Kate Martin

Biologist, seaduck enthusiast, @USFWSAlaska, mom of two kids and a chocolate lab, US Coordinator for Sea Duck Joint Venture

[Kate Martin @KateSeasDucks]

@alexnicolharper thanks for sharing this, Alex!

[Vigur Island @IslandVigur]

Italian lecturer in sustainability Francesco Cara spent a week in June on Vigur helping us with the collection of the eiderdown. Here is his article (available in Italian and English) about this almost uniquely Icelandic tradition:

https://t.co/Wo0tNpP0GF

[Kate Martin @KateSeasDucks]

@IslandVigur Interesting! I'm assuming it's mainly male kings and female commons pairing up to nest there, given the high nest site fidelity of female commons?

[USFWS Migratory Birds @USFWSBirds]

In winter, surf scoters are found in abundance around Alaska where they come to feed and mate. They can be fun to watch as they "surf" while landing, dive for food, and bow in their mating ritual. #WaterfowlWednesday #SeaDucks 📷Ronan Dugan/USFWS

[Ducks Unlimited CAN @ducanada]

Bundle up, venture outdoors and let the joy of #birdwatching brighten those long #winter days! ❄️🦆 Not all ducks leave the country when the cold weather arrives, so see if you can spot the eye-catching crest of a hooded merganser swimming in the southern Great Lakes or B.C.

[WWT @WWTworldwide]

'Wait for me mum!'

Common mergansers are known to form crèches, with some females spotted in charge of over 70 ducklings!

@BBCSpringwatch #Winterwatch

[Alaska SeaLife Center @AlaskaSeaLife]

Blue-eyed beauties 💙

Spectacled eiders Poe and Alcott are showing off their beautiful blue eyes! This species gets its name from their "spectacle" shaped eye patch, but their blue irises make them even more stunning.

[Kate Martin @KateSeasDucks]

@seaduckconf I can't believe there isn't an eider in the final!!

[Sea Duck Conference @seaduckconf]

The finale of #ISDCSeaDuckTournament is here!

You've voted and put the #longtailedduck and #harlequinduck as 2024's top two #seaducks

The winner will be announced tomorrow on the final day of #7ISDC - Vote in the thread below!

[Ducks Unlimited CAN @ducanada]

Bundle up, venture outdoors and let the joy of #birdwatching brighten those long #winter days! ❄️🦆 Not all ducks leave the country when the cold weather arrives, so see if you can spot a common goldeneye along the shores of the Great Lakes or the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

[Alaska SeaLife Center @AlaskaSeaLife]

Meet the beautiful North 💚

North is a male kind eider, who is showing off his colorful breeding plumage.

The King Eider's scientific name is *Somateria spectabilis,* which is quite fitting for this species. Spectabilis is Latin for “remarkable display."

[Alaska SeaLife Center @AlaskaSeaLife]

❗Drumroll, please❗

Our top of the post year....
with over 2,000,000 views on Instagram is...

The spectacular spectacled eiders Poe and Alcott! 🥳

[Audubon Society @audubonsociety]

If you could see any bird in 2024, what would it be?

[Theo Sanderson @theosanderson]

A very warm year

[USFWS Alaska @USFWSAlaska]

The Spectacled Eider is totally not judging you. 🚩But be aware of their red flags: lead, trace element pollution, and severe weather. ➡️ Become a better match for wildlife and celebrate 50 years of the #EndangeredSpeciesAct. 🔗https://t.co/xmspYxR0Gh #ESA50
📸Dan Rizzolo/USFWS

[Leslie SoCal ☮️📸 @Leslie64993617]

Big surf is coming to San Diego. No one can handle it better than these birds. Surf scoters. 🤙🏻 🏄‍♂️

[Kate Martin @KateSeasDucks]

#seaduck enthusiasts! Check out the (virtual) 7th International Sea Duck Conference, Jan 8-11. Learn about the latest #research, discuss #conservation concerns and cultural connections, and view some incredible sea duck #art! #waterfowl #seaduckjv https://t.co/vZIAx7623E

[WWT Slimbridge @WWTSlimbridge]

You've heard of Elf on the Shelf, now get ready for...

[Alaska SeaLife Center @AlaskaSeaLife]

Our Bird of the Week really doesn't need us to introduce him. We know his fans will shout out his name in the comments! 🤣