Although banding programs are the most important source of information
for monitoring the status of wood duck (Aix sponsa) populations, band
ing quotas generally have not been achieved during the preseason perio
d. LeMaster and Trost (1994) developed a model that accommodated bandi
ng during an early period (15 Apr-30 Jun) in addition to the tradition
al preseason period (1 Jul-15 Sep). Their analysis of existing band re
covery data showed that precision of survival and recovery rates for w
ood duck populations was increased by inclusion of early banded birds.
My objective was to develop statistical methodology for computing opt
imum allocation of effort in the 2 banding periods and to apply this m
ethodology to banding programs for wood ducks. Required early period s
ample sizes were large, and the relative cost had to be small before b
anding in the early period became cost effective. However, summer surv
ival rates and movement patterns only can be estimated using early sea
son banding; hence, additional effort may still be warranted if these
parameters are of importance. This methodology also can be used as a p
lanning tool for the design of any study in which 2 banding periods pe
r year are used.