Palmetto Pintail Project:
Project Overview
Northern pintails were once one of the most common waterfowl species in North America. Breeding population estimates of northern pintails have declined, however, over the last 30 years. Currently, the species’ breeding population estimate remains below its long-term average and the goal established by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
Pintails primarily nest on the prairies of the north-central United States and
Canada. While pintail populations have always fluctuated with the drought
cycle of the prairies the species did not respond to favorable nesting
conditions during the last wet period. In contrast, almost all prairie-nesting
waterfowl species rebounded to average or above-average numbers. Some species
even reached record population levels.
The highest densities of wintering pintails occur in the Central Valley of
California, the coasts of Mexico and the Gulf Coast region of Louisiana and
Texas. However, a smaller population does exist in the
Atlantic flyway, with a large percentage of the birds wintering in South
Carolina. This population of birds also has exhibited a decline similar to the
continental population.
Why northern pintails populations have not increased remains an enigma to
waterfowl biologists and researchers. There is a need to more fully understand
pintail population dynamics and determine what factors may be limiting pintail
populations.
One aspect of pintail ecology that is poorly understood is migration corridors
and identification of breeding areas, especially with regards to the birds
wintering in the Atlantic flyway. Our objectives are to determine migration
chronology and important staging areas, migration routes, and breeding areas
of female pintails wintering in the southern portion of the Atlantic flyway.