Health and Ecology of Mallards Wintering on the Chena River

Mark Lindberg, Brandt Meixell, & Tim SpiveyInstitute of Arctic Biology, UAFUSGS, Alaska Science Center

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

One of the most abundant and ubiquitous ducks in North America – 25 million?

Migration – Minto Flats

Wintering Further North - Fairbanks Why?

Open water▪ Warm water effluent

Feeding▪ Timing of increase -

organized feeding (1 Nov)

▪ Banding data▪ Most Aug and Sep birds

appear to migrate▪ Diet (Stable Isotopes)▪ Data from Anchorage

(numbers and weights)

Christmas Bird Count Trends

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Year

# of

bird

s

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

2011

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Year

AnchorageFairbanks

Organized Feeding(1 Nov – 1 May)

~5x IncreaseSince 2005

~1/2x since 2005

Opportunity – Yes and No

How does bird flu affect wild birds?

Repeatedly capture individuals through winter Influenza and antibody

response Condition (Mass)

What are costs or benefits of wintering further north?

Avian Influenza Factoids Naturally occurring Type A virus in waterbirds Can infect poultry, other birds, other animal – rarely

humans Low and High Pathogenic forms In humans

Mostly from poultry, no know infections from wild birds Rarely between humans H5N1 – 600 cases since 2003 First case in Americas (Canada – Jan 2014, recent travel to China)

Methods Monthly captures

from August – May 2012-2014 Swim-in traps and

propelled nets After Capture

Banding, measure, weigh, swabs, and blood

Release in Chena

Results - Banding

Augus

t

Septem

ber

Octobe

r

Novem

ber

Decem

ber

Janu

ary

Februa

ryMarc

hApri

l0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2013.Recap2013.Cap

Month

2013/2014158 Banded67 Recaptures(48 Resightings)

Augus

t

Septem

ber

Octobe

r

Novem

ber

Decem

ber

Janu

ary

Februa

ryMarc

hApri

l0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2012.recap2012.cap

Month

# o

f bird

s ca

ught

2012/2013272 Banded37 Recaptures

Results - MassAug

ust

Septem

ber

Octobe

rDec

embe

rFe

brua

ryMar

ch

April

600.0

800.0

1000.0

1200.0

1400.0

1600.0

1800.0

AHY MAHY FHY MHY F

Month

Mas

s (g

)

Augus

tSep

tembe

rOcto

ber

Novem

ber

Decem

ber

Janu

ary

Febr

uary

March

April

600.0

800.0

1000.0

1200.0

1400.0

1600.0

1800.0

Month

Feb Mass in Anchorage~300g lighter

2012/2013 2013/2014

1kg = 2.2lbs

Results – Diet (You Are What You Eat)

8/14

/13

9/3/

13

9/23

/13

10/1

3/13

11/2

/13

11/2

2/13

12/1

2/13

1/1/

14

1/21

/14

2/10

/14

-28

-26

-24

-22

-20

-18

-16

-14

-12

-10

(HY)

(n = 2)

(Corn signature range)

Date

d13C

(‰)

Results - AI

Analyzed at MITOnly for 2012/13 so farSerology - some infection during

winter

Aug (35)

Sep (60)

Oct (236)

Nov (0)

Dec (144)

05

101520253035

% Positive

Summary Number of mallards wintering on

Chena have increased from organized feeding

Birds in great condition Overfed? AI infection low

Increased risk of disease and spread Concentrated Food and feces mix avian cholera, duck plague –

DVE) Migration is OK

Concerns about domestic birds AI transfer Hybridization

Future of power plant Be Informed

Future Limited effort on

Chena next year Collaborating with

ADF&G on Anchorage study

Thanks: USGS, Alaska Science Center, USFWS, Yukon Flats NWR, M. Bertram, A. Brinkman, M. Cameron, B. Lake, M. Zarzyki

Other Winter Residents