The following schedule is from the 72nd Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies which was held October 21-24, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama.
AUTHORS: Samantha A. Collins, James M. Whitaker*, William Strong – Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge*Presenting Author
ABSTRACT: The Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) has extended its range north and east since the 1970s and is now a common species in southwestern Louisiana. However, information on survival and movement for this species is lacking and it remains unclear what percentage of these birds are year-round residents. Band recovery data can be used to monitor populations by estimating annual survival, indexing harvest rate, and assessing movements. Banding efforts for Black-bellied Whistling Ducks have been conducted during the spring season throughout southwestern Louisiana since 2013. For banding years of 2013-2017, 1,474 normal, wild Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were banded and released in southwestern Louisiana. Hunters or landowners shot, recovered, and/or reported 86 birds (6%) with bands during this period. We report preliminary findings on encounter locations, annual survival, and harvest of this species from band recovery data for birds banded during these efforts.
