Joseph R. Marty

Bait Preference and Banding Cost Analysis for Mourning Doves in the Chenier Plain of Southwest Louisiana

SEAFWA Journal Volume 7, March 2020

The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura; hereafter dove) is among the most iconic symbols for hunting in the southeastern United States. Con-servation and management of this species is a priority for many state wildlife management agencies. Annual banding efforts are one of the main meth-ods used to measure survival and recovery rates, which aid in harvest management recommendations. We examined a number of dove captures using five different bait types over a two-year period in southwestern Louisiana and performed a banding cost analysis. We found milo to be the most efficient bait for banding...

Changes in Waterfowl Abundance and Species Composition on Louisiana Coastal Wildlife Management Areas and Refuges 2004-2016

SEAFWA Journal Volume 6, March 2019

Aerial waterfowl surveys are conducted on major wintering areas to provide regional population indices and determine habitat use of non-breeding waterfowl. Coastal Louisiana supports more than one quarter of the continental dabbling duck population during winter. Thus, consid- erable effort is allocated to monitoring waterfowl abundance in coastal Louisiana with implications for future waterfowl habitat management in the region. We conducted monthly surveys on nine state-owned coastal wildlife management areas and refuges, November–January 2004–2016. Across all sites and survey years, the...

Waste Rice and Natural Seed Abundances in Rice Fields in the Louisiana and Texas Coastal Prairies

SEAFWA Journal Volume 2, March 2015

Rice and natural seeds are important foods for waterfowl in rice growing regions such as the Gulf Coast Prairies of Louisiana and Texas. We conducted a study from August-November 2010 and collected 2,250 soil cores in 50 farmed and 50 idle rice fields in the Louisiana Chenier Plain (CP) and Texas Mid-Coast (TMC) to estimate biomass of waste rice and natural seeds. Estimates are necessary to assess carrying capacity for waterfowl in this region by the Gulf Coast Joint Venture. Waste rice abundance was greatest in CP farmed fields that produced a second crop of rice (i.e., ratoon) and were...