SPECTACLED EIDER Historically, Spectacled Eiders nested along much of the coast of Alaska, from the Nushagak Peninsula in the southwest, north to Barrow, east nearly to the Canadian border, and along much of the Arctic coast of Russia. Pairs of spectacled elder arrive at their breeding grounds with their mates already selected. Media highlights The painted head of this large sea duck ranges in color from pale green to bright orange, making it one handsome bird. Global Warming and Endangered Species Initiative Expansive wetlands, lagoons and cliffs are used by huge numbers of shorebirds, seabirds and waterfowl as they travel long distances to their summer breeding grounds every spring.4. Climate Law Insitute The Center continues to work to protect these areas. 1996 Recovery plan PO Box 65195 | Washington DC 20035 | 240.353.2765, Support our work with a one time or recurring gift. The Spectacled Eider also faces possible threats from oil and gas development in the Arctic Ocean as there is currently no effective way of cleaning an oil spill in the Arctic sea ice environment. Representative Doc Hastings’ proposed legislation to drill in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska could open up the most sensitive areas like Teshekpuk Lake to drilling and lead to the downfall of this threatened species. As a result the western Alaskan population of Spectacled Eiders dropped by 96 percent between 1957 and 1992. Scientists place all three species in the same taxonomic genus, Somateria.The three species are the Common Eider, the King Eider, and the Spectacled Eider.Read on to learn about the Eider. The females lay an average of 4-5 eggs. But warmer temperatures now allow new species to enter into the eider’s habitat and compete for food. Spectacled Eiders on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta reported survival comparable to esti-mates for dabbling ducks, suggesting that duckling survival is not a factor limiting population recovery (Flint and Grand 1997). Endangered Species Coalition It is during this time that spectacled eider are most susceptible to interactions with fishing vessels. When the agency made its final designation the following year, the area defined as critical habitat had shrunk to 25 million acres, with habitat in the Beaufort Sea and National Petroleum Reserve eliminated. Designated critical habitat on land is not shown here. Fish and Wildlife Service to designate critical habitat for this imperiled sea duck. Mystery: Why is the Aleutian ecosystem collapsing? In 2007, we successfully interrupted plans by Shell Oil to begin exploration near the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Thanks to the Center, the spectacled eider's critical habitat will not fade away, like its plumage, come winter. Alaska and the Arctic St. Lawrence Island Yupik: Iyegaatelek Mystery: Why is the Aleutian ecosystem collapsing?