Abstracts

Presented by Aidan J. Flores - Email: aflore06@syr.edu

Agricultural grains are an energy-dense food eaten by granivorous waterfowl throughout North America. Waterfowl make extensive use of waste corn following harvest and standing corn that is intentionally flooded. Chopping standing corn after the close of waterfowl season as a supplement to traditional foods could provide additional energy needed by waterfowl to survive winter and initiate spring migration. We determined initial yield, depletion rates and waterfowl use of chopped standing corn on eastern Long Island, February April, 2018 and 2019. Our aim was to determine how American black ducks (Anas rubripes) used these resources compared to mallards (Anas platyrhynchos; a habitat competitor) and Canada geese (Branta canadensis; a perceived nuisance species), estimate energy days produced, and determine the most efficient chopping schedule. Black ducks historically inhabited the northeastern portion of the United States and were the most abundant duck species until they experienced a steady population decline between 1950-1980s. Decreased winter carrying capacity for black ducks on the Atlantic Coast from urbanization, loss of coastal marsh and other stressors may necessitate novel management options. As coastal marsh habitat declines in quantity and quality and while black ducks selectively forage in these areas there may be a benefit, particularly in prolonged freeze events, to feed on a more reliable food source such as chopped standing corn fields We will present results of initial yield, waterfowl use, and grain depletion on chopped corn fields on Long Island, New York during winter 2018 and 2019.