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- Track pintail hens during their migration from the Central Valley of California. See where they nest and the areas they use after nesting.
Background on Northern Pintails 
Northern pintail ducks are commonly known as sprigs. The long tail feathers on the male can account for one-quarter of the bird's length!
Where to find pintails
During the spring and summer, pintails can be seen in British Columbia through to Ontario. The greatest number of nesting pintails are often found in southern Saskatchewan and Alberta. In dry years, more birds fly to northern Canada and Alaska. The birds migrate south into the United States for the winter. California is a main wintering area for pintail ducks but they are also found as far south as Tanzania and northern Columbia.
First signs of spring
Pintails are one of the first ducks species to return to Canada in the spring. The earlier a pintail can hatch her eggs, the better the chances of survival for her young.
Reluctant renesters
If a pintail's nest and eggs are destroyed, the pintail may try and renest once or twice - but that's it. Research on mallard ducks has identified that some hens will renest up to six times after a nest is destroyed.
