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Conservation of theNorthern Pintail
Anas acuta
Kyle Sams
Taxonomy
• Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Species: acuta
Northern PintailIdentification
Drake
• Avg. length is 25”
• Avg. weight is 2.26 lbs.
• Chocolate brown head
• White neck, breast & belly, white finger up back of neck
• Pale grey bill, with black stripe down center
• Gray flanks & back, w/ black centers to back feathers
• Black under-tail coverts
• Long black central tail feathers
• Green speculum w/ white rear border & chestnut forward border
Identification
Hen• Avg. length is 21.4”
• Avg. weight is 1.91 lbs.
• Tan head & neck
• Mottled tan & dark brown body, paler on belly
• Grey bill
• Brown speculum & white rear border
Sub-SpeciesEaton’s Pintail’s
• Kerguelen Pintail (Anas eatoni eatoni)– Confined to Kerguelen islands off S. America
• Crozet Pintail (Anas eatoni drygalskyi)– Confined to Crozet islands, also off S.
America
Pintail Migration
• Among the first ducks to migrate– Most migrating through Cali.
• Others using the Mississippi flyway, to LA, TN, AL, & MS
• Also common visitors in Central America
Breeding Range
• Breed from Alaska, central Canadian
Arctic, Western Greenland, central USA
– Boreal forest
– Alaskan coastal areas
– Prairie potholes
Non-Breeding Range
• Mostly central California, Mexico & Gulf coasts, Texas panhandle, some on Atlantic coast– Over ½ migrate through Cali.
Northern Pintail Range
Mating
• Monogamous– Same pair mate for life
• Sexually mature at 1 year old
• Mate in late April– As late as the end of July
Pintail Breeding Pairs
• The breeding pair numbers was obtained by the Black Duck Joint Venture helicopter survey
Nesting
• Among the first to Nest• Nests in open country, w/ shallow, seasonal
wetlands, & low vegetation• Copulation takes place in the water• Nests is a scrape in ground in brush/grass, lined
w/ grass & down; usually not near water• Hen incubates eggs alone
– Usually takes 21-25 days
Young
• Clutch size is usually 8, range 3-14
• Precocial young
• Fledge in 6-7 weeks
• Around ¾ live to fledge– Half of those live to breed– About 37.5%
Feeding Characteristics
• Pintail’s are DABBLERS– Upend while in the water to feed
• Omnivorous– Feed on seeds, nutlets of aquatic plants, also eats
mollusks, crabs, worms, fairy shrimp, & other aquatic insects
• Insects are more important to females during pre-laying & laying periods
Predation
• People are #1
• Coyotes
• Skunks
• Gulls, crows, magpies
• Badgers
• Raccoons
Population History
• Pop. depends on wet-dry cycle• In 1955, the breeding pop. was around 6 million
– Fluctuating between 2 & 10 million
• In the 1970’s pop’s recovered when the wetland were good, but fell when prairies were dry & wetland conditions were poor
• Agriculture has cause most of the problems• These factors combined have caused declining
pintail population since the 1980’s
Conservation Status
• Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act• Global status is at G5, secure• Not endangered, pop. Are lower than desired• N. American pop. was around 6 million
– Reduced to about 2 million birds according to GDNR
Northern Pintail Distribution
Management
• Protect & restore wetlands• Adequate migration & wintering habitats must be
protected, restored, & enhanced• Protect northern boreal & tundra habitats• Develop farm programs compatible w/ pintail life
style• Manage for moist soil to stimulate the growth of
native plants• Manage for available cover• Cut back on harvest• Proper use of fertilizers, pesticides, & herbicides
Economical Importance
• One of the most sought after ducks by duck hunters
• Damage grain crops and cost farmers money
Interesting Facts
• Range over more of the Earth than any other waterfowl