USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

Large sites afforded greater security from disturbance as well as more extensive feeding areas. On mudflats, feeding is controlled by the tide. Elsewhere wigeon feed by day in undisturbed areas, but when feeding grounds are subjected to daytime disturbance, birds spend the day on the roost. Drainage with its consequent disturbance and increases in recreational activities that result, particularly bird watching, has accelerated the decline of Eurasian wigeon. Bird counters, who were mailed a questionnaire, responded by listing factors they considered as being important threats to Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope). Factors and the incidence of their responses (in parentheses) were: shooting (37), boating and sailing (28), fishing (18), bird watching (9), powerboating and water skiing (6), pleasure flying (2), other recreational activities (13). The preceding were listed under recreation, and the following were listed under commercial/development: industrial development (31), drainage (20), reclamation (12), military activities (4), bird scaring (2).