Utilization and Colonization of Artificial Nesting Cylinders by Mallards (Anas

platyrhynchos) and Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) in Northwest Pennsylvania and Southern

Ontario

Jeremy Stempka: M.Sc. Candidate

Dr. Scott Petrie: Supervisor

Dr. Robert Bailey: Co Supervisor

Partners & CooperatorsPartners•Pennsylvania Game Commission – NW Region & BWM

•Flyway Foundation (SC)

•Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund

•Delta Waterfowl

•University of Western Ontario

•NW Pennsylvania Duck Hunters Association

•Susquehanna River Waterfowlers Association

Cooperators

•Canadian Wildlife Service

•Pennsylvania Conservation Corps

•Western Pennsylvania Chapter Delta Waterfowl

•DCNR - Presque Isle State Park

•Private landowners

Hen Houses?

• Nest success rates typically range between 60% and 100%.

• Increase duckling survival.

• Increase hen survival.

• Relatively inexpensive. Photo by Kevin Jacobs

Tripod

Advantages• Very inexpensive (< $10).• Easily made and installed.• Requires no predator guard.• Can be relocated very easily.

Disadvantages• Placement influenced by water

depth and substrate type.• Susceptible to ice damage.• Strong winds may blown over

HH if not firmly installed.Photo by Kevin Jacobs

Delta Design

Advantages• Well built and very sturdy.

• Easily adaptable for different water and soil depth.

• Easy to install through ice in the winter.

Disadvantages• Expense ($50 + labor).Photo by Kevin Jacobs

Study Objectives

• Conduct a regional comparison of hen house occupancy and nest success between Northwest Pennsylvania and Southern Ontario.

• Determine variables that influence hen house occupancy (wetland type, size, food availability, surrounding habitat, land use, mount)

• Investigate philopatry of mallard hens and female offspring to nesting structures.

• Conduct an interspecific comparison of success rates and parameters associated with HH’s utilized by mallards and wood ducks (i.e. surrounding habitat, wetland type, wetland productivity).

Data Collection

• Classifying each wetland type and measuring size.

• Measuring water depth and distance of HH above water.

• Invertebrate sampling.

• Banding hen mallards to measure return rates.

• Web tagging ducklings to investigate offspring philopatry.

• Using satellite imagery to define surrounding habitat and land use.

Hen House Monitoring• Hen houses were checked every

20 days for use.

• Occupied nests checked and candled every 7-10 days to estimate hatch date.

• Nests checked daily near estimated hatch date.

Photo by Kevin Jacobs

Capturing Hens

• Hens captured and banded to detect homing.

• Hens banded on day 16 of incubation or later to decrease nest abandonment.

• Captured primarily by sneaking perpendicular to the nest with dip nets.

Photo by Scott Petrie

Banding Hens• In 2006, 18 Hens were banded with

standard leg bands in Northwest PA and Southern Ontario.

• 50% of those hens returned to nest in the same or adjacent hen house.

• In 2007 an additional 25 hen mallards were banded, 24 ASY, 1 SY

• Hen immobilized by placing the mallard’s head under the wing and rocking it back and forth until it is relaxed and then placing the hen back into the HH.

• No post banding nest abandonment.

Photo by Scott Petrie

Web Tagging• In 2006, 180 mallard ducklings

were web tagged to investigate offspring philopatry.

• No offspring philopatry in 2007 from ducklings tagged in 2006.

• In 2007, an additional 250 mallard ducklings were web tagged.

• Majority were web tagged in the egg.

Photo by Kevin Jacobs

Summary Comparison of Hen House Occupancy in Northwest Pennsylvania and Southern Ontario

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2006 2007 2006 2007

Ontario Pennsylvania

Wood duck

Mallard

Summary Comparison of Hen House Success Rates in Northwest Pennsylvania and Southern Ontario

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2006 2007 2006 2007

Ontario Pennsylvania

Wood duck

Mallard

2008 Plans

• Winter HH maintenance.• Complete 2008 fieldwork

March – July.• Data analysis and thesis

completion target date of December 2008.

Photo by Kevin Jacobs