Abundance and distribution of breeding waterfowl in the Great Clay Belt of northern Ontario / R. Kenyon Ross, Kenneth F. Abraham, Ted R. Gadawski, Robert S. Rempel, T. Shane Gabor, and Ron Maher.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 49-50).

The abundance and distribution of breeding waterfowl in the Great Clay Belt of northern Ontario was determined through
helicopter surveys of 117 fixed plols (2 X 2 kIn each) during the nest initiation periods from 1988 to t 990. This area has
higher fertility, flat topography. high water table and better access than the surrounding Boreal Forest, and therefore has
greater potential for increased waterfowl production through habitat management. Overall breeding density averaged 112.5
indicated breeding pairs per 100 km2, 68% being of the four most common species lMallard (Anw' platyrhYI1c1lf)s). Ring_
necked Duck (Aythya collaris), American Black Duck (Ana.s rubripes), and Common Goldeneye (Bllcephala clanglllll) l;
13 other species were encountered. The average total of breeding waterfowl for the region was estimated at 59330 pairs.
Distributions of the species were related to ecodistrict and to surficial geology. The more northerly of the two main ecodistricts
had higher densities of American Black Ducks. Ring-necked Ducks, Common Goldeneyes. and Canada Gee~e
(Brama canademis). Mallard and Hooded Merganser ( /"nplwdyte.s clIclIllallls) distributions correlated with presence of surficial
clay and moraines, respectively. Less common species including Green-winged Teal (AlIllS creeca) and American
Wigeon (Alias americana) appeared to be concentrated in smaller-scaled habitat features (beaver pond sequences and estuarine
marshes, respectively). Results generally agreed with those of earlier Clay Belt surveys. Total breeding density of
waterfowl is slightly higher than that of surrounding regions.