Factors affecting survival of Northern Pintail ducklings in Alberta

Abstract

We determined brood and duckling survival from 57 radio-marked Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) females in southern Alberta during 1994-1996, and related duckling survival to maternal and environmental attributes. Annual brood survival estimates ranged from 72.2% to 88.2%. Brood survival declined with hatch date in all years. Duckling survival was highest in 1994 at 65.2%, but fell to 42.4% and 43.8% in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Duckling mortality was highest during the first 10 days post-hatch in all years. Duckling survival did not vary with female age, or distance from nest to nearest wetland, but did decline throughout the breeding season. Duckling survival was higher for ducklings from larger broods in 1994, but the opposite trend was found in 1995 and 1996.