Habitat Preference And Survival Of Florida Duck Broods

Florida Duck broods were captured and banded by nightlighting in fresh, salt, and brackish water habitats. Ducklings were most frequently observed in brackish water areas. Duckling survival as determined by brood size observations was lower than in other mallard subspecies. Most duckling mortality occurs immediately after hatching. Ducklings are very terrestrial, a behaviorism that reduces exposure to an abundance of predators associated with Florida's aquatic environments.