INTRODUCTION 



The Harlequin Duck {Histrionicus histrionicus) is a small sea duck, which travels inland 

 to breed on fresh water streams. Harlequins breed in western North America from Alaska and the 

 Yukon south through western Montana to California (Harlequin Duck Working Group 1993); in 

 eastern North America, they breed from Baffin Island south to eastern Quebec and Labrador 

 (Goudie 1993). In the Palaearctic, they breed in Iceland, Greenland and Siberia (A.O.U. 1983). 

 Approximately 1 10-150 pairs of Harlequins currently breed in Montana (Reichel and Genter 

 1994), with most located in the following areas: 1) tributaries of the lower Clark Fork River; 2) 

 tributaries of the North, Middle, and South Forks of the Flathead River; 3) streams coming off 

 the east front of the Rocky Mountains; and 4) the Boulder River (Miller 1988, 1989; Kerr 1989; 

 Carlson 1990; Fairman and Miller 1990; Diamond and Finnegan 1992, 1993; Reichel and Genter 

 1993, 1994, 1995). 



During the breeding season. Harlequins are found along fast mountain streams (Bengtson 

 1966). In many areas. Harlequins use streams with dense timber or shrubs on the banks (Cassirer 

 and Groves 1990), but they are also found in relatively open streams along the east slopes of the 

 Rocky Mountains, Montana (Markum and Genter 1990, Diamond and Finnegan 1992), and in the 

 Arctic tundra (Bengtson 1972). In Idaho, 90% of observations occurred near old growth or 

 mature timber stands (Cassirer and Groves 1990). Mid-stream rocks, logs, islands, or stream- 

 side gravel bars serve as safe loafing sites and appear to be important habitat components. 



Most of the ducks arrive on their inland breeding areas in mid- April to early-May; 

 unmated males typically arrive before pairs (Kuchel 1977). The males return to the coast shortly 

 after the females begin incubation; most are gone by early July (Kuchel 1977). The females and 

 young remain on the streams until August or early September. This chronology is influenced by 

 elevation and by the timing of spring runoff; it may vary up to several weeks between years. 



The U.S. Forest Service, Region 1, lists the Harlequin Duck as Sensitive (Reel et al. 

 1989). The species is listed as a Species of Special Concern by the Montana (Montana Natural 

 Heritage Program 1994) and Idaho (Idaho Conservation Data Center 1994) Natural Heritage 

 Programs. The eastern North American population is listed as Endangered in Canada (Goudie 

 1993). 



The Montana Natural Heritage Program began surveying Harlequin Ducks in 1988. The 

 survey data gave rise to questions involving site fidelity, productivity and mortality. We began 

 individually marking Harlequins to a limited extent in 1991; through 1994, a total of 192 

 Harlequins were marked on 9 streams, representing the largest population of marked Harlequins 

 from breeding streams. Birds marked in Montana have subsequently been captured and observed 

 on the coasts of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, with most reports coming from 

 Vancouver Island. Long term goals include: 1) developing a baseline status report of current and 

 historic Harlequin populations in Montana; 2) gathering information on site fidelity, reproduction 

 and mortality to allow estimations of what constitutes a viable Harlequin population; 3) 

 developing survey protocols for actual and potential Harlequin streams; 4) developing 

 management guidelines for maintaining and restoring Harlequin populations and habitat; and 5) 

 identifying coastal areas where Harlequins from the Northern Rockies occur. Goals for 1995 

 included: 1) surveying additional streams for presence and status of Harlequins; 2) gathering 

 productivity data on some primary Harlequin streams; 3) marking as many individuals as 

 possible on selected streams for long-term monitoring; and 4) summarizing distribution, 

 population, movement, and survey data from Montana. 



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