Appendix 6.3(11) Continued 



prefer shallow turbid waters in which to feed. Crustaceans often may con- 

 constitute up to 30 to 40% of the total diet, but shovelers largely prefer 

 aquatics such as Potamogeton , and the vegetative parts of Soirpus and other 

 rushes. 



Shovelers are normally less numerous than other ducks in the Chenier 

 Plain and reach peak numbers of around 150,000 in mid-winter. They arrive 

 reasonably early in late September and migrate northward in late April. 



Shovelers are not considered choice ducks by hunters because of their 

 gamey quality. 



Northern pintail {Anas acuta) 



Pintails are the second most numerous of North American waterfowl spe- 

 cies, following mallards. They breed from Mexico to Ellesmere Island, are 

 the most common duck in Alaska, and are abundant throughout Canada and the 

 northwestern and central United States. They winter throughout North Ameri- 

 ca from around 40° North latitude south to Colombia. In Texas they were 

 the most abundant winter duck during 19 74-75. Pintails arrive in mid-October 

 (Lowery 1974a) and leave early in the spring for breeding areas (Kortright 

 1967). The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission reported in 1961 that 

 pintails arrive in Louisiana before the bulk of the wintering duck popula- 

 tion. It was the third most numerous duck in the Chenier Plain, accounting 

 for 12.2% of all waterfowl. 



Pintails consume diverse foodstuffs. Their long necks enable them to 

 reach food in greater water depths than most dabblers, and they are fre- 

 quent divers. In general, their diet and the mallard's are the most varied 

 of all waterfowl, but pintails seem to prefer animal matter more than mal- 

 lards (Johnsgard 1975). Unlike mallards they seem to prefer water when 

 feeding on rice stubble, but they still are one of the most frequent con- 

 sumers of rice. They are more adapted to higher salinities than mallards, 

 and regularly feed in brackish areas. 



Lesser scaup (Ay thy a affinis) 



This is the most common diving duck found on the Louisiana coast. Al- 

 though aerial surveys fail to indicate such, some estimates of their winter- 

 ing populations exceed one million individuals (Louisiana Wildlife and Fish- 

 eries Commission 1961). Lesser scaup are frequently found on large open 

 water bodies. Huge "rafts" of these birds can be seen on marsh lakes and in 

 the Gulf. They occupy an interesting intermediate niche between more inland 

 divers and the sea ducks. They appear not to need the large open water ex- 

 panses used by the latter group year-round, but can tolerate seawater salini- 

 ties and can utilize resources available to both groups. 



Lesser scaup consume large quantities of animal matter. Preferred 

 species include Eangia auneata, a clam which is abundant in water of low 

 salinity. In a comprehensive gut analysis, animal foods constituted a 

 clear majority of the lesser scaup's diet; percentages varied from 93.5% 

 for premigratory birds to 63.7% for birds on the wintering grounds. 

 Aquatic plants composed the remainder. 



94 



