Breeding Origins of Northern Shovelers (Anas Clypeata) Wintering on the Great Salt Lake, Utah
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
Volume
127
Issue
2
Publisher
The Wilson Ornithological Society
Publication Date
9-18-2014
First Page
233
Last Page
238
Abstract
The breeding origin and migratory connectivity of wintering birds are important to address how population changes on wintering areas are impacted by changes elsewhere in the birds’ annual cycle. In addition, identifying important point sources of nutrients used throughout the annual cycle can assist managers in identifying sources of toxins or pathogens. We used stable hydrogen isotope ratios to identify breeding locations of Northern Shovelers (Anas clypeata; henceforth shoveler) wintering at the Great Salt Lake (GSL), Utah. Stable-isotope likelihood-based assignment placed the largest number of shovelers collected during winter on the GSL as breeding in the western US and southern Canada, similar to a small sample size of banding records. Shovelers wintering on the GSL generally did not breed locally or at the northern extent of their breeding range, rather wintering shovelers came from across their nesting range.
Recommended Citation
Roberts, A. J. and M. R. Conover. 2015. Breeding origins of northern shovelers (Anas clypeata) wintering on the Great Salt Lake, Utah. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 127: 233-238.