Duck Banding 



WOODDUCK BANDING 



One of the main species of dabbling ducks which is hunted in southern 

 Ontario is the woodduck. During the past few years in Ontario, the bag limit of 

 woodduck has been restricted to 1 or 2 birds per day. Since this species makes 

 up a large percentage of the total bag in eastern Ontario, the restricted bag limit 

 has had a tremendous effect on duck hunting in that area. 



Since the woodduck is so important in the eastern part of Ontario and in 

 the New England States, the Province as well as the Eastern Seaboard States is 

 interested in understanding the population dynamics of the species in order to 

 adjust bag limits to provide for a maximum harvest. 



As a result, the Atlantic Fly way Council comprising the provinces of eastern 

 Canada and the eastern states of the United States have embarked on a three-year 

 program of woodduck banding. This banding is difficult to accomplish since wood- 

 duck do not concentrate in large numbers anywhere in the Flyway, either in the 

 summer or the winter. 



Recognizing the importance of this species in Ontario, an attempt was made 

 in 1962 to increase the number of woodduck banding sites. The Lindsay District 

 was successful in banding 100 woodduck in the Nogies Creek area during July 

 and August. The Pembroke District with as much time and effort was able to 

 band 79 woodduck during August and early September near Pembroke. The Lake 

 Simcoe District had remarkable success in that they were able to band 62 birds 

 in one day's operation at Homing's Mills. 



In addition, the Lake Erie District at Long Point banded 8 woodduck and 

 the Oshawa Fish and Game Club Banding Program, originally initiated by the 

 Lake Simcoe District, in the course of banding over 1,000 ducks in the Oshawa 

 marshes, banded 84 woodduck. 



From these five locations, 333 woodduck of our Ontario quota of 500 were 

 banded. This is a considerable contribution to the project of the Atiantic Flyway 

 and this work should continue for at least three years. 



In 1962, the Kemptville, Tweed, Lake Huron and Lake Erie Districts were 

 unsuccessful in banding reasonably large numbers of woodduck; nevertheless, 

 they have gained sufficient experience to allow us to reach our quota of 500 in 

 the coming year. 



BLACK DUCK BANDING 



The Oshawa Fish and Game Protective Association banded the following 

 waterfowl from July 29 to October 9 without the assistance of members of the 

 Department of Lands and Forests, although this banding site was initiated by the 

 Lake Simcoe District. 



Bluewinged Teal 420 



Greenwinged Teal 106 



Black Duck 472 



Mallard 339 



Woodduck 84 



Pintail 36 



Gallinule 36 



Black-Mallard Hybrid 3 



1496 

 82 



