SURVEYS OF MIGRATORY DUCKS IN JAMAICAN WETLANDS - PHASE ONE: JANUARY - APRIL 2001

Report Prepared For The Natural Resources Conservation Authority/ National Environment and Planning Agency And Ducks Unlimited By Ann Haynes Sutton Ph.D., Marshall's Pen,PO Box 58, Mandeville, Jamaica W.I. and

D. Brandon Hay Caribbean Coastal Areas Management Foundation, PO Box 33, Lionel Town, Clarendon, Jamaica W.I. January 2002

Cover Photograph shows Blue-winged Teal (male). Source Ducks Unlimited Canada by Guy Fontaine.

SURVEYS OF MIGRATORY DUCKS IN JAMAICA PHASE ONE: JANUARY - APRIL 2001

Report Prepared For The

Natural Resources Conservation Authority/ National Environment and Planning Agency And Ducks Unlimited

By

Ann Haynes Sutton Ph.D. Marshall's Pen PO Box 58 Mandeville Jamaica WI

and

D. Brandon Hay Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation PO Box 33, Lionel Town Clarendon Jamaica WI

January 2002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 ...... ObjectivesObjectives 1

2.0 ...... BackgroundBackground 1

3.0 MethoMethodsdsds...... 22 3.1 Literature Search...... 2 3.2 Examination of Museum Specimens...... 2 3.3 Analysis of Band Recoveries ...... 2 3.4 Aerial Surveys ...... 2 3.5 Terrestrial Surveys - Ground truthing...... 3

4.0 Results ...... 5 4.1 Species and relative abundance...... 5 4.2 Seasonality and movements ...... 6 4.3 Geographical distribution ...... 10 4.4 Areas of special importance to ducks ...... 11 4.5 Size of pond or wetland unit ...... 12 4.6 Vegetation...... 12 4.7 Habitat use...... 13 4.8 Threats...... 13

5.0 Discussion ...... 14 5.1 Population size seasonal movements and relative abundance of species...... 14

5.2 Population trends ...... 15 5.3 Seasonality and movements ...... 15 5.4 Geographical distribution and habitat use ...... 16 5.5 Threats...... 16 5.6 Assessment of methods...... 21

6.0 RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS...... 22 6.1 Conservation of species ...... 22 6.2 Conservation of habitats ...... 22 6.3 Public education ...... 23 6.4 Hunting...... 23 6.5 Ban on use of lead shot ...... 24 6.6 Directions for future monitoring and research...... 24

Literature CitedCited...... 2626

Appendices 1. Terms of Reference ...... 28 2. Raw data from aerial surveys ...... 29 3. Raw data from terrestrial ground truth surveys, January-April 2001...... 38 4. Results of ad hoc duck counts at Great Pedro Pond...... 39 5. Specimens of ducks from the Institute of Jamaica ...... 40

6. Actual and potential sources of error and how they were addressed ...... 41 7. Records of duck observations contained in the Gosse Bird Club Broadsheet...... 42 8. A working inventory of wetland and water bodies in Jamaica...... 45 9. Aerial photographs of selected Wetland habitats……………………………….51 10. Photographs of survey activities………………………………………………….55 11. Ducks of the West Indies…………………………………………………………56

Abbreviations Used In The Text BWTE Blue-winged Teal DU Ducks Unlimited NEPA National Environment and Planning Agency NGO Non-government organisation NRCA Natural Resources Conservation Authority NSHO Northern Shoveler SCO Society of Caribbean Ornithology WIWD West Indian Whistling Duck

LListist Of Tables

Table 1 List of ducks observed in Jamaica ...... 1 Table 2 Dates and routes of aerial surveys ...... 3 Table 3 Monthly observation of ducks in aerial survey, Jan-Apr 2001 ...... 6 Table 4 Ponds size and duck distribution...... 12 Table 5 Vegetation use by ducks - spring 2001 ...... 13 Table 6 Water body use by ducks...... 13 Table 7 Condition of selected duck habitats...... 13

List Of Figures

Figure 1 Number of recoveries in Jamaica of foreign banded ducks

1962-1994 5 Figure 2 Great Pedro Pond - comparison of air and ground counts ...... 6 Figure 3 Number of Blue-winged Teal by month from aerial surveys...... 7 Figure 4 Number of Northern Shoveler by month from aerial surveys...... 7 Figure 5 Rainfall SW Portland Bight Spring 2001 ...... 8 Figure 6 Number of band recoveries by month...... 8 Figure 7 Seasonality of observation of ducks at selected sites...... 10 Figure 8 Sizes of groups of duck spring 2001 ...... 11 Figure 9 Recoveries of banded ducks 1962 - 1994 by location ...... 12

List of Maps

Map 1 Duck survey routes and places where ducks were seen …………………4 Map 2 Origins of Blue-winged Teal recovered in Jamaica……………………...8

List of Plates

Plate 1 Caymanas Dyke Ponds Plate 2 Long Island Plate 3 Hellshire Flashes Plate 4 West Harbour Plate 5 Jackson’s Bay Plate 6 Rio Minho Plate 7 Great Pedro Pond Plate 8 Effects of fire – Black River Lower Morass Plate 9 Lacovia Plate 10 Parottee Pond - dry Plate 11 Ganja Cultivation – Black River

Plate 12 Black River Lower Morass – swamp forest Plate 13 Baptist Pond Black River Lower Morass Plate 14 Negril Morass Plate 15 Cabaritta Canal, Westmoreland Plate 16 Montpelier Plate 17 South Negril River Plate 18 Chatham – Montego Bay Plate 19 Annotto Bay River Plate 20 Mitchell Town Ponds Plate 21 Wag Water River Plate 22 Sav-la-mar wetlands Plate 23 Yallahs Ponds (ducks flushed from Pond) Plate 24 Broad River Plate 25 Ann gives pilot pre-flight briefing Plate 26 Ducks flushed from Yallahs Plate 27 Final preparation for takeoff Plate 28 Recording data on standard datasheets Plate 29 On course for Mona Reservoir Plate 30 Low pass over Caymanas Pond

1.0 Objectives The surveys were designed to provide baseline information about: • Locations of major concentrations of migratory ducks; • Approximate numbers of migratory ducks and relative abundance of species; • Seasonal population changes of migratory ducks; and • Status, distribution and threats to duck habitats. These data form the basis for recommendations about sustainable management of Jamaican duck populations. (see Terms of Reference, Appendix 1)

2.0 Background Twenty-three species of ducks have been recorded in Jamaica, including three resident species that stay in Jamaica year-round and breed on the island (West Indian Whistling Duck [Dendrocygna arborea], Masked Duck [Nomonyx dominica], and Ruddy Duck [Oxyura jamaicensis]). The remainders are migrants. Blue-winged Teal [Anas discors], Northern Shoveler [Anas clypeata], American Wigeon [Anas americana] and Lesser Scaup [Aythya affinis] are relatively common, but other species are known from few records (Appendix 5, Raffaele et al. 1998), and are considered to be vagrant. Table 1: List of Ducks Observed in Jamaica1 (see Appendix 11) SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME OCCURRENCE Dendrocygna autumnalis BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK Vagrant Dendrocygna bicolor FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCK Vagrant Dendrocygna arborea WEST INDIAN WHISTLING DUCK Resident Neochen jubata ORINOCO GOOSE2 Vagrant Branta canadensis CANADA GOOSE3 Vagrant Aix sponsa WOOD DUCK4 Vagrant Anas creca GREEN-WINGED TEAL Winter Anas platyrhnychos MALLARD Winter Anas bahamensis WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL Vagrant Anas acuta NORTHERN PINTAIL Vagrant Anas discors BLUE-WINGED TEAL Winter

1 Data compiled from field observations, literature and band recoveries 2 Dubious record 3 No recent confirmed records 4 Known from one band recovery only

Anas cyanoptera CINNAMON TEAL Winter Anas clypeata NORTHERN SHOVELER Winter Anas strepera GADWALL Vagrant Anas americana AMERICAN WIGEON Winter Aythya valisineria CANVASBACK Vagrant Aythya americana REDHEAD Vagrant Aythya collaris RING-NECKED DUCK Winter Aythya affinis LESSER SCAUP Winter Aythya marila GREATER SCAUP Vagrant Bucephala albeola BUFFLEHEAD Vagrant Oxyura jamaicensis RUDDY DUCK Resident Nomonyx dominica MASKED DUCK Resident 3.0 Methods 3.1 Literature search. Major wetland areas for surveys were identified from the literature, previous field observations, reports, discussions with local people, ornithologists and hunters, and examination of 1:50,000 metric maps of Jamaica.

3.2 Examination of museum specimens. The collection of specimens at the Institute of Jamaica's Natural History Division was examined and notes made of the specimens.

3.3 Analysis of band recoveries. Data provided by the Office of Migratory Bird Management, US Biological Service, on ducks banded in North America, and recovered in Jamaica, were analysed.

3.4 Aerial surveys were carried out in January, February, March and April 2001. The methodology for aerial surveys of ducks recommended by Ducks Unlimited (summarised by Hamilton & Sutton 2000) was followed as closely as possible.

Type of plane: A Cessna 182 fixed-wing plane was used. DU recommended that the Cessna 172 would be the most suitable type of plane, because it is light and easy to manoeuvre. However, Wings Jamaica Ltd. pilots was unwilling to use this model because of its lack of power and limited range.

Flight path: As far as possible, the flight path followed linear transects along pre-determined routes, which were discussed with the pilot

before starting the flight. The main objective was to cover as many ponds as possible, and to use this as a basis for designing optimal flight paths for future surveys. If necessary when ducks were observed the pilot was asked to circle and repeat observations were made to confirm observations. As far as possible, the total observation time was limited to 2 hours. Diversions were also made to cover new areas of ponds that were spotted from the air.

Height above ground: About 100 ft or lower once ponds were located.

Flight speed: As appropriate (less than 100 mph whenever possible).

Time of day: About 1 hour after dawn for 2-4 hours.

Observers: Principal observer- A Sutton: beside pilot Secondary observer - Brandon Hay: behind pilot (counting on opposite side of plane) Tertiary observer – behind principal observer to alert principal observer of need to circle back, if necessary. Various persons from NRCA and NGOs were invited to assist. Observers were encouraged to improve their counting skills by using the training programme "Count" supplied by DU.

Recording observations: Ideally each observer should have been provided with a voice-activated tape recorder with a directional microphone of variable sensitivity. However suitable microphones and tape recorders were not available. The one that was available could not be adjusted to eliminate cabin noise. Therefore observations were recorded on standard forms.

Frequency of surveys: DU recommended checking all sites on two consecutive days at least once per month. Due to budgetary restraints, the present survey was limited to one survey per month, January to March. DU funds were used to repeat the surveys in April. Aerial surveys were supplemented by terrestrial counts whenever the opportunity arose in the course of other activities. Dates of aerial surveys are shown in Table 1.

Routes: Each month all the wetlands and groups of ponds in the island were surveyed over a four day period (Map 1). As far as possible the same routes were repeated each month. Table 2: Dates and Routes of Aerial Surveys DATE ROUTE OBSERVERS5 START END FLYING TIME 9 Jan 01 Palisadoes, Caymanas, Port AS, BH, RS 742 1015 2hr Henderson, Goat Islands, Old 33min Harbour Bay to Jackson Bay, Hill Run 10 Jan 01 Salt Island Lagoon, Rocky Point, AS, BH, RS 742 1050 3hr 53 Rio Minho, Milk River to Scott's min Cove, Black River Morass, Osbourne Store, Colbeck 11 Jan 01 Whitehouse, Cabaritta, Negril AS, BH, RS 716 1042 3hr 35 Morass, N. Coast to Falmouth min 12 Jan 01 Kingston, Moneague, Port AS, BH, CT 717 1044 3hr 7 min Maria, east coast, Morant Pt. to Kingston 13 Feb 01 Palisadoes, Caymanas, Port AS, BH, RS 710 943 2hr 33 Henderson, Goat Islands, Old min Harbour Bay to Jackson Bay, Hill Run 14 Feb 01 Salt Island Lagoon, Rocky Point, AS, BH, TP 702 1041 3hr 39 Rio Minho, Milk River to Scott's min Cove, Black River Morass, Osbourne Store, Colbeck 15 Feb 01 Appleton, Whitehouse, AS, BH, RW 720 Cabaritta, Negril Morass, N. Coast to Falmouth (including Montpelier, Hampden) 16 Feb 01 Kingston, Moneague, Falmouth, AS, BH, HW III 712 1114 3 hr 20 Pt Maria, east coast, Morant Pt. min To Kin. 22 Mar 01 Palisadoes, Caymanas, Port AS, BH 703 2hr Henderson, Goat Islands, Old 32min Harbour Bay to Jackson Bay, Hill Run 23 Mar 01 Salt Island Lagoon, Rocky Point, AS, BH, AH 704 1026 3hr 22

5 Participants in the Surveys - AS: Ann Sutton, BH: Brandon Hay, CT: Canute Tyndale, RS; Robert Sutton, TP: Tarn Peralto, HW III Harvey Webb, PE: Peter Espeut, PV: Peter Vogel, RA: Richard Ashfield, JH: John Head, PWK: Peter Wilson-Kelly, RW: Raymond Williams, AH: Andre Hay

Rio Minho, Milk River to Scott's min Cove, Black River Morass 25 Mar 01 Appleton, Whitehouse, AS, BH, RS 735 1206 4hrs Cabaritta, Negril Morass, N. Coast to Falmouth 26 Mar 01 Kingston, Moneague, Long AS, BH, RA 714 1130 3hr 45 Pond, Hampden, Port Maria, min east coast, Morant Pt. to Kingston 18 Apr 01 Palisadoes, Caymanas, Port AS, BH, JH 654 857 2hr 3min Henderson, Goat Islands, Old Harbour Bay to Jackson Bay, Hayes 19 Apr 01 Salt Island Lagoon, Rocky Point, AS, BH, PV 708 3 hrs Rio Minho, Milk River to Scott's Cove, Black River Morass, Osbourne Store, Colbeck 20 Apr 01 Whitehouse, Cabaritta, Negril AS, BH, PWK 700 1115 4 hrs Morass, N. Coast to Falmouth, Queen of Spains Valley, Moneague 21 Apr 01 Kingston, Annotto Bay, east AS, BH, PE 723 943 2 hrs 2 coast, Morant Pt. to Kingston min 3.5 Terrestrial surveys - Ground truthing A few terrestrial surveys (total counts or estimates depending on the amount of time available at a given site) were made to verify counts from the air. These were not part of the formal survey, but were carried out on an ad hoc,hoc Duck Survey Routes

voluntary basis, when the observers visited duck habitats during the survey period. Five areas were covered - Great Pedro Pond (4 visits), Black River Upper Morass (3 visits), Hellshire Flashes and Sewage Ponds (2 visits), Mitchell Town Ponds (1 visit) and Hayes Sewage Ponds (1 visit) (for survey dates and times see Appendix 3).

4.0 Results 4.1 Species and relative abundance The largest number of ducks observed in a month was 3216, in February (Table 3). There were many potential sources of error. See Appendix 6 for a description of the main sources of error and the methods used to minimize them. The total number of ducks counted over the four-month period was 7271. However it is impossible to estimate the total winter population from a survey of this type, in the absence of marked individuals.

The most common species was Blue-winged Teal (Table 3), which accounted for more than 97% of all aerial observations. Similarly, Blue-winged Teal dominated band recoveries (Figure 1). Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, West Indian Whistling Duck and Ruddy Duck Oxyura dominica were also detected in small numbers from the air (Table 3). No Masked Duck Nomonyx dominicensis were detected, although known habitats were surveyed.

Figure 1: Recoveries in Jamaica of Foreign Banded Ducks 19621962-- 19919944

70

60

50

40

30 Number

20

10

0 Wood Duck American Wigeon Blue-winged Teal Species

Table 3: Monthly Observations of Ducks in Aerial Surveys - January to April 2001 SPECIES JAN FEB MAR APR TOTAL PERCENT OF TOTAL Blue-winged Teal 1732 3168 1961 236 7097 97.5 Northern Shoveler 5 17 33 0 55 0.8 Ruddy Duck 0 13 0 5 18 <0.1 American Wigeon 0 8 0 0 8 0.1 West Indian Whistling- 45 6 30 5 86 1.2 Duck Unidentified ducks 3 4 0 0 7 0.1 Total 1785 3216 2024 246 7271

The data generated from ground truthing (Appendix 3) did not closely resemble those from the aerial counts (e.g. at Great Pedro Pond, Figure 2). This may be because aerial surveys were carried out in the morning, when ducks may have been dispersed, while

1200

1000

800

ground 600 air Number 400

200

0 10-Feb-01 14-Feb-01 14-Mar-01 23-Mar-01 13-Apr-01 19-Apr-01 ground 1000 720 500 air 290 900 70 Date

Figure 2: Great Pedro Pond - Comparison of Ground and Air Counts ground truthing was done in the afternoon, when they were more concentrated. The ground truth counts included only the main Pedro Pond. The disparities in these data emphasise the need to study selected standard index sites in depth, in order better to understand patterns of habitat use, and thus to provide a scientific basis for interpreting data.

4.2 Seasonality and movements Numbers of Blue-winged Teal were highest in February and declined in March and April (Table 3; Figure 3).

Figure 3: Number of BlueBlue---wingedwinged Teal Observed by Month -

3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500 Number (all sites) (all Number

0 JAN FEB MAR APR Month

Data from Aerial Surveys

The total count for January was lower than for February and March. The pattern for Northern Shoveler was different, possibly reflecting the increasing experience and skill of the observers (Figure 4).

35

30

25

20

15

10 Number (all sites) (all Number 5

0 JAN FEB MAR APR Month

Figure 4: Number of Northern Shoveler by Month - Data from Aerial Surveys

One reason for this may have been abnormal rainfall patterns. March was abnormally dry (Figure 5), and Salt Island Lagoon, which was one of the best sites for ducks in January and February, dried out completely in March and remained dry in April (Figure 7).

Figure 5: Rainfall at SW Portland Bight - Spring 2001and Long Term Averages

90 80 70 JAN 60 50 FEB 40 MA R

Rainfall 30 20 APR 10 0 LONGVILLE LONGVILLE BODLES BODLES SALT RIVER TARRENTUM 2001 lta 2001 lta 2001 lta 2001 and Long Term Averages (lta)

Banding recoveries showed a different pattern, with highest numbers in October (Figure 6).

Figure 6: Number of band recoveries by month

20 15 10 5

NUMBER 0

P UN JAN FEB MAR APR MAY J JUL AUG SE OCT NOV DEC MONTH

These data came from hunters and therefore are affected both by hunting patterns and the effects of hunting. The monthly totals for the thirteen wetland units with the highest total numbers of ducks are shown in Figure 7.

Origins of Blue Winged Teals Recovered in Jamaica

Figure 7: Seasonality of Observations of Ducks at Selected Sites

1200

1000

800

600 Number

400

200

0

N ER ST LEO PP OA LAHS L HAYES L A NEGRIL DUHANEY FLASHESELLSHIREG IV LOWER IV U ABARITTA N C YA H R C L BL R SALT ISLAND L PEDRO PONDSB Sites

JAN FEB MAR APR

The effects of drought were noted at many sites, including Galleon Harbour, Black River Lower Morass (specially Parottee Pond), Black River Upper Morass and the Cabaritta Swamp in Westmoreland. The only areas that did not experience a decline in March were Pedro and Yallahs Ponds both of which stayed wet throughout the period (Figure 7). The apparent increase in numbers at Pedro Pond, should be interpreted with caution because of the disparities between the data from the aerial surveys and counts (Figure 2).

4.3 Geographical Distribution Ducks were observed at 99 somewhat arbitrarily defined "sites" islandwide (Table 4). These "sites" varied from tiny isolated ponds less than ten metres across, to large wetland systems several

square kilometres in area (Appendices 2 and 5). Most observations were of groups of fewer than 10 ducks (Figure 8).

Figure 8: Sizes of Groups of Ducks - Spring 2001

200

100

0 1-10 11-50 51-100 101- 201- 301- 401-

NUMBER OF GROUPS OF NUMBER Series1 1557789311 N U M B E R IN G R O U P

The largest groups were less than about 500. For analysis, observations were grouped by wetland unit. Because observations on the North Coast were few and scattered, but the types of habitat were similar, the entire North Coast, from Orange Bay (Hanover) to Port Antonio (Portland) was arbitrarily treated as a single unit to simplify display of data.

4.4 Areas of special importance to ducks Migratory ducks: Migratory ducks were seen at many sites. Most areas were small and supported less than 10 ducks (see below). Areas which supported larger numbers of ducks in spring 2001 included St. Catherine (especially Salt Island Lagoon), coastal Clarendon (especially the Mitchell Town and Portland Cottage sections of West Harbour) and St. Elizabeth (especially the Pedro Ponds complex and Black River Upper Morass). Yallahs Pond in St. Thomas provided habitat for a few hundred ducks throughout the period.

Banding recoveries provide a similar picture, indicating the importance of Black River and Old Harbour, although many of the

other good sites have been destroyed or altered during the period

covered by Figure 9, in particular Great Salt Pond and the mangroves south and west of Kingston. Some other areas may have been affected by loss of open water (e.g. Luana, Milk River and Morant Point) where there is currently little suitable duck habitat.

Figure 9: Recoveries of Banded Ducks by Location

9

8

7

6

5

Number 4

3

2

1

0

y k h r il n a a l ta w a sa ee nd ld hs t e r nd w n u on in nd B it Ba iv g ag ve o M t o ar B es lla ua rb P o b y b a R Ne L la g Wa r Y k nkno k Ri nt lt Po o ve ca Parott akefie c Kings a a B Ca o a W Falmou Mil U na ntego Long Po Bla n . S Annott Or Pedro Po Old Ha Mor Clarkes To Mo rtland Cott ava Gt Disc o S P Location

Resident ducks: The number of resident ducks observed was very small, compared to the number of migrants. West Indian Whistling Ducks were seen at Black River Upper Morass, Jackson's Bay wetlands and fish ponds NW of Savannah-la-mar. No Masked Duck were detected although we surveyed several locations from which they have been reported in the past (Appendix 7). Ruddy Duck were seen at Windsor, Moneague ponds and St Ann's Bay.

4.5 Size of pond or wetland unit More than half of the ducks were seen in ponds or wetlands arbitrarily classified as "large" although large ponds comprised only 21% of the ponds that were used by ducks (Table 4). The areas of these ponds should now be measured and used to analyse these data.

Table 4: Pond Size and Duck Distribution SIZE # PONDS/ # DUCKS % DUCKS AVERAGE NUMBER OF WWETLANDSETLANDS DUCKS/HABITAT Large (> 0.5 km2) 21 4102 56 195

Medium(0.1-0.4 17 1184 16 70 km2) Small (<0.1 km2) 61 1985 27 30 99 7271

4.6 Vegetation Ducks were observed mainly in wetlands with herbaceous and mangrove vegetation. This is probably a reflection feeding preferences of Blue-winged Teal as well as of the availability of habitat types. Wetlands with herbaceous vegetation made up 47% of the total ponds used by ducks and had 69% of the ducks (Table 5).

Table 5: VegetationVegetation Use by Ducks - Spring 2001 VEGETATION TYPE # OF WETLANDS # DUCKS USING TYPE % DUCKS USING TYPE Coastal vegetation 1 420 6 Forest 1 3 <1 Herbaceous 47 4995 69 Mangrove 49 1834 25 Sea Grass 1 19 <1 99 7271 100

4.7 Habitat Use Ducks were seen in all types of shallow and deep ponds, including sewage ponds, fish farms, cattle ponds, and sinkholes. Most ducks were seen in ponds, rather than streams or canals (Table 6). Only one group of ducks was seen at sea.

Table 6: Water Body Use By Ducks - SpriSpringng 2001 POND TYPE # OF OBSERVATIONS Pond (including fish farms and oxbows) 93 River, stream or canal 5 Sea 1

4.8 Threats (Table 7) Habitat disturbance and illegal hunting appear to be the main threats. In the course of the surveys, we observed only one

person who might have been hunting illegally. We did not observe any wetlands being actively filled (except at Riverton Dump). We saw roads being constructed in or near wetlands near Hodges, St. Elizabeth and west of Savanna-la-Mar. We also noted that ganja cultivation was spreading rapidly through the Black River Lower Morass, and to a lesser extent the Upper Morass and Negril Morass, and observed the effects of fire (possibly associated with cultivation) in these areas.

Table 7: Condition of Selected Duck Habitats NAME OF LOCATION DESCRIPTION HABITAT CONDITION/THREATS7 DUCK QUALITY6 HABITAT Duhaney West of Several small Good Expansion of dump, pollution River/River Kingston mangrove ponds ton and river Salt Island Centre of Extensive Very Altered by drainage for fish Lagoon Hellshire herbaceous good ponds (now abandoned), may be marsh silting up. Dried out completely Hellshire West of Great Mangrove Good Habitat conditions appear stable. Flashes Salt Pond lagoons and and sewage farm with Sewage reed beds Ponds Galleon Cabaritta Point, Extensive Fair Habitat conditions appear stable. Harbour Amity Hall, Old mangroves with Harbour Bay many lagoons and Goat Islands Hayes and Vere Sewage ponds, Good New town construction and Rio Minho river and oxbow siltation could threaten ponds. ponds Pedro Treasure Several shallow, Very Threatened by tourism Ponds Beach and saline, brackish Good development and siltation. Great Bay and fresh ponds Dry out completely in some years. Black South St. Extensive Some Luana and Paroteee: River Elizabeth herbaceous good threatened by tourism and Lower (including marsh, coastal areas housing development. May Morass Luana/Font mangroves and dry out in some years.

6 Based on numbers of ducks seen in spring 2001 and other accounts. 7 Based on observations.

NAME OF LOCATION DESCRIPTION HABITAT CONDITION/THREATS7 DUCK QUALITY6 HABITAT Hill, lagoons Wallywash: stable, could be Wallywash threatened by water and Parotee abstraction Ponds) Lower Morass: Limited habitat, threatened by ganja cultivation Cabaritta North, east Coastal Good Threatened by clearance of and west of mangroves, mangroves, road Savanna-la- swamp forest, construction, ganja Mar (including fish farms, river cultivation, expansion of Frome) and ponds town, pollution. Negril Morass Herbaceous Fair Threatened by expansion of marsh, tourism and ganja cultivation. mangrove Amount of suitable habitat lagoons, very small relative to the size sewage ponds of the wetland. North Green Island Coastal Fair Threatened by expansion of Coast to Port mangrove tourism. Antonio fringe, with many small, ponds Yallahs East of Hypersaline Good Threatened by expansion of Ponds Yallahs coastal lagoon housing. Effects of brine shrimp production not assessed.

5.0 Discussion Caution is advised in interpreting the results presented above. Although the present survey represents an important advance in our knowledge, it remains an incomplete study of part of a wintering season. Several years data, covering at least October to March, will be needed to form the basis of wise management of duck populations (M. Carbonell, pers. comm.). DU is planning to help Jamaica to complete a set of surveys in winter 2001- 2.

5.1 Population sizes, seasonal movements and relative abundance of

species

The findings of aerial surveys, ground truthing and band recoveries confirmed that Blue-winged Teal are the most common and abundant duck species wintering in Jamaica, as on other Caribbean islands (e.g. the Cayman Islands, Bradley 2000).

The total population of Blue-winged Teal in Jamaica in spring 2001 was not less than 3,168, the maximum monthly total. This is a very small proportion of the population of around 6 million in the traditional survey area of North America (Wilkins et al. 2001) or the more than 1 million teal that were counted on a single wetland in Cuba in spring 2001 (L. Mujica Valdes pers. comm.). Nevertheless, Jamaica could be a significant habitat for the species, if the turnover rate is high during the migration period (M. Carbonnell, pers. comm.). Anecdotal accounts from hunters suggest that this may be the case. They report that large numbers of ducks arrive, sometimes on small remote ponds, and move on quickly. The hunters employ local people to monitor ponds and report the arrival of ducks. When ducks are reported the hunters go out as quickly as they can and shoot them. Whether the ducks would stay longer if they were not disturbed is not known, but seems likely based on experience in the Bahamas (P. Maillis, pers. comm.). Blue- winged Teal on migration are particularly skittish (Bent 1962).

Other migratory species were uncommon in comparison to teal. Northern Shoveler and American Wigeon were both observed in aerial surveys. Other species, such as Green-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal and Ring-necked Duck are regularly seen in Jamaica (R. & A. Sutton, unpublished data, Appendix 3 and various sources Appendix 7) but would be hard to distinguish from the air without considerable practice.

In aerial surveys and ground truthing, West Indian Whistling Ducks were the most commonly observed of the resident ducks. A few Ruddy Ducks were observed from the air. This species is more likely to be seen in open water than the Masked Duck, but it seems likely that its population was underestimated. Despite the short-

comings of the survey methods, the low numbers of resident duck species should be a serious cause for concern, as their habitats (i.e. fresh-water and brackish permanent, seasonal, natural and man- made ponds and lakes, rivers, streams, ditches, reservoirs and fish ponds) are limited in extent, and are among the most threatened natural and semi-natural habitats in Jamaica (Haynes Sutton 1999).

5.2 Population trends Long term studies in North America indicate record high numbers of migratory ducks in 1999 - 2000. The overall estimate of Blue- winged Teal in he traditional survey area in spring 2001 was 5.8 +/- 0.03 million. This was 23% less than the all time high in 2000 of 7.4 million, but still 29% above the long-term average for 1955 - 2000 Conditions on the breeding grounds were good in spring 2001, and a good fall flight was anticipated ((Wilkins et al. 2001). Banding recoveries suggest that Blue-winged Teal in Jamaica originate from the main breeding grounds in central and eastern North America (Map 2).

The population trends in the breeding population may be related to the effect of adaptive management of hunting, effective habitat protection and favourable weather conditions during the breeding season, as well as declining interest in hunting. Whether increases in breeding populations are reflected in increases in wintering populations in Jamaica depends on whether local populations are limited by the availability of suitable, undisturbed habitat, or by the number of migrating ducks. While the occurrence of migrant ducks in the Cayman Islands appears to be influenced by breeding success in North America (Bradley 2000), there is little indication of a similar linkage in Jamaica (Haynes Sutton 1996). More data are needed to evaluate this relationship.

5.3 Seasonality and movements Generally Blue-winged Teal begin to migrate from North America with the first frosts in late August and early September, arriving in the Greater Antillean wetlands shortly after. Many fly on to the

Lesser Antilles and central and southern America, while some remain. They begin to return to the breeding grounds in mid April. However in some islands, such as Puerto Rico (F. Rivera in litt.) and Cuba (Ramsden, 1910) a few remain all year, and even in the Cayman Islands they have been recorded in all months (Bradley 2000). Thousands are reported in the Cayman Islands in October, November and March. Presumably, most are transients or passage migrants (Bradley 2000). such as those in Jamaica, may provide important staging areas for passage migrants (M. Carbonnell, pers. comm.).

The pattern of seasonal habitat use in Jamaica remains little understood, despite the present survey, partly because of the survey did not cover the entire season (i.e. September to April) and partly because of the confounding effects of the drought in spring 2001. In either case, at least 10 years of data would be needed to begin to address this issue. The largest numbers of ducks were recorded in February. Numbers declined in March and even more in April (Table 2 & Figure 3). The total count for January was lower than for February and March. This was contrary to our expectation, based on information from Cuba and Puerto Rico (Hamilton & Sutton 1999) that numbers would be highest in January. A study in Cuba found that teal populations increased gradually from October to February, and then increased more rapidly until May (Acosta Cruz & Godinez, 1984).

In the present study however, there were some additional sources of bias, that may have affected the findings. Observers and pilots were relatively inexperienced in January, and some sites were missed. Additional sites were added in February after being located from the air. A severe drought, that started in March meant that some of the best sites (such as Salt Island Lagoon) were deserted. Where viewing conditions were good, water levels were stable, and disturbance minimal, e.g. in Yallahs Pond and Pedro Pond, the duck populations were also apparently stable. This points to the importance of maintenance of water levels. Some other known

duck habitats, such as Caymanas Dyke Ponds, apparently supported no ducks during the period, despite apparently suitable water levels. More detailed work is needed to investigate the relationship between water levels, rainfall and duck distribution.

Ducks may move between habitats and islands during the season, in response to changes in food availability, and disturbance (e.g. hunting). Little is known of their patterns of movement during the winter. It is impossible to determine or estimate what proportion of the population remained at particular sites or moved among sites within Jamaica or adjacent islands. The relative stability of numbers at Yallahs Pond and Great Pedro Pond (based on ground truthing) suggests that some individuals may remain in the same site for the winter, but the stable figures could also be an artefact of the carrying capacity of the sites. More work, using marked individuals, would have to be done to determine turnover rates of ducks (see below).

5.4 Geographical Distribution and Habitat Use The aerial surveys and the inventory of habitats, suggested that ducks use wetland habitats wherever they occur (Map 1). Most of the larger concentrations of ducks are on the south coast, especially in the Portland Bight Protected Area and proposed Black River Protected Area (Massa & Sutton 1998). The survey clearly illustrated how few large areas of suitable habitat there are. Most habitats are small, scattered and vulnerable (Table 7). Some large wetlands, such as Black River Lower Morass, Canoe Valley St. Thomas Great Morass and the Negril Morass, include very little shallow, open water.

5.5 Threats Loss and occlusion of freshwater ponds through siltation, drought and overgrowth by vegetation: Open freshwater habitats are among the most threatened habitat types in Jamaica (Haynes Sutton 2000). This is a serious threat to the survival of freshwater species, especially ducks. Ponds such as Salt Island Lagoon, Black River Upper Morass and Pedro

Pond and may be more prone to drying because water from streams and springs is being diverted to use in aquaculture and agriculture. Meanwhile siltation from soil erosion is making the ponds shallower and more vulnerable. For example, Salt Island Lagoon has always been subject to drought cycles, but we hypothesise that deforestation of the surrounding hills, combined with changes in drainage, associated with the (now abandoned) fish farm that was operated in the area in the late 1970s and early 1980s, may have exacerbated the problem. Parottee Pond, which also supports ducks in good years, although none was seen there in spring 2001, also dried out in March 2001. Other outstanding duck habitats including Great Pedro Pond have also been known to dry out during the winter dry season as well as during the summer (A. & R. Sutton, unpublished data). The deforestation and development of the surrounding lands may have increased siltation, making the ponds shallower and more susceptible to drought, while abstraction of water from coastal aquifers may have reduced inflows from springs and rivers.

Several studies have shown that maintenance and manipulation of water levels is the simplest way to ensure suitable habitats for waterfowl and shorebirds. A study of some managed wetlands in North America found that wetland size and topographic variation correlated positively with concentrations of some species, but water depth was the best overall predictor (Colwell & Taft 2000). Optimum depths are <5 cm for small shorebirds, 5-11 cm for large shorebirds, 10-15 cm for teal and >20 cm for large dabbling ducks. Managing wetlands with variable bottom topography to have water levels of 15-20 cm would ensure habitat for many types of waterfowl (Isola et al. 2000). Specific measures may be necessary for certain species, for example measures to increase the availability of zooplankton and benthic invertebrates may be necessary to attract wintering shoveler (Guillemain et al.,al 2000). More research is needed into patterns of habitat use and specific habitat requirements of selected species. This should start with broad geographic data.

Road construction: Road construction parallel to the coasts, as well as new access roads to beaches, continue to be constructed at the expense of coastal wetlands.

Ganja cultivation: This practice is spreading rapidly throughout the Black River Lower Morass, and the Negril Morass. The cultivators create planting areas by digging ditches and piling the peat in a parallel mound, which is raised above the water level. While this practice does not affect duck habitats directly, it is reported that large amounts of pesticides and herbicides are used, which could pollute the morasses and affect food chains.

Tourist villa development: Two of the best sites for ducks in Jamaica - Great Pedro Pond and Parotee Pond are both being affected by tourist development, mainly construction of villas along their coastal peripheries. Apart from a culvert, built by the Natural Resources Conservation Department (NRCD) in the 1980s, Parottee Pond is cut off from the sea and the tidal flushing that used to sustain it. Meanwhile lots are still being sold in the wetland - that are actually under water for most of the year. At Great Pedro Pond, the road system of a large subdivision on the south side was badly designed, and following the indiscriminate bulldozing of the site, carries large quantities of silt into the pond.

Heavy Industry: Planned expansion of the solar salt factory at Portland Cottage, poses a possible threat to duck habitats in West Harbour, both through the direct effects of conversion of mangroves and ponds, and through the effects of seepage and pollution incidents on water quality. Other plans to develop heavy industry in Portland Bight threaten the integrity of the mangal.

Fish and shrimp culture: While the development of fish farms has reduced the amount of mangrove wetland, it has not resulted in a total loss of duck habitat. Our observations show that ducks regularly use ponds at active and abandoned fish farms. However birds using such habitats may be particularly at risk from illegal hunters. Another potential impact comes from changes in food chains, that might result from escaped or deliberately released cultured species such as the Australian Red-claw Cherax quardricarinatus. This species was released in the wetlands of Portland Bight and appears to be spreading. Its effects have never been

assessed.

Pollution - dunder and sewage: Pollution from dunder does not appear to be a deterrent to some species of ducks (e.g. Blue-winged Teal) which have been observed in heavily polluted waters in south Clarendon, and in habitats affected by pollution in the Black River Upper Morass. They also frequent the reed beds of the Hellshire sewage treatment plant (R. & A. Sutton, B. Hay, pers. obs.). Moderate levels of nutrient pollution may increase the food availability for some species of ducks in the short term but long term exposure or very high levels of nutrients are detrimental to the habitat and the ducks that feed there.

Pollution - use of lead shot: Sport hunting results in dumping of undetermined quantities of poisonous lead shot into the Jamaican environment each year. Waterfowl and other birds swallow and retain in their gizzards small stones to assist in breaking up their food. If lead shot is lying on the surface they may take it up, because it is the right size. It is estimated that many as three million waterfowl die in the US each year from lead poisoning (Sanderson & Bellrose, 1986). A recent study in Spain of stifftail ducks (Oxyura spp.) showed that ingested lead shot was present in 32% of hunted birds and 70% of dead or moribund individuals. That study recommended an immediate ban on use of lead for waterfowl hunting in Spain and cleanup of spent shot in major wetlands (Mateo et al. 2001). After the publication of this research lead shot was banned in protected wetlands in Spain (A. Green in litt.).

"Waterfowl die from ingesting lead shotgun pellets deposited on the bottoms of lakes and marshes and in fields. In most instances, they die after ingesting 1 or 2 pellets, their bodies wasting away over a period of several weeks, losing from 30 to 50 percent of normal weight. No other disease produces such a consistent chronic weight loss. Less frequently, a large number of shot are ingested, an acute form of lead poisoning results, and the bird dies in good weight. More definitive diagnoses of lead toxicosis have been made from levels of lead in wing bones, in blood, and in the liver and other organs.

Because of the widespread distribution of lead shot from the northern breeding grounds to the southern wintering grounds, it is available fall through spring

to waterfowl feeding on areas that have been hunted. As a result, mortality accrues on a day-to-day basis. These losses, however, are usually overlooked because predators quickly dispose of moribund birds. Studies in Missouri and Texas, for example, revealed that predators rapidly removed waterfowl carcasses placed by biologists in wetland habitats. Moreover, dead ducks in natural settings are difficult to find, and freshly planted carcasses in marsh vegetation were largely overlooked by searchers employed to find them. Only when massive die-offs of waterfowl occur in a limited area do losses from lead poisoning attract public attention. Such die-offs are the result of unusually high rates of shot ingestion; however, nutrition and low temperatures may be ancillary causes. Under these conditions, waterfowl die in numbers that exceed the ability of predators to consume them and to keep the environment tidy. Most die-offs from lead toxicosis occur after the hunting season - in winter and early spring.

The potential impact of lead poisoning on waterfowl populations has been ascertained from diverse sources of information. Almost 200,000 gizzards from more than 16 species of waterfowl in a number of geographical regions have been examined for lead shot during hunting seasons in fall and early winter. Scores of experiments with penned wild and gamefarm waterfowl have been conducted by numerous investigators to evaluate the effects of shot dose, nutrition, age, and sex and to study the physiological manifestations of lead toxicosis. A pertinent finding of nutrition studies was that protein, calcium, and phosphorus play an important role in determining the lethality of lead.

Species of waterfowl vary in their proclivity to ingest shot and, because of differing food habits, in their susceptibility to ingested lead. Lead toxicosis poses the greatest threat to mallards, followed in lessening degrees by black ducks, mottled ducks, pintails, canvasbacks, redheads, and ring-necked ducks. The potential for lead poisoning in other duck species is low. At times swans and geese become victims in numbers sufficiently large to cause concern." Sanderson & Bellrose, 1986.

There are no estimates of how many birds in Jamaica die from lead poisoning. Birds tend to die outside the hunting season, and their carcasses are rarely observed, being taken by crocodiles and other predators. Studies have shown that larger species (Sanderson & Bellrose, 1986) and stifftails (Mateo et al. 2000) are particularly vulnerable. This suggests that Jamaica's resident species may be at risk but no studies have been done of the effect of the lead on Jamaica's forest or wetland ecosystems. Lead is partially soluble in some mangrove swamps which tend to be acidic. Lead accumulates in food chains and may already be

causing damage to all levels of the ecosystem. A significant proportion of columbid hunting in Jamaica also occurs in or near coastal areas and wetlands (21% of birds were shot in coastal and wetland areas, NRCA 2000). The potential for long term damage to Jamaica's wetlands is evident.

The use of steel shot as a substitute for lead shot in waterfowl hunting is the only currently feasible solution to the problem of lead poisoning. Steel shot is less dense than lead shot but produces a tighter pattern and shorter shot string. The lower density of steel shot can be compensated for by increasing shot size and velocity, thus delivering similar levels of energy to the target. No significant differences in crippling rates were found in all but 3 of 15 tests comparing the effects of steel and lead shot. In only 1 of those 3 tests did steel shot cripple more ducks than the lead shot being tested….

Crippling losses to waterfowl populations from steel shot are less harmful than crippling losses plus lead toxicosis from lead shot. Several related points merit consideration. Lead poisoning causes important losses to the most abundant species of waterfowl. The sublethal effects of lead poisoning are recognized but have not been quantified. Except for a brief period in spring, lead may affect females more adversely than males. Finally, seasonal differences in the time of losses are important. A cripple lost during the hunting season has less impact on the breeding population than a lead-poisoned duck lost during the winter or spring." Sanderson & Bellrose, 1986.

Illegal Hunting: The extent and impacts of illegal hunting are not known. Only one possible case of illegal hunting was observed during the survey but hunters claim that significant numbers of people hunt illegally. However these reports remain unconfirmed by interceptions and convictions, probably because of low levels of reporting.

Ducks that are hunted tend to abandon the area, moving on to other areas. Therefore we hypothesised that areas that had a history of supporting large numbers of ducks, in which extensive, apparently good habitat persists, on which we saw fewer ducks than expected, could have been affected by illegal hunting. At least three areas in this category are known to be used by illegal hunters. They include Cabaritta Swamp in Westmoreland, Caymanas Dyke Ponds in St. Catherine and Boggy Pond, Clarendon, east of the Rio Minho. Illegal duck hunting can be reduced.

For example, the level of illegal hunting at Pedro Ponds seems to have declined since a local policeman was intercepted in 1996 (R. & A. Sutton, pers. obs.).

The need to control illegal hunting is cited by the hunters as a justification for opening a season for ducks, although the reasoning behind this argument is unclear, given the current low levels of interception and active enforcement by game wardens. It is difficult to assess the validity of the argument, in the absence of data about the extent and impacts of illegal hunting.

Proposed open hunting season: Although we recognise the high level of interest in duck hunting, and the many arguments in favour of hunting, the results so far, although incomplete, do not suggest that there are enough ducks wintering in Jamaica to support a hunting season. Proposals made in 1999-2000 called for weekend hunting from January to March, with a daily bag limit of 25 birds. The present survey indicates that there are very few sites at which one hunter might expect to shoot his bag, even on a single day. In 2000 the NRCA issued 1278 licences to hunters (NRCA 2001). The maximum number of ducks observed on any day was about 3,500. Although it is likely that this underestimates the total wintering population by an unknown factor (Appendix 6), it appears that the numbers of ducks wintering are insufficient to support hunting even if only a fraction of the traditional current hunters will participate in waterfowl hunting. We recognise that. In addition, the survey technique may have not adequately sampled the transient or passage migrant component of the population, which according to hunters, stops over briefly in large numbers in Jamaica in spring and autumn. Unfortunately, the hunters agree that the timing of any episodic influxes of ducks are irregular and unpredictable, in both timing and location. It would be difficult and risky to try to establish a hunting season to take advantage of these movements. If a season was to be opened, and the duck population was insufficient, hunters might naturally be tempted to take non-target species. The fact that most hunters are unfamiliar with Jamaican waterfowl and are accustomed to facing large numbers of potential targets in a columbid hunting season increases the likelihood

of non target, protected, species being shot.

Resident duck populations would be most at risk from accidental or deliberate take of protected species. The West Indian Whistling Duck is globally threatened and is found only in the Greater Antilles and northern Lesser Antilles. It is declining throughout its range. The status of Jamaica's West Indian Whistling Duck population is incompletely known but it has been estimated as about 500 (Sutton & Sutton 1997) and is subject to habitat loss, poaching and predation from introduced species. There are currently only a few places where there are recent reports of West Indian Whistling Ducks and these habitats are also favoured by migratory ducks, specially Blue-winged Teal. Currently none of these areas is part of effectively managed protected areas (except for a small area in the Negril Environmental Protection Area. West Indian Whistling Ducks This species could easily be extirpated from Jamaica in a single season of hunting (Sutton & Sutton 1997).

Masked and Ruddy Ducks are not globally threatened but are certainly very uncommon in Jamaica and would be at great risk of local extinction. Other species whose populations could be affected, although to a lesser extent, include Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus, Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus, Northern Jacanas Jacana spinosa, Clapper Rails Rallus longirostris and large shorebirds e.g. Yellowlegs Tringa spp., snipe Gallinago gallinago, Plovers Charidrius spp. and Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus.

Although hunting is not recommended under the current legislative and administrative framework, the possibility of allowing hunting in the future, under a different framework should not be rejected. In fact, under carefully regulated circumstances, duck hunting could contribute to wetland conservation. Effective management of protected areas including the majority of West Indian Whistling Duck habitat, as well as reservoir areas close to proposed hunting areas and hunting reserves managed specifically to enhance and sustain populations of migratory ducks, would be prerequisites. Due to the great potential for loss of biodiversity hunting of migratory ducks in Jamaica should only be done under

strictly controlled circumstances in areas managed as hunting reserves specifically for this purpose. Funds from this type of hunting should be used to rehabilitate other areas of natural habitat in Protected Areas and or other reserves that are managed as Watchable Wildlife ponds. Hunters that are interested in duck hunting should be encouraged to organise their resources to facilitate the establishment of waterfowl hunting reserves. The development of a partnership between National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), NGO's and hunters' groups to examine the feasibility of this proposal should be considered.

Introduced predators: The effects of introduced predators, specially mongoose, dogs and cats on migratory ducks have not been assessed. They are probably a greater threat to resident ducks, when on the nest, specially West Indian Whistling Ducks. In Antigua, West Indian Whistling Duck nesting success has increased dramatically, following eradication of rats from islands. Once nesting areas have been identified, control and eradication programmes for mongoose, rats and other species should be implemented.

5.6 Assessment of methods Surveying Migrant species: Aerial surveys provided an effective way to carry out extensive surveys of migrant species in difficult terrain. Migrant species tend to frequent open water during the day, fly in response to disturbance, and have obvious field marks and are therefore easy to detect from the air. Nonetheless, aerial surveys are unlikely to provide information about the occurrence and distribution of uncommon and rare species and it is possible that some of the birds identified as Blue-winged Teal were female or immature Green-winged or Cinnamon Teal, which would be difficult to distinguish from the air. Previous observations from Great Pedro Pond, St. Elizabeth, suggest that the proportion of these species is less than one percent (A. & R. Sutton, unpublished data). Although some species were probably overlooked because of difficulties of distinguishing ducks in winter plumage from the air, the relative occurrences of ducks observed from the air and ground observations were similar.

Surveying Resident species: The survey confirmed previous findings (Sutton & Sutton 1997) that West Indian Whistling Ducks, cannot be effectively surveyed from the air. Observations bore little relationship to knowledge of distribution and population. Similarly, Masked Duck cannot be surveyed from the air. It inhabits small ponds, spending the day partially submerged in dense vegetation, and submerging, rather than flying, when disturbed. Other methods need to be developed for the urgently needed status assessment of resident duck species.

Timing and frequency of surveys: Ducks Unlimited recommended twice monthly surveys from October to April (Hamilton & Sutton 1999). This was too costly and the decision was taken to survey once per month. However, it was not possible to begin the survey until January. At least one more season of surveys, covering the entire period is needed. Based on the findings, it should be possible to cut down on the number of surveys. Ducks Unlimited has offered to provide funds to pay for transportation for winter 2001-2002.

Problems with aerial surveys: Problems with implementing the aerial surveys included lack of headsets on the plane, which made if difficult to communicate with each other and the pilot; reluctance of some pilots to start early enough in the morning or fly low and slow over the selected areas, and problems with recording data (because we did not have tape recorders that could function on the plane, we had to write observations, and may have missed some sightings). We would also have liked to have a GPS unit on which to automatically record locations of sightings.

Ground truthing: Data from ground truthing did not correspond closely to data collected from aerial surveys. This is because: While aerial surveys provide better overall coverage, they rely on quick estimates and therefore some birds may be overlooked, especially if they are in thick vegetation. Ground truthing was usually done later in the day than aerial surveys. More ground surveys are necessary to assess the feasibility of this method.

6.0 Recommendations 6.1 Conservation of species None of the species of migratory ducks that occur in Jamaica is globally threatened. However, due to low populations and widely scattered distribution in small and vulnerable habitats, they should be considered to be locally threatened. Resident ducks are even more vulnerable to diminishing local habitats, because are they must breed here and sufficient good quality habitat is essential for breeding success. The West Indian Whistling Duck is already considered to be threatened at the global level. Masked Ducks and Ruddy Ducks should be considered as locally vulnerable.

We recommend that: Recovery action plans should be prepared and implemented for these species.

6.2 Conservation of habitats Experience in other countries (e.g. the Bahamas P. Maillis, pers. comm. and Puerto Rico (Vilella & Gray 1997) has demonstrated that effectively managed protected areas increase populations of ducks, even when there is legal hunting. Most of the best duck habitats in Jamaica are within declared or proposed protected areas, several fall within the Portland Bight Protected Area such as Salt Island lagoon, West Harbour, Amity Hall, Boggy Pond and Mitchell Town ponds. However some important areas are not currently within the proposed system, e.g. Yallahs Ponds and many small ponds (probably including the majority of habitats for Masked and Ruddy Ducks. Experimental work in the wetlands of Humacao in Puerto Rico has demonstrated that wetland habitats can be restored and duck populations increased (Vilella & Gray 1997).

We recommend that: The inventory of actual and potential duck habitats should be completed.

The range and habitat needs of resident ducks should be determined (see below) and used to identify the extent to which critical habitats are included in the existing or proposeproposedd protected area system. Where necessary additional areas should be added. Managers of existing areas should be encouraged to include management of ducks and their habitats as a priority in their management planning. Trial projects in Jamaica to assess feasibilityfeasibility of managing selected areas to increase duck populations are now urgently needed (see above). Measures should be taken to eliminate ganja cultivation in wetlands.

6.3 Public education Although wetlands and waterfowl have immense potential for public education, this is hardly utilized in Jamaica. Organizations such as the Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge in the UK and Oak Hammock Marsh in Manitoba, Canada have played an important role in increasing public appreciation of wetlands. Several wetlands in Jamaica have the potential for development as “Watchable Wildlife Ponds” (a term developed by the WIWD Working Group of the Society for Caribbean Ornithology). These include several sites in Portland Bight (Hellshire Flashes, Mitchell Town Ponds, Salt Island Lagoon) as well as Black River Upper Morass, Black River Bridge, Great Pedro Pond and Parottee Pond in St. Elizabeth and the Royal Palm Reserve in Westmoreland. These sites provide options for different types of educational, ecotourism and conservation centres, ranging from sites designed to handle large numbers of tourists and school children, to low impact sites, with little infrastructure.

We recommend that: One or more Watchable Wildlife Ponds should be developed as pilot projects (e.g. in Negril, Black River Lower and Upper Morasses, Portland Bight, Falmouth and other similar locations)..

There is a great need to educate the public in general. The newly

published "Woundrous Wetlands of the West Indies" (Haynes Sutton et al. 2001) provides a starting point for school children, but there is a need to communicate and develop partnerships with hunters. It is very important that the reasons for asking for further restraint are communicated to the hunting fraternity, and negotiations opened about the options. This is likely to increase their support for restrictions on waterfowl hunting which will be essential to ensure a sustainable resource and enhance the level of voluntary compliance with all measures to manage gamebird populations.

We recommend that: A national programme to disseminate and use "Wondrous Wetlands of the West Indies" should be developed. An education programme for hunters, focusing on the reasons why the NEPA cannot support duck hunting at present, as well as issues related to the develdevelopmentopment of a hunting ethic, should be designed and implemented.

6.4 Hunting An islandwide open season for duck hunting does not appear to be biologically sustainable at present, because of low populations and the risk of collateral damage to protected and threatened species. However, under appropriate circumstances, duck hunting can be a sustainable activity, and can contribute to wetlands conservation. Essential prerequisites would include: Demonstration of the feasibility of managing wetlands to enhance duck populations An effective network of effectively managed protected areas, covering key habitats for resident species, as well as areas of good habitat for game species, to serve as reservoirs; Support for hunting to be restricted to areas managed by hunters, at their own expense, for that purpose.

We recommend that NEPA should: Educate all staff and wardens about the importance of enforcing laws related to protected species (including ducks).

Resist calls to open a hunting season for ducks under present ccircumstances.ircumstances. Encourage NGO's and hunters to form partnerships to examine the feasibility of development of managed hunting preserves.

6.5 Ban on use of lead shot NEPA should adopt the precautionary approach, and should find a way to implement a total ban on the use of lead shot for hunting in Jamaica. This will involve creation of new regulations and intensive public education, to win the support of hunters. At the same time NEPA, in partnership with NGOs that are involved in protected area management, should undertake a baseline survey in selected areas that are subject to intense hunting to evaluate the presence of lead in forest, agricultural lands and wetlands.

We recommend that: NEPA should ban the use of lead shot. This action should be accompaniaccompanieded by a suitable public education programme. A study of the effects of lead shot on the natural environment of Jamaica, specially wetlands, should be carried out.

6.6 Directions for future monitoring and research Population surveys: At the workshop on duck surveys in the Caribbean which was hosted by Ducks Unlimited at the SCO meeting in Cuba 2001, the participants endorsed the utility of aerial surveys as an expensive and risky but cost-effective technique for detecting and counting ducks over large areas. Whenever it is possible, they should be combined with monitoring from the ground of important areas that can serve as index sites

We recommend that: The present survey should be extended to cover October 20012001-- March 2002. DU has offered to provide funding to cover the cost of flights. A programme of monitoring at least two index sites (eg. Great Pedro Pond and Salt Island Lagoon) once a week in the morning, should be

implemented.

Status and distribution studies of resident species In order to determine the need for and nature of conservation measures, it is necessary to assess the status and distribution of resident species (West Indian Whistling Duck, Masked Duck and Ruddy Duck). This cannot be done by aerial survey. Survey methods for West Indian Whistling Duck are under development by the West Indian Whistling Duck Working Group of the SCO (A. Haynes Sutton in prep.).

We recommend that NEPA should: Initiate islandwide surveys of resident ducks.

Analysis of patterns of habitat use and movements among habitats: The monitoring of index sites should involve counting and possibly banding or another form of marking in order to develop an understanding local, national and international movement patterns. It is also important to monitor the effects of season, rainfall and disturbance on movement patterns. Hunters are another potentially useful source of information, if their trust can be gained. NEPA should work with hunters to document information about movement patterns i.e. use their reporting network to gather information and assess their recommendations.

We recommend that: NEPA and selected NGOs should develop a collaborative programme to gather information with the help of the hunters.

Habitat improvement project pilot project: There are several techniques that NEPA or other habitat management agencies could implement on a trial basis to improve habitat quality and use by migrant ducks. These include management of water levels in selected wetlands, management of vegetation and the use of decoys. Such programmes should be carefully planned so that their effectiveness can be assessed and monitored, in order to

determine whether they are suitable for wider application in Jamaica. Sites should be selected according to criteria such as ecological, management and economic feasibility, protection status, and history of use of the site by wildfowl. The identification and selection of such sites is beyond the scope of this report, but could include a site in Portland Bight Protected Area.

We recommend that: A trialtrial project on habitat improvement should be implemented at a site to be selected (possibly Salt Island Lagoon in the Portland Bight Protected Area).

Control of introduced predators We recommend that: Pilot control programmes for mongoose and rats should be implemented in selected areas.

Literature Cited

Acosta Cruz. M. & Godinez, E. 1984. Variaciones poblacionales del Pato de la Florda (Anas discors) y gallareta de Pico Blanco (Fulica americana) durante la migracion e 1978-79. Poeyana 266:1-8.

Bent, A.C. 1962. Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl. Dover Publications Inc. New York.

Colwell, M.A. & Taft, O.W. 2000. Shorebird communities in managed wetlands of varying water depth. Waterbirds 23(1): 45-55.

Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission 1996. Florida Hunter Education Manual.

Guillemain, M., Fritz, H., & Guillon, N. 2000. Foraging behavior and winter habitat choice of Northern Shoveler in a major wintering quarter in France. Waterbird 23(3): 355-363.

Hamilton, M. & Haynes-Sutton, A.M. 2000. Summary of the Caribbean waterfowl surveys and monitoring project workshop, Nassau Bahamas, March 6-10, 2000. NRCA report.

Haynes-Sutton, A.M. 1996. Out for a duck - the need for conservation of ducks in Jamaica. Jamaica Journal 26 (1): 39-59.

Haynes-Sutton, A.M. 1997. West Indian Whistling Duck Research and Conservation Project - Report to Discovery Initiatives. Unpublished ms.

Haynes-Sutton, A.M. 1998. Surveys of West Indian Whistling Ducks in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Paper presented at Society for Caribbean Ornithology Annual Meeting, Guadeloupe.

Haynes-Sutton, A.M. 1998. Portland Bight Wetland Resources Assessment Project Final Report (In prep.).

Haynes-Sutton, A.M. 1999. Report on flora of the terrestrial and freshwater environments of Jamaica. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, Natural Resources Conservation Authority, Kingston, Jamaica.

Haynes-Sutton, A.M. & Hilton, G. A manual for surveying West Indian Whistling Ducks. In prep.

Massa, A. & Haynes-Sutton, A.M. 1998. Draft Environmental Policy Framework for St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. NRCA report.

Haynes-Sutton, A., Vogel, P. & Strong Y. 1998. Preliminary assessment of suitability of duck hunting sites proposed by hunters in1998. NRCA report.

Haynes-Sutton, A., Sorenson, L. & Keeley, M. 2001. Wondrous West Indian Wetlands - A resource book on Caribbean wetlands for teachers and other educators. West Indian Whistling Duck Working Group of the Society of Caribbean Ornithology.

Isola, C.R., Colwell, M.A., Taft, O.W. & Safran, R.J. 2000. Interspecific differences in habitat use of shorebirds and waterfowl foraging in managed wetlands of California’s San Joachim Valley. Waterbirds 23(2):196-203.

Massa, A. & Haynes-Sutton, A.M. 1999. Draft Management Plan for the Proposed Black River Protected Area. NRCA report.

Matco, R. Green, A.J., Jeske, C.W., Urios, V. & Gerique, C. In press. Lead poisoning in the globally threatened Marbled Teal and White-headed Duck in Spain. Environment and toxicology and Chemistry.

NRCA, 2001. Bird Shooting Season 2000 Annual Report.

Ramsden, C.T. 1910. The Blue-winged Teal in Cuba in Summer. Auk 27:452.

Sanderson, G.C. & Bellrose, F.C. 1986. A review of the problem of lead poisoning in waterfowl. Illinois Natural History Survey, Special Publications 4 August 1986

Scott, D.A.& Carbonell M.1986, A Directory of Neotropical Wetlands. IUCN Cambridge and IWRB Slimbridge.

Vilella F.A.&M.J. Gray.1997. Ecological and Management Plan for the Humacao Wildlife Refuge, Final Report. Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Mississippi State, Mississippi.

Williams, I & Rees, D. 1997. The status and distribution of the West Indian Whistling Duck in Western Jamaica. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Wales.

Appendix 1: TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE CONSULTANTS ON MIGRATORY DUCKS8 SPECIFIC TASKS

1. Carry out aerial survey of major wetland areas island-wide in order to determine the distribution of migratory ducks.

2. Identify duck habitats and if possible indicate habitat condition.

3. Collect background data, from literature search, on duck populations in Jamaica.

4. Provide recommendations on sustainable management of migratory duck populations.

5. The migratory duck survey should be typed in simple, clear language and formatted as follows:

Main headings should be bold and title case Subheadings should be title case and underlined Double column Font size 12 Page setup is letter size

The final document should be provided as a hard copy and on diskette as html version (does not need to be double-spaced) and as Word 97 format or higher.

Output

The total Contract period is 21 man-days, which will be extended over the period January 2001 to June 30, 2001. The due dates for each output is as follows- -

Provide the first baseline study on the migratory duck population by May 30, 2001 Examine seasonality of duck occurrences in Jamaica by May 30, 2001 Determine which are the best areas for ducks in by May 30, 2001 Final aerial survey report including recommendations as indicated in items 2 and 3 above submitted by June 30, 2001

8 There were two consultants on this project - the Principal Consultant (Ann Sutton) and the Local Consultant (Brandon Hay). The Terms of Reference for the two consultants was the same.

Appendix 2: RAW DATA FROM AERIAL SURVEYS

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 09-Jan-01 759 Pond near Duhaney 1 BWTE Small Red Pond Kingston Tinson Pen Mangrove 09-Jan-01 813 Riverton Duhaney 1 BWTE Small Red Pond Kingston Mangrove 09-Jan-01 820 Riverton Duhaney 75 BWTE Small Red Pond Kingston Mangrove 09-Jan-01 840 Greater Flashes 40 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. Portmore Catherin sewage plant e 09-Jan-01 844 Hellshire Flashes 22 BWTE Medium Red Pond St. Flashes Mangrove Catherin e 09-Jan-01 845 Hellshire Flashes 20 BWTE Medium Red Pond St. Flashes Mangrove Catherin e 09-Jan-01 855 Pond near UDC Hellshire 70 BWTE Small Red Pond St. site office Mangrove Catherin e 09-Jan-01 859 Wreck Point Hellshire 1 BWTE Small Red Pond St. Mangrove Catherin e 09-Jan-01 901 Old House Point Hellshire 11 BWTE Small Red Pond St. Mangrove Catherin e 09-Jan-01 908 Amity Hall Galleon 20 BWTE Large Red Pond St. Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 09-Jan-01 909 Amity Hall Galleon 35 BWTE Large Red Pond St. Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 09-Jan-01 919 Cabaritta Point Galleon 1 NSHO Large Red Pond St. Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 09-Jan-01 934 Old Harbour PB West 70 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Clarendo microdam n 09-Jan-01 941 Portland Portland 14 BWTE Large Red Pond Clarendo Cottage Cottage Mangrove n

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 09-Jan-01 948 Between Portland 3 BWTE Large Red Pond Clarendo Portland Cottage Mangrove n Cottage and Barnswell 09-Jan-01 1003 Salt Island Salt Island 0 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. Lagoon Lagoon Catherin e 10-Jan-01 758 Salt Island Salt Island 500 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. Lagoon Lagoon Catherin e 10-Jan-01 810 West Harbour, West 3 BWTE Small Red Pond Clarendo N of Mitchell Harbour Mangrove n Town 10-Jan-01 817 Jacksons Bay Jackson's 2 BWTE Medium Red Pond Clarendo Bay Mangrove n 10-Jan-01 819 Boggy Pond Jackson's 20 BWTE Large Red Pond Clarendo Bay Mangrove n 10-Jan-01 819 Boggy Pond Jackson's 2 NSHO Large Red Pond Clarendo Bay Mangrove n 10-Jan-01 820 Beauchamps Macarry 12 BWTE Small Red Pond Clarendo Bay Mangrove n 10-Jan-01 820 Beauchamps Macarry 2 NSHO Small Red Pond Clarendo Bay Mangrove n 10-Jan-01 841 Great Pedro Pedro 150 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. Pond (1) Elizabeth 10-Jan-01 841 Great Pedro Pedro 35 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. Pond (1) Elizabeth 10-Jan-01 841 Great Pedro Pedro 8 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. Pond (1) Elizabeth 10-Jan-01 842 Great Pedro Pedro 250 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. Pond (2) Elizabeth 10-Jan-01 850 Thatchfield Parrotee 12 BWTE Small Red Pond St. Mangrove Elizabeth 10-Jan-01 909 “Baptist” Pond BRLM 8 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond St. Elizabeth 10-Jan-01 915 Upper Morass BRUM 5 WIWD Large Herbaceous Pond St. Thomas 10-Jan-01 940 Upper Morass BRUM 40 WIWD Large Herbaceous Pond St. Thomas 10-Jan-01 945 Baptist Pond BRLM 50 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. Thomas 10-Jan-01 1028 Rio Minho lower Rio Minho 30 BWTE Small Herbaceous River Clarendo reaches n

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 10-Jan-01 1028 Rio Minho lower Rio Minho 12 BWTE Small Herbaceous River Clarendo reaches n 10-Jan-01 1028 Rio Minho lower Rio Minho 4 BWTE Small Herbaceous River Clarendo reaches n 10-Jan-01 1028 Rio Minho lower Rio Minho 6 BWTE Small Herbaceous River Clarendo reaches n 10-Jan-01 1028 Rio Minho lower Rio Minho 2 BWTE Small Herbaceous River Clarendo reaches n 11-Jan-01 759 Auchindown Auchindo 6 BWTE Small Red Pond Westmor wn Mangrove eland 11-Jan-01 815 Fish ponds N of Cabaritta 4 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond Westmor Savanna la Mar eland 11-Jan-01 820 Pond near Little Cabaritta 1 UNKN Small Red Pond Westmor London Mangrove eland 11-Jan-01 838 Negril (pond NE Negril 30 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Westmor of village, s. of eland S. Canal) 11-Jan-01 838 Negril (pond NE Negril 10 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Westmor of village, s. of eland S. Canal) 11-Jan-01 1001 Stewart Bay N Coast 15 BWTE Small Red Pond St. Ann Mangrove 11-Jan-01 1005 Mangrove Point N Coast 16 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny Mangrove 11-Jan-01 1012 Crater Lake N Coast 1 UNKN Small Red Pond St. Ann Mangrove 12-Jan-01 953 Belvedere Morant 4 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. Bay Thomas 12-Jan-01 1001 Yallahs Pond Yallahs 150 BWTE Large Coastal Pond St. Thomas 12-Jan-01 1016 Yallahs River Yallahs 4 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. Thomas 12-Jan-01 1017 Grants Pen Albion 1 UNKN Medium Red Pond St. Mangrove Thomas 12-Jan-01 1029 Bull Bay Bull Bay 6 BWTE Medium Red Pond Westmor Mangrove eland 13-Feb- 735 Riverton Duhaney 185 BWTE Small Red Pond Kingston 01 Mangrove 13-Feb- 735 Riverton Duhaney 10 NSHO Small Red Pond Kingston 01 Mangrove 13-Feb- 735 Riverton Duhaney 5 WIGE Small Red Pond Kingston 01 Mangrove

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 13-Feb- 802 Flashes Flashes 200 BWTE Medium Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Catherin e 13-Feb- 812 Wreck Point Hellshire 12 BWTE Small Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Catherin e 13-Feb- 822 Cabaritta Hellshire 4 BWTE Small Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Catherin e 13-Feb- 823 Amity Hall Galleon 20 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 13-Feb- 831 Amity Hall Galleon 30 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 13-Feb- 831 Amity Hall Galleon 4 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 13-Feb- 843 Old Harbour Galleon 50 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Bay E Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 13-Feb- 845 Galleon Galleon 25 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Harbour Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 13-Feb- 847 Old Harbour Galleon 30 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Bay E Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 13-Feb- 912 Portland Portland 15 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Cottage Cottage Mangrove Catherin e 13-Feb- 917 Michell Town West 20 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond Clarendo 01 Harbour n 13-Feb- 936 Hill Run Hill Run 60 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Catherin e 13-Feb- 936 Hill Run Hill Run 8 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Catherin e 14-Feb- 716 Salt Island Salt Island 300 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Lagoon Lagoon Catherin e 14-Feb- 716 Salt Island Salt Island 200 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Lagoon Lagoon Catherin e

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 14-Feb- 732 Jacksons Bay Jackson's 5 WIWD Medium Red Pond Clarendo 01 Bay Mangrove n 14-Feb- 748 Rio Minho Rio Minho 28 BWTE Small Herbaceous River Clarendo 01 n 14-Feb- 750 Hayes Hayes 307 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Clarendo 01 n 14-Feb- 810 Treasure Beach Pedro 290 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 14-Feb- 810 Treasure Beach Pedro 200 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 14-Feb- 810 Treasure Beach Pedro 30 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 14-Feb- 810 Treasure Beach Pedro 6 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 14-Feb- 823 Parottee Parrotee 2 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Elizabeth 14-Feb- 823 Parottee Parrotee 1 NSHO Large Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Elizabeth 14-Feb- 833 Luana Luana 5 BWTE Small Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Elizabeth 14-Feb- 838 Baptist Pond BRLM 25 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 14-Feb- 844 Holland S BRLM 9 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 14-Feb- 847 Lacovia BRLM 12 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 14-Feb- 851 Near BRUM 3 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Aquaculture Elizabeth 14-Feb- 853 Pumping BRUM 5 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Station Elizabeth 14-Feb- 858 Pumping BRUM 200 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Station Elizabeth 14-Feb- 858 Pumping BRUM 2 NSHO Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Station Elizabeth 14-Feb- 858 Pumping BRUM 1 WIWD Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Station Elizabeth 14-Feb- 911 Lacovia BRLM 8 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 14-Feb- 911 Lacovia BRLM 10 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 14-Feb- 920 Lower Morass BRLM 2 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 14-Feb- 920 Lower Morass BRLM 1 NSHO Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 14-Feb- 940 Osbourne Store Osbourne 20 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Clarendo 01 Store n 15-Feb- 820 SavlaMar E Cabaritta 20 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 823 SavlaMar W Cabaritta 50 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 823 SavlaMar W Cabaritta 2 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 832 Sav N Cabaritta 1 NSHO Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 833 Frome W Cabaritta 4 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 836 Frome W Cabaritta 5 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 836 Frome W Cabaritta 15 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 844 Georges Plain Cabaritta 5 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 857 Negril Spots Negril 2 NSHO Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 858 Negril Spots Negril 30 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 909 Johns Point Cabaritta 5 BWTE Small Red Pond Westmor 01 Mangrove eland 15-Feb- 1000 Negril S Canal Negril 4 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 1000 Negril S Canal Negril 10 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 1000 Negril S Canal Negril 20 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 1006 Negril S Canal Negril 10 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 1006 Negril S Canal Negril 30 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 1006 Negril S Canal Negril 25 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 15-Feb- 1037 Montpellier Montpellie 3 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond St. James 01 r 15-Feb- 1040 Montpellier Montpellie 4 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. James 01 r

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 15-Feb- 1049 Airport N Coast 4 UNKN Medium Herbaceous Pond St. James 01 15-Feb- 1100 Manatee Hole N Coast 30 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 15-Feb- 1100 Manatee Hole N Coast 5 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 15-Feb- 1112 Hampden Queen of 7 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Trelawny 01 Spains Valley 15-Feb- 1114 Hampden Queen of 6 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Trelawny 01 Spains Valley 15-Feb- 1114 Hampden Queen of 4 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Trelawny 01 Spains Valley 15-Feb- 1118 Hampden Queen of 3 WIGE Small Herbaceous Pond Trelawny 01 Spains Valley 16-Feb- 738 Moneague Moneague 4 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. Ann 01 16-Feb- 738 Moneague Moneague 3 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. Ann 01 16-Feb- 804 Glistening N Coast 4 BWTE Large Red Pond Trelawny 01 Waters Mangrove 16-Feb- 810 Trelawny Beach N Coast 50 BWTE Medium Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 16-Feb- 815 Trelawny Beach N Coast 13 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 E Mangrove 16-Feb- 815 Trelawny Beach N Coast 8 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 E Mangrove 16-Feb- 820 Duncans W N Coast 6 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 16-Feb- 820 Duncans W N Coast 100 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 16-Feb- 821 Braco N Coast 12 BWTE Small Red Pond St. Ann 01 Mangrove 16-Feb- 821 Braco N Coast 5 BWTE Small Red Pond St. Ann 01 Mangrove 16-Feb- 828 Discovery N Coast 2 BWTE Small Red Pond St. Ann 01 Bay/Puerto Seco Mangrove 16-Feb- 836 St Anns Bay N Coast 12 RUDU Small Red Pond St. Ann 01 Mangrove 16-Feb- 838 St Anns Bay N Coast 20 BWTE Small Red Pond St. Ann 01 Mangrove

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 16-Feb- 839 St Anns Bay N Coast 16 BWTE Small Red Pond St. Ann 01 Mangrove 16-Feb- 856 Robins Bay N Coast 8 BWTE Small Red Pond St.Mary 01 Mangrove 16-Feb- 858 Green Castle N Coast 3 BWTE Small Forest Pond St.Mary 01 16-Feb- 903 Wag Water N Coast 30 BWTE Small Herbaceous River St.Mary 01 16-Feb- 903 Wag Water N Coast 3 BWTE Small Herbaceous River St.Mary 01 16-Feb- 910 Windsor N Coast 1 RUDU Small Red Pond Portland 01 bydump Mangrove 16-Feb- 913 Black Hill N Coast 8 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Portland 01 16-Feb- 1021 Plantain Garden Plantain 10 BWTE Small Herbaceous River St. 01 River Garden Thomas River 16-Feb- 1021 Plantain Garden Plantain 3 BWTE Small Herbaceous River St. 01 River Garden Thomas River 16-Feb- 1025 Plantain Garden Plantain 12 BWTE Small Herbaceous River St. 01 River Garden Thomas River 16-Feb- 1025 Plantain Garden Plantain 2 BWTE Small Herbaceous River St. 01 River Garden Thomas River 16-Feb- 1025 Plantain Garden Plantain 2 BWTE Small Herbaceous River St. 01 River Garden Thomas River 16-Feb- 1056 Yallahs Pond Yallahs 200 BWTE Large Coastal Pond St. 01 Thomas 16-Feb- 1106 Yallahs River Yallahs 5 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Thomas 16-Feb- 1107 Grants Pen Albion 12 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Thomas 16-Feb- 1107 Grants Pen Albion 8 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Thomas 22-Mar- 722 Riverton Duhaney 1 BWTE Small Red Pond Kingston 01 Mangrove 22-Mar- 722 Riverton Duhaney 2 BWTE Small Red Pond Kingston 01 Mangrove 22-Mar- 724 Riverton Duhaney 20 BWTE Small Red Pond Kingston 01 Mangrove

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 22-Mar- 737 Skeet Club Port 8 BWTE Medium Red Pond St. 01 Henderson Mangrove Catherin e 22-Mar- 737 Skeet Club Port 5 BWTE Small Red Pond St. 01 Henderson Mangrove Catherin e 22-Mar- 744 Flashes Flashes 12 BWTE Medium Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Catherin e 22-Mar- 744 Sewage Ponds Flashes 18 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Catherin e 22-Mar- 746 Flashes Flashes 2 BWTE Medium Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Catherin e 22-Mar- 746 Flashes Flashes 5 NSHO Medium Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Catherin e 22-Mar- 746 Flashes Flashes 10 NSHO Medium Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Catherin e 22-Mar- 751 UDC Site Office Hellshire 16 BWTE Small Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Catherin e 22-Mar- 752 Shrimp Farm Hellshire 2 BWTE Small Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Catherin e 22-Mar- 759 Cabaritta Galleon 15 BWTE Small Red Pond St. 01 Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 22-Mar- 803 Cabaritta Galleon 1 BWTE Small Red Pond St. 01 Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 22-Mar- 806 Amity Hall Galleon 24 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Harbour Catherin e 22-Mar- 807 Amity Hall Galleon 5 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 22-Mar- 819 Salt Gully Galleon 6 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Harbour Mangrove Catherin e

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 22-Mar- 829 Old Harbour Galleon 4 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Bay Harbour Mangrove Catherin e 22-Mar- 830 Old Harbour Galleon 12 BWTE Large Red Pond Clarendo 01 Bay Harbour Mangrove n 22-Mar- 840 Mitchell Town West 30 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Clarendo 01 Harbour n 22-Mar- 840 Mitchell Town West 2 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Clarendo 01 Harbour n 22-Mar- 844 Portland Portland 4 BWTE Large Red Pond Clarendo 01 Cottage Cottage Mangrove n 22-Mar- 845 Portland Portland 15 BWTE Large Red Pond Clarendo 01 Cottage Cottage Mangrove n 22-Mar- 846 Portland Portland 16 BWTE Large Red Pond Clarendo 01 Cottage Cottage Mangrove n 22-Mar- 847 Portland Portland 1 BWTE Large Red Pond Clarendo 01 Cottage Cottage Mangrove n 22-Mar- 921 Hill Run Hill Run 16 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Catherin e 22-Mar- 921 Hill Run Hill Run 1 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Catherin e 23-Mar- 733 Rio Minho Rio Minho 2 BWTE Small Herbaceous River Clarendo 01 n 23-Mar- 735 Hayes Hayes 15 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Clarendo 01 n 23-Mar- 735 Rio Minho Rio Minho 12 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Clarendo 01 n 23-Mar- 738 Hayes Hayes 45 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Clarendo 01 n 23-Mar- 741 Rio Minho Rio Minho 2 BWTE Small Herbaceous River Clarendo 01 n 23-Mar- 741 Rio Minho Rio Minho 7 BWTE Small Herbaceous River Clarendo 01 n 23-Mar- 743 Macarry Bay Macarry 4 BWTE Medium Red Pond Clarendo 01 Bay Mangrove n 23-Mar- 801 Treasure Beach Pedro 2 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 23-Mar- 805 Treasure Beach Pedro 15 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 23-Mar- 805 Treasure Beach Pedro 3 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 23-Mar- 810 Treasure Beach Pedro 450 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 23-Mar- 810 Treasure Beach Pedro 500 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 23-Mar- 834 Lacovia BRLM 4 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 23-Mar- 836 Lacovia BRLM 10 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 23-Mar- 838 Lacovia BRLM 4 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 23-Mar- 840 Upper Morass BRUM 15 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 23-Mar- 846 Pumping BRUM 12 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Station Elizabeth 23-Mar- 855 Canal BRUM 8 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Cana St. 01 l Elizabeth 23-Mar- 855 Pumping BRUM 100 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Station Elizabeth 23-Mar- 855 Pumping BRUM 30 WIWD Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Station Elizabeth 23-Mar- 900 Pumping BRUM 2 NSHO Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Station Elizabeth 23-Mar- 903 S of Holland BRLM 3 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 /Can Elizabeth al 23-Mar- 918 S of Holland BRLM 2 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 /Can Elizabeth al 23-Mar- 919 S of Holland BRLM 1 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 /Can Elizabeth al 23-Mar- 919 S of Holland BRLM 1 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 /Can Elizabeth al 23-Mar- 955 Osbourne Store Osbourne 2 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Clarendo 01 Store n 23-Mar- 958 Osbourne Store Osbourne 3 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Clarendo 01 Store n 23-Mar- 1000 Clarendon Park Osbourne 4 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Clarendo 01 Store n 23-Mar- 1016 Church Pen Church 1 NSHO Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Pen Catherin e

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 25-Mar- 807 Appleton Appleton 4 BWTE Small Herbaceous River St. 01 Elizabeth 25-Mar- 807 Appleton Appleton 14 BWTE Small Herbaceous River St. 01 Elizabeth 25-Mar- 807 Appleton Appleton 4 BWTE Small Herbaceous River St. 01 Elizabeth 25-Mar- 810 Appleton Appleton 3 BWTE Small Herbaceous River St. 01 Elizabeth 25-Mar- 820 Redgate Redgate 30 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 25-Mar- 820 Redgate Redgate 2 NSHO Medium Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 25-Mar- 851 Frome Cabarita 1 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 25-Mar- 852 SavlaMar Cabarita 4 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 25-Mar- 852 SavlaMar Cabarita 12 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 25-Mar- 853 Cabaritta River Cabarita 10 BWTE Small Herbaceous River Westmor 01 eland 25-Mar- 853 Cabaritta River Cabarita 3 BWTE Small Herbaceous River Westmor 01 eland 25-Mar- 922 Retrieve Cabarita 2 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 25-Mar- 941 S Negril Canal Negril 10 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 25-Mar- 941 S Negril Canal Negril 3 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 25-Mar- 941 S Negril Canal Negril 2 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 25-Mar- 941 S Negril Canal Negril 3 NSHO Small Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 25-Mar- 951 Sewage Ponds Negril 4 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 eland 25-Mar- 1036 N Negril Canal Negril 2 BWTE Small Red Pond Hanover 01 Mangrove 25-Mar- 1039 Falmouth N Coast 4 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Trelawny 01 25-Mar- 1039 Orange Bay N Coast 10 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Portland 01 Pond 26-Mar- 805 Hampden Queen of 10 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Hanover 01 Spains Valley

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 26-Mar- 807 Hampden Queen of 1 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Trelawny 01 Spains Valley 26-Mar- 807 Hampden Queen of 8 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Trelawny 01 Spains Valley 26-Mar- 817 Falmouth E N Coast 5 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 26-Mar- 817 Falmouth E N Coast 12 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 26-Mar- 818 Trelawny Beach N Coast 3 BWTE Medium Red Pond Trelawny 01 E Mangrove 26-Mar- 824 Trelawny Beach N Coast 4 BWTE Medium Red Pond Trelawny 01 E Mangrove 26-Mar- 829 Silver Sands N Coast 3 NSHO Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 26-Mar- 830 Duncans N Coast 18 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 26-Mar- 832 Silver Sands N Coast 4 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 26-Mar- 832 Silver Sands N Coast 34 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 26-Mar- 832 Silver Sands N Coast 4 NSHO Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 26-Mar- 835 Braco N Coast 2 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 26-Mar- 835 Braco N Coast 1 BWTE Small Red Pond Trelawny 01 Mangrove 26-Mar- 841 Puerto Seco N Coast 15 BWTE Small Red Pond St. Ann 01 Mangrove 26-Mar- 851 Priory N Coast 3 NSHO Small Red Pond St. Ann 01 Mangrove 26-Mar- 853 Runaway Bay N Coast 18 BWTE Small Red Pond St. Ann 01 Mangrove 26-Mar- 1029 Plantain Garden Plantain 1 BWTE Small Herbaceous River St. 01 River Garden Thomas River 26-Mar- 1045 Morant Point S Morant 19 BWTE Large Sea Grass Sea St. 01 Point Thomas 26-Mar- 1107 Yallahs Pond Yallahs 200 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Thomas 26-Mar- 1115 Grants Pen Albion 15 BWTE Large Red Pond St. 01 Mangrove Thomas

DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE SPECIE SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH R S 26-Mar- 1115 Yallahs River Yallahs 5 BWTE Medium Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Thomas 18-Apr- 724 Pond nr. Rio Rio Cobre 3 BWTE Small Red Pond St. 01 Cobre Mangrove Catherin e 18-Apr- 738 Hellshire by Hellshire 5 BWTE Small Red Pond St. 01 UDC office Mangrove Catherin e 18-Apr- 822 Portland Portland 2 BWTE Large Red Pond Clarendo 01 Cottage Cottage Mangrove n 18-Apr- 840 Hill Run Hill Run 9 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Catherin e 19-Apr- 820 Great Pedro Pedro 70 BWTE Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Pond Elizabeth 19-Apr- 821 SE Pedro Pond Pedro 50 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 19-Apr- 844 Baptist Pond BRLM 2 WIWD Medium Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 19-Apr- 856 Upper Morass BRUM 2 WIWD Large Herbaceous Pond St. 01 Elizabeth 20-Apr- 809 Nw Sav Fish Cabarita 1 WIWD Large Herbaceous Pond Westmor 01 Ponds eland 20-Apr- 958 W Falmouth N Coast 17 BWTE Small Red Pond Westmor 01 Mangrove eland 20-Apr- 958 W Falmouth N Coast 5 BWTE Small Red Pond Westmor 01 Mangrove eland 20-Apr- 1009 Hampden Queen of 5 BWTE Small Herbaceous Pond Trelawny 01 Spains Valley 20-Apr- 1100 Moneague Moneague 5 RUDU Small Herbaceous Pond St. Ann 01 21-Apr- 850 Yallahs Yallahs 70 BWTE Large Coastal Pond St. 01 Thomas

Appendix 3: RAW DATA FROM TERRESTRIAL GROUND TRUTH SURVEYS JANUARY - APRIL 2001

DATA FROM GROUND TRUTRUTHING:THING: JANUARYJANUARY---APRILAPRIL 2001 DATE TIME LOCATION OBSERVE BLUE- N. LESSER GREEN- WEST BLACK- RS WINGED SHOVELLE SCAUP WINGED INDIAN BELLIED TEAL R TEAL WHISTLING WHISTLIN DUCK G DUCK 12 -Jan- 1600 Great Pedro Pond AS, RLS >1000 0 0 0 0 0 01 2-Feb-01 1000 Hellshire Flashes AS, RLS, 100 0 0 0 0 0 BH 10-Feb- 1400 Great Pedro Pond AS,RLS >1000 4 4 1 0 0 01 3-Mar-01 1600 Black River Lower RLS 1 0 0 0 0 0 Morass 7-Mar-01 1600 Black River Upper RLS 70 20 0 0 7 4 Morass 14-Mar- 1700 Great Pedro Pond AS,RLS 720 6 0 0 0 0 01 24-Mar- 900 Hellshire Sewage AS, RLS, 33 0 0 0 0 0 01 Ponds BH 24-Mar- 1500 Mitchell Town Ponds AS, RLS, 83 0 0 0 0 0 01 BH 8-Apr-01 1600 Black River Upper RLS 30 0 0 0 20 0 Morass 13-Apr- 1600 Great Pedro Pond AS, RLS >500 0 0 0 0 0 01 13-Apr- Hayes Sewage Ponds BH 21 0 0 0 0 0 01 23-Apr- 1930 Black River Upper RLS 15 01 Morass

APPENDIX 4:RESULTS OF AD HOC DUCK COUNTS AT GREAT PEDRO POND, ST. ELIZABETH 1970-2001

DATE BLUEBLUE-- LESSER AMERICAN MASKED RUDDY MALLARD CINNAMO GREATER WINGED SCAUP WIDGEON DUCK DUCK N TEAL SCAUP TEAL 10/17/70 0 11/28/70 0 10 12/12/70 0 04/17/71 0 03/24/74 1542 11/13/76 0 7 12/29/76 0 01/01/77 0 12/19/81 0 11/07/82 3 05/27/84 0 3 04/01/87 90 7 09/06/87 60 2 11/24/88 0 12/12/88 8 04/05/89 4 04/16/89 42 1 2 09/09/90 0 10/13/90 0 03/17/93 25 11/04/93 30 12/11/94 0 01/11/95 20 1 2 04/23/95 0 05/18/95 0 08/30/95 0 11/10/95 10 4 3 12/20/95 700 5 01/28/96 2000 30 100 03/16/96 305 0 0

Appendix 5: SPECIMENS OF DUCKS FROM THE INSTITUTE OF JAMAICA

COMMON NAME LOCATION DATE SEX Northern Pintail Galleon Harbour 13 Jan 1952 F Shoveler Caymanas Estate 1951 M Shoveler Morant Point 1959 F (juvenile) Blue-winged Teal Gallow Creek st. Feb 1952 M Catherine Blue-winged Teal Passage Fort Undated Not recorded Masked Duck Not recorded 29 May 1985 Not recorded

APPENDIX 6: ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL SOURCES OF ERROR AND HOW THEY WERE ADDRESSED

SOURCE OF ERROR HOW ERROR WAS MINIMISED % ERROR9 A. MISSED HABITATS Missing large habitats due to lack • Used literature, field experience, maps, and 1 of knowledge, bad navigation or information from hunters and knowledgeable bad weather persons to identify sites; • checked all potential sites • Some important habitats were missed in January but not subsequently Missing medium habitats As above 0 Missing small habitats with large As above; also 10 populations • looked out for additional sites during flights.

B. MISIDENTIFICATION OF DUCKS Identifying birds as ducks when • Reviewed field guides before trips, specially 5 they were not or identifying noting field marks, ducks as other species • Carried id card on plane; • Circled back to double check sightings.

C. MISCOUNTING Miscounting large and medium • Practised using "Count" programme to bring 10 groups of ducks accuracy within10%; • Circled back to double check sightings; • Compared notes immediately on landing. Miscounting small groups of • As above. 5 ducks

D. MISRECORDING Recording wrong number or site Tried using voice activated recorder; 1 Compared notes on landing

TOTAL ESTIMATED ERROR10 20

9 % error applies to the category not the total population 10 Based on relative importance of factors listed above.

Appendix 7: RECORDS OF DUCK OBSERVAOBSERVATIONSTIONS CONTAINED IN THE GOSSE BIRD CLUB BROADSHEET 19621962---1994.1994.

DY MO YR SPECIES # PLACE AUTHOR VOL PP 2 1 66 American Widgeon 8 Chatham Swamp Downer 6 15 8 1 67 American Widgeon Pantrepant Hardie 9 18 12 1 74 American Widgeon Paradise Salmon 22 7 13 8 78 American Widgeon 1 Green Castle pond Downer 32 13 4 7 94 American widgeon 1 Elim Smith D 63 19 24 3 74 Wigeon Gt Pedro Pond Hodgson 25 21 23 1 65 Blue-winged Teal large Treasure Beach (pond near) R Smith et 4 16 flock al 19 9 65 Blue-winged Teal 11 Naggo Kidd 4 16 27 9 65 Blue-winged Teal 15 Naggo 3 1 66 Blue-winged Teal 3 Tryall Pond Downer 6 15 74 Blue-winged Teal Good Hope Tenison 25 21 24 3 74 Blue-winged Teal 1542 Gt Pedro Pond M 25 21 Hodgson 18 10 76 Blue-winged Teal 160 Parrottee Maddison 28 23 21 11 78 Blue-winged Teal Yallahs Ponds Fletcher 32 8 13 11 92 Blue-winged Teal Falmouth Degia 60 29 5 11 92 Blue-winged Teal 90 Hellshire Morgan 60 29 27 3 93 Blue-winged Teal 30 Gt Pedro Pond Smith PW 61 16 16 1 94 Blue-winged Teal Between Elim and Santa cruz Smith D 62 19 highway Blue-winged teal 26 Dunns River, pond created by Fairbairn 42 11 irrigation system 4 12 76 Blue-winged teal 2 Dawkins Pond Maddison 28 23 10 3 79 Blue-winged teal 1 Pedro Pond Sutton 32 11 27 3 93 Blue-winged teal Caymanas Ponds Smith PW 61 16 27 3 93 Blue-winged teal Upper Black R morass Smith PW 61 16 11 12 94 Blue-winged teal Caymanas Ponds Levy 62 19 11 94 Blue-winged teal Old Harbour Bay Levy 62 19 15 1 94 Blue-winged teal 1 Old Harbour Bay 62 19 26 11 61 Bufflehead 1 Mona Tufts 2 13 2 62 Bufflehead Mona Reservoir Kidd 1 6 10 1 62 Bufflehead 1 Mona Tufts 2 13 20 1 63 Bufflehead 1 Mona Tufts 2 13 20 1 63 Bufflehead 1 Mona Reservoir Tufts 1 6 24 2 63 Bufflehead 1 Mona Reservoir Houston 1 6 5 2 63 Bufflehead 3 Mona Tufts 2 13 5 2 63 Bufflehead 3 Mona Reservoir Tufts 1 6

DY MO YR SPECIES # PLACE AUTHOR VOL PP 24 3 74 Cinnamon Teal 1 Gt Pedro Pond Hodgson 25 21 19 11 63 Fulvous Tree Duck 1 Tryall Salmon 2 17 20 7 74 Fulvous Tree Duck 1 St Elizabeth Smith R 23 22 24 3 74 Fulvous Whistling 1 Gt Pedro Pond M 25 21 Duck Hodgson 23 1 65 Green-winged Teal Treasure Beach (pond near) R Smith et 4 16 al 27 11 91 Green-winged teal 230 Caymanas Dyke Ponds Alleng 58 20 1- 63 Lesser Scaup Mona Reservoir McKelvie 1 6 3 23 1 65 Lesser Scaup Treasure Beach (pond near) Smith R 4 16

3 1 66 Lesser Scaup 1 Tryall Downer 6 15 7 11 69 Lesser Scaup 60 Mona Black 14 23 14 11 81 Lesser Scaup 6 Treasure Beach Pond Downer 38 12 1 84 Lesser Scaup 2 Mona Fairbairn 42 11 12 12 93 Lesser Scaup 10 Elim Smith D 62 20 12 1 74 Mallard Paradise Salmon 22 7 11 3 63 Masked Duck 2 Tryall Downer 6 16 1 5 65 Masked Duck 2 Tryall Pond Downer 5 21 26 7 66 Masked Duck 3 Tryall Salmon 6 16 5 1 66 Masked Duck 3 Tryall Downer 6 16 10 7 67 Masked Duck 2 Tryall Salmon 26 11 70 Masked Duck 14 Treasure Beach Sutton 16 18 10 8 74 Masked Duck 1 Robins Bay 23 22 14 1 79 Masked Duck 1 Font Hill Salmon 14 23 85 Masked Duck Pond near Copse Green 44 5 5 10 91 Masked Duck 1 Hope mini dam Fletcher 58 20 27 3 93 Masked Duck 1 James Pond Treasure Beach Smith D 61 17 16 7 94 Masked Duck 1 Hope minidam Brown 63 19 2 2 68 Masked Ducks 4 Font Hill (roadside pond) Salmon 10 14 27 6 65 Masked duck 2 Westmoreland Harvey 6 16 27 3 93 Masked Duck Black River Upper Morass Smith PW 61 17

2 5 81 Masked Duck 6 Font Hill pond Downer 38 12

23 11 91 Masked Duck 3 Hope mini dam Brown 59 21

23 11 91 Masked Duck 7 Hope mini-dam Brown 59 17

9 10 93 Masked Duck 2 Hope lily pond Davis 62 20

16 1 94 Northern Pintail Between Elim and Santa Cruz Smith 62 19 highway 23 1 65 Northern Pintail 1 Treasure Beach (pond near) Smith R 4 16

DY MO YR SPECIES # PLACE AUTHOR VOL PP 1- 63 Ring-necked Duck Mona Reservoir McKelvie 1 6 3 23 1 65 Ring-necked Duck Treasure Beach (pond near) Smith R 4 16 7 12 69 Ring-necked Duck 7 Mona Reservoir Petch 14 11-13 24 3 74 Ring-necked Duck Gt Pedro Pond Hodgson 25 21 7 9 74 Ring-necked Duck 1 Treasure Beach 23 21 1 84 Ring-necked Duck 3 Mona Fairbairn 42 11 9 62 Ruddy Duck 2 Mona Reservoir 2 9 63 Ruddy Duck 5 St Mary (coastal pond) Cargill 1 7 13 1 63 Ruddy Duck 25 Mona Reservoir McKelvie 1 6 13 2 63 Ruddy Duck 70 Mona Reservoir McKelvie 1 6 4 4 63 Ruddy Duck 100 Mona Reservoir McKelvie 1 6 29 4 63 Ruddy Duck 100 Mona Reservoir McKelvie 1 6 13 4 63 Ruddy Duck 300 Mona Reservoir McKelvie 1 6 30 1 68 Ruddy Duck 2 Robins Bay Cargill 10 14 17 5 69 Ruddy Duck 45 Mona Reservoir Petch 14 11-13 2 73 Ruddy Duck Hermitage Dam Downer 20 20 2 73 Ruddy Duck Mona Reservoir Downer 20 20 24 3 74 Ruddy Duck 108 Gt Pedro Pond Hodgson 25 21 3 11 80 Ruddy Duck 12 Albion micro dam Fletcher 36 14 7 2 87 Ruddy Duck 4 Caymanas Dyke ponds Golding 48 8 3 6 87 Ruddy Duck 10 Caymanas dyke ponds Levy 49 4 13 5 92 Ruddy Duck Caymanas dyke ponds Alleng 59 16 3 5 92 Ruddy Duck 6 Caymanas dyke ponds Currie 59 16

12 12 93 Ruddy Duck 6 Elim Smith d 62 20 11 12 94 Ruddy Duck Caymanas Ponds Levy 62 20 12 12 69 Scaup 6 Mona Reservoir Petch 14 11-13 12 3 67 Shoveler 1 Falmouth Hardie 9 18 1 70 Shoveler 3 Port Henderson swamps Smith 14 23 7 9 74 Shoveler 2 Treasure Beach 23 21 28 3 93 Shoveler 6 Caymanas Ponds Smith 61 17 72 West Indian Whistling Duck Parottee Swamp Anon 10 2-4 17 12 76 West Indian 5 Parrottee Sutton 28 23 Whistling Duck 8 6 77 West Indian 1 Parottee Witt 29 11 Whistling Duck 22 11 78 West Indian 2 Grants Pen Fletcher 32 8 Whistling Duck 10 11 78 West Indian 8 Grants Pen Fletcher 32 13 Whistling Duck 10 11 78 West Indian 8 Grants Pen Fletcher 32 8 Whistling Duck

DY MO YR SPECIES # PLACE AUTHOR VOL PP 24 2 79 West Indian 60 Black River Lower Morass Sutton 32 11 Whistling Duck 7 9 80 West Indian 0 Elim Downer 35 12 Whistling Duck 17 11 84 West Indian Whistling Duck Broad River Sutton 45 3 16 6 84 West Indian 3 Parottee Downer 43 13 Whistling Duck 16 4 92 West Indian 2 Black River - swaby's tour Downer 59 16 Whistling Duck 26 8 92 West Indian 2 Negril Royal palm reserve Levy 59 16 Whistling Duck 27 3 93 West Indian 20 Elim Smith PW 61 16 Whistling Duck 14 1 86 Wood Duck 1 Black River Sutton 49 9

Appendix 8: A WORKING INVENTORY OF WETLANDS AND WATER BODIES IN JAMAICAs PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION SURVEYED JANJAN---APRAPR 2001 CLARENDON Alley ? Not found Ashley Hall Small impoundment in cane fields ✓ Boggy Pond E of Rocky Point village Mangroves and lagoon ✓ Bower's River S of Port Esquivel Mangroves ✓ Bunting's Fish Farm W of Port Esquivel Fish Ponds (several farms) ✓ Carlisle Bay E of Rio Minho mouth Mangroves ✓ Cockpit Salt Marsh W of Portland Bight Herbaceous marsh and mangrove ✓ Dolphin Island N of West Harbour Mangroves and lagoon ✓ Exeter Swamp Included in Macarry Bay ✓ Hayes fish farm Close to Vere Tech Fish Ponds (several farms) ✓ Jacksons Bay Gun Club S of Jackson's Bay Mangroves, mudflats and lagoons ✓ Lionel Town Ponds not shown on map or aerial photos ✓ Luidas Vale Near sheds Freshwater pond, ducks present ✓ Longville Park E of Longville property Small ponds and river, typha ✓ Macarry Bay Large area of mangroves and lagoons Mason River Nr Kellits Freshwater wetland, open water largely occluded ✓ Milk River mouth Farquhar's Beach Mangroves ✓ Milk River lower reaches N of Farquhar's Beach Disturbed woodland and small stretches of open water ✓ Mitchell Town fish ponds W of West Harbour Abandoned fish farm, reeds and typha ✓ Monymusk Included in Carlisle Bay ✓ Occasion Town Minidam Near Pt Esquivel Minidam/wetland ✓ Osburne Store N of road Several small ponds and fish ponds ✓ Peake Bay N of Mitchell Town Mangroves ✓ Pigeon Island Mangrove lagoon ✓ Jacksons Bay Gun Club E of Jacksons Bay Narrow hypersaline lagoon with mangrove fringe

PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION SURVEYED JANJAN---APRAPR 2001 ✓ Portland Cottage Mangroves and lagoons Racecourse Not found ✓ Red Water Pond Same as Rocky Point Port ✓ Rio Cobre upper reaches Fresh ponds in river bed ✓ Rio Minho lower reaches Fresh ponds in river bed ✓ Rio Minho upper reaches Fresh ponds in river bed ✓ Rocky Point Port Extensive mangroves and shallow lagoon ✓ Salt Island E of Salt River Cay with mangrove lagoon ✓ Salt River East from Monymusk GRT Club River ✓ Vernham Field Not found Seasonal pond? ✓ West Harbour outer inlets Between W Harbour and sea V large area of mangroves and lagoons ✓ Whitney Turn Not found Not checked

HANOVER ✓ Cut Off Canal E of Negril Morass Herbaceous marsh ✓ Green Island Green Island Mangroves and lagoons ✓ March Town ponds (2) Inland pond ✓ N Negril River mouth N of Negril Morass Mangroves and lagoons ✓ Orange Bay Mangrove and lagoon ✓ Orange Bay Fish Ponds NE of Orange Bay ✓ Rutland Pen ✓ Saddlers Hall Near Miles Town Freshwater ponds (3) ✓ Spring Garden pond Head of Fish River Valley ✓ Winchester Inland pond

MANCHESTER ✓ Alligator Pond River Mangroves, river and herbaceous swamp ✓ Alligator Hole River Mangroves, river and herbaceous swamps ✓ Crombie River Herbaceous swamp ✓ Gut River River and herbaceous swamp ✓ Rogers River River and herbaceous swamp ✓ Swift River Mangroves, river and herbaceous swamps

PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION SURVEYED JANJAN---APRAPR 2001 ✓ Two Rivers Mangroves, river and herbaceous swamp

PORTLAND ✓ Windsor Castle Mangroves. lagoons and herbaceous swamp ✓ Turtle Crawle Mangroves, little open water

ST ANN ✓ Crater Lake W of Discovery Bay Blue hole, deep, lined with mangroves ✓ Flat Point Near Salem No open water ✓ Fort Point Wetland N of Discovery Bay Mangrove-lined lagoons ✓ Moneague Moneague Several cattle ponds ✓ Pear Tree Bottom E of Discovery Bay Herbaceous marsh with pools, mostly occluded ✓ Rio Ho river head Near Moneague Several ponds ✓ Queen Hythe pond S of Discovery Bay Not found ✓ Salem S of Flat Point Mangroves and salina

KINGSTON AND ST ANDREW Copacanana Seasonal pond, now filled ✓ Bull Bay W of town Mangrove lagoon ✓ Duhaney River ✓ Hermitage Reservoir ✓ Mona Reservoir Reservoir ✓ Riverton Mangroves and lagoons

ST CATHERINE ✓ Amity Hall W of Black Bar Abandoned rice and Goat Is ✓ Black Bar S of Salt Islan Mangrove-lined river ✓ Bodles Pen W of Old Harbour Small fresh ponds ✓ Cabaritta Swamp Mangroves and lagoon ✓ Caymanas Ponds N of Caymanas Estate Extensive brackish impoundment ✓ Colbeck Ponds Same as Boddles ✓ Coquhar Bay ✓ Grass Piece Hill Not found Wetland ✓ Dawkins Pond Mangroves and lagoon ✓ Deanery Swamp Mangroves and lagoons

PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION SURVEYED JANJAN---APRAPR 2001 ✓ Duhaney River ✓ Ferry River E of Caymanas Estate River and ponds, very degraded ✓ Flashes W of Great Salt Pond Mangrove-lined lagoons ✓ Great Goat Island Mangroves ✓ Great Salt Pond S of Naggo Head Mangrove-lined lagoon ✓ Green Bay Mangroves and lagoons ✓ Hartlands N of Hellshire Hills Small fresh pond ✓ Hellshire Sewage Ponds NW of Great Salt Pond Sewage Ponds ✓ Hill Run N of Hellshire Hills Fish Ponds (several farms) ✓ Little Goat Island Mangroves and lagoons ✓ Long Pond See UDC ✓ Manatee Bay S of Hellshire Mangroves and lagoons ✓ Naggo Head See Port Henderson ✓ Port Henderson ponds N of Port Henderson Mangroves and lagoons, mostly filled Prospect Park ? ✓ Red Water Pond See Flashes ✓ Rio Cobre lower reaches

✓ Riverton dump ponds Cumberland Pen Mangrove-lined lagoons ©.5) ✓ Salt Is Lagoon Centre of Hellshire Large shallow herbaceous pond ✓ Skeet Club Portmore Mangrove-lined lagoons ✓ Thetford Small fresh ponds ✓ Old Harbour Bay E Mangroves and lagoons ✓ Old House Point S of Hellshire ✓ UDC Site Office Hellshire Mangrove-lined lagoon ✓ Wreck Bay SE of Hellshire Mangrove-lined lagoon ✓

✓ ST ELIZABETH ✓ Black River Lower Morass Very large brackish herbaceous wetland ✓ Black River Upper Morass Very large fresh herbaceous wetland ✓ Luana/Font Hill Many small saline/fresh ponds ✓ Hodges Small fresh ponds ✓ Lacovia Many small-medium fresh ponds

PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION SURVEYED JANJAN---APRAPR 2001 ✓ Maggotty Freshwater swamp with springs ✓ Parottee Mangroves and lagoons ✓ Pedro Ponds Brackish seasonal ponds ✓ Wallywash Fresh lake ✓ Thatchfield Small seasonal ponds ✓

ST JAMES ✓ Bogue Included in Montego Bay Marine Park Blue Hole Near Endeavour, E of Not assessed Montpelier ✓ Chatham (Donald Sangster Lagoons at airport International Airport) ✓ Great River Leogan S of Rose Hall (about 10 miles) ✓ Montpellier ✓ Montego Bay MP Mangroves ✓ Providence Airport E of runway Mangroves ✓ Saddlers Hall N of Montpelier Several small cattle ponds Spring Vale S of Greenwood Tryall N of golf course - 2 smal fresh ponds ST MARY ✓ Annotto Bay wetland Herbaceous swamp, mangroves and woodland ✓ Dover Mangroves and lagoons ✓ Green Castle Tree-lined pond and river ✓ Palmetto Point Same as Dover ✓ Wag Water River W of Annotto Bay River with pools Wemyss SE of Adelphi 1 small pond ✓ Windsor Castle Same as Dover

ST THOMAS ✓ Albion Ponds Cow Bay Mangroves and lagoons ✓ Albion Minidam On hillside near Easington Freshwater pond ✓ Bull Bay W of police station Mangrove pond ✓ Copacabana W of Bull Bay Seasonal pond ✓ Easington Minidam See Albion ✓ Eleven Mile E of Bull Bay Pond ✓ Flemarie W of Yallahs Ponds River mouth closed by berm

PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION SURVEYED JANJAN---APRAPR 2001 ✓ Grants Pen ponds See Albion ✓ Heartease Pond Fish pond? ✓ Holland Bay Included in Great Morass Lloyds N of Yallahs Pond on Back River ✓ Morant and Negro River floodplain ✓ Mundicot River E of Yallahs River Mangroves and lagoon ✓ Plantain Garden River River in banana cultivation ✓ Port Morant Mangroves Stanton Nr Stanton (Nutts Great River) Small Freshwater Pond? ✓ St Thomas Great Morass Mangroves and lagoons ✓ Yallahs Ponds Hypersaline lagoons ✓ Yallahs River Ponds in river bed ✓ Yallahs Mini dam E of river mouth Impoundment

TRELAWNY ✓ Carrion Crow Cliffs W of Duncans Mangrove lagoon Clarkes Town 1 small pond ✓ Cockle Bar Mangroves and salina ✓ Duncans Bay Mangroves and pools ✓ Devil's Cookroom W of Rio Bueno Mangrove-lined lagoons (2) Dromilly S of Wakefield Not assessed ✓ Flamingo Pond E of Duncans Mangrove logoon ✓ Fontabelle Fish Farm ✓ Glistening Waters W of Falmouth Large mangrove, ponds and fish ponds ✓ Good Hope S of Falmouth Small cattle ponds Half Moon/Salt Marsh W of Falmouth Lagoon and ponds ✓ Hampden 6 Ponds in cane fields Hyde Hall 2 small cattle ponds ✓ Jamaica Salt Works W of Duncans Mangrove lagoon Long Bay ? ✓ Long Pond Ponds in cane fields ✓ Mangrove Point Duncans Mangrove Lagoon ✓ Martha Brae Included in Glistening Waters ✓ Martha Brae Fish Farm S of Falmouth >20 fish ponds, various sizes, abandoned?

PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION SURVEYED JANJAN---APRAPR 2001 ✓ Mountain Spring Point and E of Glistening Waters Mangrove lagoon Forida Lands Pantrepant 2 small cattle ponds Quaws Pond Cockpit Co. ✓ Salt Marsh Bay Mangroves and lagoon Sherwood Content Near Windsor Nor assessed ✓ Wales N of Good Hope 2 small cattle ponds ✓ Wakefield W of Good Hope 1 small pond ✓ Winn's Marsh/Hague Swamp E of Falmouth Saline marsh and mangroves WESTMORELAND Alma Not found ? ✓ Auchindown Mangroves ✓ Cabaritta River lower reaches ✓ Cabaritta River upper reaches ✓ Cabaritta Swamp Many scattered ponds in cane Herbaceous swamp and fields agricultural lands and mangroves scrub ✓ Clifton N of Frome Freshwater pond Cutting Grass Spots River River Darliston S of Darliston Freshwater pond Enfield 5 ponds ✓ Friendship W of Frome Freshwater pond ✓ Grange Hill (4) NW of Frome Freshwater ponds Lennox Bigwoods Near Darliston Freshwater ponds ✓ John's Pont Mangroves ✓ Town Head N of Frome Blue hole? ✓ Paradise Herbaceous swamp, mangroves and swamp forest

Appendix 9: AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF SELECTED WETLANDS

Plate 1: Caymanas Dyke Ponds Plate 2: Long Island

Plate 3: Hellshire Flashes Plate 4: West Harbour

Plate 5: Jackson’s Bay Plate 6: Rio Minho

Plate 7: Great Pedro Pond Plate 8: Broad River

Plate 9: Lacovia Plate 10: Parottee Pond – dry

Plate 11: Ganja cultivation - Black River Plate 12: Black River Lower Morass - swamp forest

Plate 13: Baptist Pond Black River Lower Morass Plate 14: Negril Morass

Plate 15: Cabaritta Canal Plate 16: Montpelier

Plate 17: South Negril River Plate 18: Chatham - Montego Bay

Plate 19: Annotto Bay River Plate 20: Mitchell Town Ponds

Plate 21: Wag Water River Plate 22: Wetlands north of Sav-la-mar

Plate 23: Yallahs Pond (ducks flushed from pond) Plate 24: Large fire at Black River Lower Morass

Appendix 10: PHOTOGRAPHS OF SURVEY ACTIVITIES

Plate 25: Ann gives pilot pre-flight briefing Plate 26: Ducks flushed from Yallahs

Plate 27: Final preparations for takeoff Plate 28: Recording data on standard datasheets

Plate 29: On Course for Mona Reservoir Plate 30: Low pass over Caymanas Ponds

Appendix 11: DUCKS OF THE WEST INDIES

87

88