Orphaned Mallard Brood Travels Alone from Nest to Water

Authors

Gary Krapu, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Christopher Dwyer, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Carmen Luna, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Date of this Version

1991

Comments

Published in The Condor 93:779-781.

Abstract

Waterfowl young often travel long distances from the nest site to water when accompanied by a parent; the timing of the trip can range from a few hours to days after hatching (Sowls 1955, Bjlrvall 1968; Dzubin and Gollop 1972; Ball 1973; Duncan 1983; Afton and Paulus, in press). Little is known, however, of what happens to waterfowl broods or individual young stranded far from water by the death of a parent or after becoming separated or abandoned.