David Krementz - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by David Krementz

Research paper thumbnail of Supplementary material from "Sora ( Porzana carolina ) autumn migration habitat use

Palustrine wetland management across the USA is often conducted under a moist soil management fra... more Palustrine wetland management across the USA is often conducted under a moist soil management framework aimed at providing energetic resources for non-breeding waterfowl. Moist soil management techniques typically include seasonal water-level manipulations and mechanical soil disturbance to create conditions conducive to germination and growth of early successional, seed-producing wetland plants. The assumption is that providing stopover and wintering habitat for non-breeding waterfowl will also accommodate life-history needs of a broader suite of migratory waterbirds including shorebirds, wading birds and marsh birds. Although studies of wetlands provide some evidence to support this assumption for shorebirds and wading birds, there is less information on how other marshbirds respond. Sora (<i>Porzana carolina</i>) are a species of migratory rail that depend on wetlands year round as they migrate across North America. It is a species for which the consequences of wetland management decisions directed towards non-breeding waterfowl are unknown. We conducted nocturnal surveys on 10 public properties in Missouri, USA during autumn migration during 2012–2016 to examine sora habitat use in wetland impoundments managed to enhance the production of moist soil vegetation. We found a positive relationship with sora presence and mean water depth and annual moist soil vegetation; sora used, on average, deeper water than was available across surveyed impoundments and used locations with a higher percentage of annual moist soil vegetation than was available. We found a negative relationship with sora use and upland vegetation, woody vegetation and open water. We found sora using deeper water than have previously been reported for autumn migration, and that moist soil management techniques used on Missouri's intensively managed public wetland areas may be compatible with sora autumn migration stopover habitat requirements.

Research paper thumbnail of Habitat Use of Woodpeckers in the Big Woods of Eastern Arkansas

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, Jun 1, 2012

The Big Woods of eastern Arkansas contain some of the highest densities of woodpeckers recorded w... more The Big Woods of eastern Arkansas contain some of the highest densities of woodpeckers recorded within bottomland hardwood forests of the southeastern United States. A better understanding of habitat use patterns by these woodpeckers is a priority for conservationists seeking to maintain these high densities in the Big Woods and the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley as a whole. Hence, we used linear mixed-effects and linear models to estimate the importance of habitat characteristics to woodpecker density in the Big Woods during the breeding seasons of 2006 and 2007 and the winter of 2007. Northern flicker Colaptes auratus density was negatively related to tree density both for moderate (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;25 cm diameter at breast height) and larger trees (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;61 cm diameter at breast height). Red-headed woodpeckers Melanerpes erythrocephalus also had a negative relationship with density of large (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;61 cm diameter at breast height) trees. Bark disfiguration (an index of tree health) was negatively related to red-bellied woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus and yellow-bellied sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius densities. No measured habitat variables explained pileated woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus density. Overall, the high densities of woodpeckers observed in our study suggest that the current forest management of the Big Woods of Arkansas is meeting the nesting, roosting, and foraging requirements for these birds.

Research paper thumbnail of King Rail (Rallus elegans) Nesting and Brood-Rearing Ecology in a Managed Wetland in Oklahoma, USA

Waterbirds, Sep 1, 2016

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Research paper thumbnail of Mallard Harvest Distributions in the Mississippi and Central Flyways

Journal of Wildlife Management, Aug 1, 2008

The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most harvested duck in North America. A topic of debate a... more The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most harvested duck in North America. A topic of debate among hunters, especially those in Arkansas, USA, is whether wintering distributions of mallards have changed in recent years. We examined distributions of mallards in the Mississippi (MF) and Central Flyways during hunting seasons 1980-2003 to determine if and why harvest distributions changed. We used Geographic Information Systems to analyze spatial distributions of band recoveries and harvest estimated using data from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Parts Collection Survey. Mean latitudes of band recoveries and harvest estimates showed no significant trends across the study period. Despite slight increases in band recoveries and harvest on the peripheries of kernel density estimates, most harvest occurred in eastern Arkansas and northwestern Mississippi, USA, in all years. We found no evidence for changes in the harvest distributions of mallards. We believe that the late 1990s were years of exceptionally high harvest in the lower MF and that slight shifts northward since 2000 reflect a return to harvest distributions similar to those of the early 1980s. Our results provide biologists with possible explanations to hunter concerns of fewer mallards available for harvest. (

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of the American Woodcock Singing-Ground Survey Zone Timing and Coverage

The American woodcock (Scolopax minor; hereafter, woodcock) Singing-Ground Survey (SGS) was devel... more The American woodcock (Scolopax minor; hereafter, woodcock) Singing-Ground Survey (SGS) was developed to inform management decisions by monitoring changes in the relative abundance of woodcock. The timing of the designated survey windows was designed to count resident woodcock while minimizing counting of migrating woodcock. Since the implementation of the SGS in 1968, concerns over survey protocols that may bias data have been raised and investigated; however, the extent of survey coverage and the timing of the survey window zones have not been critically investigated. We used 3 years of data collected from male and female woodcock marked with satellite tags to assess the extent of survey coverage and the timing of the SGS survey windows relative to presence of woodcock. SGS coverage encompassed the majority of woodcock breeding-period sites (locations where marked woodcock returned to in spring) within the U.S. (n = 17, 92%) and approximately half of the breeding-period sites in Canada (n = 6, 43%). Thirteen of the 37 monitored woodcock with known breeding-period site arrival dates (35%) were migrating through a survey zone during an active survey window, all in the northernmost 4 of 5 SGS zones. Thirteen woodcock arrived at breeding-period sites after the start of surveys, and all but one of these was located in the northernmost 2 zones. The combination of migration through a SGS zone during the survey window and arrival at breeding-period sites after the beginning of the survey window in northern zones may result in the SGS weighing too heavily the contribution of routes in the southern portion of the primary breeding range, while weighing too lightly the routes in the northern portion of the primary breeding range. We suggest that additional information is necessary to evaluate whether current survey windows are sufficient, or whether they need to be changed.

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in Distribution of Canada Geese Nesting in Arkansas

Human–Wildlife Interactions, 2015

The reintroduced Canada goose (Branta canadensis) population in Arkansas has grown in range and a... more The reintroduced Canada goose (Branta canadensis) population in Arkansas has grown in range and abundance in recent decades. We determined the geographic range of Arkansas resident Canada geese from 2004 to 2012 using volume contour maps from citizen science observations using eBird, a citizen science website, and hunter recovery locations from the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory. Resulting maps indicate an increase in Canada goose encounters toward northwestern and southwestern Arkansas from the original relocations in the Arkansas River valley. We examined movement of Canada geese banded and recovered in Arkansas by determining the distance and angle of movement between initial and final encounter locations; 25% moved east, and 17% went west. The average distance moved from banding to recovery was 50 km (SE = 1 km). Recoveries of Canada geese banded in Arkansas were greatest in the Mississippi Flyway (58% of all geese) followed by the Central Flyway (37%) with some representation in both the Atlantic (4%) and Pacific flyways (0.9%). Movement from Arkansas to other states and Canada was influenced by goose age and sex. Older individuals traveled longer distances than younger ones, and females traveled longer distances than males. Our findings suggest that recently established Canada geese in Arkansas have slowly expanded within the state to the northwest and southwest with the expansion to the east being important now. Movement of Arkansas resident Canada geese on molt-migration can contribute to management issues in other states and provinces.

Research paper thumbnail of Unusual Courtship Behaviors by Male American Woodcock

Southeastern Naturalist, Sep 1, 2013

Male Scolopax minor (American Woodcock) occasionally perform courtship behaviors outside of the p... more Male Scolopax minor (American Woodcock) occasionally perform courtship behaviors outside of the primary breeding period. The costs and benefits of such behaviors are not known. We observed a Woodcock perform an aerial courtship display in Minnesota on 8 November 2010, a juvenile male emit peent vocalizations in Virginia on 12 December 1991, and a solitary individual emit a cackle vocalization in Georgia on 28 December 1994. These behaviors may have been aberrations that are selected against and therefore uncommon, influenced by environmental conditions, or performed to improve the quality of male courtship behaviors. Research and monitoring are needed to ascertain which if any of these explanations is correct.

Research paper thumbnail of Woodcock in the Southeast: natural history and management for landowners

Research paper thumbnail of Woodpecker Densities in the Big Woods of Arkansas

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, Nov 1, 2010

Sightings of the now-feared-extinct ivory-billed woodpecker Campephilus principalis in 2004 in th... more Sightings of the now-feared-extinct ivory-billed woodpecker Campephilus principalis in 2004 in the Big Woods of Arkansas initiated a series of studies on how to best manage habitat for this endangered species as well as all woodpeckers in the area. Previous work suggested that densities of other woodpeckers, particularly pileated Dryocopus pileatus and red-bellied Melanerpes carolinus woodpeckers, might be useful in characterizing habitat use by the ivory-billed woodpecker. We estimated densities of six woodpecker species in the Big Woods during the breeding seasons of 2006 and 2007 and also during the winter season of 2007. Our estimated densities were as high as or higher than previously published woodpecker density estimates for the Southeastern United States. Density estimates ranged from 9.1 to 161.3 individuals/km 2 across six woodpecker species. Our data suggest that the Big Woods of Arkansas is attractive to all woodpeckers using the region, including ivory-billed woodpeckers.

Research paper thumbnail of Sora ( <i>Porzana carolina</i> ) autumn migration habitat use

Royal Society Open Science, May 1, 2018

Palustrine wetland management across the USA is often conducted under a moist soil management fra... more Palustrine wetland management across the USA is often conducted under a moist soil management framework aimed at providing energetic resources for non-breeding waterfowl. Moist soil management techniques typically include seasonal water-level manipulations and mechanical soil disturbance to create conditions conducive to germination and growth of early successional, seed-producing wetland plants. The assumption is that providing stopover and wintering habitat for non-breeding waterfowl will also accommodate life-history needs of a broader suite of migratory waterbirds including shorebirds, wading birds and marsh birds. Although studies of wetlands provide some evidence to support this assumption for shorebirds and wading birds, there is less information on how other marshbirds respond. Sora (Porzana carolina) are a species of migratory rail that depend on wetlands year round as they migrate across North America. It is a species for which the consequences of wetland management decisions directed towards non-breeding waterfowl are unknown. We conducted nocturnal surveys on 10 public properties in Missouri, USA during autumn migration during 2012-2016 to examine sora habitat use in wetland impoundments managed to enhance the production of moist soil vegetation. We found a positive relationship with sora presence and mean water depth and annual moist soil vegetation; sora used, on average, deeper water than was available across surveyed impoundments and used locations with a higher percentage of annual moist soil vegetation than was available. We found a negative relationship with sora use and upland vegetation, woody vegetation and open water. We found sora using deeper water than have previously been reported for autumn migration, and that moist soil management techniques used on Missouri's intensively managed public wetland areas may be compatible with sora autumn migration stopover habitat requirements.

Research paper thumbnail of Habitat use by Least Bitterns in the Arkansas Delta

Waterbirds, Jun 1, 2010

... Habitat use by Least Bitterns in the Arkansas Delta. Michael J. Budd 1 and David G. Krementz ... more ... Habitat use by Least Bitterns in the Arkansas Delta. Michael J. Budd 1 and David G. Krementz 2, *. ... We did not conduct surveys during heavy rain, heavy fog or wind speeds ≥19 km/hr. We recorded the date, location and observer and estimated the distance to the bird location. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Status and Distribution of Breeding Secretive Marshbirds in the Delta of Arkansas

Southeastern Naturalist, Dec 1, 2011

We surveyed the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley of Arkansas ("the Delta") during the breeding s... more We surveyed the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley of Arkansas ("the Delta") during the breeding seasons of 2005 and 2006 using the national marshbird monitoring protocol for secretive marshbirds. We detected and documented breeding by Podilymbus podiceps (Pied-billed Grebe), Ixobrychus exilis (Least Bittern), Rallus elegans (King Rail), and Gallinula chloropus (Common Moorhen). We detected but did not document breeding by Botaurus lentiginosus (American Bittern), Porphyrula martinica (Purple Gallinule), and Fulica americana (American Coot), all of which have been documented to breed in the Delta. Our estimated occupancy rates for breeding marshbirds in the study area ranged from a low of 6% for the King Rail in 2006 to a high of 27% for the Least Bittern in 2005. The range of these occupancy rates are low and refl ect the rarity of secretive marshbirds in the Delta. Secretive marshbird occupancy rates were higher in the southern third of the Delta, probably because wetlands were more abundant or of higher quality there.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of landscape structure and temporal habitat dynamics on wintering mallard abundance

Landscape Ecology, Jun 25, 2018

Context Management of wintering waterfowl in North America requires adaptability because constant... more Context Management of wintering waterfowl in North America requires adaptability because constant landscape and environmental change challenges existing management strategies regarding waterfowl habitat use at large spatial scales. Migratory waterfowl including mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) use the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) for wintering habitat, making this an important area of emphasis for improving wetland conservation strategies, while enhancing the understanding of landscape-use patterns. Objectives We used aerial survey data collected in the Arkansas portion of the MAV (ARMAV) to explain the abundance and distribution of mallards in relation to variable landscape conditions. Methods We used two-stage, hierarchical spatiotemporal models with a random spatial effect to identify covariates related to changes in mallard abundance and distribution within and among years. Results We found distinct spatio-temporal patterns existed for mallard distributions across the ARMAV Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (

Research paper thumbnail of Statistical inference on patch-specific survival and movement rates from marked animals

Environmental and Ecological Statistics, Jun 1, 1996

Page 1. Environmental and Ecological Statistics 3, 99-118 (1996) Statistical inference on patch-s... more Page 1. Environmental and Ecological Statistics 3, 99-118 (1996) Statistical inference on patch-specific survival and movement rates from marked animals MICHAEL J. CONROY, 1 JON E. ANDERSON, 2. STEPHEN L. RATHBUN 2 and DAVID G. KREMENTZ 3 ...

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in Total Body Calcium and Diet of Breeding House Sparrows

Journal of Avian Biology, Jun 1, 1995

We collected House Sparrows Passer domesticus around London, Ontario, estimated their total body ... more We collected House Sparrows Passer domesticus around London, Ontario, estimated their total body calcium masses, food habits and egg production to test for the effects of endogenous calcium levels on control of clutch size. Before egg production began, calcium levels increased significantly and remained high through the end of egg laying, and then declined significantly after egg laying. We found no evidence that clutch size was related to endogenous calcium levels. Upon first ovulation, House Sparrows greatly increased consumption of calciferous materials such as snail shells, bird eggshells and calciferous grit. Their diet returned to normal after the final egg was ovulated. Daily calcium intake was sufficient to meet eggshell calcium needs.

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in distribution of Temperate-nesting Canada geese in Arkansas

Human–Wildlife Interactions, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Habitat Use at Night by Wintering American Woodcock in Coastal Georgia and Virginia

The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 1995

Nocturnal habitats used by American woodcock (Scolopux minor) were studied using radio telemetry ... more Nocturnal habitats used by American woodcock (Scolopux minor) were studied using radio telemetry at two coastal wintering sites in Georgia (1982-84) and Virginia (1991-92). In Georgia, use of forested habitats at night was extensive while use of fields at night varied between years but generally was low. We found no difference in the probability of moving to a field at night among the four age-sex classes (P = 0.23). A significant effect (P < 0.05) of age-sex class was noted between distances moved from diurnal to nocturnal locations in Georgia. Young females moved farther than any other age-sex class. In Virginia, no effect of age-sex class was found on the probability of being located during the night in either a field or a forest.

Research paper thumbnail of Body Condition in Eastern Kingbirds

The Auk, Jul 1, 1987

Murphy (1986) reported the effects of body size and body condition on the timing of breeding (ToB... more Murphy (1986) reported the effects of body size and body condition on the timing of breeding (ToB), on egg size, and on egg production in Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus). Murphy did three things, in particular, that led us to conclude that most of his conclusions are unsupported or equivocal at best: (1) he used an inappropriate sample of birds, (2) he confused body size with body condition, and (3) he used questionable methods for assessing outlying data in bivariate correlations. First, Murphy's data were from 23 females of which "18 were collected 0-2 days after laying the last egg, and 1 each 5, 8, 21, and 25 days after the laying of the final egg. One female was collected on the evening before she laid her first egg" (p. 466). These data were inappropriate to assess the importance of nutrient reserves to breeding kingbirds because, in addition to postlayers and one layer, it was necessary to have both prelayers and more layers. For example, Ankney and Macinnes (1978) found no differences in body weights or fat, protein, and calcium reserves among postlaying female Lesser Snow Geese (Chen c. caerulescens) that had just laid 2-6 eggs. If they had not collected a sample of prelaying females and had followed Murphy's approach, they would have concluded falsely that clutch size was unrelated to the size of nutrient reserves in that species. A comparison of the nutrient reserves of postlaying females that have laid different-size clutches can have several outcomes: (1) females that laid larger clutches have larger reserves, (2) females that laid larger clutches have smaller reserves, or (3) there are no differences in

Research paper thumbnail of Use of Aquaculture Ponds and Other Habitats by Autumn Migrating Shorebirds Along the Lower Mississippi River

Environmental Management, Jun 4, 2013

Populations of many shorebird species are declining; habitat loss and degradation are among the l... more Populations of many shorebird species are declining; habitat loss and degradation are among the leading causes for these declines. Shorebirds use a variety of habitats along interior migratory routes including managed moist soil units, natural wetlands, sandbars, and agricultural lands such as harvested rice fields. Less well known is shorebird use of freshwater aquaculture facilities, such as commercial cat-and crayfish ponds. We compared shorebird habitat use at drained aquaculture ponds, moist soil units, agricultural areas, sandbars and other natural habitat, and a sewage treatment facility in the in the lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley (LMAV) during autumn 2009. Six species: Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous), Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), Pectoral Sandpiper (C. melanotos), Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), and Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), accounted for 92 % of the 31,165 individuals observed. Sewage settling lagoons (83.4, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 25.3-141.5 birds/ha), drained aquaculture ponds (33.5, 95 % CI 22.4-44.6 birds/ ha), and managed moist soil units on public lands (15.7, CI 11.2-20.3 birds/ha) had the highest estimated densities of shorebirds. The estimated 1,100 ha of drained aquaculture ponds available during autumn 2009 provided over half of the estimated requirement of 2,000 ha by the LMAV Joint Venture working group. However, because of the decline in the aquaculture industry, autumn shorebird habitats in the LMAV may be limited in the near future. Recognition of the current aquaculture habitat trends will be important to the future management activities of federal and state agencies. Should these aquaculture habitat trends continue, there may be a need for wildlife biologists to investigate other habitats that can be managed to offset the current and expected loss of aquaculture acreages. This study illustrates the potential for freshwater aquaculture to provide habitat for a taxa at risk. With the rapid growth of aquaculture worldwide, the practices of this industry deserve attention to identify benefits as well as risks to wildlife.

Research paper thumbnail of Autumn Migration of Mississippi Flyway Mallards as Determined by Satellite Telemetry

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, Dec 1, 2012

We used satellite telemetry to study autumn migration timing, routes, stopover duration, and fina... more We used satellite telemetry to study autumn migration timing, routes, stopover duration, and final destinations of mallards Anas platyrhynchos captured the previous spring in Arkansas from 2004 to 2007. Of those mallards that still had functioning transmitters on September 15 (n = 55), the average date when autumn migration began was October 23 (SE = 2.62 d; range = September 17-December 7). For those mallards that stopped for .1 d during migration, the average stopover length was 15.4 d (SE = 1.47 d). Ten mallards migrated nonstop to wintering sites. The eastern Dakotas were a heavily utilized stopover area. The total distance migrated per mallard averaged 1,407 km (SE = 89.55 km; range = 142-2,947 km). The average time spent on migration per individual between September 15 and December 15 was 27 d (SE = 2.88 d; range = 2-84 d). The state where most mallards were located on December 15 was Missouri (11) followed by Arkansas (8), while 5 mallards were still in Canada, and only 8 of 43 females and 0 of 10 males were present in Arkansas. The eastern Dakotas are a heavily utilized migration stopover for midcontinent mallards that may require more attention for migration habitat management. The reasons for so few mallards, especially male mallards, returning to Arkansas the following year deserves further research.

Research paper thumbnail of Supplementary material from "Sora ( Porzana carolina ) autumn migration habitat use

Palustrine wetland management across the USA is often conducted under a moist soil management fra... more Palustrine wetland management across the USA is often conducted under a moist soil management framework aimed at providing energetic resources for non-breeding waterfowl. Moist soil management techniques typically include seasonal water-level manipulations and mechanical soil disturbance to create conditions conducive to germination and growth of early successional, seed-producing wetland plants. The assumption is that providing stopover and wintering habitat for non-breeding waterfowl will also accommodate life-history needs of a broader suite of migratory waterbirds including shorebirds, wading birds and marsh birds. Although studies of wetlands provide some evidence to support this assumption for shorebirds and wading birds, there is less information on how other marshbirds respond. Sora (<i>Porzana carolina</i>) are a species of migratory rail that depend on wetlands year round as they migrate across North America. It is a species for which the consequences of wetland management decisions directed towards non-breeding waterfowl are unknown. We conducted nocturnal surveys on 10 public properties in Missouri, USA during autumn migration during 2012–2016 to examine sora habitat use in wetland impoundments managed to enhance the production of moist soil vegetation. We found a positive relationship with sora presence and mean water depth and annual moist soil vegetation; sora used, on average, deeper water than was available across surveyed impoundments and used locations with a higher percentage of annual moist soil vegetation than was available. We found a negative relationship with sora use and upland vegetation, woody vegetation and open water. We found sora using deeper water than have previously been reported for autumn migration, and that moist soil management techniques used on Missouri's intensively managed public wetland areas may be compatible with sora autumn migration stopover habitat requirements.

Research paper thumbnail of Habitat Use of Woodpeckers in the Big Woods of Eastern Arkansas

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, Jun 1, 2012

The Big Woods of eastern Arkansas contain some of the highest densities of woodpeckers recorded w... more The Big Woods of eastern Arkansas contain some of the highest densities of woodpeckers recorded within bottomland hardwood forests of the southeastern United States. A better understanding of habitat use patterns by these woodpeckers is a priority for conservationists seeking to maintain these high densities in the Big Woods and the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley as a whole. Hence, we used linear mixed-effects and linear models to estimate the importance of habitat characteristics to woodpecker density in the Big Woods during the breeding seasons of 2006 and 2007 and the winter of 2007. Northern flicker Colaptes auratus density was negatively related to tree density both for moderate (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;25 cm diameter at breast height) and larger trees (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;61 cm diameter at breast height). Red-headed woodpeckers Melanerpes erythrocephalus also had a negative relationship with density of large (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;61 cm diameter at breast height) trees. Bark disfiguration (an index of tree health) was negatively related to red-bellied woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus and yellow-bellied sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius densities. No measured habitat variables explained pileated woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus density. Overall, the high densities of woodpeckers observed in our study suggest that the current forest management of the Big Woods of Arkansas is meeting the nesting, roosting, and foraging requirements for these birds.

Research paper thumbnail of King Rail (Rallus elegans) Nesting and Brood-Rearing Ecology in a Managed Wetland in Oklahoma, USA

Waterbirds, Sep 1, 2016

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Research paper thumbnail of Mallard Harvest Distributions in the Mississippi and Central Flyways

Journal of Wildlife Management, Aug 1, 2008

The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most harvested duck in North America. A topic of debate a... more The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most harvested duck in North America. A topic of debate among hunters, especially those in Arkansas, USA, is whether wintering distributions of mallards have changed in recent years. We examined distributions of mallards in the Mississippi (MF) and Central Flyways during hunting seasons 1980-2003 to determine if and why harvest distributions changed. We used Geographic Information Systems to analyze spatial distributions of band recoveries and harvest estimated using data from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Parts Collection Survey. Mean latitudes of band recoveries and harvest estimates showed no significant trends across the study period. Despite slight increases in band recoveries and harvest on the peripheries of kernel density estimates, most harvest occurred in eastern Arkansas and northwestern Mississippi, USA, in all years. We found no evidence for changes in the harvest distributions of mallards. We believe that the late 1990s were years of exceptionally high harvest in the lower MF and that slight shifts northward since 2000 reflect a return to harvest distributions similar to those of the early 1980s. Our results provide biologists with possible explanations to hunter concerns of fewer mallards available for harvest. (

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of the American Woodcock Singing-Ground Survey Zone Timing and Coverage

The American woodcock (Scolopax minor; hereafter, woodcock) Singing-Ground Survey (SGS) was devel... more The American woodcock (Scolopax minor; hereafter, woodcock) Singing-Ground Survey (SGS) was developed to inform management decisions by monitoring changes in the relative abundance of woodcock. The timing of the designated survey windows was designed to count resident woodcock while minimizing counting of migrating woodcock. Since the implementation of the SGS in 1968, concerns over survey protocols that may bias data have been raised and investigated; however, the extent of survey coverage and the timing of the survey window zones have not been critically investigated. We used 3 years of data collected from male and female woodcock marked with satellite tags to assess the extent of survey coverage and the timing of the SGS survey windows relative to presence of woodcock. SGS coverage encompassed the majority of woodcock breeding-period sites (locations where marked woodcock returned to in spring) within the U.S. (n = 17, 92%) and approximately half of the breeding-period sites in Canada (n = 6, 43%). Thirteen of the 37 monitored woodcock with known breeding-period site arrival dates (35%) were migrating through a survey zone during an active survey window, all in the northernmost 4 of 5 SGS zones. Thirteen woodcock arrived at breeding-period sites after the start of surveys, and all but one of these was located in the northernmost 2 zones. The combination of migration through a SGS zone during the survey window and arrival at breeding-period sites after the beginning of the survey window in northern zones may result in the SGS weighing too heavily the contribution of routes in the southern portion of the primary breeding range, while weighing too lightly the routes in the northern portion of the primary breeding range. We suggest that additional information is necessary to evaluate whether current survey windows are sufficient, or whether they need to be changed.

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in Distribution of Canada Geese Nesting in Arkansas

Human–Wildlife Interactions, 2015

The reintroduced Canada goose (Branta canadensis) population in Arkansas has grown in range and a... more The reintroduced Canada goose (Branta canadensis) population in Arkansas has grown in range and abundance in recent decades. We determined the geographic range of Arkansas resident Canada geese from 2004 to 2012 using volume contour maps from citizen science observations using eBird, a citizen science website, and hunter recovery locations from the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory. Resulting maps indicate an increase in Canada goose encounters toward northwestern and southwestern Arkansas from the original relocations in the Arkansas River valley. We examined movement of Canada geese banded and recovered in Arkansas by determining the distance and angle of movement between initial and final encounter locations; 25% moved east, and 17% went west. The average distance moved from banding to recovery was 50 km (SE = 1 km). Recoveries of Canada geese banded in Arkansas were greatest in the Mississippi Flyway (58% of all geese) followed by the Central Flyway (37%) with some representation in both the Atlantic (4%) and Pacific flyways (0.9%). Movement from Arkansas to other states and Canada was influenced by goose age and sex. Older individuals traveled longer distances than younger ones, and females traveled longer distances than males. Our findings suggest that recently established Canada geese in Arkansas have slowly expanded within the state to the northwest and southwest with the expansion to the east being important now. Movement of Arkansas resident Canada geese on molt-migration can contribute to management issues in other states and provinces.

Research paper thumbnail of Unusual Courtship Behaviors by Male American Woodcock

Southeastern Naturalist, Sep 1, 2013

Male Scolopax minor (American Woodcock) occasionally perform courtship behaviors outside of the p... more Male Scolopax minor (American Woodcock) occasionally perform courtship behaviors outside of the primary breeding period. The costs and benefits of such behaviors are not known. We observed a Woodcock perform an aerial courtship display in Minnesota on 8 November 2010, a juvenile male emit peent vocalizations in Virginia on 12 December 1991, and a solitary individual emit a cackle vocalization in Georgia on 28 December 1994. These behaviors may have been aberrations that are selected against and therefore uncommon, influenced by environmental conditions, or performed to improve the quality of male courtship behaviors. Research and monitoring are needed to ascertain which if any of these explanations is correct.

Research paper thumbnail of Woodcock in the Southeast: natural history and management for landowners

Research paper thumbnail of Woodpecker Densities in the Big Woods of Arkansas

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, Nov 1, 2010

Sightings of the now-feared-extinct ivory-billed woodpecker Campephilus principalis in 2004 in th... more Sightings of the now-feared-extinct ivory-billed woodpecker Campephilus principalis in 2004 in the Big Woods of Arkansas initiated a series of studies on how to best manage habitat for this endangered species as well as all woodpeckers in the area. Previous work suggested that densities of other woodpeckers, particularly pileated Dryocopus pileatus and red-bellied Melanerpes carolinus woodpeckers, might be useful in characterizing habitat use by the ivory-billed woodpecker. We estimated densities of six woodpecker species in the Big Woods during the breeding seasons of 2006 and 2007 and also during the winter season of 2007. Our estimated densities were as high as or higher than previously published woodpecker density estimates for the Southeastern United States. Density estimates ranged from 9.1 to 161.3 individuals/km 2 across six woodpecker species. Our data suggest that the Big Woods of Arkansas is attractive to all woodpeckers using the region, including ivory-billed woodpeckers.

Research paper thumbnail of Sora ( <i>Porzana carolina</i> ) autumn migration habitat use

Royal Society Open Science, May 1, 2018

Palustrine wetland management across the USA is often conducted under a moist soil management fra... more Palustrine wetland management across the USA is often conducted under a moist soil management framework aimed at providing energetic resources for non-breeding waterfowl. Moist soil management techniques typically include seasonal water-level manipulations and mechanical soil disturbance to create conditions conducive to germination and growth of early successional, seed-producing wetland plants. The assumption is that providing stopover and wintering habitat for non-breeding waterfowl will also accommodate life-history needs of a broader suite of migratory waterbirds including shorebirds, wading birds and marsh birds. Although studies of wetlands provide some evidence to support this assumption for shorebirds and wading birds, there is less information on how other marshbirds respond. Sora (Porzana carolina) are a species of migratory rail that depend on wetlands year round as they migrate across North America. It is a species for which the consequences of wetland management decisions directed towards non-breeding waterfowl are unknown. We conducted nocturnal surveys on 10 public properties in Missouri, USA during autumn migration during 2012-2016 to examine sora habitat use in wetland impoundments managed to enhance the production of moist soil vegetation. We found a positive relationship with sora presence and mean water depth and annual moist soil vegetation; sora used, on average, deeper water than was available across surveyed impoundments and used locations with a higher percentage of annual moist soil vegetation than was available. We found a negative relationship with sora use and upland vegetation, woody vegetation and open water. We found sora using deeper water than have previously been reported for autumn migration, and that moist soil management techniques used on Missouri's intensively managed public wetland areas may be compatible with sora autumn migration stopover habitat requirements.

Research paper thumbnail of Habitat use by Least Bitterns in the Arkansas Delta

Waterbirds, Jun 1, 2010

... Habitat use by Least Bitterns in the Arkansas Delta. Michael J. Budd 1 and David G. Krementz ... more ... Habitat use by Least Bitterns in the Arkansas Delta. Michael J. Budd 1 and David G. Krementz 2, *. ... We did not conduct surveys during heavy rain, heavy fog or wind speeds ≥19 km/hr. We recorded the date, location and observer and estimated the distance to the bird location. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Status and Distribution of Breeding Secretive Marshbirds in the Delta of Arkansas

Southeastern Naturalist, Dec 1, 2011

We surveyed the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley of Arkansas ("the Delta") during the breeding s... more We surveyed the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley of Arkansas ("the Delta") during the breeding seasons of 2005 and 2006 using the national marshbird monitoring protocol for secretive marshbirds. We detected and documented breeding by Podilymbus podiceps (Pied-billed Grebe), Ixobrychus exilis (Least Bittern), Rallus elegans (King Rail), and Gallinula chloropus (Common Moorhen). We detected but did not document breeding by Botaurus lentiginosus (American Bittern), Porphyrula martinica (Purple Gallinule), and Fulica americana (American Coot), all of which have been documented to breed in the Delta. Our estimated occupancy rates for breeding marshbirds in the study area ranged from a low of 6% for the King Rail in 2006 to a high of 27% for the Least Bittern in 2005. The range of these occupancy rates are low and refl ect the rarity of secretive marshbirds in the Delta. Secretive marshbird occupancy rates were higher in the southern third of the Delta, probably because wetlands were more abundant or of higher quality there.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of landscape structure and temporal habitat dynamics on wintering mallard abundance

Landscape Ecology, Jun 25, 2018

Context Management of wintering waterfowl in North America requires adaptability because constant... more Context Management of wintering waterfowl in North America requires adaptability because constant landscape and environmental change challenges existing management strategies regarding waterfowl habitat use at large spatial scales. Migratory waterfowl including mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) use the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) for wintering habitat, making this an important area of emphasis for improving wetland conservation strategies, while enhancing the understanding of landscape-use patterns. Objectives We used aerial survey data collected in the Arkansas portion of the MAV (ARMAV) to explain the abundance and distribution of mallards in relation to variable landscape conditions. Methods We used two-stage, hierarchical spatiotemporal models with a random spatial effect to identify covariates related to changes in mallard abundance and distribution within and among years. Results We found distinct spatio-temporal patterns existed for mallard distributions across the ARMAV Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (

Research paper thumbnail of Statistical inference on patch-specific survival and movement rates from marked animals

Environmental and Ecological Statistics, Jun 1, 1996

Page 1. Environmental and Ecological Statistics 3, 99-118 (1996) Statistical inference on patch-s... more Page 1. Environmental and Ecological Statistics 3, 99-118 (1996) Statistical inference on patch-specific survival and movement rates from marked animals MICHAEL J. CONROY, 1 JON E. ANDERSON, 2. STEPHEN L. RATHBUN 2 and DAVID G. KREMENTZ 3 ...

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in Total Body Calcium and Diet of Breeding House Sparrows

Journal of Avian Biology, Jun 1, 1995

We collected House Sparrows Passer domesticus around London, Ontario, estimated their total body ... more We collected House Sparrows Passer domesticus around London, Ontario, estimated their total body calcium masses, food habits and egg production to test for the effects of endogenous calcium levels on control of clutch size. Before egg production began, calcium levels increased significantly and remained high through the end of egg laying, and then declined significantly after egg laying. We found no evidence that clutch size was related to endogenous calcium levels. Upon first ovulation, House Sparrows greatly increased consumption of calciferous materials such as snail shells, bird eggshells and calciferous grit. Their diet returned to normal after the final egg was ovulated. Daily calcium intake was sufficient to meet eggshell calcium needs.

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in distribution of Temperate-nesting Canada geese in Arkansas

Human–Wildlife Interactions, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Habitat Use at Night by Wintering American Woodcock in Coastal Georgia and Virginia

The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 1995

Nocturnal habitats used by American woodcock (Scolopux minor) were studied using radio telemetry ... more Nocturnal habitats used by American woodcock (Scolopux minor) were studied using radio telemetry at two coastal wintering sites in Georgia (1982-84) and Virginia (1991-92). In Georgia, use of forested habitats at night was extensive while use of fields at night varied between years but generally was low. We found no difference in the probability of moving to a field at night among the four age-sex classes (P = 0.23). A significant effect (P < 0.05) of age-sex class was noted between distances moved from diurnal to nocturnal locations in Georgia. Young females moved farther than any other age-sex class. In Virginia, no effect of age-sex class was found on the probability of being located during the night in either a field or a forest.

Research paper thumbnail of Body Condition in Eastern Kingbirds

The Auk, Jul 1, 1987

Murphy (1986) reported the effects of body size and body condition on the timing of breeding (ToB... more Murphy (1986) reported the effects of body size and body condition on the timing of breeding (ToB), on egg size, and on egg production in Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus). Murphy did three things, in particular, that led us to conclude that most of his conclusions are unsupported or equivocal at best: (1) he used an inappropriate sample of birds, (2) he confused body size with body condition, and (3) he used questionable methods for assessing outlying data in bivariate correlations. First, Murphy's data were from 23 females of which "18 were collected 0-2 days after laying the last egg, and 1 each 5, 8, 21, and 25 days after the laying of the final egg. One female was collected on the evening before she laid her first egg" (p. 466). These data were inappropriate to assess the importance of nutrient reserves to breeding kingbirds because, in addition to postlayers and one layer, it was necessary to have both prelayers and more layers. For example, Ankney and Macinnes (1978) found no differences in body weights or fat, protein, and calcium reserves among postlaying female Lesser Snow Geese (Chen c. caerulescens) that had just laid 2-6 eggs. If they had not collected a sample of prelaying females and had followed Murphy's approach, they would have concluded falsely that clutch size was unrelated to the size of nutrient reserves in that species. A comparison of the nutrient reserves of postlaying females that have laid different-size clutches can have several outcomes: (1) females that laid larger clutches have larger reserves, (2) females that laid larger clutches have smaller reserves, or (3) there are no differences in

Research paper thumbnail of Use of Aquaculture Ponds and Other Habitats by Autumn Migrating Shorebirds Along the Lower Mississippi River

Environmental Management, Jun 4, 2013

Populations of many shorebird species are declining; habitat loss and degradation are among the l... more Populations of many shorebird species are declining; habitat loss and degradation are among the leading causes for these declines. Shorebirds use a variety of habitats along interior migratory routes including managed moist soil units, natural wetlands, sandbars, and agricultural lands such as harvested rice fields. Less well known is shorebird use of freshwater aquaculture facilities, such as commercial cat-and crayfish ponds. We compared shorebird habitat use at drained aquaculture ponds, moist soil units, agricultural areas, sandbars and other natural habitat, and a sewage treatment facility in the in the lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley (LMAV) during autumn 2009. Six species: Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous), Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), Pectoral Sandpiper (C. melanotos), Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), and Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), accounted for 92 % of the 31,165 individuals observed. Sewage settling lagoons (83.4, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 25.3-141.5 birds/ha), drained aquaculture ponds (33.5, 95 % CI 22.4-44.6 birds/ ha), and managed moist soil units on public lands (15.7, CI 11.2-20.3 birds/ha) had the highest estimated densities of shorebirds. The estimated 1,100 ha of drained aquaculture ponds available during autumn 2009 provided over half of the estimated requirement of 2,000 ha by the LMAV Joint Venture working group. However, because of the decline in the aquaculture industry, autumn shorebird habitats in the LMAV may be limited in the near future. Recognition of the current aquaculture habitat trends will be important to the future management activities of federal and state agencies. Should these aquaculture habitat trends continue, there may be a need for wildlife biologists to investigate other habitats that can be managed to offset the current and expected loss of aquaculture acreages. This study illustrates the potential for freshwater aquaculture to provide habitat for a taxa at risk. With the rapid growth of aquaculture worldwide, the practices of this industry deserve attention to identify benefits as well as risks to wildlife.

Research paper thumbnail of Autumn Migration of Mississippi Flyway Mallards as Determined by Satellite Telemetry

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, Dec 1, 2012

We used satellite telemetry to study autumn migration timing, routes, stopover duration, and fina... more We used satellite telemetry to study autumn migration timing, routes, stopover duration, and final destinations of mallards Anas platyrhynchos captured the previous spring in Arkansas from 2004 to 2007. Of those mallards that still had functioning transmitters on September 15 (n = 55), the average date when autumn migration began was October 23 (SE = 2.62 d; range = September 17-December 7). For those mallards that stopped for .1 d during migration, the average stopover length was 15.4 d (SE = 1.47 d). Ten mallards migrated nonstop to wintering sites. The eastern Dakotas were a heavily utilized stopover area. The total distance migrated per mallard averaged 1,407 km (SE = 89.55 km; range = 142-2,947 km). The average time spent on migration per individual between September 15 and December 15 was 27 d (SE = 2.88 d; range = 2-84 d). The state where most mallards were located on December 15 was Missouri (11) followed by Arkansas (8), while 5 mallards were still in Canada, and only 8 of 43 females and 0 of 10 males were present in Arkansas. The eastern Dakotas are a heavily utilized migration stopover for midcontinent mallards that may require more attention for migration habitat management. The reasons for so few mallards, especially male mallards, returning to Arkansas the following year deserves further research.