RENESTING ECOLOGY OF NORTHERN PINTAILS ON THE YUKON-KUSKOKWIM DELTA, ALASKA

We used radio telemetry to study renesting by wild, free-ranging North ern Pintails (Anas acuta) on the coastal Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in 1994 and 1995. Fifty-six percent of females (n = 39) renested at least onc e. Propensity to renest declined among females that initiated later fi rst nests. Renesting interval was not related to female weight, year, or initiation date of first nests. Mean interval between first and sec ond nests was 11.4 +/- 1.0 days, and mean interval between second and third nests was 11.3 +/- 1.5 days. Median distance observed between fi rst and second nest attempts was 276 m (range 33-6,098 m). Clutch size declined 2.3 +/- 0.4 eggs between first and second nests. Weight of f emales captured on first nests in early incubation declined with nest initiation date. Our results suggest that food availability does not l imit renesting ability of pintails in coastal tundra.