Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Duck Nest Success in the Prairie Pothole Region
by
Albert T. Klett, Terry L. Shaffer, Douglas H. Johnson*
Abstract: We estimated nest success of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos),
gadwall (A. strepera), blue-winged teal (A. discors), northern
shoveler (A. clypeata), and northern pintail (A. acuta) for 5
regions in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, for 1-3 periods between
1966 and 1984, and for 8 habitat classes. We obtained composite estimates of
nest success for regions and periods by weighting each habitat proportional
to the number of nest initiations. The distribution of nest initiations was
derived from estimates of breeding populations, preferences of species for nesting
habitats, and availability of habitats. Nest success rates ranged from <5
to 36% among regions, periods, and species. Rates were lowest in western Minnesota
(MNW) and eastern North Dakota (NDE), intermediate in central North Dakota (NDC)
and eastern South Dakota (SDE), and highest in central South Dakota (SDC). In
regions with comparable data, no consistent trend in nest success was apparent
from early to late periods. Gadwalls and blue-winged teal nested more successfully
than mallards and pintails; the relative success of shovelers varied regionally.
Ducks nesting in idle grassland were the most successful and those nesting in
cropland were least successful. Mammalian predation was the major cause of nesting
failure (54-85%) in all habitats, but farming operations resulted in 37 and
27% of the nesting failures in cropland and hayland, respectively. Most of the
populations studied were not self-sustaining.
This resource is based on the following source (Northern Prairie Publication
0701):
Klett, Albert T., Terry L. Shaffer, and Douglas H. Johnson. 1988. Duck nest
success in the prairie pothole region. Journal of Wildlife Management
52(3):431-440.
This resource should be cited as:
Klett, Albert T., Terry L. Shaffer, and Douglas H. Johnson. 1988. Duck nest
success in the prairie pothole region. Journal of Wildlife Management
52(3):431-440. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Online. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/dnsuc/index.htm
(Version 18SEP2000).
Table of Contents
Tables and Figures
- Table 1 -- Availability of 8 nesting
habitats by region and period.
- Table 2 -- Relative preference for 8
classes of nesting habitat in central North Dakota.
- Table 3 -- Estimated percent nest success
by region and period.
- Table 4 -- Estimated percent nest success,
number of nests, and percent of nest initiations by habitat.
- Table 5 -- Outcomes of nesting attempts
in 8 habitats in North Dakota, 1966-84.
- Figure 1 -- Distribution of duck nests
sampled in the study area during 1966-84.
* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center,
Jamestown, ND 58402 (All Authors)
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