Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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BAY DUCKS

Redhead  Aythya americana

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

SUMMER:  NO RECORDS.

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Fairly Common to Very Common Migrant from mid-February to mid-March.  Uncommon Migrant from late March to early May.  Late dates, 26 May 1958 (Edeburn et al. 1960); one on 09 May 1977 at Gavin Power Plant (HS); two on 02 May 1987 (WA, AT, LW)  See Remarks section for high counts.

 Fall:  Uncommon Migrant from late October to late December.  Occasionally Fairly Common from mid-December to late December.  Early dates, one on 20 September 1980 at Ona, Cabell Co., WV (GR); 23 October 1955 (Edeburn et al. 1960); one on 25 October 1976 at Barboursville, Cabell Co., WV (HS); two on 26 October 1975 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); one on 28 October 1976 at Barboursville, Cabell Co., WV (HS) and 28 October 1990 at Cheshire, Gallia Co., OH (WA).  See Remarks section for high counts.

REMARKS:

Winter High Counts:  40 on 29 February 1992 at Kyger Creek Power Plant and Cheshire, Gallia Co., OH (WA, MG); 35 on 15 February 1990 at Gavin Power Plant (WA, MG); 24 on 09 February 2007 at Harris River Front Park (JW); 23 on 17 February 1976 at Gavin Power Plant and Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS).

Spring High Counts:  200 on 06 March 1971 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); 150 on 01 March 1970 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); 126 on 19 March 1978 at Kyger Creek power Plant (HS); 120 on 12 March 1972 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS); 114 (64 at Byrd Locks & Dam and 50 at McClintic WMA) on 12 March 2005 (MG, DP); 50 on 23 March 1996 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (WA, KP).

Fall High Counts:  35 on 30 November 1995 at Byrd Locks & Dam (WA); 6 on 07 November 1987 on the Ohio River at Huntington, WV (WA); 21 November 1971 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS). 

Banding Data:  758 (8.4% of total Anatidae) were banded at McClintic WMA from 1953 to 1964.  Of 8.0% (61) recovered, exclusive of WV and OH, 76.8% (43) and 23.2% (13), respectively, were recovered north and south of the banding station.  53.5% (23) of recoveries north of the banding station were from Michigan (8), Minnesota (8) and Ontario, Canada (7).  76.9% (10) of recoveries south of the banding station were from Florida (3), South Carolina (3), and 2 each from Alabama and North Carolina (Donnelly 1967).

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 10% of Counts.  Total Birds: 14.  Range: 1 to   4.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on 56% of Counts.  Total Birds: 91.  Range: 1 to 50.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 25% of Counts.  Total Birds: 22.  Range: 1 to   8.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Total Counts: 61.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 215.7.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Total Counts: 18.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:     3.9.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Total Counts: 40.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:   82.5.

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

Recorded on 1 survey from 1989 to 2002:  02 January 2001:  4.