Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

Home | Geographical Scope | Historical Perspective | Format | Species Accounts | Hypothetical List | Acknowledgements | Literature Cited

SURFACE-FEEDING DUCKS

Blue-winged Teal  Anas discors

WINTER:  Casual Visitant, although the few records probably indicate fall stragglers.  Found on two Huntington, WV CBC (1961 & 1995) and two Ona, WV CBC (1978 & 1996).  No records for Mason County, WV CBC.  See Remarks section for Mid-Winter Aerial Survey data.

SUMMER:  Rare to Uncommon Resident.  Nesting has been documented at Beech Fork State Park (SB) (Kiff et al. 1986); McClintic WMA (HS); Byrd Locks & Dam (MG).

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Common Migrant from late March to late April (Donnelly 1967, Slack 1978).  There are arrival records for early March and mid-March.  The few mid-February to late February records probably indicate early arrivals versus wintering individuals.  Migrants present into mid-May.  See Remarks section for high counts.

 Fall:  Common Migrant from late August to early October (Donnelley 1967, Slack 1978).  Casual Migrant from mid-October to mid-December.  See Remarks section for high counts.

REMARKS:

Spring High Counts:  72 (41 at Green Bottom WMA, 18 at Gallipolis Ferry, Mason Co., WV and 13 at Byrd Locks & Dam) on 02 April 2005 (MG, DP); 66 on 08 April 1973 in Cabell and Wayne Cos., WV and Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); 62 on 20 April 1974 in Mason Co., WV (HS); 50 on 10 April 1976 at McClintic WMA (HS); 40 on 05 April 1969 in Cabell and Mason Cos., WV (WA) and 24 March 2002 at Green Bottom WMA (WA, GR).

Fall High Counts:  67 on 19 September 1971 at McClintic WMA (HS); 62 on 01 September 1974 in Mason Co., WV (HS); 55 on 03 October 1971 at McClintic WMA (HS).

Breeding Bird Survey (Koch 1974): McClintic WMA, Mason Co., WV (29 May 1971): 50 Stops, 12.25 Mile. Number of Stops Recorded: 1. Total Birds: 2.

Nesting Data:  Female and 6 young on 31 May 1970 at McClintic WMA (HS); nest with 10 eggs on 21 May 2005 at Byrd Locks & Dam (MG).

Banding Data:  475 (5.3% of total Anatidae) were banded at McClintic WMA from 1953 to 1964.  Of 4.2% (20) recovered, excluding WV and OH, 63.6% (7) and 36.4% (4), respectively, were recovered north and south of the banding station.  Recoveries north of the banding station were Michigan (2), Ontario, Canada (2) and one each from Manitoba, Canada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin (Donnelly 1967).

MID-WINTER AERIAL SURVEY (WVDNR)
OHIO RIVER, POINT PLEASANT TO HUNTINGTON, WV

Recorded on 1 survey from 1989 to 2005:  05 January 2004:  2.