mortality of adult females during brood rearin g is probably higher than during other times of the year. Low adult fe male survival during the breeding season may be contributing to the ov erall population decline of spectacled elders.