| Abstract: | Winter waterfowl surveys rarely use sampling methods, and little is known about the precision and biases of their population estimates. Consequently, we developed aerial transect surveys (n=5) in 4 strata comprising 16 substrata in the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley during winters 1987-88 through 1989-90 to estimate mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) population indices and determine regional patterns of habitat use. Mallard population indices ranged from 1,147,628 (SE=192,341) in December 1988 to 1,790,708 (SE=179,406) in January 1988. Coefficients of variation (CV‘s) for early winter surveys averaged 0.15 and those for late winter surveys averaged 0.10. During early winter, 59-69% of mallards were on wetlands with water regimes managed for waterfowl; whereas in late winter, 52-79% used wetlands with unmanaged water regimes. Late winter was wet during 1987-88 and 1988-89, and most mallards (62-68%) were on naturally flooded croplands. Use of forested wetlands (3-11%) and moist-soil habitats (3-29%) varied among surveys but was not correlated with water conditions. The number of mallards using naturally flooded croplands (e.g., >1,100,000 in Jan 1988) illustrated the extent of habitat use on private lands. We recommend transect surveys (e.g., 5-yr intervals) for evaluating responses of mallard populations to management programs and as a sampling framework for integrating regional waterfowl research and management data. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 5223021 |
| Citation Author: | Reinecke, K.J.; Brown, M.W.; Nassar, J.R. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 525 |
| Citation Issue: | 3 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Journal of Wildlife Management |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 11 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 515-525 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Evaluation of aerial transects for counting winter mallards; 1992; Article; Journal; Journal of Wildlife Management; Reinecke, K.J.; Brown, M.W.; Nassar, J.R. |
| Citation Start Page: | 515 |
| Citation Volume: | 56 |
| Citation Year: | 1992 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Evaluation of aerial transects for counting winter mallards; 1992; Article; Journal; Journal of Wildlife Management; Reinecke, K.J.; Brown, M.W.; Nassar, J.R. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://www.jstor.org/stable/3808867 |
| Date Other: | Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:18 -0500 |
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