Survival and Habitat Use of Mallard Broods in Western New York

Recruitment of waterfowl into the breeding population is a function of nesting success and duckling survival. Nesting success of mallards throughout their North American range has been well studied and estimates of duckling survival exist for mallards breeding in California, the northcentral U.S. and the prairie- parkland region of North Amercia; however, there have been no reliable estimates of duckling survival for mallards breeding in eastern North America. Survival, sources of mortality, movements and habitat use of mallard broods were studied at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge and Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area in western New York during 1991-92. Hens were captured on nests during incubation and fitted with radio transmitters;ducklings were radio-marked before they left the nest.