Flight of a flock of Common Eiders, Somateria mollisima, in Northumberland Strait interrupted by the Confederation Bridge, New Brunswick–Prince Edward Island

Authors

  • Colin M. MacKinnon Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Atlantic Region, P. O. Box 6227, Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1G6
  • Andrew C. Kennedy Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Atlantic Region, P. O. Box 6227, Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1G6
  • Matthew L. Horsman Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Atlantic Region, P. O. Box 6227, Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1G6

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v127i2.1448

Keywords:

Common Eider, Somateria mollisima, Black Scoter, Melanitta americana, seaducks, migration, Confederation Bridge, Northumberland Strait, Cape Jourimain National Wildlife Area, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island

Abstract

An observation of the flight of a flock of Common Eiders, Somateria mollisima, on 24 October 2012 suggests that, 15 years after construction of the Confederation Bridge connecting New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island (12.9 km in length over the Northumberland Strait), the bridge may still be a partial barrier to bird flight and possibly migration. Although we believe the Common Eiders we observed intended to fly over or under the bridge, none of the 44 Common Eiders crossed the structure during the observation period.

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Published

2013-10-29

Issue

Vol. 127 No. 2 (2013)

Section

Notes

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