Autumn Movements and Habitat Use by Wood Ducks in Southern Illinois

Abstract

Movements of 961 banded wood ducks (Aix sponsa), including 10 radio-instrumented birds, were observed during the autumn of 1973 in southern Illinois. Some birds moved up to 10 km each day, but most stayed within 2.2 km of the roost. Movements usually occurred during morning and evening hours. Autumn areas of activity for wood ducks ranged from 23.9 to 186.2 ha (i = 90.6 ha). Wood ducks had a significant day and nighttime preference for buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) swamp over flooded timber and open water. In managing wood ducks, habitat types which are available should be emphasized more than area size and, when possible, management areas should be located to include traditional roosting sites. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 43(1):102-108 Band-recoveries have delineated migratory movements of wood ducks (Beshears 1967, Brown 1972) and work has been done on home range and habitat use during the breeding season (Gilmer 1971). Summer movements and habitat use by females with broods also have been investigated (Hardister et al. 1963, Webster and McGilvrey 1966, McGilvrey 1969, Ball 1971). However, much is not known about activity and habitat utilized by this species. The objective of this study was to identify the habitat requirements and movements of wood ducks during autumn so that managers might have a basis for more intensive yearround management. We thank Karen Crites, R. Hileman, F. Roetker, and V. Hammer for their assistance in the field. We thank M. Sweet for supplying information on band recoveries from Oakwood Bottoms Greentree Reservoir. W. D. Klimstra, Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, provided radiotelemetry receiving equipment. We thank J. Newcomb, District Ranger, U.S. Forest Service, for allowing access to U.S. Forest Service lands. The Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation and the Illinois Department of Conservation financed part of this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS