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Between May 10th - 20th, 2002, the Department of National Defence, in association with the Canadian Wildlife Service and Jacques Whitford Environment Limited, deployed 26 new transmitters on Harlequin ducks in Northern Labrador. Of these, twenty were VHF radio-transmitters attached to females and six PTT’s (satellite transmitters) were abdominally implanted in males. The capture locations included Harp Lake outlet, Adlotok River and Mistinipi River. These areas were identified in previous surveys (JWEL 1991-2000) as being excellent habitat for Harlequin ducks. In 2001, we determined that these areas were important as both staging and breeding areas. The current monitoring program is intended to determine the movements of staging birds into Labrador and determine other possible breeding areas. As well, males will be tracked to breeding and possible important molting sites along coastal Labrador.
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Capturing the Harlequin Ducks and Attaching the Satellite Transmitters
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Net setup across rapids for capture of Harlequin ducks. |
PTT 9802 (male) captured on May 14, 2002; Post surgery. Note: All the PTT (satellite transmitter harlequins) are males.
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Release of a pair of Harlequins (male and female) at the capture site.
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Release of a pair of Harlequins (male and female) at the capture site.
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Click on images to enlarge
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