Time-Activity Budgets of Mottled Ducks in Louisiana in Winter

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Abstract
I related time-activity budgets of mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula) in coastal southwestern Louisiana from September-February 1981-82 to sex, pair status, and environmental factors. Mottled ducks spent 43% of their time feeding, 36% resting, 9% preening, 7% alert, 6% locomoting, and < 1% each in courtship and agonistic activities. Paired and unpaired ducks spent similar amounts of time feeding (P = 0.937). Feeding rates were lowest during October-December. Mottled ducks fed more at night than during the day (P < 0.01). Pairs spent more time resting than unpaired ducks (P < 0.001). Time spent resting was similar among months during winter and between night and day (P = 0.359). Unpaired ducks spent more time locomoting (P < 0.01) and alert (P < 0.01) than pairs. Preening, alert, and locomotor activities were observed less often at night than day and occurred at similar rates each month throughout winter. Courtship and agonistic activities were most common during September-December. By December, 90% of females were paired. Activity patterns of mottled ducks, which breed in a semitropical region, were similar to ducks wintering in Louisiana and breeding in more temperate regions. Because nearly all (95%) foraging by mottled ducks occurred in water depths < 15 cm, management should provide shallow-water wetlands with abundant plant and animal foods. Deeper, open-water areas should be provided for loafing habitat and escape from predators.

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