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Reese--Waterfowl Presentation

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Reese--Waterfowl Presentation Waterfowl – What they are and are not Great variety in sizes, shapes, colors All have webbed feet and bills Sibley reading is great for lots of facts and insights into the group Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae – 154 species worldwide, 44 in NA Subfamily Dendrocygninae – whistling ducks Subfamily Anserinae – geese & swans Subfamily Anatinae - ducks Handout • Indicates those species occurring regularly in ID Ducks = ?? Handout • Indicates those species occurring regularly in ID Ducks = 26 species Geese = ?? Handout • Indicates those species occurring regularly in ID Ducks = 26 species Geese = 6 (3 are rare) Swans = ?? Handout • Indicates those species occurring regularly in ID Ducks = 26 species Geese = 6 Swans = 2 What separates the 3 groups? Ducks - Geese - Swan - What separates the 3 groups? Ducks – smaller, shorter legs & necks Geese – long legs, graze in uplands Swan – shorter legs than geese, long necks, larger size, feed more often in water Non-waterfowl Cranes, rails – beak, rails have lobed feet Coots – bill but lobed feet Grebes – lobed feet Loons – webbed feet but sharp beak Woodcock and snipe – feet not webbed, beaks These are not on handout but are managed by USFWS as are waterfowl On handout: Subfamily Dendrocygninae – whistling ducks – used to be called tree ducks 2 species, more goose-like, longer necks and legs than most ducks, flight is faster than geese, but slower than other ducks Occur along gulf coast and Florida On handout: Subfamily Anserinae – geese and swans Tribe Cygnini – swans – 2 species Tribe Anserini – geese – 6 spp that occur in ID; but Emperor Goose, Ross’ Goose and Brant are rare - 3 common species are?? On handout: Subfamily Anatinae – ducks, with 4 tribes Tribe Anatini – dabbling ducks, 10 species in ID, wood duck is called a perching duck On handout: Subfamily Anatinae – ducks, with 4 tribes Tribe Anatini – dabbling ducks, 10 species in ID, wood duck is called a perching duck Tribe Aythyini – diving ducks, 5 species On handout: Subfamily Anatinae – ducks, with 4 tribes Tribe Anatini – dabbling ducks, 10 species in ID, wood duck is called a perching duck Tribe Aythyini – diving ducks, 5 species Tribe Mergini – sea ducks, 10 species in ID, but only 6 are common On handout: Subfamily Anatinae – ducks, with 4 tribes Tribe Anatini – dabbling ducks, 10 species in ID, wood duck is called a perching duck Tribe Aythyini – diving ducks, 5 species Tribe Mergini – sea ducks, 10 species in ID, but only 6 are common Tribe Oxyurini – stiff-tailed ducks, 1 species Swans - Cygnini Trumpeter swan and tundra swan Sexes look alike Monogamous, pair bond formed in winter, mate for life; young are called cygnets Require large territory for nesting – 30-70 hectares generally on shore or small islands Feed in water, tip-up, eat plants (pondweeds, milfoils, sedges) Swans: Largest waterfowl but how much do they weigh? Swans: Largest waterfowl but how much do they weigh? Tundra swan – 13-16 pounds Trumpeter - ??? Swans: Largest waterfowl but how much do they weigh? Tundra swan – 13-16 pounds Trumpeter swan – 22-28 pounds Long-lived species – sexually mature at: Tundra – 3-4 years, Trumpeter – 4-6 years Swans: Both species lay 4-5 eggs, only female incubates, 31-33 days Very high nest success – 90% Why is nest success so high? Swans: Both species lay 4-5 eggs, only female incubates, 31-33 days Very high nest success – 90% Why is nest success so high? – attentive parents, few nest predators Both parents care for young, still lose 30%-50%+ of young, long flightless period – 8-10 weeks for Tundra, 13-17 weeks for Trumpeter Swans – differences between species: Voice, yellow spot in front of eye of Tundra sometimes Tundra – very social outside breeding season – 1000’s, Trumpeter in small groups – 20-50 Hunted? Trumpeter – no, as many as 40,000 Tundra – yes, 200,000+ in breeding population, hunted in MT, UT, NV, NC, MD ID and WA projects Geese - Tribe Anserini All show several similarities: Plumage is not sexually dimorphic Geese - Tribe Anserini All show several similarities: Plumage is not sexually dimorphic Feed by grazing Geese - Tribe Anserini All show several similarities: Plumage is not sexually dimorphic Feed by grazing Highly gregarious Geese - Tribe Anserini All show several similarities: Plumage is not sexually dimorphic Feed by grazing Highly gregarious Breed in open situations Geese - Tribe Anserini All show several similarities: Plumage is not sexually dimorphic Feed by grazing Highly gregarious Breed in open situations Non-breeders form molting flocks in summer, are joined by breeders a few weeks later Geese - Anserini Migratory and some species have a molt migration Geese - Anserini Migratory and some species have a molt migration During fall and winter the family unit stays together and in larger flocks Winter behavior is to gather in large concentrations in open areas, make morning and evening flights to feed Canada Goose –Branta canadensis In 2004 the 11 subspecies of Canada goose were re-categorized into 2 species: – Canada Goose – with 7 subspecies (large) – Cackling Goose – with 4 subspecies (small) Canada Goose – Branta canadensis 7 subspecies – large bodies, interior B.c. parvipes Lesser 5-6 pounds B.c. canadensis Atlantic 6.8-8.8 lbs B.c. interior Hudson Bay 7-9 lbs B.c. occidentalis Dusky 8-9 lbs dark B.c. fulva Vancouver 8-9 lbs dark B.c. moffitti Great Basin 8-10 lbs B.c. maxima Giant 11-12 lbs Cackling Goose – Branta hutchinsii 4 subspecies – all smaller than Canada geese, breeds more in coastal regions of NW B.h. minima Cackling 2.8-3.4 lbs B.h. leucopareia Aleutian 4 lbs B.h. hutchinsii Richardson’s 4 lbs B.h. taverneri Taverner’s 4.7-5.9 lbs – (overlap with Lesser Canada goose) Why are these subspecies important? Several subspecies are uncommon, and management is aimed at them Subspecies often overlap in breeding and wintering ranges Geese are managed by populations Canada Goose - Ecology Monogamous, highly social, Begin to breed at 2, most at 3, equal sex ratio Mortality rates from 25-50% per year depending on human exploitation Grazers – especially cereal grains, clovers, alfalfa therefore lots of management involves planted foods Canada goose (cont.) Pair in winter, for life, migrate N in spring Territorial – nests elevated, islands, osprey nests Both parents stay at nest, female inc., 5-6 eggs Canada goose (cont.) Pair in winter, for life, migrate N in spring Territorial – nests elevated, islands, osprey nests Both parents stay at nest, female inc., 5-6 eggs Predators on eggs – skunks, foxes, coyotes, ravens, crows, magpies Incubation is 25-30 days, nest success = 70% A small % of females renest (10%) – define? Goslings fly at 7-10 weeks Subfamily Anatinae – Ducks Tribe Anatini – dabbling ducks Only 2 genera in North America Aix Anas Tribe Anatini - Dabblers Dabblers all spring up off the water or land to fly All dabble, or tip up, to feed, but many also feed on land Rarely dive but can Dabblers vs others Legs near center of body legs back Tip up dive Hind toe not lobed hind toe lobed Dabblers vs others Legs near center of body legs back Tip up dive Hind toe not lobed hind toe lobed Foot smaller foot larger Iridescent speculum dull speculum Tail held clear of water tail in water Spring up run along surface Dabblers Most field guides have the speculum much too visible for the bird at rest Most field guides also have divers and sea ducks sitting too high in the water Aix sponsa – wood duck Also called a perching duck – its legs are even more forward then other dabblers, well adapted to perching in trees Sharp claws and well-developed hind toes Nest in cavities, usually over water, 2-20 m up Anas Highly social (1000s), especially in winter All migratory, some use both fresh and estuarine wetlands during the year Often winter in huge mixed species flocks Anas Highly social (1000s), especially in winter All migratory, some use both fresh and estuarine wetlands during the year Often winter in huge mixed species flocks Divide up foraging areas by water depth All nest on the ground, none in cavities No long-term pair bonds, monogamous until incubation begins, then male leaves Anas (cont.) All incubate 21-27 days, young fly at 38-70 days Teal, green and blue-winged lay 8-11 eggs Cinnamon teal lays 7-12 eggs Northern pintail lays 6-9 eggs, often nests far from water Mallard lays 7-10 eggs, largest population in NA Tribe Aythyini – diving ducks or pochards (5 species):Genus Aythya All dive for food Generally nest over water Sex ratios 60% + males Monogamous, male defends the female Tribe Aythyini – diving ducks or pochards (5 species):Genus Aythya All dive for food Generally nest over water Sex ratios 60% + males Monogamous, male defends the female Male leaves during incubation Many first year females do not breed 7-12 eggs, first flight for young is at 40-68 days Aythya Divide water area by depths and foods Redhead 3-4 feet, eats more plants Canvasback 3-6 feet, eats plants, inverts Ring-necked duck <6 ft, eats more snails, inverts Greater scaup 6-15 ft, eats clams, often marine Lesser scaup 10-40 ft, eats clams, inverts, snails Aythya Brood behavior when threatened: Divers vs dabblers Dabblers - ? Divers -? Aythya Brood behavior when threatened: Divers vs dabblers Dabblers – seek cover in emergent veg. Divers -? Aythya Brood behavior when threatened: Divers vs dabblers Dabblers – seek cover in emergent veg. Divers – move to open water and may dive Redhead is a brood parasite Female uses one of three strategies: incubates own clutch incubates own clutch and parasitize other nests entirely parasitic on canvasback and redhead Canvasbacks parasitized by redheads generally not as successful in producing their own ducklings Tribe Mergini – sea ducks Most species associated with coastal and estuarine waters, but many found inland on freshwater lakes and larger rivers Eiders, mergansers, scoters, goldeneyes, harlequin duck, long-tailed duck, bufflehead Tribe Oxyurini – Stiff-tailed Ducks 8 species worldwide, one in NA – ruddy duck long, stiff tail Large bills, clumsy on land, nest over water Very large egg for size of bird, 6-8, will parasitize each other and redheads Eat aquatic inverts, snail, plants in winter The End Waterfowl are wonderful! .
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