The Mottled Duck: Tracking a Population at Risk
The Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) is a resident of the Gulf Coast of the US. This duck is a non- migratory and medium-sized dabbling duck whose population has shown a general decline over the last four decades. The population of the Mottled Duck is at risk from habitat degradation and fragmentation, impacts of climate change, and hybridization with Mallards. An annual range-wide aerial breeding population survey covering the western Gulf Coast (Texas and Louisiana) was initiated in 2008 to study and monitor the trends in Mottled Duck population abundance and distribution. At our January 24th meeting, Dr. Vijayan Sundararaj will talk about Mottled Duck ecology and some of the highlights of his research with the Western Gulf breeding survey.
Meeting Recording: