TIMING OF NEST SEARCHES FOR UPLAND NESTING WATERFOWL

Searches for duck nests should maximize the probability of locating ne sts, while minimizing the possibility of causing nest abandonment. Thu s, we collected nest attendance data for 44 mallard (Anas platyrhyncho s), 13 blue-winged teal (A. discors), 12 lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) , 8 northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), 6 gadwall (A. strepera), and 4 green-winged teal (A. crecca) females to determine the optimal times o f day to search for active nests. Females of most species attended nes ts from 0800 to 1400 central standard time (CST). The overall probabil ity of nest attendance during this time was 91.4 +/- 2.6 (SE) %. Conse quently, nest searches for upland nesting waterfowl should be initiate d after 0800 and should be terminated by 1400 CST. This corresponds to starting nest searches approximately 3 hours after sunrise. Searching for nests at these times should minimize the chances of finding nests early in laying when the probability of inducing nest abandonment is greatest.