Spring and Summer Ecology of Female Greater Prairie Chickens in Northwestern Minnesota

The spring and summer ecology of female greater prairie chickens in northwestern Minnesota was intensively studied from mid-April through August during 1975, 1976, and 1977. Twenty-one females were radio-tagged and monitored for an average of 57.1 days, yielding 1,113 locations. Female visits to booming grounds peaked around 12 April and copulations peaked around 20 April. Habitats disturbed by culti vation, grazing, haying, and burning accounted for 60.6% of all loca tions of monitored females during egg laying and incubation with crop land used by 10 of 17 females. Egg laying commenced an average of 3.8 days after copulation at a rate of 1.0 egg per day for first nests. The average clutch size of 14.6 for first nests was larger than reported in other parts of the range. The incubation period of 25.5 days was longer than generally reported elsewhere and was somewhat longer for early nests than later nests. Thirty-six nests were located by moni toring radio-tagged females and by nest searching using a cable-chain drag. The average nest success for 1975-77 was 62.4%. Striped skunks and red foxes were the primary nest predators. Foxes also preyed upon 2 nesting females. Habitats undisturbed for 1 or more years were preferred for nesting. Dense, vertically oriented cover at ground level was apparently important in nest site selection, since the mean level at which 100% visual obstruction occurred using a Robel density pole was 2.0 dm. Litter depth apparently was not important in nest site selection but, along with brush clumps, tended tc be inversely related to nesting success. Brome and redtop habitats were preferred for nesting while most native types were used in relation to their availability. Six renests occurred an average of 6.4 days after nest destruction and were located a mean of 760.0 m from previous nests. Two females established nests 29.8 and 4.6 m from their successful nests of the preceding year and demonstrated nest-slte tenacity.” Fidelity to a given booming ground was demonstrated by 4 of 5 females returning to the ground where they were trapped the preceding year. Nests were not always located closest to the booming ground where copulation occurred. Most clutches hatched between 25 May and 14 June and later clutches tended to hatch during a period receiving more pre cipitation. Mortality of radio-tagged broods was high with only 2 chicks of 11 broods alive at the end of the summer. Monitored broods made minimum movements of 1950.6 m during week 1 and 1930.6 m during week 2. Extensive early movements, heavy precipitation, lack of favor able brooding areas, and disturbance associated with radio tracking were thought to contribute tc high brood mortality. Predation of radio- tagged females was high (10 of 21) and thought to be related to in creased vulnerability due to reproductive activities and detrimental effects of radio tagging. Disturbed habitats accounted for 68.8% of young brood locations and 78.0% for late broods. Disturbed habitats accounted for 70.9% of the total locations for broodless females. The spring density of 6 males per 259.0 ha in the best portion of the study area is low in comparison to other portions of the range suggesting that the population was below the potential carrying capacity. Brood mortality was believed to be more important in limiting reproduction than nest failures. Preferred nest cover and brood cover were not the sane. A system of maintaining brood habitats by rotational dis turbance and interspersing them within nesting cover is recommended to enhance reproduction

Natural Resource Aviator new Chief Pilot at UMC

Svedarsky, Dan. (2006). Natural Resource Aviator new Chief Pilot at UMC. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/220738

Mink Predation on Juvenile American Coots

American Coot (Fulica americana) nest success, defined as at least one chick hatching, frequently exceeds 90% (Fredrickson et al. 1977), indicating success in avoiding nest predation during incubation. However, predation of juvenile coots may be an important factor in coot reproduction. Many anecdotal reports of predation on coots by mink (Mustela vison) exist (for example, Bailey 1926, Bennett 1938, Low 1945, Errington 1967, Arnold and Fritzell 1989). Studies of waterfowl predation (Sowls 1955, Sargeant et al. 1973) and diets of predators (Eberhardt 1973, Arnold and Fritzell 1987) report significant predation of coots by mink. Eberhardt and Sargeant (1977) estimated 52% of the maximum coot chick production in a marsh during one breeding season was depredated by a single mink family. In that study, maximum coot chick production was estimated by counting adult coots and assuming a nine-egg clutch for each pair of adults. Lacking, however, are reports of actual coot abundance relative to the numbers of coots depredated by mink. During the course of monitoring coot reproduction at a restored prairie wetland in 1991, we located an active mink den and analyzed prey remains and scats deposited during the coot breeding season. Here we report levels of mink predation on coots in relation to coot abundance

Garden of the North Planning To Be Launched on May 4

Svedarsky, Dan. (2005). Garden of the North Planning To Be Launched on May 4. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/220501

Second Phase of Garden of the North Planning Scheduled

Svedarsky, Dan. (2005). Second Phase of Garden of the North Planning Scheduled. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/220544

Bright Future Ahead for Natural Resource Jobs Say National Experts

Svedarsky, Dan. (2005). Bright Future Ahead for Natural Resource Jobs Say National Experts. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/220716

NATE EMERY WINS TOP WILDLIFE STUDENT AWARD

Svedarsky, Dan. (2006). NATE EMERY WINS TOP WILDLIFE STUDENT AWARD. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/220769

Pasque Flower - First in the Spring, First Ever in the Youngquist Prairie at UMC

Svedarsky, Dan. (2006). Pasque Flower - First in the Spring, First Ever in the Youngquist Prairie at UMC. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/220791

Svedarsky elected Vice President of The Wildlife Society

Svedarsky, Dan. (2005). Svedarsky elected Vice President of The Wildlife Society. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/220525

U of M Crookston Senior Dan Pazdernik receives Soil and Water Conservation Society Award

Svedarsky, Dan; Tollefson, Elizabeth. (2007). U of M Crookston Senior Dan Pazdernik receives Soil and Water Conservation Society Award. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/221148