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.