Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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SURFACE-FEEDING DUCKS

Northern Pintail  Anas acuta

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

SUMMER:  NO RECORDS.

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Fairly Common to Common Migrant from late February to early April (Slack 1978).  Some early to mid-February records likely early migrants.  Records to early May (Donnelly 1967). Late dates, one on 08 May 1982 at Beech Fork State Park (HS); 06 May 1952 (Edeburn et al. 1960).  See Remarks section for high counts.

 Fall:  Uncommon Migrant from mid-October to late December (Donnelly 1967, Slack 1978).  Early dates,one on 01 October 1967 at McClintic WMA (HS, RS); six on 08 October 1978 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS).  See Remarks section for high counts.

REMARKS:

Winter High Counts:  125 on 20 February 2003 at Green Bottom WMA and Byrd Locks & Dam (WA); 50 on 09 February 1966 on the Ohio River, near Green Bottom WMA (WA); 50 on 02 February 2004 at Byrd Locks & Dam (WA); 40 on 01 January 1991 at Milton, Cabell Co., WV (WA); 23 on 27 February 1971 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS).

Spring High Counts:  250 on 02 March 2003 at Green Bottom WMA (WA, BD, GR); 125 on 09 March 1969 in Cabell and Mason Cos., WV and Kyger Creek (WA, HS); 76 on 16 March 1969 in Cabell and Mason Cos., WV (WA). 50 on 10 March 2003 at Green Bottom WMA (WA, JB).

Fall High Counts:  25 on 20 October 1968 at McClintic WMA (HS); 15 on 27 October 1968 at McClintic WMA (WA) and 25 November 2005 at Gavin Power Plant (MG, DP); 10 on 29 November 1968 at McClintic WMA (WA)

Banding Data:  7 (<1% of total Anatidae) were banded at McClintic WMA from 1953 to 1964.  There were no recoveries (exclusive of WV and OH) north or south of the banding station (Donnelly 1967).

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 12% of Counts.  Total Birds: 11.  Range: 1 to   3.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on 67% of Counts.  Total Birds: 73.  Range: 1 to 32.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 15% of Counts.  Total Birds: 17.  Range: 1 to   6.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Number of Counts: 61.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 274.5.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Number of Counts: 18.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:     4.8.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Number of Counts: 40.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 106.7.

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

Recorded on 5 surveys from 1989 to 2005:  04 January 1993:  18.  04 January 1999:  30.  02 January 2001:  1.
                                                                    05 January 2004:  21.  03 January 2005:    6.