Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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SURFACE-FEEDING DUCKS

Mallard  Anas platyrhynchos

WINTER:  Abundant to Very Abundant Resident.  See Remarks section for CBC data, Mid-Winter Aerial Survey data and high counts.

SUMMER:  Uncommon to Fairly Common Resident.  Introduced at McClintic WMA in 1954 (Appel 1957).  Recorded on 100% (9) of Century Day Counts from 1987 to 1994 (WA).  Many semi-domesticated present.

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Abundant Migrant from mid-February to late March.  Throughout April migrants decrease and resident pairs are present.  See Remarks section for high counts.

 Fall:  Abundant Migrant from late October to mid-December.  Many September records are probably early migrants.  See Remarks section for high counts.

REMARKS:

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: 6.

Winter High Counts:  1,500 on 10 January 1988 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (WA, MG); 1,433 on 12 January 1971 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); 1,000 on 09 February 1966 on the Ohio River at Green Bottom WMA (WA); 850 on 07 December 1969 on the Ohio River, Cabell Co., WV and Kyger Creek Power Plant (WA, HS).

Spring High Counts:  300 on 03 March 1979 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); 300 on 06 March 19771 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); 180 on 19 March 1978 at Kyger Creek Power Plant and Gavin Power Plant, Gallia, Co., OH (HS).

Fall High Counts:  550 on 30 November 1975 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); 399 on 28 November 1971 at McClintic WMA and Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); 325 on 29 November 1987 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (WA).

Banding Data:  1,985 (22.0% of total Anatidae) were banded at McClintic WMA from 1953 to 1964.  Of 19.2% (382) recovered, exclusive of WV and OH, 61.7% (163) and 38.3% (101), respectively, were recovered north and south of the banding station.  92.6% (151) of recoveries north of the banding station were from Ontario, Canada (28), Minnesota (23), Illinois (20), Wisconsin (20), Michigan (13), Saskatchewan, Canada (13), Manitoba, Canada (12), North Dakota (12) and Iowa (10).  58.4% (59) of recoveries south of the banding station were from Tennessee (26), Kentucky (20) and Arkansas (13) (Donnelly 1967).

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on   77% of Counts.  Total Birds: 6,561.  Range: 1 to 999.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on 100% of Counts.  Total Birds: 6,486.  Range: 3 to 709.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on   98% of Counts.  Total Birds: 5,440.  Range: 5 to 624.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Number of Counts: 61.  Birds/Party Hr.:   2.2.  Party Hr./Bird: 0.5.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Number of Counts: 18.  Birds/Party Hr.: 18.4.  Party Hr./Bird: 0.1.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Number of Counts: 40.  Birds/Party Hr.:   3.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 0.3.

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

13 January 1989:     128.  03 January 1990:  357.  02 January 1991:     275.  07 January 1992:  435.  04 January 1993:  611.
10 January 1994:  1,037.  03 January 1995:  994.  03 January 1996:     186.  06 January 1997:  600.  05 January 1998:  645.
04 January 1999:  1,699.  05 January 2000:  602.  02 January 2001:  4,198.  07 January 2002:  736.  06 January 2003:  227.
05 January 2004:     595.  03 January: 2005:  634.