Wintering Waterfowl in Everglades National Park
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Material Information

Title:
Wintering Waterfowl in Everglades National Park Report T-670
Creator:
South Florida Natural Resources Center/South Florida Research Center, Everglades National Park
James A. Kushlan
Oron L. Bass, Jr.
Linda C. McEwan
Place of Publication:
Homestead
Florida
Publisher:
National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
Publication Date:

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Birds
Waterfowl
Everglades National Park (Fla.)

Notes

Abstract:
Florida contains large tracts of wetland habitat covering, by one ten-year old ~ estimate, nearly 7 million hectares (Shaw and Fredine 1971). These wetlands provide wintering habitat for many types of water birds, including waterfowl. From 17 to 26% of the ducks censused in the Atlantic flyway have been reported to winter in Florida (Chamberlain 1960), but waterfowl populations wintering in Florida are believed to have undergone decreases and developed altered migration schedules because of loss of habitat within the state and concurrent improvement of habitat conditions further north (Crider 1968, Rodgers 1974, Goodwin 1979). The estuaries of Everglades National Park, at the southern tip of Florida, traditionally supported wintering waterfowl, which because of legislative policy have not been hunted since the establishment of the park in 1947. Rodgers (1974) suggested that about 15,000-25,000 ducks winter there annually, with the number using the area varying from year-to-year, primarily in response to weather and other conditions in the flyway further north. Little is known about waterfowl in the Everglades estuary. The only previous published study was Klukas and Lockets (1970) report of fowl cholera among coots (Fulica americana) in 1967-68. There has been no systematic assessment of waterfowl use of Everglades estuaries. In this paper, we analyze the status and the seasonal and geographic distribution of waterfowl wintering in the southern and southwestern coastal areas of Florida, based on available historical data and on the results of censuses conducted over three years. ( English )
Issuing Body:
SuDoc number: I 29.95: T-670

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Holding Location:
South Florida Natural Resource Center
Rights Management:
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