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Species Accounts
- Texas A&M University Press
- Chapter
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Species Accounts [18.118.120.109] Project MUSE (2024-04-17 20:35 GMT) waterfowl 37 Forty-two species of ducks, geese, and swans have occurred on the UTC’s many marine and aquatic habitats , ranking these birds as one of the region’s bestrepresented groups. Although waterfowl are diverse and plentiful during much of the year, only a few are permanent residents. The balance visit from the prairie potholes of the north-central United States and southern Canada to as far north as the tundra around Hudson Bay (the nesting grounds of our Snow and Ross’s geese), Alaska, and Baffin Island. Some species are abundant; at UTC reservoirs and harvested rice fields, birds such as Green-winged Teal and Snow Goose appear in the thousands to hundreds of thousands , creating a wildlife spectacle on a par with any in North America. Others such as Barrow’s Goldeneye and Long-tailed Duck are great rarities, and their unexpected appearance attracts dedicated birders from throughout the region. Several factors account for changes in the UTC’s waterfowl numbers and diversity;some of these seem to have occurred naturally and others are the result of human activity. On Hudson Bay, Snow Goose populations exploded to the point that their feeding grounds were being destroyed. In response Texas hunters’ bag limits were increased to reflect the overpopulation. In Galveston Bay, beds of submerged aquatic vegetation that nourish waterfowl have been lost to dredging and sedimentation. Now, once common diving ducks such as Canvasback and Redhead winter well to the southwest of the UTC. Mottled Duck is another declining species, apparently a victim of changing agricultural practices. At the same time, the tropical Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is extending its range northward from Mexico and the rare Masked Duck has been numerous during several recent years. Although bird watchers, photographers, and writers appreciate waterfowl with aesthetic values that are often difficult to quantify, there is no ambiguity in the dollar value of the UTC’s waterfowl, particularly geese. Late each year hunters from throughout the country visit the UTC (principally W HAS and WAR cos.) and surrounding counties, taking thousands of birds and adding millions of dollars to the economy of East Texas. Fortunately for both hunters and birders, populations of waterfowl breeding in the northeastern arctic survey area of 1.3 million square miles are among the highest they have been since 1955 when the USFWS began monitoring key nesting areas. Such increases, although dramatic, are not uncommon during dry-wet cycles. According to John Rogers, former acting director of the USFWS, favorable weather conditions following several disastrous drought years as well as restoration of millions of acres of wetlands are responsible for the increases. Various provisions of the Farm Bill and the Clean Water Act and the actions of organizations such as Ducks Unlimited have been responsible for habitat acquisition and protection. The North American Waterfowl Management Plan, an international partnership dedicated to wetland protection, restoration, and enhancement , establishes numerical goals that represent healthy duck populations.After four to five years of wet springs and above-average pond numbers, by 2004 most duck species were above these goals. Hunters’ bag limits, currently six ducks per day for the commoner species, have reflected these increases. Note that wintering populations on the UTC vary greatly from year to year depending on weather and the amount of available food. Therefore current statistics may not reflect those presented in the text. Periodic droughts have played a large role in preventing adequate food supplies from developing. The most extreme droughts leave little available marsh habitat for waterfowl. Fred Collins (pers. comm.) notes an increase in habitat available for waterfowl in N HAS and WAR cos., as new upscale housing developments add landscaped “lakes” used for water detention and amenities such as fountains and domesticated waterfowl . Locally, such ornamental ponds are likely to enhance the spread of aggressive feral species such as Mute Swan. Elsewhere in the country, these ponds attract hundreds of nonmigratory Canada Geese that spread into adjoining neighborhoods and golf courses. Because of its messy droppings, this regal bird is now widely regarded as a nuisance species. Waterfowl black-bellied whistling-duck Dendrocygna autumnalis Common summer terminal migrant, uncommon and restricted during winter summer: Common mid- to late Mar to mid-Nov habitat: Lakes, ponds, impoundments, rice fields, favors wooded areas when available (for nest sites), although will nest atop rice levees. discussion: During the past two decades, few...