Duck Nest Success in the Prairie Pothole Region

Abstract

We estimated nest success of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), gadwall (A. strepera), blue-winged teal (A. discors), northern shoveler (A. clypeata), and northern pintail (A. acuta) for 5 regions in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, for 1-3 periods between 1966 and 1984, and for 8 habitat classes. We obtained composite estimates of nest success for regions and periods by weighting each habitat proportional to the number of nest initiations. The distribution of nest initiations was derived from estimates of breeding populations, preferences of species for nesting habitats, and availability of habitats. Nest success rates ranged from 15,000 records of nests found in the United States portion of the Prairie Pothole Region (Fig. 1). Supplemental information on breeding population levels, nesting habitat availability, and habitat use by nesting 432 DUCK NEST SUCCESS * Klett et al.