D. Richard

Reintroduction and Colony Expansion of the Brown Pelican in Louisiana

The eastern brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis) virtually disappeared from Louisiana by 1963. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (FGFWFC) reintroduced from Florida to southeastern Louisiana 1,276 fledgling pelicans at 3 release sites between 1968 and 1980. Florida transplants established 2 restored nesting populations, 1 at North Island in the Chandeleur Island chain and 1 at Queen Bess Island in Barataria Bay. The LDWF transplanted 149 fledglings from the Queen Bess colony to Last Island, Isles...

Food Preferences of Spring-migrating Blue-winged Teal in Southwestern Louisiana

We studied effects of pair status, molt intensity, and year on food selection by migrating male blue-winged teal (Anas discors) in southwestern Louisiana during springs 1990 and 1991. Diets consisted primarily of animal foods; but plant material, consisting mostly of seeds, comprised as much as 44%. There was no difference in animal food consumption by paired and unpaired males; however, the proportion of animal material in the male diet was greater in 1990 than in 1991. Animal food consumption was not positively correlated with mean molt intensity. Food preferences of paired and unpaired...