expected to last 24 months. Tracking data indi-
investigation: Evaluation of white phosphorus con-
cated that transmitters did not appear to inhibit
tamination and potential treatability at Eagle River
the movements or activities of either ducks or
Flats, Alaska (C.H. Racine and D. Cate, Ed.). CR-
bald eagles. Daily waterfowl movements indicate
REL Contract Report to U.S. Army Garrison, Alas-
ka, Directorate of Public Works, FY93 Final Re-
that all species moved among areas quite readily.
port, p. 227234.
Mallards spent about 60% of their time in Areas B
We determined the movement, distribution,
and A; pintails spent about 87% of their time in
turnover rate, and site-specific exposure of water-
Areas A, C/D, and D; and teal spent about 63% of
fowl species most susceptible to white phospho-
their time in Areas A and D. After the hazing pro-
rus poisoning at Eagle River Flats during fall
gram was started, waterfowl use patterns
migration (August-September) 1993.
changed on ERF. The average number of days
We captured 62 ducks of five species, mainly in
spent on ERF by mallards, pintails, and teal was
Areas C, C/D, and Bread Truck with mist nets
40, 46, and 27 days, respectively. The average
and swim-in traps. Of those, radio transmitters
daily turnover rate for waterfowl was about 3.8%.
were attached to 12 mallards, 11 pintails and 11
The greatest turnover of waterfowl occurred pri-
green-winged teals. Tracking data indicate that
or to 5 September, when 47% of mallards, 37% of
during August (before hazing), telemetry species
pintails and 43% of teal departed ERF. The mor-
tality of instrumented ducks using ERF from 1
ranged over the entire Flats. Mallards tended to
August to 17 October was five ducks, or about
concentrate in Areas A and B, Racine Island and
the C/D transition. Pintails used Area C and
9%. Most of the telemetry contacts with eagles,
Bread Truck. Green-winged teal used the C/D
excluding the two nesting birds, indicated that
transition area and shallow pools in Areas A and
eagles spent an average of 1.4 days on the Flats.
C. After hazing, most waterfowl concentrated in
Instrumented eagles were only observed in Areas
Area B and the C/D transition area. Preliminary
A, C, and C/D during the spring and A and C/D
data suggest that there was a low turnover rate of
during the fall. The nesting success of eagles on
waterfowl species using the Flats during August
ERF did not differ significantly from eagles nest-
and September. In addition, eight telemetry
ing on Susitna or Chickaloon Flats. Eagles on ERF
ducks were found dead on ERF: Racine Island (1),
produced an average of 1.3 eggs and fledged an
Area A (3), Area C (2), and the C/D transition
average of 0.33 eaglets. No adult eagle mortality
area (2).
has been documented from instrumented birds,
even though eagles scavenge dead ducks (which
has included instrumented ducks).
Cummings, J.L., C.A. Yoder, R.E. Johnson, P.A.
Pochop, K.S. Gruver, J.E. Davis, and K.L. Tope
(1996) Movement, distribution, and relative risk
Cummings, J.L., C.A. Yoder, R.E. Johnson, P.A.
of waterfowl and bald eagles using Eagle River
Pochop, K.S. Gruver, J.E. Davis, K.L. Tope, J.B.
Bourassa, and R.L. Phillips (1995) Movement,
Flats. In Interagency expanded site investigation:
distribution, and relative risk of waterfowl, bald
eagles, and dowitchers using Eagle River Flats. In
potential treatability at Eagle River Flats, Alaska
(C.H. Racine and D. Cate, Ed.). CRREL Contract
Interagency expanded site investigation: Evaluation of
Report to U.S. Army, Alaska, Directorate of Public
white phosphorus contamination and potential treat-
Works, FY95 Final Report, p. 179196.
ability at Eagle River Flats, Alaska (C.H. Racine and
This project determined the spatial distribu-
D. Cate, Ed.). CRREL Contract Report to U.S.
tion, movements, turnover rate, and mortality of
Army, Alaska, Directorate of Public Works, FY94
waterfowl and bald eagles using Eagle River
Final Report, p. 321334.
Flats during fall migration, 1 August to 17 Octo-
We determined spatial distribution, move-
ber 1995. We captured 82 ducks and 14 bald
ments, turnover rate, and mortality of waterfowl,
eagles on ERF using various techniques. Of the
bald eagles, and dowitchers using Eagle River
waterfowl, 17 mallards, 16 northern pintails, and
Flats, Fort Richardson, Alaska, during spring
21 green-winged teal were fitted with radio trans-
migration, AprilMay 1994. We captured 34
mitters. Of the 14 eagles, 8 were fitted with satel-
ducks, 20 dowitchers, and 10 bald eagles on ERF
lite transmitters, the others with standard transmit-
using various techniques. All birds were fitted
ters. Waterfowl transmitters were programmed to
with radio transmitters. This included 27 mal-
be on from August to November 1995, and again
lards, 4 green-winged teal and 1 northern pintail.
from April to June 1996. Eagle transmitters are
Of the 10 eagles, 3 were fitted with satellite trans-
42
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