Refuge staff captured over 2,100 eiders during six successful drives from September 9-24, 2004. For the first time, kayaks proved useful herding eiders over eelgrass beds. For the fourth year, staff of the Alaska Sea Life Center assisted in collecting blood and other samples from captured eiders to determine if disease has contributed to the eiders? decline. A University of Alaska scientist took samples from captured eiders to determine if migratory birds can transport the influenza virus from Asia to North America.

Since 2000, high school students from Barrow participate in Izembek's eider drive each fall as part of the ?Eider Journey? education-outreach program focused on conservation and management of the threatened species. Each June, students help Service biologists search for eider nests at Barrow in northern Alaska. Each fall, these students fly down to Cold Bay to band migrating birds. The project is funded by a Challenge Grant between the Service, North Slope Dept. of Wildlife Management, North Slope Borough School District, National Science Foundation, and U.S. Arctic Research Consortium.