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Waterfowl and Habitat Changes
After 40 Years on the Waubay Study Area

by
Scott J. McLeod¹ and Kenneth F. Higgins²

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Abstract. From 1950 to 1953, Evans and Black (1956) conducted the Waubay Study, one of the first comprehensive studies of waterfowl and wetlands on private lands in the Prairie Pothole Region. In 1992 and 1993, we repeated their work to assess changes in waterfowl populations, wetland characteristics, land use, and landowner demographics after 40 years. Our findings:

• Annually cropped land decreased substantially and was largely replaced by Conservation Reserve Program grasslands.

• Wetland drainage since 1985 has been less than in earlier years; 28 wetlands have been restored.

• More class IV wetlands were dominated by dense, monotypic stands of cattail (Typha) in 1992-93 than in 1950-53.

• Pairs per km² averaged 34.5 during 1992-93 and 25.0 during 1950-53.

• Pair densities were significantly higher in 1992 and 1993 than in 1951 or 1953.

• Over-water nest searches of 40 class IV and 15 class III wetlands revealed 66 nests in 1992 and 64 in 1993.

• Mayfield clutch success of over-water nesting species combined was 14.2% in 1992 and 23.6% in 1993.

• Redheads (Aythya americana) were the most abundant over-water nesting duck during 1992 and 1993.

• Forty upland nests were found; the blue-wing teal (Anas discors) was the most common nester.

• Mayfield clutch success of upland species combined was 8.2% in 1992 and 5.7% in 1993.

• Mammalian predation was the leading cause of all clutch losses.

• Broods per km² averaged 4.9 in 1992-93 and 9.1 during 1950-53.

• Mean brood densities were significantly lower in 1992-93 than in 1950-53.

• Dabbling duck broods were more abundant than diving duck broods in all years.

Key Words: Waubay study, waterfowl, ducks, wetlands, pair densities, brood densities, nests, predation, South Dakota.

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This resource is based on the following source:

McLeod, Scott J., and Kenneth F. Higgins.  1998.  Waterfowl and habitat changes 
     after 40 years on the Waubay study area.  South Dakota Agricultural Experiment 
     Station Bulletin 728.  South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota.  
     40 pp.

This resource should be cited as:

McLeod, Scott J., and Kenneth F. Higgins.  1998.  Waterfowl and habitat changes 
     after 40 years on the Waubay study area.  South Dakota Agricultural Experiment 
     Station Bulletin 728.  South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota.  
     40 pp.  Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.  
     http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/waubay/index.htm  (Version 17AUG2000).

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Table of Contents

• Changes on the Waubay Study Area
• Study Area
  • Climate
• Methods
  • Demographics
  • Habitat types
  • Wetland surveys
  • Waterfowl surveys
  • Statistical analysis
• Results
  • Demographic
  • Study area landowners
  • Land use practices and habitat types
  • Wetland habitats
  • Breeding pairs of ducks
  • Waterfowl nesting
  • Recruitment of ducks
• Discussion
  • Major changes since 1950-53
  • Minor changes since 1950-53
  • Factors remaining unchanged since 1950-53
• Acknowledgments
• Cited Literature
• Appendices
  • Appendix A
  • Appendix B
  • Appendix C
  • Appendix D
  • Appendix E
  • Appendix F
  • Appendix G
  • Appendix H

• Tables & Figures

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¹ Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Great Plains Regional Office, 3502 Franklin Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501 (formerly Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, South Dakota State University)
² U.S. Geological Survey/Biological Resources Division, South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, South Dakota State University, Box 2140B, Brookings, SD 57007

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