Survival of juvenile American black ducks on a managed wetland in New Brunswick

I used radio telemetry to estimate survival rates of 103 local juvenile American black ducks (Anas rubripes) in southern New Brunswick. Prehunting (mid-Jul-Sep) survival rates of juveniles were 0.787 [+ or -] 0.114 (SE) in 1987 and 0.976 [+ or -] 0.044 in 1988. Survival rates declined by 54% in 1987 and by 43% in 1988 during the first 2 weeks of the hunting season (1-15 Oct). Most mortality of juvenile black ducks from hunting occurred on opening day (1987, 80.9%; 1988, 85.0%). Unretrieved kills and cripples represented 25.0% in 1987 and 38.0% in 1988 of total measured kill. Managed wetlands on the Atlantic Coast may enhance habitat for production of black ducks but they also concentrate hunters, especially on opening day. The high loss of local black ducks to hunting on these marshes may negate benefits of increased production.