Minnesota Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit

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The 2002 Waterfowl Hunting Season in Minnesota: A Study of Hunters’ Opinions and Activities
(2002) Schroeder, Sue; Fulton, David C; Lawrence, Jeffery S
The 2005 Waterfowl Hunting Season in Minnesota: A Study of Hunters’ Opinions and Activities
(2005) Schroeder, Sue; Fulton, David, C.; Lawrence, Jeffery, S.; Cordts, Steven, D.
The 2005 Waterfowl Hunting Season in Minnesota: A Study of Hunters’ Opinions and Activities
(2005) Schroeder, Sue; Fulton, David, C.; Lawrence, Jeffery, S.; Cordts, Steven, D.
Assessment of Techniques for Evaluating American Woodcock Population Response to Best Management Practices Applied at the Demonstration-Area Scale (RWO 91 Annual Report, 2012)
(2012) Daly, Kyle O; Andersen, David E; Brininger Jr, Wayne L
American woodcock (Scolopax minor) have experienced significant long-term declines in the Eastern and Central Management Regions since Singing-ground Surveys (SGS) were first implemented in the mid-1960s. Declines in population trend coupled with declines in woodcock recruitment (indexed through immature:adult female ratios derived from wingcollection surveys) are widely believed to be caused by the loss or alteration of early succession forest and shrubland land-cover types throughout the breeding range. Developing a system of demonstrations areas (≈200 – 800 ha) where specific Best Management Practices (BMPs) are applied throughout the woodcock breeding range is one strategy to influence landscape change and potentially increase woodcock populations. However, how woodcock populations respond to BMPs applied at the demonstration-area scale is not well documented. To evaluate woodcock response to BMPs, we are assessing four population-level metrics at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in northwest Minnesota: displaying male abundance, female habitat use, female survival, and recruitment of juveniles. During the 2011 and 2012 field seasons we captured a total of 529 woodcock, including 41 (2011: n = 23, 2012: n = 18) adult female woodcock that we radio-marked. We found 50 nests (2011: n = 27, 2012: n = 23) and monitored 52 woodcock broods (2011: n = 30, 2012: n = 22). In 2011, abundance of displaying males was similar at Tamarac NWR to abundance in adjacent, reference areas, but in 2012 Tamarac NWR had higher abundance than adjacent areas. In both years, breeding females and broods used dense vegetation in managed areas.
Assessment of Techniques for Evaluating American Woodcock Population Response to Best Management Practices Applied at the Demonstration-Area Scale (RWO 91 Annual Report, 2013)
(2012) Daly, Kyle O; Andersen, David E; Brininger Jr, Wayne L
American woodcock (Scolopax minor) have experienced significant long-term population declines in the Eastern and Central Management Regions since Singing-ground Surveys (SGS) were first implemented in the mid-1960s. Declines in population trend coupled with declines in woodcock recruitment are widely believed to be caused by the loss or alteration of early succession forest and shrubland land-cover types throughout the breeding range. Developing a system of demonstrations areas (~200 – 800 ha) where specific Best Management Practices (BMPs) are applied throughout the woodcock breeding range is one strategy to influence landscape change and potentially increase woodcock population size. However, how woodcock populations respond to BMPs applied at the demonstrationarea scale is not well documented. To evaluate woodcock response to BMPs, we are assessing four population-level metrics at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in northwest Minnesota: displaying male abundance, female habitat use, female survival, and recruitment of juveniles. During the 2011 and 2012 field seasons we captured a total of 529 woodcock, including 41 (2011: n = 23, 2012: n = 18) adult female woodcock that we radio-marked. We found 50 nests (2011: n = 27, 2012: n = 23) and monitored 52 woodcock broods (2011: n = 30, 2012: n = 22). In 2011, abundance of displaying males was similar at Tamarac NWR to abundance in adjacent, reference areas, but in 2012 Tamarac NWR had higher abundance than adjacent areas. In both years, breeding females and broods used dense vegetation in managed areas.
Biennial Report, January 1995 - December 1996
(1997) Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Biennial Report, January 1997 - December 1998
(1999) Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Biennial Report, January 1999 - December 2000
(2001) Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Biennial Report, January 2001 - December 2002
(2003) Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Biennial Report, January 2003 - December 2004
(2005) Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Biennial Report, January 2005 - December 2006
(2007) Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Biennial Report, January 2007 - December 2008
(2009) Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Biennial Report, January 2009 - December 2010
(2011) Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Biennial Report, January 2011 - December 2012
(2013) Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Biennial Report, January 2013 - December 2014
(2015)
Breeding bird response to partially harvested riparian management zones
(2011) Chizinski, Christopher, J.; Peterson, Anna; Hanowski, JoAnn; Blinn, Charles, R.; Vondracek, Bruce; Neimi, Gerald
We compared avian communities among three timber harvesting treatments in 45-m wide even-age riparian management zones (RMZs) placed between upland clearcuts and along one side of first- or second-order streams in northern Minnesota, USA. The RMZs had three treatments: (1) unharvested, (2) intermediate residual basal area (RBA) (targeted goal 11.5m2/ha, realized 16.0m2/ha), and (3) low RBA (targeted goal 5.7m2/ha, realized 8.7m2/ha). Surveys were conducted one year pre-harvest and three consecutive years post-harvest. There was no change in species richness, diversity, or total abundance associated with harvest but there were shifts in the types of birds within the community. In particular, White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) and Chestnut-sided Warblers (Dendroica pensylvanica) increased while Ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla) and Red-eyed Vireos (Vireo olivaceus) decreased. The decline of avian species associated with mature forest in the partially harvested treatments relative to controls indicates that maintaining an unharvested RMZ adjacent to an upland harvest may aid in maintaining avian species associated mature forest in Minnesota for at least three years post-harvest. However, our observations do not reflect reproductive success, which is an area for future research
BROOD MOVEMENTS AND DISTRIBUTION OF EASTERN PRAIRIE POPULATION (EPP) CANADA GEESE (BRANTA CANADENSIS INTERIOR) IN NORTHERN MANITOBA: POTENTIAL INFLUENCE OF INCREASED SNOW GOOSE (CHEN CAERULESCENS CAERULESCENS) ABUNDANCE
(2003-07) Nack, Robert, R.
In 2001 and 2002, we conducted aerial surveys to compare indices of Eastern Prairie Population (EPP) Canada goose (Branta canadensis interior) brood distribution and abundance near Cape Churchill, Manitoba with those obtained in 1977 and 1978. Since the late 1970s, many of the coastal salt marsh areas used for brood-rearing have been degraded as a result of increased foraging pressure from locally breeding and migrating light geese [snow geese (Chen caerulescens) and Ross’s geese (C. rossii)] and the density of nesting Canada geese has declined. The mean Canada goose brood density across the entire survey area in 2001-2002 was not different from 1977-1978 (difference between means ± 95% CI; 0.20 broods/km2 ± 0.36); however, the mean brood density in the southern portion of the survey area was significantly higher in 2001-2002 than in 1977-1978 (0.45 ± 0.39). In 2002, the mean snow goose brood density was higher than the mean Canada goose brood density (27.31 ± 10.92), with higher densities of snow geese in northern coastal flats/beach ridge areas and higher densities of Canada geese in southern coastal flats/beach ridge areas. The mean number of Canada goose broods observed on 15 traditional brood-rearing areas decreased since 1977 (-8.67 ± 6.19) and the mean number of snow goose broods observed increased (43.91 ± 38.22). Canada goose broods appear to have shifted use of brood-rearing areas in response to reduced food availability, direct interactions with snow geese on brood-rearing areas, or both. Loss and degradation of brood-rearing habitat may be a factor in declines in nest density of Canada geese and has implications for EPP management.
Brood Movements of Eastern Prairie Population Canada Geese: Potential Influence of Light Goose Abundance
(2006) Nack, Robert R; Andersen, David E
During the summers of 2000–2002, we used radio telemetry to document Eastern Prairie Population (EPP) Canada goose (Branta canadensis interior) brood movements and use of brood-rearing habitat. We compared these data with similar data collected in 1976–1978 (Didiuk 1979), prior to a significant increase in the size of the midcontinent light goose (lesser snow geese [Chen caerulescens] and Ross’s geese [C. rossii]) population and consequent habitat alteration near Cape Churchill, Manitoba. Since the late 1970s, use of traditional EPP Canada goose broodrearing areas by light geese has increased significantly near Cape Churchill, and the density of nesting EPP Canada geese has declined. Alteration of brood-rearing habitat has been hypothesized as a cause of the decline in EPP breeding density, as natal dispersal to more distant brood-rearing areas may influence future recruitment into the local breeding population. In 1976–1978, 20 (95%) of 21 radio-marked broods nesting in beach ridge/sedge meadow habitat moved to salt marsh brood-rearing areas; however, only 5 (19%) of 27 Canada geese, nesting in the same habitat, made initial movements to these traditional salt marsh brood-rearing areas in 2000–2002. In 2000–2002, 30 (75%) of 40 geese with broods made initial movements to beach ridge/sedge meadow habitat—10 of these broods eventually moved to salt-marsh habitats later in the brood-rearing period (v date ¼ 22 days postmedian hatch). Mean brood home range size from 2001–2002 in coastal and inland habitats nearly doubled compared to the mean brood home range size during 1976–1978. Eastern Prairie Population Canada geese currently use broodrearing habitat other than the coastal salt marshes they used prior to habitat alteration resulting from foraging by light geese. A shift in the use of brood-rearing habitat could potentially reduce nest densities on the study area if first-time breeders nest closer to distant brood-rearing areas. The impact of alternative brood-rearing habitat on gosling growth and survival for EPP geese is unknown, but foraging in poorer quality broodrearing habitat may also contribute to the observed decline in nesting density. (JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 70(2):435–442; 2006
DEMOGRAPHIC RESPONSE OF GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER TO HABITAT MANAGEMNET ACROSS A CLIMATE CHANGE GRADIENT IN THE CORE OF THE SPECIES' RANGE: 2012 SUMMARY REPORT
(2012-12-31) Streby, Henry M; Peterson, Sean M; Andersen, David E
In 2012 we repeated our 2011 efforts with a substantial increase in data collected. This was the second and final full field season investigating population ecology of Golden-winged Warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera; hereafter GWWA) at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Rice Lake NWR in Minnesota and Sandilands Provincial Forest (PF) in Manitoba. We assessed nesting habitat use, nest productivity, fledgling survival, and post-fledging habitat use by GWWA at all three sites. We color banded 107 adult female and 112 adult male GWWA and we attached radio transmitters to 108 adult females. By tracking radio-marked females and by nest searching, we found and monitored 149 nesting attempts including 2 nests found by others conducting research at Tamarac NWR (see acknowledgments). The 66% increase over the 2011 nest sample was partly due to increased effort to radio-mark adult females, but mostly to the return of many experienced nest searchers from 2010 and 2011. We banded 311 nestlings and fledglings and radio-tracked 175 fledglings. We collected data on habitat characteristics and GWWA behavior at >2,400 adult, nest, and fledgling locations. Including renesting, we estimated that 58%, 74%, and 79% of females successfully nested and that 53%, 49%, and 48% of fledglings survived to independence from adult care at Tamarac NWR, Rice Lake NWR, and Sandilands PF, respectively. Interestingly, the increases (over 2011) in successfully nesting females at Rice Lake NWR and Sandilands PF were accompanied by considerable decreases in fledged brood size due to many partial-brood nest predation events, and the decrease in successfully nesting females at Tamarac NWR was accompanied by a considerable increase in fledged brood size. Similar to 2011, nest failure and fledgling mortality were due nearly entirely to predation at the Minnesota sites, whereas weather exposure and blowfly infection accounted for a relatively high percentage (23%) of fledgling mortalities at Sandilands PF. Unlike previous years, we tracked at least one (total = 6) nestling or young fledgling at each site to a garter snake (i.e., inside the snake), possibly reflective of the warmer, dryer early spring weather. Consistent with 2011, 30% of radio-marked females nested in older forest stands traditionally not considered GWWA habitat, and fledged family groups moved into and spent much of the post-fledging period in those older forest areas. Early findings from this project have been disseminated in 2 peer reviewed scientific journal articles and 2 more are currently in review. Detailed analyses for manuscripts about transmitter effects, population dynamics, micro- and macro-scale habitat associations, nest-site choice, parental care of fledglings, and interesting natural history observations are all underway.
DEMOGRAPHIC RESPONSE OF GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER TO HABITAT MANAGEMNET ACROSS A CLIMATE CHANGE GRADIENT IN THE CORE OF THE SPECIES' RANGE: 2013 SUMMARY REPORT
(2013-12-31) Streby, Henry M; Peterson, Sean M; Kramer, Gunnar R; Andersen, David E
No new data were collected for this project during 2013 but the RWO was extended into 2014 to support graduate student Sean Peterson during thesis completion and manuscript preparation. That thesis was successfully defended in November 2013, and the final thesis will be submitted to the University of Minnesota in early 2014 and disseminated to all cooperators as a Final Report for this project in 2014 along with all other published products. This 2013 annual report summarizes completed products and plans for additional data analysis, manuscript preparation, and publication in refereed outlets. So far we have produced 11 manuscripts from this project, of which 4 are published, 1 is in press, 4 are in review or revision, and 2 will be submitted for review in January 2014. We are organizing data and conducting analysis for 5 additional manuscripts. A second graduate student, Gunnar Kramer (supported on a separate RWO) will produce 2 of those manuscripts as part of his thesis. During 2013, we presented results from this project in 8 presentations; 5 at professional conferences, 2 at public venues, and 1 at a university. We have scheduled 2 additional professional presentations for 2014.