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Research about Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1985

Density-production characteristics of box-nesting wood ducks in a northern greentree impoundment

Nesting wood ducks ( Aix sponsa ) were studied for 7 years (1973-79) following placement of nest boxes within a 250-ha experimental greentree impoundment located at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in central New York. Wood ducks filled available nesting space in the 3rd year of the study. As nesting space became saturated, density strife was reflected in dump nesting, nest desertion, and reduced hatchability. By the 5th year of study, nesting interference had reduced nesting efficiency to 22%. Discontinued flooding of the impoundment during the last 2 years of the study reduced the density of breeding pairs and restored nesting efficiency to 50 and 60%, respectively. Egg pecking by northern flickers ( Colaptes auratus ) increased as the study progressed and contributed to nest desertion. Dump nesting contributed efficiently to production under low density breeding conditions and permitted greater use of nest sites with a moderate but progressive decline in nesting efficiency as the population expanded. Total nest starts correlated negatively with nesting efficiency (r = -0.75, P < 0.05) and positively with the number of dump nests (r = +0.96, P< 0.01), number of deserted dump nests (r = +0.77, P< 0.05), and number of ducklings left in nest boxes (r = +0.77, P < 0.05). Mark-recapture estimates of day-old duckling production showed a sharp increase in production from tree cavities from 1973 to 1974, a probable result of a rapidly expanding nesting population and removal of raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) from the study area.

New York↗
USGS1973

Effects of migratory waterfowl on water quality at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Seneca County, New York

This study was done in response to the shellfish industry's concern that bacteria in effluent from the national wildlife refuges along the northeast coast of the United States may be adversely affecting the harvest of shellfish. A line graph shows inconsistent relationships between bird population at the Montezuma refuge and total coliform, fecal coliform, and fecal Streptococci counts. Salmonella were found in only one of 17 samples of water taken within the refuge. Counts of nonpathogenic bacteria in the two major streams flowing into the refuge, Black Brook and White Brook, were greater than they were in water flowing out of the refuge. Specific conductance of water flowing out of the refuge was less than that of water flowing into the refuge, although the effluent had higher concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen than the influent. A settling-pond effect in the quiet water of the refuge may help explain the improvement in the quality of the water leaving the refuge. The study shows how its quality changes both chemically and biologically as water flows through the refuge. Further study is needed, however, to determine the effects that a similar effluent would have on a coastal habitat of shellfish.

New York↗
USGS1969

Use of flooded timber by waterfowl at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Waterfowl use of bottomland hardwood timber stands which were flooded and killed was studied at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Seneca Falls, New York, from 1962 to 1964. Comparisons of use were made among six habitat types containing dead timber, stumps, and no timber, and with and without emergent vegetation. An index to waterfowl use was derived by direct counts and by counts made with automatic cameras which photographed randomly selected plots in each habitat type. Movement between types was studied by observation of both marked and unmarked birds. The camera index of use showed that cut timber with emergent vegetation received the greatest overall use. Use was positively correlated with the proximity of the plot to emergent vegetation and nearest vegetative type boundary. A stand flooded for 7 years was used primarily by black ducks ( Anas rubripes ) and mallards ( A. platyrhynchos ). Use of stands flooded for 20 years was dominated by American widgeon ( Mareca americana ). Waterfowl spent more time resting than feeding in timbered areas, and more time feeding than resting in marsh areas. Young-of-the-year did not move between pools after they had reached an age of IIc (Gollop and Marshall 1954). Use by broods was greatest in areas near emergent vegetation. Flying birds used timbered areas during the daytime and non-timbered areas at night during fall. Flooded dead timber appeared to be attractive to waterfowl because it furnished abundant loafing sites.

New York↗
USGS1967

Stump and tree nesting by mallards and black ducks

Studies conducted 1961-65 at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in New York demonstrated that mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ) and black ducks ( Anas rubripes ) make extensive use of stumps and dead snags for nest sites. Nest densities in timbered habitats compared favorably with those in untimbered habitats. Nest success was generally higher in timbered than in untimbered areas, except for a newly flooded impoundment where nest success was poor. A simple artificial nest structure was used to increase the number of available nest sites in some of the timbered habitats. Development of stump-nesting populations of ducks may furnish a means of increasing waterfowl production in forested areas.

New York↗