Waterfowl Communities in the Northern Plains

Lesser Scaup

Lesser Scaup. -- This species has a distribution centered farther north than any other considered in this chapter. Its highest densities are reported in Alaska and the Northwest Territories. The stratum containing the Woodworth Study Area is in the lowest quartile for average density. Continental population of scaup showed no linear trend; in contrast, the population in the Woodworth Study Area increased throughout the study period (Fig. 13).

At Woodworth, lesser scaup and wetland counts were not related. Johnson and Grier (1988) found moderately high correlation coefficients (0.20-0.40) for the general area. The best model for this species included both May weather variables, counts being highest in years with warm temperatures and much precipitation.

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