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Kirsty E.B. Gurney
Kirsty E.B. Gurney 
DUC-MBNA Canada Bank Conservation Fellowship
Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Duckling Survival and Productivity in Temperate-Nesting Waterfowl
Lesser scaup populations are experiencing long-term declines and the decreases are most pronounced in northern boreal forests where most scaup breed. Retrospective analyses of population and harvest data suggest that fewer juvenile birds are entering the breeding population. Kirsty’s study focuses on life-cycle stages between hatching and recruitment, which have received little attention so far.
This multi-faceted study is designed to answer questions about how growth, size and survival of scaup ducklings are related to timing of hatching, food supply, disease and latitude. This information will be critical in developing and implementing scaup conservation strategies in Canada’s boreal forest.
