Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Waterfowl management on grass-sage stock ponds

  • Published:
Wetlands Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We studied waterfowl use of grass-sage stock ponds in north-central Wyoming during the 1988 and 1989 breeding seasons. Dabbling ducks, particularly mallards, were the most common breeders. Indicated breeding pair density averaged 2.7 pairs/ha of wetland surface, while brood density averaged 1.0 brood/ha of wetland surface. Waterfowl use and productivity were greatest on large (> 3 ha), clear, deep ponds with grass shorelines and abundant submergent macrophytes. Pair use was positively correlated with water clarity, pond area, and macroinvertebrate diversity. Brood use was related to macroinvertebrate diversity, pond depth, and Shoreline Development Index. We recommend management priority be given to ponds that are deeper than 1 m to provide more water that is clear so macrophytes can be established. Macroivertebrates should be artificially introduced into ponds. Fencing should be used to improve ponds for waterfowl use and brood rearing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • American Ornithologists’ Union 1983. Check-list of North American Birds. 6th edition. Washington, DC, USA.

  • Andrews, J.D. and A.D. Hasler. 1943. Fluctuations in the animal populations of the littoral zone in Lake Mendota. Transactions Wisconsin Academy Science Arts and Letters 35:175–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball, I. 1973. Ecology of duck broods in a forested region of northcentral Minnesota. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball, I., R. Eng, and S. Ball. 1995. Population density and productivity of ducks on large grassland tracts in northcentral Montana. Wildlife Society Bulletin 23: 767–773.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartonek, J.C. and J.J. Hickey. 1969. Food habits of canvasbacks, redheads and lesser scaup in Manitoba. Condor 71:280–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beard, E. 1953. The importance of beaver in waterfowl management at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Journal of Wildlife Management 17:398–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belanger, L. and R. Couture. 1988. Use of man-made ponds by dabbling duck broods. Journal of Wildlife Management 52:718–723.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berg, P. 1956. The ecology of waterfowl populations on stock ponds in wasterns South Dakota Ph. D. Thesis. University of Minnesota, Mineapolis, MN, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bue, I. G. Blankenship, and W. Marshall. 1952. The relationship of grazing practices to waterfowl breeding populations and production on stock ponds in western South Dakota. Transactions of the North American Wildlife Conference 17:396–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chura, N. 1961. Food availability and preferences of juvenile mallards. Transactions of the North American Wildlife Conference 26:121–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowardin, L., A. Sargeant, and H. Duebbert. 1983. Problems and potentials for prarie ducks. Naturalist 34:4–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowardin, L., V. Carter, F. Golet, and E. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC, USA. FWS/OBS-79-31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer, T.J., G.L. Krapu, and D.M. Janke. 1979. Use of prarie pot-hole habitat by breeding mallards. Journal of Wildlife Management 43:526–531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dzubin, A. 1955. Some evidence of home range in waterfowl. Transactions of the North American Wildlife Conference 20:278–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eng, R.L., J.D. Jones, and F.M. Gjersing. 1979. Construction and management of stockponds for waterfowl. U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management, Billings, MT, USA. Technical Note.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flake, L., G. Petersen, and W. Tucker. 1977. Habitat relationships of breeding waterfowl on stock ponds in northwestern South Dakota. Proceedings South Dakota Academy of Science 56:135–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flannagen, J. 1973. Sorting benthos using floatation media. Fishery Research Board of Canada, Technical Report 354.

  • Giron, B.A. 1981. Wildlife use of man-made wetlands in the prairie pothole region: a selected annotated bibliography. South Dakota Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA. Technical Bulletin no. 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gollop, J.B. and W.H. Marshall. 1954. A guide for aging duck broods in the field U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minneapolis, MN, USA. Mississippi Flyway Technical Section Report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammond, M. 1969. Notes on conducting waterfowl breeding population surveys in the north-central states. p. 238–254.In Saskatoon Wetlands Seminar. Canadian Wildlife Service Report Series 6.

  • Hawkins, A.S. 1964. Mississippi flyway. p. 185–207.In J.P. Linduska (ed.) Waterfowl Tomorrow. U.S Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, M. 1983. Waterfowl production on three age-classes of stock ponds in Montana. Journal of Wildlife Management 47:112–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huggins, D.G., P.M. Liechti, and L.C. Ferrington, Jr. 1985. Guide to the freshwater invertebrates of the Midwest. Kansas Biological Survey, Mannattan, KS, USA. Technical No. 11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joyner, D.E. 1980. Influence of inverbrates on pond selection by ducks in Ontario. Journal of Wildlife Management 44:700–705.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krecker, F.H. 1939. A comparative study of the animal population of certain submerged aquatic plants. Ecology 20:553–562.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krull, J. 1970. Aquatic plant-macroinvertebrace associations and waterfowl. Journal of Wildlife Management 34:707–718.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Land Inventory and Development, Inc. 1987 Pond/reservoir aquatic and riparian study, U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management, Worland, WY, USA, Internal report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leschisin, D., G. Williams, and M. Weller. 1992. Factors affecting waterfowl use of constructed wetlands in Northwestern Minnesota. Wetlands 12:178–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lokemoen, J. 1973. Waterfowl production on stock-watering ponds in the Northern Great Plains. Journal of Range Management 26:179–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mack, G. and L. Flake. 1980. Habitat, relationships of waterfowl broods on South Dakota stock ponds. Journal of Wildlife Management 44:695–700.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCrady, J.W., W.A. Wentz, and R.L. Linder. 1986. Plants and invertebrates in a prarie wetland during brood-rearing. Prarie Naturalist 18:23–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, M.E. 1955. Cause and effects of a die-off of emergent vegetation. Journal of Wildlife Management 19:24–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merrit, R. and K. Cummings (eds.). 1984 An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. Kendell Hunt Publishing, Dubuque, IA, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montogomery, D. 1984. Design and Analysis of Experiments. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, NY, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mundinger, J. 1976. Waterfowl response to rest-rotation grazing. Journal of Wildlife Management 40:60–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. 1982. Monthly normal temperature, precipitation and heating and cooling degree days, 1951–1980, Wyoming. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA. no. 81.

  • Nudds, T. 1977. Quantifying the vegetative structure of wildlife cover. Wildlife Society Bulletin 5:113–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nudds, T.D. and C. D. Ankney. 1982. Ecological correlates of territory and home range size in North American dabbling ducks. Wildffowl 33:58–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennak, R. 1978. Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States. 2nd ed. Ronald Press Co., New York, NY, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosine, W.M. 1955. The distribution of invertebrates on submerged aquatic plant surfaces in Muskee Lake, Colorado, Ecology 36: 3087–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rumble, M. and L. Flake. 1982. A comparison of two waterfowl brood survey techniques. Journal of Wildlife Management 46:1048–1053.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rumble, M. and L. Flake. 1983. Management considerations to enhance use of stock ponds by waterfowl broods. Journal of Range Management 36:691–694.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rundquist, V. 1973. Avian ecology on stock ponds in two vegetational types in north-central Montana. Ph.D. Dissertation. Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R. 1953. A study of waterfowl production on artificial reservoirs in eastern Montana. Journal of Wildlife Management 17: 276–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, R. and H. Kantrud. 1974. Breeding waterfowl populations in the prarie pothole region of North Dakota. Condor 76:70–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Street, M. 1977. The food of mallard ducklings in a wet gravel quarry, and its relation to duckling survival. Wildfowl 28:113–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stubbendieck, J. S., Hatch, and K. Hirsch. 1986. North American Range Plants. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svingen, D. 1991. Waterfowl production on grass-sagestock ponds in Wyoming. M.S. Thesis. University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, G., M. Meyer, and J. Serie. 1974. Feeding ecology of breeding blue-winged teal. Journal of Wildlife Management 38: 396–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uresk, D. and K. Severson. 1988. Waterfowl and shorebird use of surface-mined and livestock water impoundments on the Northern Great Plains. Great Basin Naturalist 48:353–357.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel, R. 1975. Limnology. W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, PA, USA.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Dan Svingen

    Present address: , PO Box 271, 81073, Springfield, Colorado, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wyoming, 82071-3166, Laramie, Wyoming, USA

    Dan Svingen & Stanley H. Anderson

Authors
  1. Dan Svingen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stanley H. Anderson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Svingen, D., Anderson, S.H. Waterfowl management on grass-sage stock ponds. Wetlands 18, 84–89 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03161446

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03161446

Key Words

Search

Navigation