Capture and Marking ^a 



We continued to make good progress during the second year of the juvenile Harlequin 

 Duck site fidelity and survival study. A total of 41 juvenile birds fi-om 7 drainages were captured 

 and marked (Table 5, Appendix D & E). Thirteen adult males and 14 adult females were also 

 marked in 1993 (Table 5, Appendix D & E). 



Relocation and marking efTects 



Table 6 shows when and where adults were marked and relocated, and if other ducks were 

 present at the time. Of 6 adult birds marked in 1991 with nasal markers, 4 have been seen in 

 subsequent years; however, 2 males not seen in 1992 were resighted in 1993. Of 1 1 adult birds 

 marked with nasal discs in 1992, 6 were resighted in 1993. Of 2 females marked in 1991, both 

 successfully raised broods in 1992, and one again in 1993. Of 5 females marked in 1992, 4 were 

 resighted in 1993 and 2 of those successfully raised broods in 1993. 



Of 13 adult birds (all females) marked with colored leg bands in 1992, 6 were resighted in 

 1993 and 2 of those successfully raised broods in 1993. 



Adults marked with nasal discs were relocated in the second year at a slightly (non- 

 significant) higher rate than birds marked with colored leg bands (47% versus 46%). Females 

 marked with nasal discs which returned in the second year, successfully raised broods at higher 

 rate than those marked with colored leg bands (57% versus 33%). These preliminary results 

 indicate that the use of nasal discs on adult Harlequin females has little if any negative effect on 

 survival or reproductive success. 



14 



