Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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BAY DUCKS

Greater Scaup  Aythya marila

WINTER:  Casual Visitant.  See Remarks section for CBC data, Mid-Winter Aerial Survey data and high counts.

SUMMER:  Accidental.  One from 16 July to 09 October 1988 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (WA, MG).

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Casual Migrant from early March to early May.  Late dates, 21 May 2005 at Green Bottom WMA (MG); 20 May 1952 (Edeburn et al. 1960); one on 18 May 1996 (present since 04 May) at Cheshire, Gallia Co., OH (WA, BD, JLH, GR); one on 08 May 1991 (present since 05 May) at Gavin Power Plant (WA, MG, AT); 06 May 1989 at Gavin Power Plant (WA, AT, LW).   See Remarks section for high counts.

 Fall:  Casual Migrant in November.  Edeburn et al. (1960) gives records of 01 November 1951 and 1957; one on 16 November 1991 at Cheshire, Gallia Co., OH (WA, JF, MG, SS); 17 on 27 November 2009 at Beech Fork Dam (MG, DP); one on 29 November 1987 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (WA).

REMARKS:

Status:  Differentiation of Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup in the field is often difficult.  Hall (1983) and Kiff et al. (1986) indicated that observations in the field may be overstated.  1% (19) of 1,749 Scaup banded at McClintic WMA (1953 to 1964) were Greater Scaup (Donnelly 1967).  Kiff et al. (1986) stated banding data may be the most reliable indication of the status of this species in our area. 

Winter High Counts:  12 on 10 February 1995 at Byrd Locks & Dam (WA). 

Spring High Counts:  56 on 15 March 1987 on the Ohio River at Crab Creek, Mason Co., WV (WA); 10 on 12 March 1989 at Gavin Power Plant (WA).

Banding Data:  19 (<1% of total Anatidae) were banded at McClintic WMA from 1953 to 1964.  There were no recoveries (Donnelly 1967).

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 10% of Counts.  Total Birds: 24.  Range: 1 to   8.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on 11% of Counts.  Total Birds:   8.  Range: 1 to   7.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 25% of Counts.  Total Birds: 50.  Range: 1 to 30.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Total Counts: 61.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 125.8
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Total Counts: 18.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:   44.1
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Total Counts: 40.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:   36.3.

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

   Recorded (Scaup spp.) on 3 surveys from 1989 to 2005:  03 January 1996:  17.  02 January 2001:  40.  03 January 2005:  5.