Nesting Ecology of Ducks in North Dakota

A collaborative project with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

Nesting Ecology of Ducks in North Dakota

Project Overview

This collaborative project was initiated to provide field experience for the next generation of wildlife biologists while simultaneously collecting nesting video we could share with the public for outreach. The project had a pilot year in 2015 and resulted in such success it will continue in 2016.

Students are answering questions in parental behaviors at the nest such as when they come and go. Things that happen at the nest such as this hen removing eggshells after a predation event.  Who the predators are in central North Dakota, and how good are commonly used research protocols for identifying these predators.

Project Collaborators

• Kaylan Carrlson, Manager of Conservation Planning, Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
• Nickolas Conrad, Undergraduate, UND Fisheries and Biology Major
• John Palarski, Undergraduate, UND Fisheries and Biology Major
• Sam Krohn, Undergraduate, UND Fisheries and Biology Major
• Patrick Chastan, Undergraduate, UND Fisheries and Biology Major