UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 936 { 
Contribution from the Bureau of Biological Survey. 
E. W. NELSON, Chief. 
SU^^mTU 
Washington, D. C. 
PROFESSIONAL PAPER 
May 31, 1921 
WILD DUCKS AND DUCK FOODS OF THE BEAR RIVER 
MARSHES, UTAH. 
By Alexander Wetmoke, Assistant Biologist. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Introduction 1 
General account of the Bear River 
marshes 2 
Discussion of waterfowl 3 
Breeding species and their 
abundance 3 
Habits and activities after the 
nesting season 6 
Fall migration 9 
The shooting season 10 
Page. 
Food supplies attractive to wild 
ducks 10 
Vegetable foods 10 
Animal foods 14 
Other conditions affecting waterfowl _ 16 
Agricultural operations 16 
Natural enemies 16 
Conclusion 18 
INTRODUCTION. 
The economic value of wild clucks and geese as a source of sport, 
an incentive to healthful outdoor recreation, and an adjunct to the 
food supply is universally recognized in this country. Legislative 
measures for the protection of these birds* designed to enable them 
to hold their own against an ever-increasing army of gunners, have 
multiplied and have added to the restrictions on hunting as need for 
them has been realized by sportsmen and persons interested in birds 
in general. These regulations, however, have not been sufficient to 
maintain the birds in their former abundance. Regions that once 
were the summer homes of myriads of wild ducks have been drained 
and placed under cultivation, and extensive areas where the birds at 
one time bred are now populous farming communities. The changes 
have crowded out former avian residents and have served in a cor- 
responding degree to reduce their numbers. Realization of these 
Note. — This bulletin is a report on the abundance, food supplies, and general conditions 
affecting the wild ducks and geese breeding on the Bear River marshes in Utah, or 
frequenting this region at other times of the year, before their migrations to other parts 
of the United States. It is for the information of sportsmen and others interested in 
waterfowl. 
20862°— 21 1 
