Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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BAY DUCKS

Ring-necked Duck   Aythya collaris

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

SUMMER:  Casual Visitant.  Four records.  One male on 04 June 1997 at Green Bottom WMA (HS); one female on 02 and 25 June 2002 at Crown City WA (WA, MG, HS); two (male and female) on 01 August 1990 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (CE, JLS) (Smith 1996); one female on 20 August 2002 at Gavin Power Plant (HS).

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Fairly Common to Very Common Migrant from mid-February to early April.  Uncommon to Fairly Common from mid-April to early May.  Late dates, 31 May 1970 at McClintic WMA (HS); one female on 29 May 2005 at Green Bottom WMA (WA, MG, DP); two on 12 May 1970 at McClintic WMA (HS); one on 07 May 1988 (WA, AT, LW).  See Remarks section for high counts.

 Fall:  Fairly Common to Common Migrant from late October to mid-December.  Early dates, two on 22 October 1987 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (WA); thirteen on 25 October 1987 on the Ohio River at Cheshire, Gallia Co., OH (WA); 30 (20 at Kyger Creek Power Plant and 10 at Byrd Locks & Dam) on 26 October 1975 (HS); 28 October 1951 (Edeburn et al. 1960) and fourteen on 28 October 1990 at Cheshire, Gallia Co., OH (WA).  See Remarks section for high counts.

REMARKS:

Winter High Counts:  200 on 25 February 1989 at Cheshire, Gallia Co., OH (WA); 180 on 18 February 1989 at Cheshire, Gallia Co., OH and McClintic WMA (WA, MG); 170 on 27 February 2005 in Cabell and Mason Cos., WV (MG, DP, HS).

Spring High Counts: 650 on 02 March (MG) and 570 on 10 March (MG, DP) 2007 at Green Bottom WMA; 525 on 12 March 1989 at Gavin Power Plant and Cheshire, Gallia Co., OH (WA); 375 (115 at Green Bottom WMA, 60 at Byrd Locks & Dam, and 200 at McClintic WMA) on 12 March 2005 (MG, DP); 270 (210 at Green Bottom WMA and 60 at Byrd Locks & Dam) on 03 March 2007 (MG, DP); 250 on 29 March 2008 at Green Bottom WMA (WA, MG, DP); 200 on 21 March 1990 at Cheshire, Gallia Co., OH (Smith 1996); 170 (162 at Green Bottom WMA and 8 at Byrd Locks & Dam) on 19 March 2005 (WA, MG, DP); 103 (78 at McClintic WMA, 25 at Byrd Locks & Dam) on 08 March 2006 (KK, MP); 100 on 24 March 2002 at Green Bottom WMA (WA, GR).

Fall High Counts:  100 on 06 November 1986 on the Ohio River at Huntington, WV (MG) and 08 November 1986 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (MG); 37 (32 at Green Bottom WMA and 5 at Byrd Locks & Dam) on 11 November 2006 (MG, DP); 30 (20 at Kyger Creek Power Plant and 10 at Byrd Locks & Dam) on 26 October 1975 (HS); 25 on 21 November 1971 at Kyger Creek Power Plant (HS).

Banding Data:  836 (9.3% of total Anatidae) were banded at McClintic WMA from 1953 to 1964.  Of 9.1% (76) recovered, exclusive of WV and OH, 47.2% (34) and 52.8% (38), respectively, were recovered north and south of the banding station.  52.9% (18) of recoveries north of the banding station, 9 each, were from Minnesota and Ontario, Canada.  81.6% (31) of recoveries south of the banding station were from Florida (19) and South Carolina (12) (Donnelly 1967).

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 16% of Counts.  Total Birds: 41.  Range: 1 to 13.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on 28% of Counts.  Total Birds: 49.  Range: 1 to 23.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 25% of Counts.  Total Birds: 56.  Range: 1 to 28.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Total Counts: 61.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 73.6.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Total Counts: 18.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:   7.2.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Total Counts: 40.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 64.8.

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

Recorded on 1 survey from 1989 to 2005:  05 January 2004:  2.