To return to the Northeast Fish & Wildlife Conference website, go to: http://www.neafwa.org/conference.html. The following schedule and room names are subject to change (as of April 3, 2017). Please check back for updates. Session titles marked with an asterisk (*) have student presenters.
AUTHORS: Sally Yannuzzi, West Virginia University; Michael Peters, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; Ian Gregg, Pennsylvania Game Commission; Christopher Rota, West Virginia University; James T. Anderson, West Virginia University
ABSTRACT: American Black Ducks (Anas rubripes) have been in decline for over half a century due to habitat loss, hybridization with Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), and other factors. While the overall population of Black Ducks has stabilized and even increased in portions of its range, important wintering areas in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia have continued to see a decrease. Our objectives are to determine Black Duck use of created and natural wetlands and riverine systems to calculate potential carrying capacity, determine energy expenditure, and create bioenergetics models to help guide future management practices that will contribute to meeting the North American Waterfowl Management Plan's population goal of 640,000 breeding Black Ducks. During 2015 ?" 16, waterbird abundance was documented from mid-November until mid-April through biweekly ground surveys. We encountered 737 Black Ducks in biweekly survey sites and additional incidental sites, resulting in 230 recorded behavioral observations. Preliminary results suggest a Daily Energy Expenditure estimate of 982 KJ/bird/day. Surveys are underway in 2016 ?" 17, and invertebrate and seed biomass samples are being collected and measured from wetlands harboring nonbreeding Black Ducks. Our results will help guide management decisions for Black Ducks wintering in the region.
Monday April 10, 2017 4:40pm - 5:00pm EDT
Hampton V
