AUGUST 2-3

24-h Access

NO TRAVEL NEEDED

No Travel Needed

Sessions & Exhibits

Sessions & Exhibits

LEARN & NETWORK

Learn & Network

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About Us

The 7th International Sea Duck Virtual Conference (ISDC) will draw together sea duck enthusiasts from academia, government agencies, conservation organizations, industry, and communities to discuss our shared interests in sea duck research, conservation, management, and community connections.

Since the inaugural Sea Duck Conference in 2002 in Victoria, British Columbia, the tri-annual ISDC had been held in Annapolis, Maryland (2005), Quebec City, Quebec (2008), Seward, Alaska (2011), Reykjavik, Iceland (2014), and San Francisco, California (2017). Please visit ‘Previous Sea Duck Conferences’ for past conference abstracts and proceedings.


Why a virtual conference instead of in-person?

After missing the anticipated 2020 conference due to the COVID pandemic, the organizing committee hopes the virtual format will both reengage with the researchers and wildlife managers who typically attend the conference, while broadening our reach to include the wider sea duck community. This “climate friendly” format is low cost for attendees and sea ducks alike!

We are planning a rich and engaging program with lots of opportunities for interaction and networking with real people.

Virtual Venue

In a virtual environment, we can:

  • Reach a broader community and provide an opportunity for those who cannot travel to participate in the conference.
  • Host live & on-demand content during and up to 90 days after the event.
  • Meet in the Networking Lounge and chat rooms with audio and video capabilities or schedule a one-on-one meeting.
  • Explore the interactive, multi-media Poster and Art Exhibition Hall.

Key Dates & Deadlines:


30 September 2023 Abstract Submission Deadline (Oral, Lightning, or Poster).
31 October 2023 Notification of Abstract – Oral & Poster Acceptance
15 November 2023 Early Registration rates end. Register before fees go up!
23 December 2023 Deadline: Upload your Recorded Presentation and Submit Poster Booth for Review
3 January 2024 FINAL Deadline for uploading your Recorded Presentation
8 – 11 January 2024 7th International Sea Duck Conference
10 April 2024 90 day access to on-demand content ends.

What’s at the event?


Watch live discussions, plenaries, talks, and virtual field trips.

Connect through the interactive lounge with audio and video chat.

Explore the Poster Hall and Art Show with multi-media, interactive booths.

Support the Sea Duck Conference by becoming a Sponsor.

Exterior view of our conference venue

Organizing Committee

Emily Silverman (Chair)

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Susan De La Cruz

US Geological Survey

Dan Esler

US Geological Survey

Kate Martin

Sea Duck Joint Venture

Sam Richman

US Geological Survey

Megan Ross

Environment and Climate Change Canada

With special thanks to our Advisory Committee


Tim Bowman

retired US Fish and Wildlife Service

Grant Gilchrist

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Mark Gloutney

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Jón Einar Jónsson

University of Iceland

Annie Maliguine

Student Representative, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Tori Mezebish

Student Representative, University of Rhode Island

DJ Monette

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Reyd Smith

Student Representative, Carleton University & Environment and Climate Change Canada

Ramūnas Žydelis

Ornitela

With special thanks to our amazing Logo Artist


Kirsty Yeomans

Kirsty lives in the United Kingdom and has a special talent for creating illustrations of bird behaviors in their natural habitats. She has a unique ability to breathe life into birds to bring out their hidden personalities with a passion to cross realism with caricature.

Please visit Kirsty’s website Crow Artist and Etsy Shop to view her other work.

Call for Abstracts


We invite you to submit an abstract for consideration for our program. There are a variety of ways to present your work:

  • Live, yet pre-recorded, Oral presentations
  • Lightning talks
  • Panel and Round-table discussions
  • Virtual field trips
  • Poster Expo - Interactive, multi-media Poster booths
  • Art Exhibitors

We especially encourage submissions by Student presenters (undergraduate and graduate) and will offer four (4) student registration awards to the highest-ranking abstracts by the Science Committee.


The deadline for submissions was 30 September 2023.
However we are still accepting Abstracts for the Poster Session.

Go to the CALL FOR ABSTRACTS for Submission Instructions

Frequently Asked questions


Yes! Visit our registration page to have full access to all our programming! Registration allows you to access virtual venue and explore before the event, live access during, and all the content will be available on-demand for 90 days after the event!
We’ll have all sessions available on-demand following the live event. If you can’t make it, or live in a different time zone, you may still register and have full access to all the content for 90 days afterward.
NO. You do not need to download or install any software to participate in our conference. You only need to have access to the Internet.
The information you provide upon registration will only be used to establish you as a user on the platform and to create your login credentials. It will not be used for any other purposes.
Yes, the vFairs platform is compatible with any computer, browser or mobile device with internet.
Yes. Like any physical event, we will have a swag bag for you! You can add all of the documents available to the online swag bag in your account and then email them to yourself or share items with colleagues and friends by simply entering their email.
The on-demand content will be hosted for 90 days following the event.
Your login details will be emailed to you ahead of the event. You can use these details to access the online event.