Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center


Home	About NPWRC	Our Science	Staff	Employment	Contacts	Common Questions	About the Site

Ecology and Management of Islands, Peninsulas and Structures for Nesting Waterfowl

Prairie Pothole Project Nest Structure Evaluations

David Duncan, David Pochailo and Kim Eskowich
Prairie Pothole Project
Saskatchewan Parks, Recreation and Culture
Box 746 Redvers
Saskatchewan, CANADA SOC 2HO

Nest structures were placed in small wetlands on private land to evaluate duck use and to enhance duck production. The offer to place a structure(s) met with a very high acceptance rate from landowners: >90% of those approached granted permission. Three types of structures were used: wire baskets, plastic baskets, and metal cones. Ducks used the wire baskets more frequently than the other types of structure. Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were the only ducks to nest in the structures. Nest predation rate was 0%. Details of structure design and placement technique are discussed. The preliminary findings of this study, combined with the results of other studies, are used to formulate recommendations for future nest structure programs. Plans for a large-scale nest structure program in Saskatchewan as part of a First Step Project of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan are outlined.

Previous Section -- Controlling Excessive Avian Predation of Duck Nests
Return to Contents
Next Section -- Waterfowl Nesting Islands in a Mississippi Backwater

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/ecosym/prairpot.htm
Page Contact Information: Webmaster
Page Last Modified: Friday, 01-Feb-2013 19:19:46 EST
Menlo Park, CA [caww54]