University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ecology of Non-Breeding Waterfowl in the Wabash River Region Annual Report 2011

Stafford,Joshua D.; Long,Joshua B.; Yetter,Aaron P.; Eichholz,Michael W.; Benson,Thomas J.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/106880

Description

Title
Ecology of Non-Breeding Waterfowl in the Wabash River Region Annual Report 2011
Author(s)
  • Stafford,Joshua D.
  • Long,Joshua B.
  • Yetter,Aaron P.
  • Eichholz,Michael W.
  • Benson,Thomas J.
Issue Date
2011-07-06
Keyword(s)
  • Dabbling ducks
  • Diving ducks
  • Migration ecology
  • Spring migration
  • Aerial surveys
Geographic Coverage
Wabash River region
Abstract
Anecdotal evidence indicated that the Wabash River region of Illinois may provide extensive habitat for spring-migrating waterfowl; however, no information exists on the abundance and distribution these birds in this area. Therefore, we conducted 9 aerial inventories of waterfowl in the Wabash River floodplain bordering Illinois and Indiana between 14 January and 12 April 2011. We recorded locations where >1,000 ducks were present and returned to these sites to record waterfowl behavior. Waterfowl abundance peaked on 8 Feruary at 311,545, although nearly half (140,000) of these were lesser snow geese. During early surveys, most birds congregated on Gibson Lake, a power-plant cooling lake. Birds spread out after ice-out and waterfowl abundance declined to approximately 15,000 to 29,000 during subsequent surveys, before falling to <2,000 on 12 April. Waterfowl spent most time feeding (50.7%), followed by locomotion (21.7 %), comfort movements (11.7%), alert (7.9%), resting (6.7 %), courting (1.0%), and agonistic (0.3%). We will use these data to improve the survey design if appropriate and suggest our preliminary results support the notion that important habitat for spring-migrating waterfowl exists in the Wabash River region.
Publisher
Illinois Natural History Survey
Series/Report Name or Number
  • Technical Report INHS 2011 (20)
  • Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration W-157-R-1
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/106880
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service & Illinois Department of Natural Resources Grant: W-157-R-1 Contract Number: RC09-13FWUIUC
Copyright and License Information
This document is a product of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and has been selected and made available by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested.

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Illinois Natural History Survey PRIMARY
Reports produced by INHS staff, usually as deliverables for assessment projects funded by federal or state agencies or non-governmental organizations.