MONTANA FISH A.ND GAhffi COMMISSION JOB COMPLBTION I^EPOIW UStWm NDNTANA SGGMKMT PROJECT W-39-R-5 !«« PLAN 1, 3 & 4 I STATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTIOII DEC 3 0 1985 MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 1515 E. 6th AVE. HELENA, MONTANA 59620 A STUDY OF W^ITERFOWL BnOODS IN EASTERN fiONTAflA WITIt SPfCIAL REFEKHfCE TO MOVEMENTS .iND THE REIATIONSHIP or RESERVOIR FENCING TO PRODUCTION by PAUL F. 3ERG WILDLIFE REOTORATION DIVISION ' • JUNIi 21, 1955 PITTMAN-ROBERTSON FEDERAL AID PROJECT IN COOPERATION WITH MONTANA STATE COLLEGE 1J1 $1 If >* It..- r-!'^-!"*' brood, in e:i„„ 3 0864 00050829 4 330 .3VA fits .3 eiei 4 mTOODUCTIOM A .tua7 of wterfowl production on «-tlflcia r...rvoir. In ««tem «..t«. (S»ith. 195J) indicated that the l«-gor re.=rvcir. «r. superior in brood production. SMth>. conclu,i».. w<-.r. basod on monthly vi.lt. to all re.erToir.. »d hi. data, althcigh indlcativ* of «terfo«l »d brood u»g.. do not n=c..«rily .npply information of .nfflcient detail to permit complete .valuation of brood ««ge of the .-.Her pond., or the relationahip. between the «»11 and the large pond, concerning brood uaage and breeding terrltori... The pro,ent Invertigation wa. conducted t. help cl«-i£, thi. relation.hip through an evaluation of brood movement, involving m«rk«i individual.. Althou* Srtth concluded that re.orvoir .i« ad «r. influ«»=. on hrood production th«> vegetative type, he al.o reported that open-type r..erTolrs, ^ich conatituted 31 p«r cent of 116 under conaid«-ation. pro- duced »ay 18.9 per cent of 196 brood.. S-th pointed o« that -any open- type reservoir, were subjected to heavy gra^ng. To t..t tl>e hypothe.i. tb.t the low brood production wa. the r.«at of .par.e vegetation which in t„m wa. due to Uveetock graxi^, twelve of the pond, were fenced to ex- clude live^ock. Change, i. the vegetation »d brood ^oc'uction were evalu- .ted. The reaervoir. are in the waterfowl tr«,d area, of Carter ^ .icCon. oountie.. Kor a d..orlpti«. of th.« the reader i. referred to Smith (op. cit.). The «-it.r e««a. .incere appreciation to the Mont- Stat. Fl.h »d J Hf D C. Quimbr. Montana State Gae Department for financing the projects to Or. D. 0. wumy. college, for .uggeetion. during field work «d a..i.t«,c. in -«.u.cript pre- paration, to ur. W. E. Booth «Ki or. J. 0. *ight. Mont«- State Coll.g.,f.r verification of pl»t collection.. l«knowl«»g-nt i. al.o extended to Valdene Berg, rajr wife, who donated h«r tliae m field as»l9tant during the entirety of the project. HirHODS KsW RESULTS Sheep-tight fences were constructed in the auraraer of 1953, by the Montana State Fiah and Game Department, excluding livestock from the upper ent^ and a suitable portion of the drainage area of each pond chosen (6 in Carter bounty and 6 in McCone bounty). During the same period a pond of similar location, size and tjrpe was selected to serve as an unfenced, paired control for eaxsh fenced pond. The average site of the 12 Carter and 12 McCone fenced and con- trol ponds was 1.32 and 2.92 surface acres at hizh water level, respectively. The exclosiu'es on the 6 Carter and 6 McCone fenced ponds averaged 1.47 and 2.03 acres, respectively. Intensive vegetative measurements and brood pro- duction data were collected during the sunmers of 1953 snd 1954 at the 12 study ponds in each of the two areas. Brood movement data were collected during sja^ng and sujimer of 1954 at 44 ponds (about one per square laile) in the Carter Coimty trend area. Riparian Vegetation Four 50-foot base lines were randonay selected within the exclosure of each fenced pord and "pennanently«* jiarked with stakes; one at mud flat- grassland ecotone, the other at 50 feet perpendicular to waterline. Similar base lines were delimited on each control pond within an area similar to that of the exclosure of the fenced pond with which it was paired. Vegetation density was measwcd by pcint-transects consisting of 10 sliding pins placed at one decimeter intervals on a meterlong "A" frame (Coupland, 1950), and taken perpendicularly at five-foot intervals along each base line. Plants touched at soil surface a point were recorded as to species and their height measured to nearest one-quarter inch. Because of the isiportance of Arteadsia tridentata, data were recorded when a pin touched its branches at any level. One hundred points were taken on each base line; i.e., 400 points per pond, except in s<»>e cases where a conplete 50-foot base line was prevented hj proximity of fence to water. The total number of points taken each year was 4,750 in Carter County, August 30 to Septwsber 3 and 4,450 in McCone County, August 12 to 19. (Fences were constructed on McCone County ponds during June and July, and Cai*ter County ponds in August and September, 1953.) f^ajor vegetation includes those species ¥td.ch were encountered frequently on point- transects, while all others are considered minor species. The results are expressed as per cmt density, per cent species composition, and species height (Tables 1 and 2). Plant nmnetwlature followed Booth (1950), and Booth and Wright (1953). Carter Coiinty ponds: The fenced ponds showed a plant density increase from 15.32 per cent in 1953 to 25.62 per cent in 1954 (Table 1). Five of the 10 major species, Agropyron smithii, Hordeum JubattoB, Poa caatyl, Buchloe dactyloides. and Poa pratensis, contributed largely to the increase. No appreciable chans^e was recorded for A. tridentata, Echinochloa crusgalli, and Beckmannia sygi^achne; whereas Bouteloua gracilis and Distichlls stricta de- creased. P. caB&yi was recorded in 1954 (Hily. Control pond data indicate that the total plant dmsity increase 1953 to 1954 was less than for fenced pondsi 11.46 to 16.96. A. smithii, B. dactyloides* 1* Btricta, Koeleria cristata, and H. ;|ubatum made up most of this increase. tridentata, B. gracilis, and Stipa viridula showed no appreciable density change. .1 :t im« oi i>9lnco3»i sojtlt'nm Hoc Table 1. - Per cent density^ species composition, and average height of vegeta- tion for Carter County ponds, 1953-54. Fenced Ponds 1953 1954 « W • h m 1 •rtB, *§) N 1 1 ■H O g •H. «.nor Species 4.38 23.6 5.87 22.9 _ Total Veeetatiou 15.32 10 0,0 25.62 100.0 _ Total No, Species 34 39 _ _ Control Ponds 1953 1954 A^opyron swithii 2.92 25,4 7.2 6 4.87 28.7 5.7 6 Artemisia tridentata 1.96 17.:. 9.2 3 2.00 11.6 8.6 4 '^otiteloua fracilis 1.50 13.1 1.6 4 1.38 8.1 2.1 2 Buchloe dactyloides 0.87 7.6 1.8 2 2.13 12.5 o n 4 DisticWis stricta 0.50 4.4 3.6 2 1.08 6.4 4.9 2 Ooracui^ .iubatura U.13 i.l 6.5 2 0.33 2.2 12.0 2 Koe^eria crist^ta 0.17 1.5 2,5 1 0.79 4.7 6.1 4 JStipa vxridiiia 0.28 2.5 8.9 2 0.25 1.5 15.8 3 Total >ia.ior Species 8.33 72.7 12.88 75.9 5.5 Total Minor Species 3.13 27.3 "4.08 24".l Total Vecetation 11.46 100.0 16.96 100.0 Total lio. Species 25 24 1 Per cent density (points occupied divided by total points taken). 2 Per cent species composition (per cent density of species divided by total per cent density). 3 Weighted mean heights in inches. 4 KaBd>er of ponds at which species occurred. s ;OVJ8 biSfl Table 2. - Per cent density, species composition, and average height of vegeta- tion for KfcCone County ponds, 1953-54. Fenced Ponds 1^54 n «> • ►» « . Si ft A o n ^, n •H •H P. O W \ m Ma.ior Si[>ecies St 11 M 2 •rt * •* 3=3 1 g «1 •rt 3 * o . 0.4 Boutclcua ,':'j'pxilx» 6.54 2t),0 4.4 s 7.85 22.0 3.4 5 AfTotJyron smithil 5.66 22.5 8.7 6 7.32 20.5 10.7 6 liordeuni .iubatiim 1.66 b.G 14.U 2 2.29 6.4 13.J 3 Ca-laiTOvilfa lon'rlfolia 1.41 5.6 5.0 2 0.63 1.8 10.1 5 Distichlis .stri.cta 1.22 4.9 4.4 3 2«od 7.5 8.1 3 Echinochloa crus^alli 1.22 4.9 7.5 2 0.39 1.1 5.6 3 Androt}0£;on scoparius 0.78 3.1 9.5 4 1.17 3.3 14.2 3 Carex filifolia 0.68 2.7 2.8 2 1.80 5.0 4.3 6 KuIilciiLtir^ia rickardsonis 0.44 1.7 5.6 3 1.37 3.- 6.3 5 Stipa conata 0.39 1.6 6.0 1 0.83 2.3 3.8 4 fotai Major species 79.0 b.o 7.9* It ••1 ' . • ■ J. Total Vcseetation 25.12 100,0 35.74 100.0 Total Sihicias 44 To- itro3 Ponds 1953 1954 JNnitelcoa /gracilis 6.73. 31.3 4.2 5 5.46 24.4 2.1 5 Afixownron smithii Disticliilis sti^icta 6,17 28.7 7.4 6 5.66 25.4 4.7 6 2.25 J. -J . x> 6.3 »» «•« f>.?6 13.3 5.6 4 Andropo^n scoparius 0.96 4.5 3.8 4 0.54 2.4 18.3 2 Stipa conrnta 0.86 4.0 7.9 3 0.75 3.4 5.2 5 Carex fiUfolia 0.86 4.0 7.4 4 1.12 5.0 4.3 6 >m^ilenberfi;ia ricliardsonis 0.71 3.33 4.3 4 0.33 3.7 3.3 3 Poa prat^QSis 0.29 1.4 2.8 1 1.67 7.5 2.0 2 Total "•'fa.ior Species 13. SI S7.7 5.7 13.33 35.1 Total Minor Specie* 2.63 12.3 3.33 14.9 Total V'ea;etation 21.44 100.0 22.32 Total Mo. Species 31 28 1 Per cent density (points occupied divided by total points taken). 2 Per cent species conposition (per cent dcnsitj'' of species dividad by total per cent density). 3 Weii^hted mean heights in inches. 4 Inmiber of ponds at >»hich species occurred. * Two pcnds excluded; cattl? •;ra:^oi insicle -xclosiire prior to nicasifroinents. ^ Two ponds excluded; cattle reiooved, land plowed fall, 1953. S. yjridula, K. cristata, n. 8y«j/:achnc . and Tv. cnjs^alli, important at control ponds, were not encotmtered as ntajor fenccsd pond regetation, P. pratensis and P. cawbyi , important at fenced ponds, were not recorded at control ponds. The density of minor Te^etat^'on for the fenced ponds showed a smaller increase (4.38 to 5,87) 1953 to 1954 than did raajor Terretatlcn. The niTmbcr of species increased from 34 to 39, The sa-we tr^nd seerr« apparent for control ponds with regard to plant dens'! ty, but the nna&*r of ST^ccies 3^ A not in- crease. The arcra^s height of major species Increased 1.7 inches at fenced ponds and decreased 0,4 inch at control ^nds londs was preater (5.12 to 9.41) than that of major vegetation, but the number of species decreased. A similar trend was indicated for con- trol ponds. The average height of najor species increased 1.1 inches at fenced ponds .t; ajid decreased 1,9 inches at control ponds 1953 to 1954. The data for both counties indicate that fencing {s'OYided conditions which increased plant density, average height of important species, and Modified species composition of riparian vegetation. Baei'gcnt Vegetation An attmpt w&s aaJe to evaluate the effect of fencing oa eiaargcnt vegeta- tion. Areas of eaier^ent vegetation in all stuu/ ponds we.-e drawn to scale ou graph paper as determined }jy calibrated pAcin^ in both 1953 «md 1954. iieosity tneasureiaents follov«d the laethod of Lov (1945). CuIjris or stalks per square yard or Siiuai^a foot quadrats, tai-;en at randotii tliroughout emergent stanus, wer« counteU. Although emergent vegetation (Sagittarla cuneata« AlisTaa Plantajato-aguatica, Scirpus validus» i^leochai'ls spp. and *yplia latifolia) did develop at pcnUs, it was impossible to evaluate the effect of fencing, ''nstable water levels and the difference in water holding capacity of the ponds seemed to be limiting factors. It is well laiown that water level is essential in the establr.shaent and Kiaint8i;ance cf emergent vegetation. Water level nKjasurements, talcen at Monthly intervals in 1954 with a specially constructed perdulua si^t used as an Abney level, show positive correlation between devclopaent of cnergents and water levels. Scattered stands of oniergent vegetation developed on four (two fenced and two control) Carter County ponds in both 1953 and 1954. Watar level drop on theae ponds averaged 11 luches from April 15 to July 30, 1954. The r«aainiag four fenced ponds averaged 36 inches water loss for the saiae period; only traces of euiergeut vegetation developed. The average water loss was 16 inches for the other four control ponds and none developed appreciable aaounts of «aergent vegetation. 7 Two of the 6 McCone County feaced poinds and none of the 6 control ponds developed moderate aEioiuits of eiaergcnt vegetation in 1953. In 1954 the •veraffe water levsl drop on all JicCono County study ponds was 34 inches from April 20 to July 13. So appreciable amoujit of emergent ve^etatiori developed in any study pond in 1PS4, Data, frori the two veathcr stations nearest trend areas in each county (Albion, Boyes; Circle, Vlda), show precipitation from :^Iay througa August, 1953 was 60 lev cent r,jore in Carter County, and 102 per cent juora in 'icCone County, than for the same period in 1954. Brood f1:*oductioii Brood census was conducted duriaag morning and evening at about three-week intervals from July 13 to September 15, 1953 and 1954. Auum^ous suppieatontal observations were made at various times. In addition ico visual inspection, the pond peripliery vfas searciied to flush concealed broods. The saiall muiibdr of broods and the sparse emrgent vegetation of the ponds sii^ified individual brood observation and recognition. Calculation of brood production followed the inethod of Blankenshlp, et. al. (1953), and Trollop and yiai'shall (1954). All broods were recorded on fjj-st censrs. Those rc«:orded on successive counts, assu'sed to have been observed on previous co'mts, vere omitted ^Yom production firures. Twenty-nine broods were recorded on all «t>>dy ponds in 1953 and 1954 (Table 3). Fift<'en, o>>5?erTcd two to four t lines each, indicated a liiininmn average "'•osldcncj" perrod of 24 days for 10 aallard broods, 32 days for two pintail, 15 days fcr twn blue-w5jigcd teal, and 44 days for on« baldpat* br*>i>d. Fourteen brncds seen only once were considered "transient." Combined data for both study aieas and for both years show 13 resident and five transient broods for fenced ponds, arui two residents and 9 transients Ik, Table J. - Number of broods obsei-ved on study ponds cf Caiter and McCone Counties, 1953-54, Carter Oovnty Mc' one Oou>-ty i'onds Fenced Control Feirced Ccr>trol Totaj apoods Brood SDecie* 1953 IS54 : )53 il'54 1353 1 :54 1V;53 19U Fenced Cortrol All Ponds >iallard 3(3)^ 3(1) 5(1) 2.(2) 3(2) 4(1) 1. 1U8) 10(2) 21(10) Piatail C 0 rt 0 2(1) 2(1) .0 0 4(2) 0 4( 2) B.W. Te«l 1(1) 1(1) 0 1 0 0 0 0 2(2) 1(0) 3( 2) liald-ate 0 3(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1(1) 0 K 1) Total 4(4) 5(3) l) 6(1) 4(3) 5(3) 4(1) 1 18(13} 11(2) 29(15) 6«» 6 2*»» 3 6 0 € 5 € 2 6 3 6 3 6 1 • '"ifores J a parwathescs Indicate broods assumeu to be "resident." «* VvaAer of poi da i n each i^roup. «*» "u3B*er of ponds vitJi r>roods. u for control ponds. The data for 1953 shov 7 resident and one transient broods for fenced poiKis and one resident and three transients for control ponds; for 1954 there were 6 residents and foiir transients for fenced ponds and one re- sident and 6 transients for control ponds. Two of the 6 Carter Uounty lenced pcnds accounted for all (four) broods observed in 1953, and foiii- of five broodo in 1954, ?*Cone County fenced ponds Show the same brood distribution. No broods were sean on any of the (5 Oarter Coimty control ponds in 1953, but o were recorded in 1934, Five ponds were represented* Four broods were noted on McJone Couxity control ponds diu'ing 1953;- three ponds were represented. Only one brood obserration was recorded in 1954, Coaaideria^ the co:;d>ined data of resident broods, it would appear that the fenced ponds were superior to the unVenced control ponds in farootl produc- tion, but other factors cannot be ignored. The consistwic;.' of brood apjtearance and residency on only two fenced ponjis in each area for both 1953 and 1954, and the erratic appeai^atice of broods on tne rc^ooinder of tlie fenced and control ponds, prevent definite conclusions, ^ood lioToiawt Ivelv* waterfowl mats vwe located oa the study area. 1 our clutches were color injected by tiie metiiods of Lvaos (lyol) ana HyeiMi aiid Low (no date) to color duckiiugs fcr suoscquent :u)dentxficatxon; two uatcaed successfully. Nest hunting was abandoned, and a laethod of brood captinre for direct narkins was initiated, uecause ox pi-eoatiou and desertion (75:;feJ ei the nest;8 fovuid. Wlu.te, yellow, orange or blue airplane dope was uaubod on nunp, bacu, or nape (areas of last visible doun) oi downy duc'dings, Scapular feathers of Class il or older ducklings were laarUed, aeventy-one per cent of all ducklings of 40 broods was captured with the aid of a smll net. It was often I' • ■, V 12 possible t<5 capture entire Class Ta or lb broods. In cauay cases broods marked when la or Tb \rere recaT*ttJired and marked a?ain when Class II or older. The n»ethod of brood captm-e was unique to the small ponds of this area. After a brood was sighted, the assistant maintained visual contact with bino- culars while th« catcher atterented a concealed atvproach to the opposite side of the pond. Proper timing of exposure of assistant to brood ofte-^ resulted in the hen leadin-i- brood to opposite shore where it Md in ▼e?etation, or on bare *;round. It was importajit that the assistant maintain risual contact with brood and sianal -xact hidln'» position to catcher. The flushin;r h»n sometines disclosed the precise hldin/* p1acf», an<^ a caraful search usually resulted in nettirtf; the brood. Class T brooc's were often captxirsd close to shore, some in the upper, shallow part of the pond. Class TI or older broods soaetlines scampered as far as 200 yards away from the pand and were more difficult to catch. |[X)n»Qvity of marks was directly |H?oportional to dTicklinc a^!:e at ti?ie of warkin?: and mttem of down- shedding from are« marked. Runtp, back and scapular aarks, appropriately applied, were distin«^«ishable about 25 days after iHarVin,^. Under optiiman field conditions, colors xrere raadily indantified from 100 yards with an 3 X 30 binocular. A 20X spotting; scope increasod ran?e aiid efficiency of observation. 411 broods were cate,j;orized to ase-classes on basis of plumage development similar to the laethods of Gollop and Marshall (op, cit.) and South- wick (1953): Class la (bright ball of fluff); Class Ibffading ball of fluff); Class Ic (^wicy-downy); Class Ila (first feathers); Class lib (nwstly feathered)} Class lie (last down); Class III(c (capable of flight). 13 Intensive brood search and subsequent obserrationa were carried on from May 15 to August 5. Duties pertinent to vegetative studies in both counties resulted in loss of contact with many Carter County broods after August 5. Forty-four ponds, randomly scattered over the 43 square-mile area, were included in brood movement studies. They constituted four vegetative classes, five sixe groups anu five water loss classes. Vegetative classification (baaed on extent of «aergent and/or riparian vegetation) : Class 1, (& ponds) - Iy]jh&-Scirpus-i!.leocharig association forms dtMainant emergent vegetation. Class 2, (9 ponds) - )aeocliaris-Sa'-.ittaria-AligTft association provides dominant taicrgent cover. Class 3, (12 ponds) - Art end eta-l'raraineae and associated species occur to water's edge; with little or no emwrgent vegetation. Class 4, (14 ponds) - .jaergent or riparian vegetation is sparse or entirely lacking] usually resulting from water loss, and/or livestock graaing and trampling. Siae ffToup* in surface acres (oased ou suiface area in acres at high water )» Group A, (2 ponds) 3.7 to 4.5 acres; viroup B, (4 ponds) 1.9 to 2.4; Group C, (8 ponds) 1.3 to 1.8; Group D, (nds, aid two broods moved from the same Class 3 pond, after it was chanaed to a Class 4 by livestock Trasinj:. Considerinsj.pond size, 9 laoveiaents were away fron snail ponds (r or E groitp). Seven of 12 iBOvesients were to larger ponds, f fo to ponds of the* saiw size /iroup, and three to smaller ponds. The trend of moveairtitt apl^^ars to be fron smaller to larger ponds. The data indicate that noveiBent treiK^a were isx eenoral from ponds w3.th greater to those with less water loss. Six 'tioveinents were from Classes d and e aad 8 were to Class a ponds. Six of 12 novcments were to ponds with less water loss, and five were from and to ponds of the same wator loss cla!?scs. One movement was to a pond with greater water loss. Numerous observations of 16 marked broods indicated that they remained on their respective ponds between observation dates (Table 5). To evaluate pond usage by these "resident" broods, average broods per poad type (vegetation. li Table 4. - History of 9 marked broods showing oovement involYing more than one pond, 1954, Obser- Days Pond ration Miles Per Brood^ Tyre^ Date Travelled^ rond p ru 9 * 1 n u imjF s>x 4 *T O X t n w Tim A 1 nn K p * f Th J D, •J »./ 4, C, Tiirif* TV. lb, o it ^» o. o Q w TTa xxa. •J 2, A, o IR xo v.* • jX x** XIO, 2, 0 Inlv 1 X 2, m 4m s v-r- o •3^ A, K U X / u • JO TTT \ 3, A, h O XO 1 ft J V p XC, e 4, E, C xia, 2, a •JO u ,oo TTV lib. 2, C, a . JH7.. i A p» la, o 2, e o X -a,. 3. L, c IQ x^ ^» TT A iia. 2 4, 5 T J_ 2. a XO la, 7 a July i X# ib. 5 4f E, a 10 5 Ic, 2 4, D, a 19 1.02 6 lib, 3 4 K, a 31 VI M, Ib, 1 3^ E, a Jidy 1 14 TIa, 7 E, a 10 5 lib, 4 4, a IC 0 T, 6 4, e July 17 3 Tb, 6 2, n, a 22 0.S5 Ila, 6 2, c, a 26 m, S 2. c, a Aiv:, 5 17 T, ria. 11 4, ■ t c July IS ITa, 11 4> B, c 21 4 Ila, 10 2> C, a 22 0.55 lib. 10 2, G» a 26 lie. 9 2. 0, a 9 1 Species, *ge- -class, nistber in brood; i^-piatail. Jl-iaallard, T-bl«e-vingcd teal • 2 See tTXt for cxplanati on. 3 Straif^t line distance bctw-cn pcnds. * Same pond, reretatlve class changed from 3 to 4 alMMf J»1t 15. Table 5. - TTlstoxy of 16 raarked broods not observed to more from one pond to another, 1954. Brood Pond, Obser- vation Date M. la. 7 2. •* A. b Mar 27 Ta, 7 29 1 4 Tune 3 Tb, 3 9 Ic. 3 11 Ta, 1 3. d Juno 8 lb. 2 18 M. lb, 5 1. T). a June 18 lb. 1 23 Ic, 4 Tuly 2 la. 2 4, h June 29 Tb, .!«1t 9 la. 7 3, 9 b June 25 Ta, 7 29 Ic, 6 July 9 TTa, 6 16 lib. 6 22 5 Aiejt. 3 fb. 3 », a July 19 Tia, 5 31 lltt, 5 A«a. 3 Tb, c J.vJx 18 Ic, 6 22 Ta, 5 2, c. July 21 la. 2 22 Tb, 2 29 IC, 2 Aug. 4 TTc, 1 24 m, 1 Sept. 2 Obser- Pond vation "ood L'ate P, la. 9 2. A. b June 9 4 11 Ic, 3 23 P, 9 lie. 1 4. C, b July 4 ITC. 1 9 9 la. 8 E. b Jime 10 ib, 3 20 a..-. 4i» 4 29 P, 4 3, D, « June 20 Ila, 3 July 4 lia. 4 5 P, IJa, 1 3, A, b June 24 lib. 1 July 4 IIc, 1 18 m. 1 22 Ila, 6 3, D, b July 22 Ub, 5 30 la. 8 2, A, b July «» Ic, 9 16 Ila, 9 25 IIc, 9 Aa^. 2 Tn+, 9 28 Ic, 3 2, C, b July 21 lib. 2 29 IIc. 2 Aug. 4 1 Species, ago-class, risHber in brood; K-iaallard, P-pintail, T-blue-winged teal, E-baldpate. 2 See text for explanation. * IT size and water loss) Vire determined by dividing the total nur*er of broods for each type ijy the total nuniber of ponds of that type on the area. The results show that ▼e«;etative Class 2 ponds accounted for 43.7 per cent of the average broods per pond; size Oroup A 65,9 per cent; and water loss Classes a mai h 71.4 per cent. This suggests that larger ponds vd.th eiijergent ▼egc'tation, and less mter loss providetl conditions desirable for broods. These data seemlntrly substantiate the data regarding broods that were observed to move. >tovement trends vere to ponds of tiaese types. An additional 29 ndscollaueoua broods of all ago classes (Table 6) offered fxirther evidence of movement. Fifteen were marked; 14 vere not. Easu5jig ob- servations \fithin one to three days aisclosad three nar?:sd and two unnarked broods on ponds vdiere first seen. Kone of the 29 broods were positively idantifiad on s-.icceeding visits, lliese broods evinced sitdlar distribution anion/!; the four vegetative classes, Sise Group C ponds accounted for 13 of the 29 broods; water loss Classes a aiid b had 23 of 29. Tiiis suggests f iat bioods moved away fro.i theso pond typjrs. Broods wore observed at 3^ (883C) of the 44 ponds on zivt study area, Ti» 14 V'Onls (32^0 wlthorrt brood observations were 0.6 acre or less in sixj. All but two liad 50 to 100 per cent ^fater loss froa June tlirougU August. Brood days per pond nay provide better criteria for evaluating pond use than the incomplete histories of the small nuaber of broods availalie for evaluation. A sin?»le observation of a brood rioveaent to a particxilar pond type nwty have little si^ficance. Calculated brood da3nB oy vegetative classes, sise proups, and water loss classes are presented in Table 7, Brood days calculated froir. days' lapse between observation dates. In the case of broods known to occupy two or more ponds, one-half of the tiue lapsed it, 9 18 Table 6. - >liacellaneous marked and unoiarked broods tiutt apparently moved I'roa ponds where observed, 1954. Pond Observation ^rood"*" Type 2 Date M, Ic, 4* 4, C, V 0 June 22 M, lib. 1* 1, D, a 2o M, la. 7* 3, £, a Me* 25 M, lb. 1* 1, c. a 25 M, lb. 7 4, E, a 25 M, la. 4 1, C, * b 28 M, lb, 1* 2» c. a July 3 M, lb. 4-^ Ji, c 4 M, lb. 5 h c 16 M, la, 3 1, c. a Ark 20 M, lb. 2 3» d 27 M, Ila, 5 3, A, b mg> 2 M, lie. 1 1, c. a M, He, 2 1, c. « M, lb. 1 2, c. b 4 M, III, 2 2, c» a 8 M, III, 1* 4, c. b 5 P, la, 5 3, c, e June 7 P, la. 6» 2, c. b 8 P, lb, 3 3, A, b 23 P, la. 3» 4, c. b 29 P, la, 7* 4, c. b 30 P, lie. S» 4, E, e July 17 P, la. 3* 4, C, b 18 T, la. 7* 3» B, d July 5 T, lib. 2- T- b 27 S, la, 7» 2, A> b June 23 U, lb. 7 3, A, b Jidy 4 U, Ila, 1 3, ^> b 20 1 Species, affe-claas, number in brood; ?t-Faallard, P-pintail, ?-bluc-wi.nged teal, S-shoveller, U-unidentified. 2 See text for explanation. * Broods that were captured and marked. 1 p.: \ 1 . 19 Table 7. - Calculated brood da3rs by vegetative class, pond siae gi oup, and water loss class, 1954, Ponds Brood Days Per Averarje Per Cent C7ass Number Cent Total Per Pond Per Pond 1 Q 20.5 40 4.4 8.6 2 9 241 26.8 52.8 1 w 12 27.2 173 14.4 28.4 4 14 31.8 73 5.2 10.2 44 lr»o 0 100.0 A 2 #•9 189 94.5 73.7 4 9 2.3 1.8 8 18.2 132 16.5 12.9 9 20.5 88 9.8 7.6 21 47.7 109 5.2 4.0 Total 44 100.0 527 100.0 Vater Txsss Class « 10 22.7 142 14.2 27.4 11 25.0 300 27.3 52.7 • 8 18.2 9 1.1 2.1 4 9.1 IS 3.7 7.2 f 11 25.0 d 5.5 10.6 Total 44 100.0 527 100.0 • between obterratlon dates wms dlrided between each respective pond unless intervenine; observations showed otherwise. No allowance was made for time spent before fijrst er after last observation dates, and no brood day* were assigned to "miscellaneous" broods. Thus, all fi^es represent minlorai brood days. The small nijn^er of largsr ponds for cosqjarison may tend to r«ider data incomparable; however, certain relationships are apparent. Ponds of vep:etatlve Class 2, sise Group A and water loss Classes a and b accounted for the loajority of brood days on tliis area. Pond size appears to have nor* influence on brood nsa^e than vogetative class. This verifies the findings of Smith (op. cit.). The snail, permanent anc^ seml- perrnsnent ponds serve an important function as breeding territories. Flight less broods, capable of frequent and extensive overland imjvfiments, tend to utilite the larger ponds ^ich contain euwrgent vegetation. i I SI 1. A wtvAy was condvTCted during the sunsners of 1953 and 1354 in eastern Montana to evaluate the effect of re«erToir fencing on enclosed vegeta?- titm and waterfovl brood production. 2. Twelva resenroirs (6 in Carter and 6 In McCane Counties), with sfMurse Teff^tat^.on and subjected to livestock grazing, were fenced in 1953. Twelve, ^sf sj.!ni3ar location, si«e and type, were chosen as controls. The average size of the 24 stuiy ponds was 2.12 acres; the exclosures on the 12 f«ncsd ponds averajred 1.75 acres. 3. Density and species cosiroosition of ripariaii vei^ctatiou within the ex- closures were pjeasured the point transect method, August 12 to Septw^er 3, 1953 and 1954. 4. Carter Coimty fences pond plant density increased from 15.32 per cent in 1953 to 25.62 per cent in 1P54. Control pond plant density increase was less: 11.46 to 16.96. Thr, a- erage height of major species increased 1.7 inches at fenced ponds and decreased 0.4 inch at control ponds 1253 to 1954. 5. McCone Cotmty fenced pond nlant density iJicreased from 25.12 per cent in 1953 to 35.74 per cent in 1<>54. Plant density increase at control ponds T<*S3 to 1954 wan 21.44 to 22.32. The average height of mjor species increased 1.1 ixic!\?s at fenced -pon^s and decreased 1.9 inches at control ponds 1953 to 1054. 6. Unstable water levels, revealed by ffionthly ju^astirenients, scesiwd to be the lli!iitin» factor in establisfonent and laaintenance of eocrgent vei^eta- tion. Thus it W.9 IwpoNsible to evaluate the effect of fencing. 7. Hrood census on study poxids was conducted, with nissorsus supplesental observations, at about three-weak intervals from July 13 to September IS, 1953 and 1954. A total of 29 broods was recorded at the 24 sttidy 22 ponds for both year*. C(Mrfjined data suggested that fenced ponds were superior, but the consistency of brood appearance and "residency* on oaLj two fenced ponds in each area in 1953 and 1954, and the erratic appearance of broods on the remaiw^er of the poiris, prevented definite conclusions regarding the effect of fencing on brood jaroduction. P. ▲ study of broofi nwrwients, inyolTing nar!:ca individuals of 40 broods (taall&rd, pintail and blue-winged teal), was conducted during the sprin? and sum&er of 1954 on the Carter County area* 9. Broods were captured with the aid of a snuOl net. Indiyiduals were marked with airplane dope. 10, Twlve observations cm 9 narked broods gave specific information on aove- Ewnts ranging from 0.38 to 1.02 miles (average 0.71) overland. Ttfo to foTjr ponds were occupied by individual broods. A general trend of move- Bwnts from bare ponds to those with ^aergent vegetation, from sa»all to larger ponds, and from ponds with gr later to those with less wuter loss, vas indicated. 11. An evaluation of brood days per pond type (vogstation, slae, and water Ions) of 16 marked "resident" broods, showed that tins larger sisa ponds with emergent vegetation, and less water loss, provided conditions de- sirable for broode. This seemingly substantiateivi the data resarding breeds that were observed to «tiove to these porKi types. ^ ' 12. An additional 29 broods (15 r^arked, 14 not a&rked) which were seen onc«, • cffareJ furtiier evidouce of sicveassnt, nostly frosi saallsr ponds with gr«Atei- water less. 13. Fowl sise appeared to have aiore influence on brood usage than vegetative class, but ponds with vegetation were utilised laore than those without. »ttt Ism i • 23 14, The aoall, perman^t and s»ai-penaanent ponds appeared to serve as breeding teiTitcries. 15. Flightless broods were capable of frequent and extenaivc overland taove- raents and tended to use the larger x-ctyda idiich contained emergent vegeta- tion. 24 LITERATimE CITED BUREISSHIP, L. K., C. D. CTAKS, And M. M. HAJMjKt. 1953. TedudqiiCB for brood !voi Flyway Gotmcil Technical Section, 14 pp. Biiiseo* VKEciS, ROBSflT D,, and J. B. LOV. No date. Identification of ducklin^^s by injection of the eggs with dye, 3 pp. aiiooo. LOW, J, B. 1945. ideology am aanagoment of the redhead, Nyroca AraericRna, in Iowa. Ecol. Monogr. 15:35-fi9, SMITH, RICHARD H. 1953. A etudy of waterfowl production on artificial reservoirs in eastern liontana. Jotjt. Wildl. >?gt. 17t276-291. SOUIHWICK, CHARLES. 1953. A system of age classification for field stiidies of waterfowl broods. Jour, tfildl, higt. 17tl-8, I . nr I