Relocation of Marked Birds .5^' ' 



Table 4 lists when and where adults were marked and relocated, and if other ducks were 

 present at the time; this does not include birds from Glacier National Park which are reported by 

 Ashley (1994a, 1994b). One additional marked female was seen on the Spotted Bear River, but 

 the markers not seen well enough to identify the individual. Of 6 adult birds marked in 1991 

 with nasal markers, 5 have been seen in subsequent years; however, 2 males not seen in 1992 

 were relocated in 1993, and 1 male not seen either in 1992 or 1993 was recaptured in 1994; at 

 least 3 of the 6 were still alive in 1994. Of 1 1 adult birds marked with nasal discs in 1992, 6 

 were relocated in 1993 and 2 in 1994. Of 13 adult birds marked in 1993, 6 were relocated in 

 1994. Preliminarily, these numbers seem low; data will be fully analyzed when more data 

 becomes available following the 1995 season. ." '^ '■•^ '*':}£'• 



A total of 62 juveniles were marked in 1 992, 40 in Glacier National Park, 4 on Trail 

 Creek, 7 on the Spotted Bear River, and 1 1 on Marten Creek. Young birds are thought to spend 

 their first summer on the ocean, migrating to the breeding grounds as two-year-olds. Nine two- 

 year-olds were seen in 1994, 8 females on McDonald Creek (Ashley 1994b) and 1 female on 

 Trail Creek. All were on their natal streams, and only the female on Trail Creek successfully 

 raised young. -■■'■- - "-^ ' ^ ^•''- - -- r, . 



In Grand Teton National Park, of all birds marked as juveniles only females have 

 returned to the park (Rick Wallen, pers. comm.), and 2 females of 5 juveniles banded in Glacier 

 National Park in 1974 returned in 1976 (Kuchel 1977). The evidence is mounting that only 

 females return to their natal streams, while males go elsewhere to breed. This makes sense from 

 an evolutionary perspective, reducing the chances of inbreeding and its associated problems. We 

 do not know, however, if most or all females return to their natal streams. 



10 



