Nest Success and Duckling Survival of Greater Scaup, Aythya marila, at Grassy Island, New Brunswick

Nesting biology and duckling survival of Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) at Grassy Island on the Saint John River in southern New Brunswick were compared between 1995 and 1996. Grassy Island in New Brunswick is an area that is notably removed from other scaup breeding areas, being located farther sout...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Canadian Field-Naturalist
Main Authors: Tatman, Nicole M., McRoberts, Jon T., Smith, W. Andrew, Ballard, Warren B., Kehoe, F. Patrick, Dilworth, Timothy G.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club 2009
Subjects:
Greater Scaup
Aythya marila
nest success
duckling survival
New Brunswick
greater scaup
Online Access:https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/1001
https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v123i4.1001
Description
Summary:Nesting biology and duckling survival of Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) at Grassy Island on the Saint John River in southern New Brunswick were compared between 1995 and 1996. Grassy Island in New Brunswick is an area that is notably removed from other scaup breeding areas, being located farther south from main breeding areas in North America. The Mayfield estimates of nest success were 61% and 21% in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Mean daily survival rates were 0.99 in 1995 and 0.96 in 1996 and were significantly different (t = 4.86, P < 0.001). Duckling survival was estimated to range from 38 to 54% in 1995, and was 8% in 1996. The lower breeding success in 1996 may have been due to factors associated with decreased temperatures and increased precipitation, but the fact that the breeding location is atypical to other Greater Scaup breeding areas should not be overlooked.

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