Re: [MDOsprey] Cecil- Gunthers & Courthouse Pt.

Paul Woodward (grackling@worldnet.att.net)
Wed, 2 Jun 1999 10:04:46 -0400 

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 Dexter Hinckley wrote:



>Quoting from page 74 in Ehrlich, Dobkin, & Wheye (1988)
>"Birder's Handbook.:"
>
>"Clutches of 15-50 result from 2-10+ females contibuting
>to individual nests..."
>
>Apparently this "dumping" increases with increased density
>of nest boxes, although the female will try to repel the
>parasitizing females from her nest.
>
>Dex Hinckley
>703-354-1342
>
>
>At 10:54 PM 6/1/1999 EDT, KurtCapt87@aol.com wrote:
>>Paul,=20
>>
>>Of course there were more than one brood.  Likely three.  (There are =
no=20
>>records of a Wood Duck with 17 offspring.)  This behavior is common =
with=20
>>Canada Geese - at Dyke Marsh at this moment there are two (prob young =
- one=20
>>or two year old) parents with 50 goslings.
>>
>>Kurt Gaskill


 I agree that there are two broods, but I don't remember ever seeing a =
similar situation in Wood Ducks.  Of course with Canada Geese it happens =
all the time.  I have often seen broods of a dozen or more woodies soon =
after they have left the nest.

As Dex points out , the reason for the very large broods is more than =
one female laying eggs in the same nest.  The only problem I have with =
this explanation is the significant size difference in this group.  =
Since they leave the nest soon after they hatch I am not sure how one =
female could be with one group on the water and still incubate the =
remaining eggs.

Paul Woodward

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 Dexter Hinckley=20 wrote:
 

 
>Quoting from page 74 in Ehrlich, Dobkin, & Wheye=20 (1988)
>"Birder's = Handbook.:"
>
>"Clutches of=20 15-50 result from 2-10+ females contibuting
>to individual=20 nests..."
>
>Apparently this "dumping" = increases with=20 increased density
>of nest boxes, although the female will try to = repel=20 the
>parasitizing females from her nest.
>
>Dex=20 Hinckley
>703-354-1342
>
>
>At 10:54 PM 6/1/1999 = EDT, KurtCapt87@aol.com = wrote:
>>Paul,=20
>>
>>Of course there were more than one brood.  = Likely=20 three.  (There are no
>>records of a Wood Duck with 17=20 offspring.)  This behavior is common with
>>Canada Geese = - at=20 Dyke Marsh at this moment there are two (prob young - one
>>or = two=20 year old) parents with 50 goslings.
>>
>>Kurt=20 Gaskill

 I agree that there are two broods, but I don't remember = ever=20 seeing a similar situation in Wood Ducks.  Of course with Canada = Geese it=20 happens all the time.  I have often seen broods of a dozen or more = woodies=20 soon after they have left the nest.
 
As Dex points out , the reason for the very large broods is more = than one=20 female laying eggs in the same nest.  The only problem I have with = this=20 explanation is the significant size difference in this group.  = Since they=20 leave the nest soon after they hatch I am not sure how one female could = be with=20 one group on the water and still incubate the remaining eggs.
 
Paul Woodward
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