Postbreeding Habitat Preference of Wood Ducks in Northern Alabama

Abstract

Habitat preference by postbreeding wood ducks (Aix sponsa) was studied in northern Alabama from October through December 1984 and August through November 1985. Habitat preference was similar between years, sexes, and age classes, and reflected use of a wetland complex throughout the postbreeding period. Preference usually did not change throughout daylight hours but did shift at night when birds moved to roosts. Wooded wetlands were the most preferred diurnal habitat from August through October, but wooded swamps were preferred most in November. Seasonally flooded hardwoods was the only habitat used after 15 December. Open water (>82% of available habitat) was not used. American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) patches were preferred roost habitat during August and September and wooded swamps were preferred roost habitat in November. Decreasing water levels and leaf senescence rendered lotus unavailable in November. We recommend that management of postbreeding wood duck habitat include the protection and maintenance of a forested wetland complex within which the flooding of hardwoods and protection of roost sites are emphasized. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 52(1):80-85 Wood ducks are among the most abundant and studied waterfowl species in North America but few investigations have addressed postbreeding habitat use (Gilmer et al. 1977, Parr et al. 1979). Information is lacking in the southern United States where large numbers of wood ducks reside throughout the year. Postbreeding waterfowl require different habitats for various aspects of daily activity such as feeding, resting, and roosting (Fredrickson and Drobney 1979). Differing physiological demands may dictate that waterfowl exhibit variation in preference among an array of potential habitats. We evaluated postbreeding habitat selection and the temporal and spatial changes in habitat preference by wood ducks in northern Alabama. Funds for this study were provided by the ' Present address: Environmental and Forest Biology, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY 13210. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.153 on Mon, 19 Sep 2016 05:09:44 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms J. Wildl. Manage. 52(1):1988 WOOD DUCK HABITAT PREFERENCE * Thompson and Baldassarre 81 Alabama Division of Game and Fish through Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Project W-44. We thank T. Z. Atkeson and staff at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, and J. H. English and D. A. White at Swan Creek Wildlife Management Area, Alabama Division of Game and Fish, for their interest and assistance during this project. R. E. Mirarchi and N. R. Holler reviewed the manuscript. This is Publication 15861019 of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. STUDY AREA AND METHODS This study was conducted on the 13,970-ha Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (WNWR) in northern Alabama. The refuge has a large population of breeding wood ducks associated with >500 maintained nest boxes.