Waterfowl In Winter

Waterfowl in Winter was first published in 1988. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions. The emphasis in research on waterfowl has traditionally focused on breeding as opposed to migrant or wintering birds. Scientists have long been interested in courtship, nest sites, laying, and brood-rearing, and they have also been concerned about losses of eggs, young, nesting hens, and breeding habitats, especially as they have affected the goal of increasing populations. But lately there has been an upsurge of interest and research on the migratory and wintering phases, and this volume offers ample evidence of the knowledge gained. The authors—105 waterfowl biologists—have contributed 47 chapters that range geographically from Alaska to northern South America, and from the Pacific Northwest to Nova Scotia and Florida. Their subjects include: distributional changes due to human influence; population trends and concerns over less common species; pairing and other behavior that occurs in the wintering areas and is vital to the success of the species; feeding ecology and body condition during winter; new habitats created by such activities as aquaculture and park development; losses of habitat due to development and drainage for alternate uses; lead poisoning and pollutants that are detrimental to waterfowl; habitat management for maintenance of successful populations now and in the future. Also presented are reports of workshop discussions outlining current issues and future research needs. Preparation of this volume was assisted by an editorial board comprising Bruce J. J. Batt, Robert H. Chabreck, Leigh H. Fredrickson, and Dennis G. Raveling.

Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) associate with wintering waterfowl concentrations throughout the United States, but little detailed information is available on eagle-waterfowl relations. This report concerns the ecology of bald eagles wintering in the vicinity of Swan Lake National Wildlife Referenc in north-central Missouri and, more specifically, examines the association of the eagles with waterfowl during the winters of 1975-76, 1976-77, and 1977-78

A mail questionnaire survey of waterfowl hunters is conducted each year in the United States to provide information on waterfowl kill and hunter activity. We carried out a study using data from the 1971-73 and 1972-73 hunting seasons to determine the effectiveness of the present U.S. sampling and estimation techniques, and a number of modifications in both sampling and analysis is recommended.

This important compilation on habitat management for waterfowl throughout North America addresses practicing waterfowl biologists and managers, researchers, and students of waterfowl ecology and management.