Conservation of the Northern Pintail

1. Conservation of theNorthern Pintail Anas acuta Kyle Sams

2. Taxonomy • Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Genus: Anas Species: acuta

3. Northern PintailIdentification Drake • Avg. length is 25” • Avg. weight is 2.26 lbs. • Chocolate brown head • White neck, breast & belly, white finger up back of neck • Pale grey bill, with black stripe down center • Gray flanks & back, w/ black centers to back feathers • Black under-tail coverts • Long black central tail feathers • Green speculum w/ white rear border & chestnut forward border

4. Identification Hen • Avg. length is 21.4” • Avg. weight is 1.91 lbs. • Tan head & neck • Mottled tan & dark brown body, paler on belly • Grey bill • Brown speculum & white rear border

5. Sub-SpeciesEaton’s Pintail’s • Kerguelen Pintail (Anas eatoni eatoni) • Confined to Kerguelen islands off S. America • Crozet Pintail (Anas eatoni drygalskyi) • Confined to Crozet islands, also off S. America

6. Pintail Migration • Among the first ducks to migrate • Most migrating through Cali. • Others using the Mississippi flyway, to LA, TN, AL, & MS • Also common visitors in Central America

7. Breeding Range • Breed from Alaska, central Canadian Arctic, Western Greenland, central USA • Boreal forest • Alaskan coastal areas • Prairie potholes

8. Non-Breeding Range • Mostly central California, Mexico & Gulf coasts, Texas panhandle, some on Atlantic coast • Over ½ migrate through Cali.

9. Northern Pintail Range

10. Mating • Monogamous • Same pair mate for life • Sexually mature at 1 year old • Mate in late April • As late as the end of July

11. Pintail Breeding Pairs

12. The breeding pair numbers was obtained by the Black Duck Joint Venture helicopter survey

13. Nesting • Among the first to Nest • Nests in open country, w/ shallow, seasonal wetlands, & low vegetation • Copulation takes place in the water • Nests is a scrape in ground in brush/grass, lined w/ grass & down; usually not near water • Hen incubates eggs alone • Usually takes 21-25 days

14. Young • Clutch size is usually 8, range 3-14 • Precocial young • Fledge in 6-7 weeks • Around ¾ live to fledge • Half of those live to breed • About 37.5%

15. Feeding Characteristics • Pintail’s are DABBLERS • Upend while in the water to feed • Omnivorous • Feed on seeds, nutlets of aquatic plants, also eats mollusks, crabs, worms, fairy shrimp, & other aquatic insects • Insects are more important to females during pre-laying & laying periods

16. Predation • People are #1 • Coyotes • Skunks • Gulls, crows, magpies • Badgers • Raccoons

17. Population History • Pop. depends on wet-dry cycle • In 1955, the breeding pop. was around 6 million • Fluctuating between 2 & 10 million • In the 1970’s pop’s recovered when the wetland were good, but fell when prairies were dry & wetland conditions were poor • Agriculture has cause most of the problems • These factors combined have caused declining pintail population since the 1980’s

18. Conservation Status • Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act • Global status is at G5, secure • Not endangered, pop. Are lower than desired • N. American pop. was around 6 million • Reduced to about 2 million birds according to GDNR

19. Northern Pintail Distribution

20. Management • Protect & restore wetlands • Adequate migration & wintering habitats must be protected, restored, & enhanced • Protect northern boreal & tundra habitats • Develop farm programs compatible w/ pintail life style • Manage for moist soil to stimulate the growth of native plants • Manage for available cover • Cut back on harvest • Proper use of fertilizers, pesticides, & herbicides

21. Economical Importance • One of the most sought after ducks by duck hunters • Damage grain crops and cost farmers money

22. Interesting Facts • Range over more of the Earth than any other waterfowl