Pair of spectacled eiders flying near the Colville River in 2013
Pair of spectacled eiders flying near the Colville River in 2013Spectacled eider male and female flying near the Colville River in 2013.
Tracking Data for Spectacled Eiders (Somateria fischeri)
Active
By Alaska Science Center
October 30, 2026
Available here are tracking data of Spectacled Eider, a sea duck species that breeds only in Alaska and Russia and spends the winter exclusively in the Bering Sea. The Alaska breeding population is listed as threatened under provisions of the Endangered Species Act. These data were collected to better understand the winter distribution in the Bering Sea and locate birds for winter aerial surveys to track population trends over time.
Return to Ecosystems >> Wildlife Tracking Data Collection
USGS Alaska Science Center scientists collect data from wildlife tracking devices to: determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on various behaviors, and identify geographic areas repeatedly used by wildlife that may indicate sites of importance to species and populations. Tracking data from other wildlife species can be found at: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9VYSWEH
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
(Credit: David Douglas, USGS)
Tracking Maps
Spectacled Eider Tracking Maps
These webpages contain five different types of browse maps and other visualizations of the tracking data.
- Maps (Animated, Static, Interactive, and Google Earth)
- Summary graphs of the data: where, when, duration
- Waterfowl Tagged Animal Movement Explorer interactive visualization tool
- Note: These maps serve only as a depiction of the geographic content of the specific data provided and may be inappropriate for inferences and interpretation outside the intent of the original study. For example, maps may portray only certain ages, sexes, limited numbers of animals or variable tracking duration and start times that may limit inference for other questions. Users are advised to read the publication(s) and data set metadata associated with these maps to understand appropriate use and data limitations.
Data Packages
Argos Satellite Telemetry Data
These data packages contain the data collected from satellite transmitters attached to free-ranging animals. The packages include both raw and processed location and sensor data. The raw data includes data as originally retrieved from the Argos System. The processed data have been filtered for location plausibility, and sensor data have been decoded into standard measurement units. For most users, the processed data will be preferred.
NOTE: Processed data contains both plausible (DAF_Filter=0) and implausible (DAF_Filter=1) locations as indicated by the column “Location_DAF_filter”. Before using these data, we recommend excluding locations flagged as implausible or apply an alternative filtering method of your choice.
- Processed Data [Metadata] [Data Download, 11MB zip]
- Raw Data [Metadata] [Data Download, 21MB zip]
- README
- View ScienceBase Data Release
Suggested Citation
Petersen, M.R., Sexson, M.G., Douglas, D.C., 2020, Tracking data for Spectacled Eiders (Somateria fischeri) (ver 1.1, September 2021): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9B091HG
Version History:
First Release: July 2020
Revised: September 2021 (ver. 1.1)
Below are other science projects associated with Spectacled Eider.
Sea Duck Research
USGS research on sea ducks is designed to anticipate and address priority information needs of management agencies. Additionally, work is focused on individual species biology, migration and population status and trends because until recently, very little was known about sea ducks in Alaska.
Waterfowl Research
Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on waterfowl species (ducks, geese, and swans) in Alaska since the 1970s. Because Alaska is an international crossroads of migratory bird flyways, with millions of birds from Asia and North America breeding in Alaska each summer, USGS research has also taken place in adjacent countries (Russia, Japan, Canada, Mexico) and in the...
Below are multimedia items associated with Spectacled Eider.
Pair of spectacled eiders flying near the Colville River in 2013
Pair of spectacled eiders flying near the Colville River in 2013
Pair of spectacled eiders flying near the Colville River in 2013Spectacled eider male and female flying near the Colville River in 2013.
A Male Spectacled Eider in Alaska
A male spectacled eider following implantation of a satellite transmitter in the Colville River delta in June 2009. After breeding numbers of spectacled eiders, a large sea duck, declined by 96 percent at a primary breeding area in Alaska, the species was listed as threatened.
A male spectacled eider following implantation of a satellite transmitter in the Colville River delta in June 2009. After breeding numbers of spectacled eiders, a large sea duck, declined by 96 percent at a primary breeding area in Alaska, the species was listed as threatened.
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering Sea
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering SeaLarge flock of Spectacled Eiders aggregated in a sea ice lead in the northern Bering Sea, south of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Aerial photograph from a helicopter deployed from the USCG Cutter Polar Sea.
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering Sea
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering SeaLarge flock of Spectacled Eiders aggregated in a sea ice lead in the northern Bering Sea, south of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Aerial photograph from a helicopter deployed from the USCG Cutter Polar Sea.
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering Sea
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering SeaLarge flock of Spectacled Eiders aggregated in a sea ice lead at sunset in the northern Bering Sea, south of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Aerial photograph from a helicopter deployed from the USCG Cutter Polar Sea.
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering Sea
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering SeaLarge flock of Spectacled Eiders aggregated in a sea ice lead at sunset in the northern Bering Sea, south of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Aerial photograph from a helicopter deployed from the USCG Cutter Polar Sea.
Available here are tracking data of Spectacled Eider, a sea duck species that breeds only in Alaska and Russia and spends the winter exclusively in the Bering Sea. The Alaska breeding population is listed as threatened under provisions of the Endangered Species Act. These data were collected to better understand the winter distribution in the Bering Sea and locate birds for winter aerial surveys to track population trends over time.
Return to Ecosystems >> Wildlife Tracking Data Collection
USGS Alaska Science Center scientists collect data from wildlife tracking devices to: determine locations of animals throughout their annual cycles, understand patterns of habitat use, quantify time spent on various behaviors, and identify geographic areas repeatedly used by wildlife that may indicate sites of importance to species and populations. Tracking data from other wildlife species can be found at: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9VYSWEH
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
(Credit: David Douglas, USGS)
Tracking Maps
Spectacled Eider Tracking Maps
These webpages contain five different types of browse maps and other visualizations of the tracking data.
- Maps (Animated, Static, Interactive, and Google Earth)
- Summary graphs of the data: where, when, duration
- Waterfowl Tagged Animal Movement Explorer interactive visualization tool
- Note: These maps serve only as a depiction of the geographic content of the specific data provided and may be inappropriate for inferences and interpretation outside the intent of the original study. For example, maps may portray only certain ages, sexes, limited numbers of animals or variable tracking duration and start times that may limit inference for other questions. Users are advised to read the publication(s) and data set metadata associated with these maps to understand appropriate use and data limitations.
Data Packages
Argos Satellite Telemetry Data
These data packages contain the data collected from satellite transmitters attached to free-ranging animals. The packages include both raw and processed location and sensor data. The raw data includes data as originally retrieved from the Argos System. The processed data have been filtered for location plausibility, and sensor data have been decoded into standard measurement units. For most users, the processed data will be preferred.
NOTE: Processed data contains both plausible (DAF_Filter=0) and implausible (DAF_Filter=1) locations as indicated by the column “Location_DAF_filter”. Before using these data, we recommend excluding locations flagged as implausible or apply an alternative filtering method of your choice.
- Processed Data [Metadata] [Data Download, 11MB zip]
- Raw Data [Metadata] [Data Download, 21MB zip]
- README
- View ScienceBase Data Release
Suggested Citation
Petersen, M.R., Sexson, M.G., Douglas, D.C., 2020, Tracking data for Spectacled Eiders (Somateria fischeri) (ver 1.1, September 2021): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9B091HG
Version History:
First Release: July 2020
Revised: September 2021 (ver. 1.1)
Below are other science projects associated with Spectacled Eider.
Sea Duck Research
USGS research on sea ducks is designed to anticipate and address priority information needs of management agencies. Additionally, work is focused on individual species biology, migration and population status and trends because until recently, very little was known about sea ducks in Alaska.
Waterfowl Research
Scientists at the USGS Alaska Science Center have conducted research on waterfowl species (ducks, geese, and swans) in Alaska since the 1970s. Because Alaska is an international crossroads of migratory bird flyways, with millions of birds from Asia and North America breeding in Alaska each summer, USGS research has also taken place in adjacent countries (Russia, Japan, Canada, Mexico) and in the...
Below are multimedia items associated with Spectacled Eider.
Pair of spectacled eiders flying near the Colville River in 2013
Pair of spectacled eiders flying near the Colville River in 2013Spectacled eider male and female flying near the Colville River in 2013.
Pair of spectacled eiders flying near the Colville River in 2013
Pair of spectacled eiders flying near the Colville River in 2013Spectacled eider male and female flying near the Colville River in 2013.
A Male Spectacled Eider in Alaska
A male spectacled eider following implantation of a satellite transmitter in the Colville River delta in June 2009. After breeding numbers of spectacled eiders, a large sea duck, declined by 96 percent at a primary breeding area in Alaska, the species was listed as threatened.
A male spectacled eider following implantation of a satellite transmitter in the Colville River delta in June 2009. After breeding numbers of spectacled eiders, a large sea duck, declined by 96 percent at a primary breeding area in Alaska, the species was listed as threatened.
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering Sea
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering SeaLarge flock of Spectacled Eiders aggregated in a sea ice lead in the northern Bering Sea, south of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Aerial photograph from a helicopter deployed from the USCG Cutter Polar Sea.
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering Sea
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering SeaLarge flock of Spectacled Eiders aggregated in a sea ice lead in the northern Bering Sea, south of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Aerial photograph from a helicopter deployed from the USCG Cutter Polar Sea.
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering Sea
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering SeaLarge flock of Spectacled Eiders aggregated in a sea ice lead at sunset in the northern Bering Sea, south of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Aerial photograph from a helicopter deployed from the USCG Cutter Polar Sea.
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering Sea
Spectacled Eiders Wintering in Northern Bering SeaLarge flock of Spectacled Eiders aggregated in a sea ice lead at sunset in the northern Bering Sea, south of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Aerial photograph from a helicopter deployed from the USCG Cutter Polar Sea.