EESC in the News - Evaluating the Pathogenesis of Avian Influenza Virus in Priority Seaducks (Common Eider, Surf Scoter)
Sea Duck Joint Venture Website
Sea Duck Joint Venture Website
August 11, 2025
The Sea Duck Joint Venture (SDJV), a conservation partnership under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, helps to fund avian influenza research at EESC's campus in Laurel, MD. The SDJV recently highlighted how EESC's utlilizes its captive sea duck colony for this important research.
"The Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC), formerly the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, is one of the 15 science centers within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Ecosystems Mission Area. The Science Centers are vital partners in sea duck conservation and management, using their scientific capabilities to address questions critical for sea duck management.
One way EESC supports sea duck research is through the use of their unique facilities, which include a flock of captive sea ducks, dive tanks, and husbandry expertise that fosters breeding of the captive birds. These capabilities allowed researchers at EESC, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, University of Massachusetts Boston (UMassB), and the University of Rhode Island (URI) to develop a research project focused on understanding how avian influenza viruses, including highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAI) affect sea ducks, and how an outbreak in these species may impact management."
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