Molt Migration of Postbreeding Female Mallards from Suisun Marsh, California

We monitored postbreeding movements of 34 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) hens that nested in Suisun Marsh, California, in 1987 using radio telemetry. Hens began leaving Suisun Marsh in late May, and 50% had departed by mid-June. We located 27 of 34 hens from late June through September during aerial s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Condor (Los Angeles, Calif.) Calif.), 1994-02, Vol.96 (1), p.36-45
Main Authors: Yarris, Gregory S., McLandress, M. Robert, Alison E. H. Perkins
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anas platyrhynchos
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Aves
Biological and medical sciences
Bird migration
Bird nesting
Breeding
Ducks
Female animals
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hens
Marshes
Molting
Ornithology
Poultry
Telemetry
Vertebrata
Waterfowl
Wetland ecology
Wetlands
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Summary:We monitored postbreeding movements of 34 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) hens that nested in Suisun Marsh, California, in 1987 using radio telemetry. Hens began leaving Suisun Marsh in late May, and 50% had departed by mid-June. We located 27 of 34 hens from late June through September during aerial searches; 25 hens had migrated north out of the study area, and two remained near the nesting area. We determined the molting areas of 20 hens: nine in Oregon and 11 in California. These molting areas were 12-536 km from nesting sites. Wetlands used by molting Mallards were dominated by bulrush (Scirpus spp.) and cattail (Typha spp.), were traditionally flooded during summer, and often associated with lakes or rivers. Molting areas of seven hens located at least once after leaving the study area were not determined, and seven other hens were never relocated indicating probable migration north of the search area. Two hens were recaptured in 1988 and radio-tracked to molting areas used the previous year, 121 and 484 km north of the breeding area. Mallards appear to exhibit site fidelity to molting areas. Migrating to an area with preferred molting habitat may enhance survival during the flightless period and early part of the hunting season.
ISSN:0010-5422
1938-5129
2732-4621
DOI:10.2307/1369061