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F.B. Lee

Publications and source records attributed to F.B. Lee.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1986

Renesting Characteristics of Captive Mallards on Experimental Ponds

Renesting characteristics of captive wild-strain mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were investigated on experimental ponds in southcentral North Dakota during the breeding seasons of 1976-81. Renesting efforts and egg production increased during the 1st 3 years. Post-yearling females that experienced clutch loss during early incubation produced 3 clutches of eggs during the breeding season. All of the birds produced 4 clutches and 50% produced 5 during the study. Birds provided with an unlimited food supply produced an average of 10.36 ± 1.03 (SD), 9.97 ± 1.09 (SD), 9.59 ± 0.91 (SD), 8.47 ± 0.94 (SD), and 8.50 ± 0.50 (SD) eggs during each successive nesting attempt. Clutch size differed (P < 0.01) among birds, ages, and nesting attempts. Renesting intervals for mallard females on unlimited food averaged 7.13 ± 1.24 (SD) days and ranged from 5 to 10 days. Intervals differed (P < 0.01) among birds and interval sequences. When food availability was reduced, renesting intervals increased and clutch size decreased.

North Dakota↗
USGS1984

Inheritance patterns of enzymes and serum proteins of mallard-black duck hybrids

From 1974 to 1976, a breeding program was used to produce hybrids of black ducks and mallards for the evaluation of inheritance patterns of serum proteins and serum, liver and muscle enzymes. In addition to the crosses designed to produce hybrids, a series of matings in 1975 and 1976 were designed to evaluate inheritance patterns of a hybrid with either a black duck or mallard. At the F1 level, hybrids were easily distinguished using serum proteins. However, once a hybrid was crossed back to either a mallard or black duck, only 12?23% of the progeny were distinguishable from black ducks or mallards using serum proteins and 23?39% using esterases. Muscle, serum and liver enzymes were similar between the two species.

Biochemical Systematics and Ecology↗
USGS1978

Mate preference in wild and domesticated (game-farm) mallards (Anas platyrhynchos): I. Initial preference

Wild and game-farm mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) raised in pure strain and mixed groups were tested for initial mate preference in a choice test. Female mallards showed no significant preference but males of either strain raised with females of their own strain significantly preferred female models of their own strain during the test. Males raised with females of the other strain merely showed attenuation of their preference for female models of their own strain and did not show preference for female models of the other strain. Game-farm mallards approached models significantly sooner than wild mallards and there was a significant sex X mate interaction.

Animal Behaviour↗
USGS1975

Use of elevated nest baskets by ducks

Open-top nest baskets were mounted on upright metal poles in various wetlands to assess the value of baskets as a potential technique for increasing duck nest success. Observations were made from 1966-1968 in North and South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin and were continued through 1973 in North Dakota. Baskets were used most readily in the prairie pothole region; of the 1,038 basket nest sites provided during 1966-68, 392 contained clutches of eggs (38 percent), and 324 (83 percent) hatched. Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) initiated 98 percent of these nests. Factors affecting nest success included human disturbance, nesting material, egg freezing, and avian predation.

Wildlife Society Bulletin↗
USGS1973

High survival and homing rate of hand-reared wild-strain mallards

In the summer of 1970, 648 (329 males and 319 females) hand-reared wild-strain mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ) were banded and released at the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, Edmunds, North Dakota. The females were also marked with numbered nasal saddles. Liberation was by the gentle release method, and no special effort was made to isolate or condition the ducklings prior to release. Ducklings were placed in an enclosed pond area at 25 to 45 days of age. Altogether, 627 (97 percent) ducklings reached flight age and dispersed gradually into the wild. All had left the release area by 25 November. First-year band recovery reports indicated that 68 (11 percent) of the birds were shot in 15 states. Their migration pattern was similar to that for immature wild mallards banded in North Dakota in 1970. Eighty-nine (33 percent) of a possible 270 marked females returned to Arrowwood Refuge during 1971. When consideration is given to assumed normal natural mortality and crippling loss, an estimated minimum of 43 percent of the surviving females returned to the release area. Returning birds not observed would raise this figure even higher. This potential homing rate is considerably higher than rates reported for other studies using various strains of mallards. Numerous observations of nests and broods indicated that breeding behavior and nesting success were similar to those of wild mallards in the area. The success of this release is attributed to the inherent capability of hand-reared, wild-strain mallards to revert to their wild behavior, and to the high survival to flight age and first fall migration afforded by the gentle release in a sanctuary area. Indications are that releases of this type under the described conditions can be used to increase the breeding population of mallards in a local area.

North Dakota↗
USGS1966

Birds of Isle Royale in Lake Superior

This report constitutes an annotated list of 197 species of birds reported from Isle Royale National Park, a 210-square-mile archipelago in northwestern Lake Superior including some 200 islets and rock outcrops. The island is 45 miles long and 8 miles wide at its widest point. Bird distribution and habitats are described, along with geography and vegetation; 62 species are known to have bred at least once, 26 are thought to be breeders, and the rest are migrants.

Special Scientific Report - Wildlife↗