Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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BAY DUCKS

Lesser Scaup  Aythya affinis

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

SUMMER:  Casual Visitant.  Five records.  One on 02 June 1987 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (WA); 04 June 1955 (Edeburn et al. 1960); one female on 30 June 1953 at McClintic WMA (Smith 1996); 13 August 1955 ( Edeburn et al. 1960); one male on 15 August 1959 at McClintic WMA (GH) (Smith 1996).

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Common to Very Common Migrant from late February to mid-April.  Uncommon to Fairly Common from late April to late May (See Summer section for early June dates).  Late dates, one on 25 May 1969 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); three on 21 May 1978 at Gavin Power Plant (HS); 8 on 14 May 1978 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); one on 12 May 1970 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS).  See Remarks section for high counts.

 Fall:  Uncommon to Fairly Common Migrant from late October to mid-December.  Early dates, 10 September 1967 at McClintic WMA (HS, RS); six on 25 October 1987 at Byrd Locks & Dam and Kyger Creek Power Plant (WA, MG); eleven on 27 October 1974 at McClintic WMA (HS); two on 31 October 1976 at Gavin Power Plant (HS).   See Remarks section for high counts.

REMARKS:

Winter High Counts:  100 on 09 February 1966 at Glenwood, Mason Co., WV (WA); 30 on 22 February 1970 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (WA, HS).

Spring High Counts:  1,112 on 29 March 1969 on the Ohio River in Cabell and Mason Cos., WV (HS); 300 on 12 April 1987 at Gavin and Kyger Creek Power Plants (WA); 225 on 27 March 2002 at Byrd Locks & Dam (WA) 100 on 11 March 2008 at Byrd Locks & Dam (WA); 90 on 19 March 1978 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS).

Fall High Counts:  40 on 01 November 1963 on the Ohio River at Huntington, WV (WA, TI, LK); 14 on 21 November 1971 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); 11 on 27 October 1974 at McClintic WMA (HS).

Banding Data:  1,730 (19.2% of total Anatidae) were banded at McClintic WMA from 1953 to 1964.  Of 4.2% (73) recovered, exclusive of WV and OH, 71.6% (48) and 28.4% (19), respectively, were recovered north and south of the banding station.  58.3% (28) of recoveries north of the banding station were from Minnesota (12), and 8 each from Manitoba and Ontario, Canada.  36.8% (7) of recoveries south of the banding station were from Florida.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 30% of Counts.  Total Birds: 321.  Range: 1 to 240.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on 78% of Counts.  Total Birds:   97.  Range: 1 to   30.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 35% of Counts.  Total Birds: 100.  Range: 1 to   24.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Total Counts: 61.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:   9.4.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Total Counts: 18.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:   3.6.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Total Counts: 40.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 18.1.

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.