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Publications

USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center staff publish results of their research in USGS series reports and in peer-reviewed journals. Publication links are below.  Information on all USGS publications can be found at the USGS Publications Warehouse.

Filter Total Items: 1907

[Book review] Ducks, geese and swans of North America

This is the 3rd edition of the classic work "The Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America," which was first published in December 1942.  The original edition was authored by Francis C. Kortright with color plates by T. M. Shortt. An authoritative reference on North American waterfowl for many years, the book had become outdated as a result of major advances in the field of waterfowl biology. The ne
Authors
Gary L. Krapu

[Book review] Waterfowl ecology and management: Selected readings

This book is a compilation of papers from the extensive and varied published literature on the ecology and management of waterfowl. The 125 technical papers reprinted in this book are arranged in eight major sections and are from 21 journals, government reports, several books, and proceedings of symposia and annual conferences. The most frequent sources of papers are The Journal of Wildlife Manage
Authors
Gary L. Krapu

Problems and potentials for prairie ducks

No abstract available.
Authors
L.M. Cowardin, A. B. Sargeant, H. F. Duebbert

A laser system to remotely sense bird movements

Abstract has not been submitted
Authors
C. E. Korschgen, W. L. Green, R.G. Seasholtz

Ferruginous hawk populations and habitat use in North Dakota

Ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis) were studied in central North Dakota on a 1,259-km2 intensive study block and on a surrounding study area (16,519 km2) from 1977 to 1979. A total of 629 occupied nests was examined. Highest nest densities (0.08 nest/km2) were in the Missouri Coteau in 1979. Few nests were found on the more intensively cultivated Drift Plain. We estimated the breeding population in
Authors
D.S. Gilmer, R. E. Stewart

Feeding ecology of mallards wintering in Nebraska

Food use by mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) wintering on the Platte River in south central Nebraska was determined from mid-December to early March 1978-80. Mallards foraged in river channels, irrigation drainage canals, and agricultural areas. Plant matter formed 97% of the diet (dry weight) and diets did not vary between sexes (P > 0.05). Waste corn was the principal food consumed and formed 46 an
Authors
Dennis G. Jorde, G.L. Krapu, R.D. Crawford

The effect of variable spring water conditions on mallard reproduction

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) breeding densities in the prairie pothole habitat of eastern North Dakota during 1961-1980 varied from 2.28 birds/km2 in 1977 to 9.47 birds/km2 in 1963 and were correlated with pond abundance (r = 0.543, P < 0.05). The number of basins used by pairs declined with drought, as did home-range size. Nesting activity also varied with the number of ponds holding water/km2, r
Authors
Gary L. Krapu, A.T. Klett, Dennis G. Jorde

Concentrated nesting of mallards and gadwalls on Miller Lake Island, North Dakota

Island-nesting mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and gadwalls (A. strepera) were studied on a 4.5-ha island in 385-ha Miller Lake in northwestern North Dakota during 1976-80. During the 5-year study, 2,561 duck nests of 9 species were found on Island A located 180 m offshore; 59% were mallard and 34% were gadwall. In patches of shrub cover, which contained the greatest concentrations of nests, densiti
Authors
H. F. Duebbert, J. T. Lokemoen, D.E. Sharp

Avian associations of the northern Great Plains grasslands

The grassland region of the northern Great Plains was divided into six broad subregions by application of an avian indicator species analysis to data obtained from 582 sample plots censused during the breeding season. Common, ubiquitous species and rare species had little classificatory value and were eliminated from the data set used to derive the avian associations. Initial statistical division
Authors
H.A. Kantrud, R.L. Kologiski