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Pennsylvania Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management Research Division Project Annual Job Report

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Pennsylvania Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management Research Division Project Annual Job Report PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION BUREAU OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT RESEARCH DIVISION PROJECT ANNUAL JOB REPORT PROJECT CODE NO: 06510 TITLE: Waterfowl Research/Management JOB CODE NO.: 51001 TITLE: Waterfowl Banding PERIOD COVERED: 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 COOPERATING AGENCIES: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, and Bureau of State Parks WORK LOCATION(S): Banding locations statewide PREPARED BY: Ian D. Gregg DATE: 9 November 2000 Abstract: The objective of this project is to band representative samples of wild waterfowl as part of a cooperative effort by state, provincial, and federal agencies in the Atlantic Flyway that provides crucial data for management of the waterfowl resource. During June 2000, 2,521 resident Canada geese (97% of the state quota) were banded at 32 locations across Pennsylvania. During the August- September 2000 preseason banding period, 4,109 ducks were banded in Pennsylvania, including 3,071 mallards, 913 wood ducks, 55 black ducks, 53 blue-winged teal, 8 mallard x black duck hybrids, and 9 individuals of 4 other species (northern pintail, green-winged teal, northern shoveler, and hooded merganser). All banding quotas for mallards, and quotas for juvenile wood ducks, were obtained. Bandings of adult wood ducks, and adult and juvenile black ducks, were below the state quotas (400 adult wood ducks and 50 adult and 50 juvenile black ducks). Abundant rainfall during the spring and summer of 2000 enhanced the quantity and quality of waterfowl breeding and brood-rearing habitat across much of the state, and production of both mallards and wood ducks appeared to be above average based upon percentages of juveniles in the banding totals. Waterfowl banding is vital to the Pennsylvania Game Commission's contribution to meeting the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and should continue during 2001 in support of Atlantic Flyway banding program goals. Efforts to increase black duck bandings in order to meet state quotas for this species should continue. JOB OBJECTIVE To band representative samples of wild waterfowl as part of a cooperative effort by state, provincial, and federal agencies in the Atlantic Flyway that provides crucial data (survival and harvest rates, migration timing and destination, population changes, and production by local waterfowl) for the stewardship of the waterfowl resource at state and flyway levels. PROCEDURES During June 2000, resident Canada goose banding was conducted at 32 locations in 20 counties (Table 1) by Migratory Game Bird Section personnel, with assistance from other PGC personnel and volunteers. Flightless geese (molting 51001 2 adults and goslings) were captured by driving them onto land and surrounding them with a temporary corral of portable panels. Following determination of sex and age, geese were banded with standard butt-end metal U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service leg bands. Preseason (August through September) duck banding was conducted by Bureau of Wildlife Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Erie NWR) personnel at 9 sites in Erie, Crawford, Dauphin, Lancaster, and Pike counties, and by 4 District Wildlife Conservation Officers (WCOs) within their districts in Berks, Bucks, Lancaster, and Northampton counties. Ducks were captured in portable and permanent traps baited with corn. In addition, small numbers of adult female cavity-nesting ducks were banded in Berks County from April through June during nest box checks. Following determination of sex and age, ducks were banded with standard butt-end metal U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service leg bands. The transition to "1-800" U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bands (inscribed with a toll-free phone number for reporting band recoveries) is essentially complete, with all waterfowl banded in Pennsylvania in 2000 receiving 1-800 bands. Aimed at increasing band reporting rates, this program has now been in place 5 years for mallards and 4 years for wood ducks, black ducks, and Canada geese. Early results from this effort are encouraging, suggesting that the availability of this toll-free number may have more than doubled band reporting rates. Following the trapping efforts, banding schedules were compiled using the most recent version of Band Manager (Version 2.1). As requested, both hard copies and electronic copies of the data were submitted to the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory. FINDINGS Resident Canada goose banding Pennsylvania's 2000 banding quota for resident Canada geese (set to reflect approximately 1% of the estimated statewide population), was 2,600 birds. This quota is subdivided into goal amounts for physiographic strata (Fig. 1) according to the percentage of the state's goose population located in each stratum. During the June 2000 resident Canada goose banding period, 2,521 geese were banded, including 831 adult males, 723 adult females, 438 juvenile males, and 529 juvenile females (Table 1). The percentage of the goal obtained for each stratum varied from 31% to 176%. In most cases, these differences reflect differences in the availability of large, accessible goose flocks allowing for efficient banding operations. The statewide total of 2,521 met 97% of the overall quota. More than 200 geese were banded at Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area (WMA), with over 100 geese also banded at each of the following locations: State Game Lands (SGL) 218, Middle Creek WMA, Codorus State Park, Muddy Run Reservoir, Middletown river access, and Green Lane Reservoir. Duck banding Pennsylvania's duck banding quotas as outlined in the North American Banding Program Document are 1,200 mallards (600 adult, 300 immature male and female each), 750 wood ducks (400 adult, 175 immature male and female each), and 100 black ducks (50 adult, 25 immature male and female each). Quotas were achieved for mallards and immature wood ducks, but not for adult wood ducks or black duck adults or juveniles. During the 2000 preseason banding period, 4,109 ducks were banded in Pennsylvania, including 3,071 mallards, 913 wood ducks, 55 black ducks, 53 blue- winged teal, 8 mallard X black duck hybrids and 9 individuals of 4 other species 51001 3 (northern pintail, green-winged teal, northern shoveler, and hooded merganser) (Tables 2 and 3). Total bandings were about 12% lower than those achieved during the 1999 banding effort and 28% lower than those achieved in 1998 (a record high year). Presumably, one reason for reduced trapping success this year was the high water conditions across much of the state due to abundant rainfall received during the spring and summer. Under such conditions, ducks are less likely to be concentrated on the larger water bodies where trapping efforts are centered. Wood duck bandings declined 34% from 1999 and were 47% below the record high total of 1998. Quotas were met for immature males and females, but the adult quota was not met for the first time in 4 years. Mallard bandings decreased 5% from 1999 and were 20% below 1998, but all banding quotas for this species were exceeded. After declining sharply for 2 years, black duck bandings leveled off with 55 banded in 2000 as compared to 57 in 1999. However, none of the quotas were met for this species and it will be necessary to continue efforts to increase the number of black ducks banded. Juveniles comprised an above- average proportion of the mallard and wood duck totals, indicating good production in 2000. The same high water conditions that may have somewhat hindered duck trapping also enhanced the quantity and quality of breeding and brood-rearing habitat needed to support a strong breeding effort. Pymatuning WMA accounted for 60% of the total duck bandings, including 75% of all mallard bandings and 42% of all black duck bandings. Compared to 1999, bandings at Pymatuning fell 83% for wood ducks, 7% for mallards, and 22% overall. Middle Creek WMA accounted for 12% of the total duck bandings and was the top location in the state for wood duck bandings with 23% of the Pennsylvania total. The total number of ducks banded was 30% higher than 1999. Wood duck bandings increased 42%, and mallard bandings were 21% higher. Presque Isle accounted for 8% of the total duck bandings in 2000. Total bandings decreased 40% from 1999, with a 54% decline in mallard bandings accounting for most of the difference. Notably, 41 blue-winged teal (77% of the state total) were banded at this station, a total greater than that for the entire state in any recent year. The 4 northeastern stations, Shohola Lake, Decker Pond, Pecks Pond, and Promised Land State Park, accounted for 5% of all duck bandings including 44% of all black duck bandings. Total bandings decreased 39% from 1999 levels, with wood duck bandings declining 58%, although mallard bandings increased 67%, and black duck bandings increased 33%. More than twice as many individuals of less common species were banded in 2000 compared to 1999 (Table 3), mainly due to a large increase in the number of blue-winged teal banded, from 8 in 1999 to 53 in 2000. The number of individuals banded for mallard X black duck hybrid, northern pintail, green-winged teal, and hooded merganser remained identical or nearly so to 1999. Also, a single northern shoveler at Middle Creek WMA was an unusual addition to the Pennsylvania banding total this year. RECOMMENDATIONS Waterfowl banding should continue during FY 01 in support of the Atlantic Flyway cooperative banding program, with continuing efforts made to increase the number of black ducks banded
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