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Show Notes
Known by many names – sprig, pinny, bull – but unmistakable in appearance, the northern pintail is one of North America’s most recognizable, graceful, and well-studied duck species. Unfortunately, much of that attention was garnered because of dramatic population declines and the mystery surrounding it. Dr. Scott Stephens joins Chris Jennings and Dr. Mike Brasher to profile this iconic species, discussing its ecology, population status, causes of its decline, and conservation opportunities.
www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Topics
Ducks Unlimited podcastco-hostDr. Mike BrasherThanksgivingDuck seasonDr. Scott Stevensscientific researchpopulation statuslong-term declineconservation programstaxonomyappearancedrakeplumageneckpin featherpin tailherringbone colorhuntersfemalegadwallsizeweightmallardwingsstreamlinedflyingcourtingshorebirdsdartingdancingaerial pursuitscourting flightsphotoscharismatic speciescallhuntingwhistledrakemale buzz peeplanyardpintailcallmallard hen callfemale flight quacksvocaldistributioncircumpolarnorthern hemisphereEuropeSiberiaWestern EuropeAfricaIndiaAsiaJapanband recoveriesNorth AmericaWestern birdMississippi FlywayprairiesAlaskaEastern Canadabreeding populationestimatesHudson BayHudson Bay Lowlands.breeding surveypintailsmallardswintering distributionPacific FlywayTundra areasdefense for predationnestingpintailsshort grasshabituatedphotosbreeding areashabitat alterationshallow waterlower clutch sizeshorter incubation periodducklings fledgedephemeral water areaslandscapesshort vegetationrice fieldsflooded agricultural fields.adaptationinclinedlong wayboreal forestnestingattractionhabitat availabilityhistorical significancesnow geesepintailsflooded ag landscapeTexas coastpintailsGPS tracking devicesmovementsrust colorfeedingmarshpintailsspeciespintailsstudiesGPS tracking devicesVHF transmittersspecific landscapesmovementswingsmobiledrywaterpair formationtimingpair bondslate fallearly winterstatisticsCentral Valley of CaliforniaCentral ValleyfemalespairedNovembercourtshippair bondingDecemberJanuarypintailsmigrate northnestingmallardsmid-continentblack ducksheading northvivid memoriescourtship flightsMississippi Deltaharvestdecoysmale biassex ratioduck populationsmale dominatedobservation biaslarge groupsemailpairedmalesfemalescourtship behaviorRainwater Basinmateintruderspintailscourtshipspring migrationsampling biasbirds crossing the bordermigrantswintering northern pintailsMexicoshrimp farmingdistributionpintailsrice culturewintering numbersacornscropsizefeedingpeasbreeding ecologyshowgrass rhizomesshallow waterbreeding habitat preferencessurvival ratesclutch sizenest successpredationagricultural activitiesincubation periodfledgeprecocialfemale parental careinvertebratesnest sitesdepressionswetlandwetland habitatprairiesducklingswetland habitatsinvertebrate communitiesnesting ecologyvulnerableland usepopulation statusbreeding populationdeclinesurveydataconfidencemid-70searly mid-70ssix million breeding population estimateearly numberswild number of pintails1970ssix million range1980sextreme droughtdramatic declinesduck populationsprairiesall speciesrecoveredpintails4 million15 or 20 years ago2 million60% declinelong-term population declineslandscapesnestincreaserecoverinvestigationsurmisedstudiedfounddeclinesshallow wetlandsshort grassconvert to agriculturehabitat lossrich soilsearly nesting propensityagricultural practicesPrairie Canadahalf of the agricultural landplanted to a cropfallowedchance to nesthabitatScottunpackarticlePentelJim DeVriesretiredworkdeciphertimingdeclineagricultural landfallowbirdsspringweedsnesteggsincubateproducersdiskweed controlfarmingdiskingtimefarmerstillingproductionharvestplantingcroplandCanadian prairienesting habitatwetlandsagricultural practicessoil conservationchallengesacresplantedmanagedherbicides.summer fallowcroplanddeclineagricultural practicesclimate changemarket challengeswinter wheatcroplandnesting habitatfall ryeprogramsCanadaUS prairiesvaluablepintailsreproductive successhabitatinvestmentswinter wheat researchpintailspintailDU Canadaprairiesborealspecies profile