Sanikiluaq (Apr 07/03) - Around the Belcher Islands, strong tidal currents and winds keep areas of water open in the winter.

The open water supports tens of thousands of eider ducks each winter.

This winter has been particularly cold, threatening to surpass the 1992 winter kill rate that took approximately 75 per cent of the eider duck population.

But no one knows for sure how winter affects these birds.

A three-year study of the year-round eider population has been started to get some answers.

The study combines information from the area's hunter and trapper association, local hunters, and biologists from the northern conservation division of the Canadian Wildlife Service. Funding comes from the Canadian Wildlife Service, Nunavut Research Trust, Northern Ecosystem Initiative, and the Environmental Capacity Development Initiative.

This winter's harsh weather means less open water.

Because of the restricted open water -- plus strong tides and winds -- the eiders are only able to feed a few hours each day.

When on the prowl for food, the ducks can swim down to approximately 90 feet to gather sea urchins, mussels, sea cucumbers starfish and clams.

These birds have supplied past generations of Inuit with duck skins and eider down for clothing and valuable meat for surviving difficult winters.

Now the current generation are getting involved.

Nuiyak school has secured a 12-month contract to gather invertebrates eaten by eiders and collect physical statistics before forwarding edible material out for energetic evaluation.

More information about the eiders can be found at www.najuqsivik.com.