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Pintail Decline in Canadian Prairie Landscapes: Testing Management Actions

Principal Investigators:
James H. Devries, Regional Research Biologist
Dr. Karla Guyn, Director of Conservation Planning

Over the last 25 years, northern pintail (Anas acuta) populations have declined dramatically and in 2002, continental populations tied the previous record low of 1.8 million birds. This long term decline has raised serious concerns about the factors contributing to the decline and has focused research efforts on how habitat conservation efforts can best address population limiting factors.

Reduced nesting success on prairie breeding grounds is suspected to be the dominant factor for chronically low pintail populations (relative to historic). Pintails frequently nest in crop stubble where nests are extremely vulnerable to destruction by spring tillage operations and nest predators. The most dramatic decline has occurred in that portion of the continental breeding population that traditionally settled in the southern prairies of Canada. This has led to the hypothesis that the problem and the solution likely lie in this portion of their breeding range. This has also been the impetus behind Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Pintail Initiative.

In 2005, Ducks Unlimited Canada began a research program designed to examine the influence of land-use on pintail reproductive success. This research will quantify pintail nest site selection and habit-specific nest survival in landscapes ranging from crop-dominated to native grass-dominated. The results will be used to help refine and guide conservation actions most helpful in improving pintail nest survival.

Each year, our research focuses on six 16 square mile study sites chosen in areas estimated to have an average of at least 8 pairs per square mile of breeding pintails (DU data). Sites in 2005 and 2006 were located in Saskatchewan and in 2007, sites will be located in Alberta (map). To estimate nest habitat selection and nest survival among habitats of interest, 4 nest searches are conducted in selected habitats over the waterfowl nesting season (April-July). Nest searches concentrate on spring-seeded cereal crops, winter cereal crops, summerfallow (if present), hayland, pastures (tame and native grass), and idle grass (if present). Habitat selection will be based on habitats used for nesting versus their availability in the landscape. While pintails are the primary species of interest, data will be gathered on all waterfowl nests discovered. A final report, conclusions and conservation guidance from this research is expected in 2008.

If you have any questions or comments, or if you would like more information about Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Pintail Research, please contact:

 

Jim Devries
Regional Research Biologist
Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research
Duck Unlimited Canada
Box 1160, Stonewall, MB CANADA
Ph: (204)467-3316
E-mail: j_devries@ducks.ca

Dr. Karla Guyn
Director of Conservation Planning
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Box 1160, Stonewall, MB CANADA
Ph: (204)467-3325
E-mail: k_guyn@ducks.ca