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R. K. Martinson

Publications and source records attributed to R. K. Martinson.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Establishing hunting regulations and allowable harvest of mallards in the United States

As a major part of establishing hunting regulations each year in the United States, data for the mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ) are examined extensively to estimate the effect of various harvest strategies on the breeding population the following spring. This requires estimates of the breeding-population level and of the production, harvest, and mortality rates. Predictions made at the time hunting regulations are established have been in general agreement with more reliable estimates made after the hunting season when data from banding, kill, and wing surveys are available.

Journal of Wildlife Management

Lack of association among duck broodmates during migration and wintering

Male (Lensink, 1964: 19) and female ducks tend to return to the area where they last bred or were raised (Sowles, 1955). Band recovery data show a similar tendency for ducks to return to wintering areas (Stewart et al., 1958; Martinson, 1966). Wintering British Columbia Mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ) populations may be definite associations of birds that breed in the same general locality, migrate together, and use the same wintering area (Munro, 1943). On the other hand Gollop (1965: 36-37) showed that Mallards reared in Saskatchewan or breeding there re- turned in subsequent years, but "neither migrated nor wintered as definite associations." He based his conclusions on recovery data from groups of Mallards banded on the same slough and from broodmates. His data showed, by date or area of recovery, that the birds migrated independently and sometimes to different wintering localities. This paper presents additional data suggesting that ducks banded as brood- mates may migrate independently.

The Auk

Epilogue

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Book chapter

Retention of extra-wide, lock-on, and regular bands on waterfowl

In tests of three types of bands -- extra-wide bands, lock-on bands, and regular U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bands -- little difference was noted in the retention qualities of the three types on waterfowl. Therefore, there appeared to be no advantage in using either the extra-wide or the lock-on type of band rather than the regular band now in use by waterfowl banders on this continent. Waterfowl banded with two bands provided recovery data that were difficult to analyze but suggested that it might be worthwhile to identify banded birds with another type of mark and evaluate the retention of bands through subsequent recapture of the birds.

Special Scientific Report - Wildlife

Proportion of recovered duck bands that are reported

Band-reporting rates (the proportion of duck bands recovered by hunters that are actually reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory) appear to have decreased between the late 1950's and early 1960's. About one-half the banded ducks bagged during the 1958-59 and 1959-60 hunting seasons were reported-a rate similar to those recorded in other studies conducted during the early and mid-1950's. Band-reporting rates were lower for the 1962-63 and 1962-64 hunting seasons; less than one-third of the banded ducks bagged were reported. This decrease in band-reporting rates was concurrent with significant changes in duck hunting regulations, the volume of duck banding, and the method used to relay information to the person who reports a band. Band-reporting rates differed for various species of ducks. In general, band-reporting rates were high on canvasbacks ( Aythya valisineria ), redheads ( A. americana ), and pintails ( Anas acuta ) and low for teals ( Anas discors and A. carolinensis ).

contiguous United States

Weather and pheasant populations in southwestern North Dakota

High productivity and survival of ring-necked pheasants ( Phasianus colchicus ) were correlated with high rainfall and cool temperatures in May and June during an 8-year period in southwestern North Dakota. These findings differed markedly from those of several earlier studies in the less arid midwestern United States where cool, wet weather in the spring generally affected pheasant populations adversely. General trends in the pheasant population could be explained on the basis of precipitation in May and June. The population was relatively high during the mid-1950's when wet and dry May and June periods occurred in alternate years but declined markedly after 2 consecutive years of spring and summer drought. The population remained at a static low during 1960 through 1963 when wet and dry spring and summer periods again occurred alternately.

North Dakota

Proportion of recovered goose and brant bands that are reported

A few more than one-third of the goose and brant bands recovered by hunters were reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory (a rate of 0.361) during the 1962-64 hunting seasons. We calculated this band-reporting rate by comparing the estimated number of goose and brant bands recovered by hunters, based on a mail questionnaire survey, with the number of bands actually reported to the Bird Banding Laboratory. This band-reporting rate is probably representative only of the 1962-65 period. It is likely that, in earlier years, a greater proportion (perhaps about 0.60) of recovered goose and brant bands were reported.

Journal of Wildlife Management