Distribution and Abundance of Predators that Affect
Duck Production: Prairie Pothole Region
Tables
Table 5. Number and relative abundance of avian predators species affecting duck production by study area and province or state in the prairie pothole region.a,b
| Aread | Relative Abundancec | |||||||||||
| Year(s) | Number present species | Number > or = to common speciese | Black- billed magpie (2) | American crow (2) | Northern harrier (1,3) | Swainson's hawk (1,3) | Red- tailed hawk (1,3) | Ferrug- inous hawk (3) | Great horned owl (1,3) | |||
| Canada | ||||||||||||
| Alberta | ||||||||||||
| Gayford | 1985 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Hay Lakes* | 1983-84 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Holden* | 1983 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | d | ≥3f | 0 | ≥3f | ||
| Penhold* | 1984-85 | 8g | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Average | 6.5 | 4.3 | ||||||||||
| Manitoba | ||||||||||||
| Cartwright | 1983 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Moore Park* | 1983-84 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Average | 6.0 | 3.0 | ||||||||||
| Saskatchewan | ||||||||||||
| Ceylon | 1983-84 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Craik | 1984-85 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Denzil | 1984-85 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Earl Grey* | 1985 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Goodwater | 1983 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Hanley* | 1983-85 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Inchkeith* | 1984-85 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Leask* | 1984-85 | 7g | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Shamrock | 1983-85 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Yorkton* | 1985 | 7g | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Average | 6.7 | 2.7 | ||||||||||
| United States | ||||||||||||
| Minnesota | ||||||||||||
| Hawley* | 1987-88 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | ||
| Hitterdal* | 1988 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Lake Park* | 1987-88 | 5g | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Average | 4.7 | 1.3 | ||||||||||
| Montana | ||||||||||||
| Morgan | 1983 | 4 | 0 | 0h | 2 | d | d | u | d | u | ||
| Plentywood | 1983 | 4 | 0 | 2h | 2 | d | d | u | u | u | ||
| Average | 4.0 | 0.0 | ||||||||||
| North Dakota | ||||||||||||
| Courtenay | 1988 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Eldrige | 1987-88 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Fredonia | 1987-88 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Jud | 1987-88 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Kulm | 1988 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Litchville | 1987-88 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Plaza | 1983 | 6 | - | 0 | 2 | d | d | d | d | d | ||
| Sharon | 1983 | 5 | - | 0 | 2 | d | d | d | u | d | ||
| Streeter | 1983 | 5 | - | 0 | 2 | d | d | u | d | d | ||
| Average | 5.6 | 2.2h | ||||||||||
| South Dakota | ||||||||||||
| Hosmer | 1983 | 7 | - | 1 | 2 | d | d | d | d | d | ||
| Madison | 1983 | 5 | - | 0 | 2 | d | d | d | u | d | ||
| Parkston | 1983 | 5 | - | 0 | 2 | d | d | d | u | d | ||
| Average | 5.7 | - | ||||||||||
| Total areas detected (%) | 58 | 100 | 100 | 91 | 85 | 48 | 94 | |||||
| Total areas > or = to common (%) | 18 | 45 | 32h | 46h | 44h | 8h | 56h | |||||
aIncludes only predators known or thought to be resident in one or more study areas, 1983-88.
bNumerical abundance ratings are 4 = numerous, 3 = common, 2 = uncommon, 1 = scarce, and 0 = undetected; alphabetical designators (d = detected, u = undetected) are used for species in study areas for which data were insufficient to rate relative abundance.
cSpecies denoted with a (1) prey extensively on adult ducks, species denoted with a (2) prey extensively on duck eggs, and species denoted with a 93) are known or thought to prey extensively on ducklings.
dStudy areas denoted with an asterisk (*) are in the aspen parkland; all other study areas are in the prairie.
eMinimal because the mink (some study areas) and weasels were not rated.
fIncludes ermine and long-tailed weasel.
gIncludes the gray wolf, which was found only in the Moore Park study area and rated scarce.
hBased only on data from study areas where abundances of predators were rated.
