Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Birds are highly mobile animals. In particular, migratory birds cross frontiers to breed, moult and winter at various locations over large geographic scales (300-8000 km). This very characteristic makes the study and conservation of migrating birds challenging. In the proposed research program, my aim is to describe the annual cycle of sea ducks and understand how the various biological phases are integrated chronologically and energetically in relation to breeding success. I will use (1) miniature data logging systems to monitor physiological (heart rate and body temperature) and behavioural (flying and diving) parameters, (2) collection of specimens to monitor body mass and body organs and, (3) breeding biology observations to relate events occurring during the annual cycle with breeding success. I believe that this research could be a breakthrough in the study of migratory birds in general because it is based on an innovative approach that allow the recording of highly pertinent information of individuals in the wild, that could not be otherwise obtained.