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- Title
A helicopter-based survey of waterfowl broods in central Ontario
- Authors
Ross, R. K.; Merendino, M. T.; Ankney, C. D.
- Abstract
The Precambrian shield region of central Ontario supports numerous breeding waterfowl, but only localized attempts to document brood production have been undertaken. During summers of 1990 and 1991, we conducted brood surveys, via helicopter, on 13100-km2 (10km X 10km) survey plots. The most common broods were Mallard, Black Duck, Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, and Ring-necked Duck. Observations of these species were in proportion to, or greater than, expected frequencies compared to abundance of breeding pairs. Class IIb-III brood sizes for all species were similar to those reported from ground surveys in other areas of eastern Canada and the United States. Peak hatchingfor all species occurred from 1 June to 15 July. Based on numbers ofbreeding waterfowl and the general agreement between brood and pair ratios, considerable waterfowl production likely occurs in central Ontario. We suggest that brood surveys in central Ontario start no earlier than 25 June and end by 25 July. Surveys are expensive, so effortshould be stratified based on breeding pair densities. For cost-effectiveness, a single survey in late July may provide a reliable production index for both early and late-nesting species.
- Subjects
CANADA; MALLARD; ORNITHOLOGY; WOOD duck; ANIMALS
- Publication
Canadian Field-Naturalist, 2000, Vol 114, Issue 2, p296
- ISSN
0008-3550
- Publication type
Article