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Understanding of a migratory bird species' movements and winter fidelity provides insights to various population and genetic parameters that may support conservation efforts. Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) were reintroduced into the Nebraska Sandhills beginning in the 1960s but knowledge of the ecology of these birds is limited. We examined the winter movements, home range, and fidelity of swans in the Nebraska Sandhills, 2014-2020. We captured and fitted solar- powered GPS transmitters via neck collars to swans during the summer molting period. We used movement patterns and weather data to define timing of transitions from breeding and post-breeding areas to wintering areas. The research findings showed that only one swan made a long-distance movement out of Nebraska during the winter. Mean distance ([+ or -]SD) moved from breeding or post-breeding areas to their initial wintering complex was 53.4 ([+ or -]52.7) km. Swans spent most (77.2%) of their time on one wintering complex and 75% of their time at one wintering site. Swans used an average of 2.7 different wintering complexes and moved among complexes 6.4 ([+ or -]3.6) times. Swans in our sample used an average of 1.5 wintering sites within complexes and moved 3.1 ([+ or -]3.6) times among wintering sites. Swan fidelity (proportion returning) to wintering complexes was 0.72 and to wintering sites was 0.69. Return rate to their primary wintering complex and site was 100%. Fidelity rates to wintering complexes of swans with cygnets at time of capture and those without were 0.79 and 0.55, respectively. Swan movements in the Nebraska Sandhills indicate that they are willing to move among areas but tend to show fidelity to wintering areas. Changes in wintering habitat may alter patterns of fidelity, but swans may be able to adapt and move to alternative areas. Rivers, creeks, and other areas are important to wintering swans breeding in the Nebraska Sandhills and contribute to the sustainable conservation of swans. Received 13 March 2023. Accepted 9 March 2024. Key words: GPS transmitters, habitat, High Plains Flock, post-breeding, wintering complex. [phrase omitted], Waterfowl are one of many groups of birds that exhibit winter fidelity (Robertson and Cooke 1999), with possible survival and reproductive benefits derived from the familiarity with the distribution of [...]

Tier II bag limit regulations were developed to lessen constraints to participation by new duck hunters. By opting for the three-duck bag limit, hunters would not be subject to the species and sex-specific regulations of the six-duck limit. We surveyed hunters in Nebraska and South Dakota to gain an understanding about how Tier II regulations would be received by the current waterfowl-hunting population. We found that less experienced hunters stated they had greater difficulty identifying ducks and were more likely to use Tier II than experienced hunters. A significant proportion of new waterfowl hunters may make use of Tier II, and these regulations may relieve hunting constraints in a meaningful way. Wildlife agencies may want to consider how hunters transition between bag-limit regulations from year-to-year and consider means to integrate Tier II into hunter R3 efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-resident (i.e. non-Canadian) hunters are an important source of funding for waterfowl conservation and local or regional economies. Recent changes to provincial restrictions in Manitoba regarding the requirement to use the services of a licenced waterfowl hunting outfitter or enter a limited draw may impact hunting opportunity and tourism expenditures. We surveyed individuals who hunted waterfowl in Saskatchewan, within the previous 5 years, about their use and opinion of outfitters in the province of Saskatchewan. Based on survey responses, we discovered that of the non-resident hunters who participated in our survey, only ~20% used the services of an outfitter during their most recent waterfowl hunting season in Saskatchewan. Nearly 70% of non-resident hunters indicated they would not hunt waterfowl in Saskatchewan again if they were required to use the services of an outfitter. Based on our findings, requirements for non-resident hunters to use the services of a guide or outfitter would affect waterfowl hunting participation in Saskatchewan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recruitment, retention, and reactivation programs are a nationwide movement focusing on strategically increasing and diversifying participation in and support for shooting sports, hunting, and angling. Efforts focused on increasing hunting participation may use mentors to replicate traditional pathways into hunting, but few data are available that examine the mentor–mentee relationship. We surveyed waterfowl hunters and nonwaterfowl hunters in several Midwestern states to identify through a series of questions whether mentors would likely accept certain types of mentees for waterfowl hunting and whether mentees would likely accept certain types of mentors for waterfowl hunting. We found that waterfowl hunters were willing to accept most mentee types except for hunters they had not met previously. The most frequently reported reason for unwillingness to mentor was a perceived lack of skill by the waterfowl hunter. Nonwaterfowl hunters were most likely to accept mentoring by a family member or friend. Feelings of being uncomfortable and desire to focus on other activities were the most frequently reported reasons for nonwaterfowl hunters not wishing to be mentored. Our results indicate that efforts or programs directed at increasing hunter participation need to consider or incorporate a close social connection between mentees and mentors to be more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivations for hunting and fishing extend beyond harvesting game and include social, psychological, emotional, and physical benefits. We used data from a web-based questionnaire to compare relationships between preferred hunting or fishing activity types, state of residence, and motivations of hunters and anglers across the central United States (U.S.). Exploratory factor analysis yielded four motivation factors: nature, social, food, and challenge. Differences in terms of state were negligible across all motivation factors ( η p 2 <.01), indicating similarity across states. Nature ( η p 2 =.01) and social ( η p 2 <.01) factors were the first and second most important factors across activity types. We observed larger differences among the challenge ( η p 2 =.03), and food ( η p 2 =.15) factors, primarily driven by big game hunters. Big game hunters rated the food motivation factor greater than the other activity types. Overall, our results indicate that there might be a greater universality in these motivation factors among activity types and locations in the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration ecology and habitat use of spring migrating birds using the Central Platte River is a well-explored topic, yet less is known about use of the North and South Platte rivers (NSPR) in western Nebraska. The efficiency and effectiveness of conservation efforts in the NSPR could be greatly improved with access to information about where and when birds roost and landscape prioritization tools. We used aerial surveys to determine population distribution and migration phenology of sandhill cranes Antigone canadensis, Canada geese Branta canadensis, and ducks using the NSPR for roosting during the mid-February to mid-April spring migration. We used these data and geospatial information to identify important river reaches for these species and habitat covariates that discriminate between those used at lower and higher densities. We found that sandhill cranes and waterfowl generally roosted in different segments of the NSPR and, subsequently, different factors were associated with high densities. Sandhill crane density was positively correlated with distance from obstructions greater than 1 m high and negatively correlated with area of unvegetated sandbar within 1 km. Density of Canada geese and ducks was high in segments positively associated with wetland and sand pit habitats. Human disturbance variables such as roads and bridges in this rural region had little effect on identification of roosting areas used by high densities of all groups. On the basis of our results, habitat conservation efforts that specifically target sandhill cranes will not have similar positive effects on waterfowl use and distribution in the NSPR. Our identification of the most important river segments should allow managers to better target land acquisition or management resources to areas that will have the greatest effect on either waterfowl or sandhill cranes during spring migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanding populations of North American midcontinent lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens caerulescens) have potential to alter ecosystems throughout the Arctic and subarctic where they breed. Efforts to understand origins of harvested lesser snow geese to better inform management decisions have traditionally required mark-recapture approaches, while aerial photographic surveys have typically been used to identify breeding distributions. As a potential alternative, isotopic patterns that are metabolically fixed within newly grown flight feathers following summer molting could provide inferences regarding geographic breeding origin of individuals, without the need for prior capture. Our objective was to assess potential to use four stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S, δ2H) from feather material to determine breeding origins. We obtained newly grown flight feathers from individuals during summer banding at three Arctic and two subarctic breeding colonies in 2014 (n = 56) and 2016 (n = 45). We used linear discriminant analyses to predict breeding origins from models using combinations of stable isotopes as predictors and evaluated model accuracy when predicting colony, subregion, or subpopulation levels. We found a strong inverse relationship between δ2H values and increasing latitude (R2 = 0.83), resulting in differences (F4, 51 = 90.41, P < 0.0001) among sampled colonies. No differences in δ13C or δ15N were detected among colonies, although δ34S in Akimiski Island, Baffin Island, and Karrak Lake were more enriched (F4, 51 = 11.25, P < 0.0001). Using δ2H values as a predictor, discriminant analyses improved accuracy in classification level as precision decreased [model accuracy = 67% (colony), 88% (subregion), 94% (subpopulation)]. Application of the isotopic methods we describe could be used to provide an alternative monitoring method of population metrics, such as overall breeding population distribution, region-specific productivity and migratory connectivity that are informative to management decision makers and provide insight into cross-seasonal effects that may influence migratory behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]