DOCSLIB.ORG

Duck Nest Success and Predators in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana: the Central Flyway Study

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Duck Nest Success and Predators in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana: the Central Flyway Study University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center Proceedings for April 1987 Duck Nest Success and Predators in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana: The Central Flyway Study Michael A. Johnson North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Bismarck Thomas C. Hinz Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Billings Thomas L. Kuck Ducks Unlimited, Aberdeen, South Dakota Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/gpwdcwp Part of the Environmental Health and Protection Commons Johnson, Michael A. ; C. Hinz, Thomas; and Kuck, Thomas L., "Duck Nest Success and Predators in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana: The Central Flyway Study" (1987). Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings. 73. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/gpwdcwp/73 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Duck Nest Success and Predators in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana: The Central Flyway Study1 Michael A. Johnson, Thomas C. Hinz, and Thomas L. Kuck^ Abstract.--Data on duck nest success and the distribution and abundance of nest predators were obtained from nine study areas in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. Success rates were extremely low due to predation and duck production over much of the region may be insufficient to maintain populations. INTRODUCTION Numerous studies during the past 20 years have This paper presents data collected during a one- produced estimates of duck nest success in the season study designed to obtain estimates of duck Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the United States. nest success by habitat type and estimates of pred- Recently, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center tor populations for nine study areas in North (NPWRC) compiled data from many of these studies Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. Emphasis was into a 15,000-record database for use in a mallard placed on obtaining nest success records for habi- (Anas piatyrhyncos) recruitment model (Cowardin et tats not specifically managed for wildlife in areas al. 1983 and Johnson et al. 1986). This model is with little or no previous duck nest data. Duck designed to allow managers to evaluate the effec- nest data were collected to improve the ability of tiveness of various management options for improving the NPWRC Mallard Model to evaluate management mallard recruitment. However, two major deficien- alternatives for increasing duck recruitment in the cies exist in the data base (Klett et al. in press). Central Flyway. Both nest and predator data comple- Although most ducks (>%%) in the PPR nest on pri- ment that obtained in Canada during the study of vate lands (Hochbaum and Bossenmaier 1965, and stabilized duck hunting regulations (Greenwood et Cowardin and Johnson 19833), most studies contri- al. in press). buting to the data base were conducted on public lands managed for wildlife production. Also, most of the data were obtained from relatively few study areas and there is little comparable information for large portions of the Dakota's and Montana (Klett et ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS al. in press). Additionally, although predation is a major factor limiting duck nest success (Cowardin 1985), few nesting studies have produced concurrent This study was a cooperative venture which information on which to assess predator populations required the help and assistance of many individuals (Sargeant 1983)4. and agencies. The study was designed and directed by the Duck Recruitment Subcommittee of the Central Flyway Waterfowl Technical Committee which included Ipaper presented at the Eighth Great Plains Wild- H. Funk, T. Hinz, J. Hyland, M. Johnson (Chairman) life Damage Control Workshop, Rapid City, South T. Kuck and H. Miller. The study was jointly funded Dakota, April 28-30, 1987. by the ten state wildlife agencies represented by 'Michael A. Johnson is Supervisor, Migratory the Central Flyway Council. Portions of this study Game Bird Management, North Dakota Game & Fish were financed with Pittman-Robertson funds. The Department, Bismarck. Thomas C. Hinz is Migratory Wildlife Management Institute generously handled Bird Biologist, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife financial and accounting logistics. Field work was and Parks, Billings. Thomas L. Kuck is Regional organized and conducted by the following: North Supervisor, Ducks Unlimited, Aberdeen, South Dakota. Dakota Game and Fish Department, M. Johnson, D. 3Cowardin, L.M. and D.H. Johnson. 1983. A Orthmeyer, J. Harber and D. Timpe; South Dakota predictive model to guide management or acquisition Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, R. Under, E. of waterfowl habitat. Unpublished report. U.S. Keyser, R. Libra, K. Shea, C. Olawsky, B. Wangler, Fish & Wildlife Service, Northern Prairie Wildlife M. Kintigh, D. Beck and H. Browers; Montana Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota. Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, J. Ball, S. ^Sargeant, A.B. 1983. Personal communication. Sovey, R. Bennett and A. Hetrick. Carnivore track Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. Jamestown, North Dakota. 125 searches were conducted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife to 36 miles in length. Because the Morgan and Service Animal Damage Control field personnel in Plentywood transects in Montana lie directly on the Montana and North Dakota and by Game, Fish and Parks U.S. - Canadian border all work was conducted on the Extension Trappers in South Dakota. NPWRC, southern one-half of these transects. Jamestown, ND, provided much assistance, direction and equipment. L. Cowardin demonstrated the need Field crews were instructed to find as many duck for this work to the Central Flyway Council and nests as possible in each of seven basic habitat Technical Committee and with D. Johnson provided types (grassland, hayland, planted cover, cropland, guidance in study design and implementation. T. rights-of-way, wetlands and odd areas) during each Klett and R. Greenwood developed and provided the search of each transect. Habitat classifications study manuals and data forms used in the nesting follow those of Cowardin et al. (1985) except for study. A. Sargeant designed, helped direct and pro- planted cover, which we defined as idled stands of vided data analysis of the predator surveys. NPWRC grass or grass/legume mixtures such as nesting cover keypunched the data and T. Schaffer compiled and provided on many state and federal wildlife areas produced computer summaries. The Office of (Duebbert et al. 1981). Emphasis was placed on Migratory Bird Management (FWS) provided color finding nests on private lands and habitats not spe- infrared aerial photographs of the study transects cifically managed for wildlife. If specific habitat and NPWRC made black and white enlargements for use types were not present or landowner permission could as field maps. Private landowners in all three sta- not be obtained, searches were conducted on substi- tes generously allowed study teams access to their tute areas nearby. Procedures for searches, marking land. Many others also provided field assistance, nests, and determining the stage of incubation, spe- equipment and help. We express our sincere appre- cies and nest fate followed those described by ciation to all who contributed to this study. Higgins et al. (1977) and Klett et al. (1986). Odd areas such as rock piles, brush clumps or fence rows were searched on foot or (in North Dakota) with a METHODS boom-type drag mounted on an ATC. Data were obtained on and near nine Fish & Searches were conducted between the hours of 0600 Wildlife Service air/ground comparison transects and 1400 from May 2 through July 10. The date of (Martinson and Kaczynski, 1967) located in North first search on each transect was as follows: May 2 Dakota, South Dakota and Montana (fig.l). Transects - Madison, Sharon, Jsmay; May 9 - Hosmer, Streeter; were selected because of their proximity to areas May 16 - Parkston, Plaza; May 17 - Morgan; May 26 - with limited duck nest success data. Each transect Plentywood. Each transect was searched three times study area was three miles wide and ranged from 12 at approximately 21-day intervals. The Sharon tran- sect was searched a fourth time in an attempt to find additional nests. A nest was defined as a hollow scrape containing one or more eggs. Nest success was calculated using the Mayfield method (Klett et al. 1986) and a stan- dard exposure period of 34 days for all species. A successful nest was one in which one or more eggs hatched. Unsuccessful nests were classified as destroyed due to predation, agricultural practices, weather or other factors or abandoned. Because of the difficulties in making a positive determination from remains at a nest, no attempt was made to iden- tify the species of predator which destroyed a nest (Sargeant 1983)6. Nests not revisited to determine fate, abandoned due to investigator influence or damaged by search operations were not included in nest success calculations. Predator species targeted for assessment on each transect were badger (Taxidea taxus), coyote (Canis latrans). Franklin's ground squirrel (Spermophilus Figure l.--The Prairie Pothole Region of the United frank!inii), long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata)7 States and Canada with locations of 1983 air/ raccoon (Procyon lotor), red fox (Vulpes "vulpes), ground transect study areas and Mayfield mallard striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), American crow nest success estimates for South Dakota, North (Corvus brachyrhynchos), and black-billed magpie Dakota and Montana (this study) and Manitoba, (Pica pica). Surveys conducted were: 1) line tran- Saskatchewan and Alberta (Greenwood 1987)5. sect counts of crows and magpies, 2) livetrapping of Franklin's ground squirrels, 3) carnivore track ^Greenwood, R.J. 1987. Personal communication. Data on file Northern Prairie Wildlife Research 6op. cit. Center, Jamestown, ND. 126 counts, and 4) recording of predator sightings.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Chapter 8 Migration Studies
    Chapter 8 Migration Studies 100 Migration Studies Overview Theme he Pacific Flyway is a route taken by migratory birds during flights between breeding grounds in the north and wintering grounds in the south. Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge plays an important role in migration by providing birds with a protected resting area during their arduous journey. Migration makes it possible for birds to benefit the most from favorable weather conditions; they breed and feed in the north during the summer and rest and feed in the warmer south during the winter. This pattern is called return migration — the most common type of migration by birds. Through a variety of activities, students will learn about the factors and hazards of bird migration on the Pacific Flyway. Background The migration of birds usually refers to their regular flights between summer and winter homes. Some birds migrate thousands of miles, while others may travel less than a hundred miles. This seasonal movement has long been a mystery to humans. Aristotle, the naturalist and philosopher of ancient Greece, noticed that cranes, pelicans, geese, swans, doves, and many other birds moved to warmer places for the winter. Like others of times past, he proposed theories that were widely accepted for hundreds of years. One of his theories was that many birds spent the winter sleeping in hollow trees, caves, or beneath the mud in marshes. 101 Through natural selection, migration evolved as an advantageous behavior. Birds migrate north to nest and breed because the competition for food and space is substantially lower there. In addition, during the summer months the food supply is considerably better in many northern climates (e.g., Arctic regions).
    [Show full text]
  • Texas Mid-Coast Initiative Area
    Gulf Coast Joint Venture: Texas Mid-Coast Initiative JO ST INT V OA EN C T F U L R U E G North American Waterfowl Management Plan 2002 Photo and Illustration Credits Cover and page i: Northern pintails, Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Page iii: (top) pintails, C. Jeske, U.S. Geological Survey; (bottom), gadwall, R.J. Long, Ducks Unlimited, Inc. Page iv: U.S. Geological Survey. Page 8: mallard pair, B. Wilson, Gulf Coast Joint Venture. Page 10: scaup pair, B. Hinz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Page 11: mottled duck pair, R. Paille, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Page 12: lesser snow geese, T. Hess, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Page 13: hydrologic structure, B. Wilson, Gulf Coast Joint Venture; breakwater structures, T. Hess, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; earthen terraces, T. Hess, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Page 14: erosion control vegetation, T. Hess, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; oil-drilling access canal plug, B. Wilson, Gulf Coast Joint Venture; marsh burning, B. Wilson, Gulf Coast Joint Venture. Page 15: flooded agriculture field, U.S. Geological Survey; beneficial use of dredge material, T. Hess, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; American wigeon pair, B. Hinz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Page 20: American wigeon pair, R. Stewart, Sr., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Page 22: northern shovelers and blue-winged teal, U.S. Geological Survey. Page 23: male ring-necked duck, W.L. Hohman, U.S. Geological Survey. Page 25: blue-winged teal males, W.L. Hohman, U.S. Geological Survey.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Flyway Databook 2020 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD HUNTING PERMITS by PROVINCE/TERRITORY of PURCHASE in CANADA
    CENTRAL FLYWAY HARVEST AND POPULATION SURVEY DATA BOOK 2020 compiled by: James A. Dubovsky CENTRAL FLYWAY REPRESENTATIVE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE DIVISION OF MIGRATORY BIRD MANAGEMENT 134 Union Blvd., Suite 540 Lakewood, CO 80228 (303) 275-2386 Suggested Citation: Dubovsky, J. A., compiler. 2020. Central Flyway harvest and population survey data book 2020. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lakewood CO. CENTRAL FLYWAY 1948-2020 73 YEARS OF MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION Important Note to Users: From 1961-2001, estimates of waterfowl harvest, waterfowl hunter participation, and waterfowl hunter success in the United States were derived from a combination of several sources: 1) sales of migratory bird conservation stamps (Duck Stamps), 2) a Mail Questionnaire Survey of individuals who purchased ducks stamps for hunting purposes, and 3) the Waterfowl Parts Collection Survey (PCS). This survey, which was based on duck stamp sales was discontinued after the 2001 hunting season. Beginning in 1999, new survey methods were implemented that obtained estimates of waterfowl harvest, hunter participation, and hunter success from: 1) States' lists of migratory bird hunters identified through the Harvest Information Program (HIP), 2) a questionnaire (HIP Survey) sent to a sample of those hunters, and 3) the Waterfowl PCS. The basic difference is that during 1961 - 2001 waterfowl hunter activity and harvest estimates were derived from a Mail Questionnaire Survey (MQS) of duck stamp purchasers, whereas from 1999 to the present those estimates were derived from HIP surveys of people identified as migratory bird hunters by the States. Both survey systems relied on the Waterfowl PCS for species composition data.
    [Show full text]
  • Sandhill Cranes Converge Crane Migration in the Spring
    TOURIST INFORMATION CENTERS Grand Island/Hall County Convention & Visitors Bureau Central 2424 S Locust St, Ste. C • Grand Island, NE 68801 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday 308.382.4400 • 800.658.3178 visitgrandisland.com Nebraska Hastings/Adams County Convention & Visitors Bureau 219 N Hastings Ave • Hastings, NE 68902 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday WILDLIFE 402.461.2370 • 800.967.2189 visithastingsnebraska.com VIEWING GUIDE Kearney Visitors Bureau 1007 2nd Avenue • Kearney, NE 68847 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday (6 weeks during Crane Season) 308.237.3178 • 800.652.9435 • visitkearney.org US Fish & Wildlife Service Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District 73746 V Road • Funk, NE 68940 308.263.3000 fws.gov/refuge/rainwater_basin_wmd WILDLIFE VIEWING INFORMATION CENTERS Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center I-80 Exit 305 (Alda) 308.382.1820 • cranetrust.org Fort Kearny State Historical Park 1020 V Road • Kearney, NE 68847 308.865.5305 • outdoornebraska.gov/fortkearny Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary I-80 Exit 285 308.468.5282 • rowe.audubon.org US Fish & Wildlife Service Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District 73746 V Road • Funk, NE 68940 308.263.3000 fws.gov/refuge/rainwater_basin_wmd NebraskaFlyway.com 18CNWG_30K THE GREAT MIGRATION THE GREAT MIGRATION NEBRASKA’S PLATTE RIVER CRANE VALLEY TRUST Each spring, something magical happens in the The Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center welcomes guests to heart of the Great Plains. More than 80 percent of rare, protected lands year round—and to the great sandhill the world’s population of sandhill cranes converge crane migration in the spring.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Flyway Council
    Central Flyway Council Alberta Kansas Nebraska North Dakota Oklahoma South Dakota Wyoming Colorado Montana New Mexico Northwest Territories Saskatchewan Texas www.flyways.us/central Recommendation No. 1 Pertaining to: 2017-2018 duck, coot, and merganser hunting regulations. Recommendation: The Central Flyway Council (Council) recommends that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) adopt the following regulations for duck, coot, and merganser hunting in the Central Flyway: The opening framework shall be the Saturday nearest September 24 (September 23, 2017), and the closing framework shall be the last Sunday in January (January 28, 2018). In all states, the season length shall be 74 days. Within the High Plains Mallard Management Unit, an additional 23 days of season shall be available, provided that these days are taken starting no earlier than the Saturday closest to December 10 (December 9, 2017). The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, with species and sex restrictions as follows: mallard – 5, no more than 2 of which may be females; wood duck, scaup – 3; redhead, canvasback – 2; pintails – 1. In addition to the daily bag limit of 6 ducks, 2 bonus blue-winged teal will be permitted in the daily bag during the first 16 days of the regular duck season in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. In Texas, the daily bag limit on mottled ducks shall be 1, and harvest of mottled ducks is prohibited during the first 5 days of the season. The possession limit shall be three times the daily bag limit. The season on coots shall run concurrently with the duck season.
    [Show full text]
  • The Central Flyway, a Collaborative Effort of Waterfowl Managers
    Flywqys.us Central Page 1 of2 Search Site Wateifowl hunting management in North America. Flyways. us A collaborative effort ofwaterfowl managers across the continent. Home ----------Flyways Menu Flylt-·{rys.lIs Home • Flvwavs Info • At/antic Central Flyway Home • lvfississippi • Pacific FAQs The Central Flywqy About The Central Flywqy is composed of the History states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, ___________ New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota, Surveys and the. Canadian provinces of Alberta, -----------Saskatchewan and the Northwest Hunting Regulations Territories. The Central Flywqy Council consists of ' ," Links representatives (usually agency . -----------administrators) from these state agencies' (and often provincial Site Map representatives from A lberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest -----------Territories) that have management responsibility for migratory bird resources in the Flywqy. Central Flywqy Council mission: To provide leadership in the international conservation of migratory game birds and build partnerships among public and private groups interested in this valuable wildlife resource. Two technical committees serve and advise the Council: one deals with wateifowl and one with shore and upland gam e birds. Each group meets twice annually to share iriformation regarding ongoing research about migratory gam e birds. http://central·flywqys.usl 8117/2010 Flyways.us Central Page 2 0f2 The Council, in concert with the Technical Committees, determines actions requiredfor sound migratory game bird management and makes recommendations to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Subscribe to RSS Produced by the Central Flyway Council in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Partner Login http://central.jlyways.usl 811712010 .
    [Show full text]
  • Nebraska the SANDHILL CRANE MIGRATION Flyway Each Spring, Something Magical Happens in the Heart the CENTRAL FLYWAY of the Great Plains
    Nebraska THE SANDHILL CRANE MIGRATION Flyway Each spring, something magical happens in the heart THE CENTRAL FLYWAY of the Great Plains. More than 80% of the world’s population of sandhill cranes converge on Nebraska’s BIRDING GUIDE Platte River Valley – a critical sliver of threatened habitat in North America’s Central Flyway. Along with the cranes come millions of migrating ducks and geese filling the neighboring rainwater basins. COMMUNITY The sandhill cranes come to rest and refuel for a INFORMATION CENTERS month as they prepare for the arduous journey to vast Grand Island Tourism breeding grounds in Canada, Alaska and Siberia. They 201 W. 3rd Street | Grand Island, NE 68801 arrive from far-flung wintering grounds in northern 308-382-4400 Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico on a journey of VisitGrandIsland.com thousands of miles. Hastings/Adams County Convention For centuries, the birds have come to rest and & Visitors Bureau restore themselves. The shallow, braided channels of 219 N. Hastings Avenue | Hastings, NE 68901 Nebraska’s Platte River provide safe nighttime roost 402-461-2370 | 800-967-2189 sites. Waste grain in nearby fields provides food to VisitHastingsNebraska.com build up depleted fat reserves needed for continuing their migration. Adjacent wet meadows provide Kearney Visitors Bureau nutrients and secluded loafing areas for rest, bathing, 1007 2nd Avenue | Kearney, NE 68847 and courting. During their stop in Nebraska, sandhill 308-237-3178 cranes gain approximately 15% of their body weight. SANDHILL CRANE WHOOPING CRANE VisitKearney.org Plan your visit to see this migration for yourself HEIGHT 3-4 feet 5 feet North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau using the information on the following pages WINGSPAN 6 feet 7.5 feet 101 Halligan Drive | North Platte, NE 69101 308-532-4729 | 800.955.4528 of this brochure.
    [Show full text]
  • Migrationigration Flyways
    CCOMMONOMMON DDUCKUCK SPECIESSPECIES OOFF TTHEHE GGREATREAT LLAKESAKES PINTAIL NORTHERN SHOVELER MALLARD AMERICAN WIGEON Th e pintail is a less common migrant Th e shoveler occasionally breeds in Th e mallard is the most common duck Th e American wigeon can be identifi ed through the Great Lakes region. Th e the Great Lakes region and is a fairly species in the Great Lakes region and by its green eye-patch and distinctive pintail primarily breeds in prairie Canada common spring and fall migrant. Th e across North America. Th eir large size, white cap that earned it the nickname and the U.S. and is easily identifi ed by its shoveler is named for its unique large, green heads and orange legs make “baldpate”. Wigeon are relatively long, slender neck and distinct, pointed wide bill that it uses to fi lter plankton mallards easy to recognize. Mallards can common Great Lakes migrants and are tail. from the surface water. be found almost everywhere in the Great unique among waterfowl because they Lakes. often graze on upland grasses and clovers. MMigrationigration Flyways Flyways show the major migration routes for waterfowl in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Flyway boundaries are not always sharply defi ned, and the routes 4 followed by migratory birds are numerous: no two species follow exactly the same RUDDY DUCK path from beginning to end. Th e four LESSER SCAUP Th e ruddy duck can be identifi ed by its primary North American fl yways are the Th e lesser scaup earned the nickname small size, white and black face markings 1 Pacifi c Flyway (1), the Central Flyway “bluebill” because of its distinctly and bright blue bill.
    [Show full text]
  • Status and Harvests of Sandhill Cranes 2010 Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountain, and Lower Colorado River Valley Populations
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Status and Harvests of Sandhill Cranes 2010 Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountain, and Lower Colorado River Valley Populations Acknowledgments This report provides population status, recruitment indices, harvest trends, and other management information for the Mid-Continent (MCP), Rocky Mountain (RMP), and Lower Colorado River Valley (LCRVP) populations of sandhill cranes. Information was compiled with the assistance of a large number of biologists from across North America. We acknowledge the contributions of: D.S. Benning, J.L. Drahota, R.C. Drewien, J.W. Solberg, P.P. Thorpe, T.S. Liddick and D.L. Fronczak for conducting annual aerial population surveys; R.C. Drewien for conducting RMP productivity surveys; K.D. Richkus and M.H. Gendron for conducting the U.S. and Canadian Federal harvest surveys for the MCP; J.R. Bohne for compiling harvest information collected on sandhill cranes in the Pacific Flyway; M.J. Rabe for compiling information for the LCRVP; and G.L. Krapu and D.A. Brandt for providing preliminary results from satellite-transmittered MCP cranes. We especially want to recognize the support of the state and provincial biologists in the Central and Pacific Flyways for the coordination of sandhill crane hunting programs and especially the distribution of crane hunting permits and assistance in conducting of annual cooperative surveys. Citation: Kruse, K.L., D.E. Sharp, and J.A. Dubovsky. 2010. Status and harvests of sandhill cranes: Mid- Continent, Rocky Mountain and Lower Colorado River Valley Populations. Administrative Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado. 11pp. All Division of Migratory Bird Management reports are available online at (http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/NewReportsPublications/PopulationStatus.html).
    [Show full text]
  • Playas of the Great Plains
    Playas of the Great Plains Loren Smith Wildlife and Fisheries Management Institute Texas Tech University What are playas? Shallow depressional recharge wetlands each existing in its own watershed. How are they formed? No consensus as to which is more important, dissolution or wind, but both are implicated. Historically Considered Playa Resource Region But, many areas including northwestern KS, northeastern CO, eastern WY, and especially NE have playas. Average Playa Area is 6.3-ha and 87% of all Playas are less than 12-ha in Southern Great Plains. The remaining Playas in the Rainwater Basin are larger but 90% have been destroyed. In the High Plains, playas are most often dominated by one of the following vegetation types (short-lived perennials, annuals): Smartweeds Barnyardgrass Spikerush Playas with tall perennial emergent vegetation such as bulrush are not as common today except in manipulated circumstances (e.g. irrigation). Although Playas Provide Greater than 160,000-ha of Wetland Habitat they occupy only 2% of the Southern High Plains (TX,NM) Landscape. Key remaining sites of Biodiversity in the High Plains Other Values of Playas • Sites of Aquifer Recharge (key to agricultural industry and urban water) • Storm Water Retention • Recreation (including economic inputs from lease hunting and eco-use) • Aesthetic • Education (ideal classroom demonstration) • Research (rare experimental replicates) Usually reported as second most important migration and wintering area for waterfowl and other migratory birds in the Central Flyway However, evidence that playas are the most valuable habitats for many species in the Central Flyway is increasing Initial Playa Waterfowl Management Had Emphasized the Importance of Field-Feeding and Grain Consumption Simple Study Started by Examining this Assumption Open Water and Grain vs.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Flyway Council Input
    Central Flyway Council Alberta Kansas Nebraska North Dakota Oklahoma South Dakota Wyoming Colorado Montana New Mexico Northwest Territories Saskatchewan Texas www.flyways.us/central March 23, 2011 Dr. James K. Ringelman, Chair NAWMP Revision Steering Committee Ducks Unlimited, Inc. 2525 River Road Bismarck, ND 58503 Dear Dr. Ringelman: The Central Flyway Council (Council) would first like to thank the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) Revision Steering Committee (Committee) for allowing us to provide comment and input into the NAWMP Revision process and recognize the challenging task in assimilating input and revising this important document. We also realize that we could have benefitted from this process by having earlier face-to-face discussions with the NAWMP Committee about the various components of the first round of input. Those discussions may have clarified some of our concerns. Council mostly agrees with the proposed Purpose statement, but offers a couple of modifications. We recommended language regarding waterfowl hunting that substituted “other uses” for the term “desires”. We were not comfortable with the term “desires” and believe “other uses” provides more tangible terminology. Our proposed Purpose statement reads: “The purpose of the Plan is to sustain North America’s waterfowl populations and their habitats at levels that perpetuate waterfowl hunting and other uses. Plan goals will be accomplished through partnerships guided by sound science” Council, however, mostly disagrees with the proposed 4 fundamental objectives as proposed by the NAWMP Committee in this second iteration. First, we were somewhat surprised to see 4 fundamental objectives, primarily with the addition of the “viewing objective” (#2).
    [Show full text]
  • Central Flyway Mid-Winter Survey Results 2020
    CENTRAL FLYWAY MID-WINTER SURVEY RESULTS 2020 Compiled by: Jim Dubovsky, Central Flyway Representative Division of Migratory Bird Management U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Division of Migratory Bird Management 134 Union Blvd., Suite 540 Lakewood, Colorado 80228 Phone 303-275-2386; Fax 303-275-2384 March 11, 2020 To: Central Flyway Council and Central Flyway Waterfowl Technical Committee Re: January 2020 Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey The Central Flyway’s 2020 Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey was completed during January 2-20, with most survey activity accomplished during January 4-9. Most areas important to waterfowl were covered by aerial or ground survey crews except in Nebraska, where planes could not be secured due to contracting issues and vast areas important to waterfowl were not surveyed. Thus, counts from Nebraska are not comparable to those from other years. Their total waterfowl count was 28% below the most recent 10-year average. Colorado also had issues securing a plane to survey the San Luis Valley, so that portion was completed outside the target survey window. Oklahoma and Kansas reported covering only 65%- 80% of important waterfowl areas. Overall, survey conditions generally were favorable, with the exception of a few areas where high winds or fog hindered aerial efforts, as typically occurs during this survey. In western portions of the survey area, water conditions generally were average or above average. In eastern areas, precipitation and water conditions were well above average during the late fall and early winter, and water was abundant during the survey period.
    [Show full text]