Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, 200-1555 St. James Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3H 1B5 Canada
Two types of nesting structure were installed and evaluated in Manitoba as part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Totals of 219 basket and 193 tunnel nesting structures were placed in Type IV and V potholes in the four Manitoba target areas. Occupancy was higher in both baskets (46%) and tunnels (58%), than in other studies in the Prairie Pothole Region. Occupancy varied on a regional basis from 0 to 89%. Success was 72% in baskets and 89% in the tunnel nest structures. An additional 400 tunnel structures were established in Manitoba for the 1993 season; use of these will be evaluated. Cost of construction of the tunnel structures is estimated at $40.00 (Canadian); the cost of mallards produced by the tunnel structures has been estimated at $1.74/duckling (Canadian).