Body Condition Index of Overwintering Mallards in Arkansas

Many waterfowl species spend the winter in the southern United States before migrating north to breeding grounds in the spring. During the winter, these birds must maintain or gain weight to successfully attain mates, migrate north, and immediately start reproduction. This research combines newly collected data with historical data from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s to examine how body mass in mallards varies across time and subsequently how environmental variables such as precipitation and temperature affect body mass. The project also could examine how waterfowl management practices are affecting waterfowl body mass and health by assessing the relation between body mass of hunter-collected ducks with management practices on surrounding lands. Data could be used by management agencies to manage food availability for this economically important species. Partners include the USGS and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.