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Human Disturbances to Waterfowl

Annotated Bibliography

47. Dennis, D. G., G. B. McCullough, N. R. North, and R. K. Ross. 1984. An updated assessment of migrant waterfowl use of the Ontario shorelines of the southern Great Lakes. Pages 37-42 in S. G. Curtis, D. G. Dennis, and H. Boyd, eds. Waterfowl studies in Ontario, 1973-81. Occasional Paper No. 54, Canadian Wildlife Service.

Limited waterfowl use during both spring and autumn is due to scarcity of aquatic vegetation, although disturbance by pleasure craft also has a minor influence. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and Canada goose (Branta canadensis) population rose chiefly due to more use of legal baiting by hunting clubs, and establishment of the St. Clair National Wildlife Area in 1974 increased American black duck (Anas rubripes) use. Use by canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria), redheads (Aythya americana), and common mergansers (Mergus merganser) increased much during both spring and autumn as a result of extensive disturbance by boat traffic in the better habitat located in area D along the east shore of Lake St. Clair. Although increased ship traffic in the Outer Bay due to the Nanticoke Industrial Development will not greatly disturb waterfowl, increased potential for an oil spill exists for large portions of the continental populations of both canvasbacks and redheads. Shooting pressure forces most birds to leave shortly after opening of the hunting season. Lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) are moderately disturbed by increased power boat traffic.

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