
INTRODUCTION 
Because of the wood duck's unique distribution and habitat, 
reliable population figures are not obtained in annual surveys of 
waterfowl breeding and wintering grounds. As a result, there has 
been considerable disagreement concerning the status of the species. 
In an attempt to correct this situation, the technical section of 
the Mississippi Flyway Council recommended that a wood duck banding 
program be undertaken to obtain the necessary information to guide 
sound management practices. This program began in 1959. In the 
Atlantic Flyway, although a large number of wood ducks were banded 
prior to 1959, renewed emphasis was given to wood duck banding. 
This report summarizes the banding and recovery data for 1959 
and 1960, discusses the uses and limitations of the data and presents 
preliminary findings. 
BANDING EFFORT 
Wood duck banding done by cooperating individuals and agencies 
during 1959 and 1960 and the early months of 1961 is summarized in 
table 1. 
During 1959, 7,071 wood ducks were banded in the United States 
and Canada. In Mississippi Flyway States 5,304 wood ducks were 
banded; 75 percent of the continental total. Within the Mississippi 
Flyway, 920 wood ducks were banded in Wisconsin. More than 500 wood 
ducks were banded in each of the States of Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, 
Missouri, and Louisiana. The banders in six states banded 73 percent 
of the Flyway total. In Atlantic Flyway States 1,502 wood ducks 
were banded; 2] percent of the continental total. The banding of 
667 wood ducks in New York contributed 44 percent of the Atlantic 
Flyway total. Banders in Vermont and West Virginia, combined, banded 
597 wood ducks. Thus, 84 percent of the wood ducks banded in the 
Atlantic Flyway were banded in three States. 
During 1960, 10,563 wood ducks were banded in the United States 
and Canada. This was an increase of 49 percent over the number 
banded in 1959. The increase was largely the result of greater band- 
ing effort in States that were well represented in 1959, As in 1959, 
banding in 1960 was concentrated in relatively few States. In 
Mississippi Flyway States 7,625 wood ducks were banded; 72 percent 
of the continental total. Within the Mississippi Flyway 2,248 
wood ducks were banded in Wisconsin and 1,320 were banded in Illinois, 
More than 500 wood ducks were banded in each of the States of Indiana, 
_ Ohio,and Iowa. Thus, banders in five States contributed 76 percent 
' of the Mississippi Flyway total. In Atlantic Flyway States 2,561 
wood ducks were banded; 24 percent of the continental total. Of 
the wood ducks banded in the Atlantic Flyway, 1,568 (61 percent) 
were banded’ in New York and Vermont. 
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