Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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SURFACE-FEEDING DUCKS

Wood Duck  Aix sponsa

WINTER:  Casual Visitant.  Occasionally winters.  See remarks section for CBC data.

SUMMER:  Common Resident.  The only Common status nesting duck in our area with numbers increasing in July and August to Very Common.

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Common to Very Common migrant.  Most arrive early March, with mid February to late February arrivals in some years.

 Fall:  Common to Very Common migrant.  Migrants usually depart by November (Donnelly 1967).  See Remarks section for high counts.

REMARKS:

Fall High Counts:  At least 200 on 29 October 2006 along the Ohio River at Green Bottom WMA (MG, DP, GR); 149 on 28 November 1979 at Green Bottom WMA (HS).

Breeding Bird Survey (Bullard 2003): Cabwaylingo State Forest, Wayne Co., WV (2002): 135 Stops (7 surveys), 64 Mile. Number of Stops Recorded: 1. Total Birds: 1. 

Breeding Bird Survey (Koch 1974): McClintic WMA, Mason Co., WV (29 May 1971): 50 Stops, 12.25 Mile. Number of Stops Recorded: 2. Total Birds: 27.

Banding Data:  2195 (24.3% of total Anatidae) were banded at McClintic WMA from 1953 to 1964.  Of 11.6% (255) recovered, excluding WV and OH, 16.1% (41) and 48.6% (124), respectively, were recovered north and south of the banding station.  41.5% (17)  of recoveries north of the banding station were from Ontario, Canada.  89.5% (111) of recoveries south of the banding station were from Alabama (23), Georgia (23), South Carolina (21), Florida (19), Louisiana (14), and Mississippi (11) (Donnelly 1967).

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 20% of Counts.  Total Birds:   32.   Range: 1 to   8.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on   6% of Counts.  Total Birds:     1.   Range: 1.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 55% of Counts.  Total Birds: 227.   Range: 1 to 72.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Number of Counts: 61.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:   88.8.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Number of Counts: 18.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird: 353.0.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Number of Counts: 40.  Birds/Party Hr.: <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:     8.0.