A Nasal Marker for Ducks

Abstract

A nasal saddle for marking ducks, of colored plasticized polyvinyl chloride tape, is described. A strip of tape was fastened to the bill with a piece of nylon threaded through the nares. The marker is easily made, durable, readily seen on ducks, and is well retained. No adverse physical or behavioral effects on 292 shovelers (Spatula clypeata) could be traced to the marker. Prior to a home-range study of the shoveler near Strathmore, Alberta, we reviewed methods of color-marking ducks. Bartonek and Dane (1964) discussed various markers and described numbered nasal discs which they considered superior to other markers. However, Erskine (cited by Bartonek and Dane 1964) had evidence that nasal discs increased merganser (Mergus sp.) mortality and believed they might be hazardous for all diving ducks. Subsequently, Bartonek (personal communication) successfully used nasal saddles heat-formed from hard plastic. The nasal saddle eliminated the projecting discs which were subject to entanglement with submersed vegetation. This paper describes a modification of Bartonek's nasal saddle. J. Bernard Gollop kindly reviewed the manuscript. MATERIALS AND METHODS Our nasal saddles were made from plasticized polyvinyl chloride tape, 13 mm wide, as used and described by Craighead and Stockstad (1956). The tape is available in 10 colors from Wildlife Supply Company, 2200 S. Hamilton Street, Saginaw, Michigan, at a cost of 12Y2 cents a yard. The one-color marker for shovelers (Fig. 1) was made from a 36-mm strip of tape. Two holes were pierced 14 mm apart with a small sharp nail or large needle (Fig. 2). Dimensions may vary slightly for other species. Washers were cut from the same kind of tape with a 7-mm rifle cartridge 984 case and were pierced. Marker and washers were fastened to the bill with 15-gauge tennis racket nylon threaded through the nares as described by Bartonek and Dane (1964). Because of its resilience, the tape binds tightly on the nylon thread without splitting. The use of a piece of nylon several inches long made the threading procedure easier. One end was prebeaded with a flame, and the other, pointed. After the marker and washers were threaded to the bill, the excess nylon was cut off and the end beaded close to the washer. Beads were checked after cooling, and redone if brittle. For a bi-colored marker, the second color was incorporated by inlaying a piece of Fig. 1. Shoveler wearing a white nasal saddle. This content downloaded from 207.46.13.127 on Wed, 12 Oct 2016 04:31:57 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms A NASAL MARKER FOR DUCKS * Sugden and Poston 985