Waterfowl Pair Use of Natural and Man-Made Wetlands in South Dakota

Abstract

Use of natural ponds and lakes, streams, stock ponds, and dugouts by pairs of waterfowl was examined in South Dakota in May and June 1973 and 1974. Prairie ponds and lakes, primarily of glacial origin, comprised 75 and 68%, respectively, of the total area and number of wetlands in South Dakota. Stock ponds comprised 14% of the area and 21% of wetlands, and dugouts 1% and 12% of the wetland area and numbers, respectively. Semipermanent wetlands and stock ponds contained proportionally more pairs of most species than other wetland categories. Densities of blue-winged teal (Anas discors), pintails (A. acuta), northern shovelers (A. clypeata), and green-winged teal (A. crecca) declined sharply on semipermanent wetlands and stock ponds during the 1974 drought. Lack of water in ephemeral, temporary, and seasonal wetlands apparently decreased use of the remaining more permanent wetlands (natural or man-made) by these species. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 43(2):375-383 Pairs of waterfowl in South Dakota may exceed 1 million during spring in good water years, but major year-to-year fluctuations occur in response to wetland conditions (Brewster et al. 1976). Seventy percent or more of these pairs are associated with the glaciated portion of South Dakota east of the Missouri River; a part of the prairie pothole region of North America (Brewster et al. 1976). Glacial wetlands comprise the major wetland habitat in the state; however, many stock ponds and dugouts are also available. The purpose of this study was to investigate use of stock ponds, dugouts, streams, and various classes of glacial wetlands by pairs of waterfowl, and to inventory and determine the distribution of various wetland classes in South Dakota. This information is important in evaluating effects of past and present changes in wetland drainage and construction of stock ponds and dugouts. Similar studies were conducted in North Dakota (Stewart and Kantrud 1973, Kantrud and Stewart 1977). Financial support was provided by the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station (Project A-038-SDAK and B-045SDAK). We express appreciation to W. G. Brewster, G. D. Mack, and M. R. McEnroe for their assistance in data collection; to W. L. Tucker for providing recommendations on sampling procedures; and to K. F. Higgins, R. L. Linder, C. G. Scalet, and M. E. Anderson for their review and comments on the manuscript. We thank all the landowners who allowed access to their land.