• McAuley, Daniel G.
  University of Maine Graduate School
  

Nesting productivity, duckling food habits and brood and duckling survival of ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris) were examined in relation to wetland water chemistry in east-central Maine during 1983-85. Clutch size and nest success were determined from 34 nests. In addition 51 broods were back-dated to obtain nest initiation dates. Duckling food were obtained from 37 ducklings from 16 different wetlands. Brood and duckling daily survival rates were determined for 64 broods (381 ducklings) by weekly counts of each brood during the brood period.

Initial nests averaged 8.8 eggs, while renests averaged 7.1 eggs. Hatching success was 90% for successful nests, but only 13 of 34 nests were successful. Predators destroyed 66.6%, 23.8% were flooded and 9.5% were abandoned. The peak of nest initiation was the same for all years (May 21-31).