James A. Dubovsky

Approximately 41,375 ha of catfish ponds in Mississippi attracted as many as 150,000 waterfowl and American coots (Fulica americana) during winters in the mid-1980s. We evaluated relationships between numbers of northern shoveler {Anas clypeata), ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), scaup (Aythya affinis, A. marila), and American coot and habitat features of catfish farms in west-central Mississippi during winters 1983-1986. All species tended to use large clusters of ponds with other ponds nearby. High waterfowl use also occurred on pond clusters near the Mississippi River. Although catfish...

A stratified random survey design proposed to increase the efficiency of estimating numbers of waterfowl wintering on Mississippi catfish ponds was evaluated. The optimally allocated sample generally produced estimates with coefficients of variation <50%, similar to those obtained from a completely random design used previously. Coefficients of variation were not associated with survey date. Stratified random sampling reduced the number of catfish pond clusters surveyed and flight time, compared to completely random sampling. We recommend using the stratified random design to estimate...

Estimates from aerial surveys (Nov-Feb 1983-87) of ducks, geese, and American coots (Fulica americana) wintering on catfish ponds in western Mississippi are presented. Estimates did not appear to be biased by the time of day clusters were surveyed, by changing observers, or by changing clusters surveyed between years. Estimates increased from an average of 54,000 birds in 1983-84, to 121,000 in 1985--86, but decreased to 105,000 in 1986-87. Numbers of birds generally peaked from late November through early December, but declined thereafter, followed by a second peak in late December to mid...