Stump and Tree Nesting by Mallards and Black Ducks

Abstract

Studies conducted 1961-65 at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in New York demonstrated that mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and black ducks (Anas rubripes) make extensive use of stumps and dead snags for nest sites. Nest densities in timbered habitats compared favorably with those in untimbered habitats. Nest success was generally higher in timbered than in untimbered areas, except for a newly flooded impoundment where nest success was poor. A simple artificial nest structure was used to increase the number of available nest sites in some of the timbered habitats. Development of stump-nesting populations of ducks may furnish a means of increasing waterfowl production in forested areas. The use of stumps and dead snags as nest sites for black ducks and mallards was noted during the course of several studies of waterfowl ecology at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Seneca Falls, New York. The purpose of this paper is to bring together and present observations of stump nesting, a habit which may have valuable management implications. Studies of waterfowl nesting at Montezuma were initiated by Cummings in 1961 and continued until 1964. Cowardin (1965) made a detailed study of waterfowl production on habitat types containing dead flooded timber during 1963 and 1964. Reed (1966) reported preliminary findings concerning waterfowl production in green timber impoundments. Stump nesting is more common in mallards than in black ducks at Montezuma. Instances of stump nesting were also observed for the blue-winged teal (Anas discors), redhead (Aythya americana), wood duck (Aix sponsa), and Canada goose (Branta canadensis). Nest sites included stumps, tall snags, mounds between clumps of red maple (Acer rubrum), hollow logs, and crotches in both living and dead trees. With the exception of the wood duck and Canada goose, there are few recorded instances of tree and stump nesting by the species mentioned above. Bent (1962:52, 53) described a number of tree nest sites used by black ducks. Wright (1954:34) stated that, In the lowlands of the St. John River, and no doubt in other areas in eastern Canada, the nest [of black ducks] frequently is placed in holes and crotches in mature hardwoods. Stotts and Davis (1960:138) found black duck nests in wooded areas and on offshore duck blinds on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Bent (1962:37) cited one instance of a mallard nesting in a hollow stump. Burger (1964) described the use of nest boxes by mallards. We have found no recorded instance of tree nesting by redheads or blue-winged teal. Canada geese often nest in trees or in nesting tubs placed in trees. Brakhage (1965) reviewed the literature describing tree nesting in geese. O. H. Hewitt and D. Q. Thompson fur1This study was supported by the New York Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit and the Division of Wildlife Refuges of the U. S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. 2 Present address: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Jamestown, North Dakota.