SURVEYS OF MIGRATORY DUCKS IN JAMAICAN WETLANDS -

Transcription

1 SURVEYS OF MIGRATORY DUCKS IN JAMAICAN WETLANDS - PHASE ONE: JANUARY - APRIL 20 Rport Prpard For Th Natural Rsourcs Consrvation Authority/ National Environmnt and Planning Agncy And Ducks Unlimitd By Ann Hayns Sutton Ph.D., Marshall's Pn,PO Box 58, Mandvill, Jamaica W.I. and

2 D. Brandon Hay Caribban Coastal Aras Managmnt Foundation, PO Box 33, Lionl Town, Clarndon, Jamaica W.I. January 2002

3 Covr Photograph shows Blu-wingd Tal (mal). Sourc Ducks Unlimitd Canada by Guy Fontain.

4 SURVEYS OF MIGRATORY DUCKS IN JAMAICA PHASE ONE: JANUARY - APRIL 20 Rport Prpard For Th Natural Rsourcs Consrvation Authority/ National Environmnt and Planning Agncy And Ducks Unlimitd By Ann Hayns Sutton Ph.D. Marshall's Pn PO Box 58 Mandvill Jamaica WI and D. Brandon Hay Caribban Coastal Ara Managmnt Foundation PO Box 33, Lionl Town Clarndon Jamaica WI

5 January 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS Objctivs Background Mthods ds Litratur Sarch Examination of Musum Spcimns Analysis of Band Rcovris Arial Survys Trrstrial Survys - Ground truthing Rsults Spcis and rlativ abundanc Sasonality and movmnts Gographical distribution Aras of spcial importanc to ducks Siz of pond or wtland unit Vgtation Habitat us Thrats Discussion Population siz sasonal movmnts and rlativ abundanc of spcis...14

6 5.2 Population trnds Sasonality and movmnts Gographical distribution and habitat us Thrats Assssmnt of mthods RECOMMENDATIONS Consrvation of spcis Consrvation of habitats Public ducation Hunting Ban on us of lad shot Dirctions for futur monitoring and rsarch...24 Litratur Citd Appndics 1. Trms of Rfrnc Raw data from arial survys Raw data from trrstrial ground truth survys, January-April Rsults of ad hoc duck counts at Grat Pdro Pond Spcimns of ducks from th Institut of Jamaica...40

7 6. Actual and potntial sourcs of rror and how thy wr addrssd Rcords of duck obsrvations containd in th Goss Bird Club Broadsht A working invntory of wtland and watr bodis in Jamaica Arial photographs of slctd Wtland habitats Photographs of survy activitis Ducks of th Wst Indis 56 Abbrviations Usd In Th Txt BWTE Blu-wingd Tal DU Ducks Unlimitd NEPA National Environmnt and Planning Agncy NGO Non-govrnmnt organisation NRCA Natural Rsourcs Consrvation Authority NSHO Northrn Shovlr SCO Socity of Caribban Ornithology WIWD Wst Indian Whistling Duck List Of Tabls Tabl 1 List of ducks obsrvd in Jamaica...1 Tabl 2 Dats and routs of arial survys...3 Tabl 3 Monthly obsrvation of ducks in arial survy, Jan-Apr Tabl 4 Ponds siz and duck distribution...12 Tabl 5 Vgtation us by ducks - spring Tabl 6 Watr body us by ducks...13 Tabl 7 Condition of slctd duck habitats...13 List Of Figurs Figur 1 Numbr of rcovris in Jamaica of forign bandd ducks

8 Figur 2 Grat Pdro Pond - comparison of air and ground counts...6 Figur 3 Numbr of Blu-wingd Tal by month from arial survys...7 Figur 4 Numbr of Northrn Shovlr by month from arial survys...7 Figur 5 Rainfall SW Portland Bight Spring Figur 6 Numbr of band rcovris by month...8 Figur 7 Sasonality of obsrvation of ducks at slctd sits...10 Figur 8 Sizs of groups of duck spring Figur 9 Rcovris of bandd ducks by location...12 List of Maps Map 1 Duck survy routs and placs whr ducks wr sn 4 Map 2 Origins of Blu-wingd Tal rcovrd in Jamaica...8 List of Plats Plat 1 Plat 2 Plat 3 Plat 4 Plat 5 Plat 6 Plat 7 Plat 8 Plat 9 Plat 10 Plat 11 Caymanas Dyk Ponds Long Island Hllshir Flashs Wst Harbour Jackson s Bay Rio Minho Grat Pdro Pond Effcts of fir Black Rivr Lowr Morass Lacovia Parott Pond - dry Ganja Cultivation Black Rivr

9 Plat 12 Plat 13 Plat 14 Plat 15 Plat 16 Plat 17 Plat 18 Plat 19 Plat 20 Plat 21 Plat 22 Plat 23 Plat 24 Plat 25 Plat 26 Plat 27 Plat 28 Plat 29 Plat 30 Black Rivr Lowr Morass swamp forst Baptist Pond Black Rivr Lowr Morass Ngril Morass Cabaritta Canal, Wstmorland Montplir South Ngril Rivr Chatham Montgo Bay Annotto Bay Rivr Mitchll Town Ponds Wag Watr Rivr Sav-la-mar wtlands Yallahs Ponds (ducks flushd from Pond) Broad Rivr Ann givs pilot pr-flight brifing Ducks flushd from Yallahs Final prparation for takoff Rcording data on standard datashts On cours for Mona Rsrvoir Low pass ovr Caymanas Pond

10 1.0 Objctivs Th survys wr dsignd to provid baslin information about: Locations of major concntrations of migratory ducks; Approximat numbrs of migratory ducks and rlativ abundanc of spcis; Sasonal population changs of migratory ducks; and Status, distribution and thrats to duck habitats. Ths data form th basis for rcommndations about sustainabl managmnt of Jamaican duck populations. (s Trms of Rfrnc, Appndix 1) 2.0 Background Twnty-thr spcis of ducks hav bn rcordd in Jamaica, including thr rsidnt spcis that stay in Jamaica yar-round and brd on th island (Wst Indian Whistling Duck [Dndrocygna arbora], Maskd Duck [Nomonyx dominica], and Ruddy Duck [Oxyura jamaicnsis]). Th rmaindrs ar migrants. Blu-wingd Tal [Anas discors], Northrn Shovlr [Anas clypata], Amrican Wigon [Anas amricana] and Lssr Scaup [Aythya affinis] ar rlativly common, but othr spcis ar known from fw rcords (Appndix 5, Raffal t al. 1998), and ar considrd to b vagrant. Tabl 1: List of Ducks Obsrvd in Jamaica 1 (s Appndix 11) SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME OCCURRENCE Dndrocygna autumnalis BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK Vagrant Dndrocygna bicolor FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCK Vagrant Dndrocygna arbora WEST INDIAN WHISTLING DUCK Rsidnt Nochn jubata ORINOCO GOOSE 2 Vagrant Branta canadnsis CANADA GOOSE 3 Vagrant Aix sponsa WOOD DUCK 4 Vagrant Anas crca GREEN-WINGED TEAL Wintr Anas platyrhnychos MALLARD Wintr Anas bahamnsis WHITE-CHEEKED PINTAIL Vagrant Anas acuta NORTHERN PINTAIL Vagrant Anas discors BLUE-WINGED TEAL Wintr 1 Data compild from fild obsrvations, litratur and band rcovris 2 Dubious rcord 3 No rcnt confirmd rcords 4 Known from on band rcovry only

11 Anas cyanoptra CINNAMON TEAL Wintr Anas clypata NORTHERN SHOVELER Wintr Anas strpra GADWALL Vagrant Anas amricana AMERICAN WIGEON Wintr Aythya valisinria CANVASBACK Vagrant Aythya amricana REDHEAD Vagrant Aythya collaris RING-NECKED DUCK Wintr Aythya affinis LESSER SCAUP Wintr Aythya marila GREATER SCAUP Vagrant Bucphala albola BUFFLEHEAD Vagrant Oxyura jamaicnsis RUDDY DUCK Rsidnt Nomonyx dominica MASKED DUCK Rsidnt 3.0 Mthods 3.1 Litratur sarch. Major wtland aras for survys wr idntifid from th litratur, prvious fild obsrvations, rports, discussions with local popl, ornithologists and huntrs, and xamination of 1:50,000 mtric maps of Jamaica. 3.2 Examination of musum spcimns. Th collction of spcimns at th Institut of Jamaica's Natural History Division was xamind and nots mad of th spcimns. 3.3 Analysis of band rcovris. Data providd by th Offic of Migratory Bird Managmnt, US Biological Srvic, on ducks bandd in North Amrica, and rcovrd in Jamaica, wr analysd. 3.4 Arial survys wr carrid out in January, Fbruary, March and April 20. Th mthodology for arial survys of ducks rcommndd by Ducks Unlimitd (summarisd by Hamilton & Sutton 2000) was followd as closly as possibl. Typ of plan: A Cssna 182 fixd-wing plan was usd. DU rcommndd that th Cssna 172 would b th most suitabl typ of plan, bcaus it is light and asy to manouvr. Howvr, Wings Jamaica Ltd. pilots was unwilling to us this modl bcaus of its lack of powr and limitd rang. Flight path: As far as possibl, th flight path followd linar transcts along pr-dtrmind routs, which wr discussd with th pilot

12 bfor starting th flight. Th main objctiv was to covr as many ponds as possibl, and to us this as a basis for dsigning optimal flight paths for futur survys. If ncssary whn ducks wr obsrvd th pilot was askd to circl and rpat obsrvations wr mad to confirm obsrvations. As far as possibl, th total obsrvation tim was limitd to 2 hours. Divrsions wr also mad to covr nw aras of ponds that wr spottd from th air. Hight abov ground: About 100 ft or lowr onc ponds wr locatd. Flight spd: As appropriat (lss than 100 mph whnvr possibl). Tim of day: About 1 hour aftr dawn for 2-4 hours. Obsrvrs: Principal obsrvr- A Sutton: bsid pilot Scondary obsrvr - Brandon Hay: bhind pilot (counting on opposit sid of plan) Trtiary obsrvr bhind principal obsrvr to alrt principal obsrvr of nd to circl back, if ncssary. Various prsons from NRCA and NGOs wr invitd to assist. Obsrvrs wr ncouragd to improv thir counting skills by using th training programm "Count" supplid by DU. Rcording obsrvations: Idally ach obsrvr should hav bn providd with a voic-activatd tap rcordr with a dirctional microphon of variabl snsitivity. Howvr suitabl microphons and tap rcordrs wr not availabl. Th on that was availabl could not b adjustd to liminat cabin nois. Thrfor obsrvations wr rcordd on standard forms. Frquncy of survys: DU rcommndd chcking all sits on two conscutiv days at last onc pr month. Du to budgtary rstraints, th prsnt survy was limitd to on survy pr month, January to March. DU funds wr usd to rpat th survys in April. Arial survys wr supplmntd by trrstrial counts whnvr th opportunity aros in th cours of othr activitis. Dats of arial survys ar shown in Tabl 1.

13 Routs: Each month all th wtlands and groups of ponds in th island wr survyd ovr a four day priod (Map 1). As far as possibl th sam routs wr rpatd ach month. Tabl 2: Dats and Routs of Arial Survys DATE ROUTE 9 Jan Palisados, Caymanas, Port Hndrson, Goat Islands, Old Harbour Bay to Jackson Bay, Hill Run 10 Jan Salt Island Lagoon, Rocky Point, Rio Minho, Milk Rivr to Scott's Cov, Black Rivr Morass, Osbourn Stor, Colbck 11 Jan Whithous, Cabaritta, Ngril Morass, N. Coast to Falmouth 12 Jan Kingston, Monagu, Port Maria, ast coast, Morant Pt. to Kingston 13 Fb Palisados, Caymanas, Port Hndrson, Goat Islands, Old Harbour Bay to Jackson Bay, Hill Run 14 Fb Salt Island Lagoon, Rocky Point, Rio Minho, Milk Rivr to Scott's Cov, Black Rivr Morass, Osbourn Stor, Colbck 15 Fb Applton, Whithous, Cabaritta, Ngril Morass, N. Coast to Falmouth (including Montplir, Hampdn) 16 Fb Kingston, Monagu, Falmouth, Pt Maria, ast coast, Morant Pt. To Kin. 22 Mar Palisados, Caymanas, Port Hndrson, Goat Islands, Old Harbour Bay to Jackson Bay, Hill Run OBSERVERS 5 START END FLYING TIME AS, BH, RS hr 33min AS, BH, RS hr 53 min AS, BH, RS hr 35 min AS, BH, CT hr 7 min AS, BH, RS hr 33 min AS, BH, TP hr 39 min AS, BH, RW 720 AS, BH, HW III hr 20 min AS, BH 703 2hr 32min 23 Mar Salt Island Lagoon, Rocky Point, AS, BH, AH hr 22 5 Participants in th Survys - AS: Ann Sutton, BH: Brandon Hay, CT: Canut Tyndal, RS; Robrt Sutton, TP: Tarn Pralto, HW III Harvy Wbb, PE: Ptr Esput, PV: Ptr Vogl, RA: Richard Ashfild, JH: John Had, PWK: Ptr Wilson-Klly, RW: Raymond Williams, AH: Andr Hay

14 Rio Minho, Milk Rivr to Scott's min Cov, Black Rivr Morass 25 Mar Applton, Whithous, AS, BH, RS hrs Cabaritta, Ngril Morass, N. Coast to Falmouth 26 Mar Kingston, Monagu, Long AS, BH, RA hr 45 Pond, Hampdn, Port Maria, min ast coast, Morant Pt. to Kingston 18 Apr Palisados, Caymanas, Port AS, BH, JH hr 3min Hndrson, Goat Islands, Old Harbour Bay to Jackson Bay, Hays 19 Apr Salt Island Lagoon, Rocky Point, Rio Minho, Milk Rivr to Scott's AS, BH, PV hrs Cov, Black Rivr Morass, Osbourn Stor, Colbck 20 Apr Whithous, Cabaritta, Ngril AS, BH, PWK hrs Morass, N. Coast to Falmouth, Qun of Spains Vally, Monagu 21 Apr Kingston, Annotto Bay, ast AS, BH, PE hrs 2 coast, Morant Pt. to Kingston min 3.5 Trrstrial survys - Ground truthing A fw trrstrial survys (total counts or stimats dpnding on th amount of tim availabl at a givn sit) wr mad to vrify counts from th air. Ths wr not part of th formal survy, but wr carrid out on an ad hoc, Duck Survy Routs

15

16 voluntary basis, whn th obsrvrs visitd duck habitats during th survy priod. Fiv aras wr covrd - Grat Pdro Pond (4 visits), Black Rivr Uppr Morass (3 visits), Hllshir Flashs and Swag Ponds (2 visits), Mitchll Town Ponds (1 visit) and Hays Swag Ponds (1 visit) (for survy dats and tims s Appndix 3). 4.0 Rsults 4.1 Spcis and rlativ abundanc Th largst numbr of ducks obsrvd in a month was 3216, in Fbruary (Tabl 3). Thr wr many potntial sourcs of rror. S Appndix 6 for a dscription of th main sourcs of rror and th mthods usd to minimiz thm. Th total numbr of ducks countd ovr th four-month priod was Howvr it is impossibl to stimat th total wintr population from a survy of this typ, in th absnc of markd individuals. Th most common spcis was Blu-wingd Tal (Tabl 3), which accountd for mor than 97% of all arial obsrvations. Similarly, Blu-wingd Tal dominatd band rcovris (Figur 1). Northrn Shovlr, Amrican Wigon, Wst Indian Whistling Duck and Ruddy Duck Oxyura dominica wr also dtctd in small numbrs from th air (Tabl 3). No Maskd Duck Nomonyx dominicnsis wr dtctd, although known habitats wr survyd. Figur 1: Rcovris in Jamaica of Forign Bandd Ducks

17 Numbr Wood Duck Amrican Wigon Blu-wingd Tal Spcis

18 Tabl 3: Monthly Obsrvations of Ducks in Arial Survys - January to April 20 SPECIES JAN FEB MAR APR TOTAL PERCENT OF TOTAL Blu-wingd Tal Northrn Shovlr Ruddy Duck <0.1 Amrican Wigon Wst Indian Whistling Duck Unidntifid ducks Total Th data gnratd from ground truthing (Appndix 3) did not closly rsmbl thos from th arial counts (.g. at Grat Pdro Pond, Figur 2). This may b bcaus arial survys wr carrid out in th morning, whn ducks may hav bn disprsd, whil Numbr ground air Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Mar- 23-Mar- 13-Apr- 19-Apr- ground air Dat Figur 2: Grat Pdro Pond - Comparison of Ground and Air Counts ground truthing was don in th aftrnoon, whn thy wr mor concntratd. Th ground truth counts includd only th main Pdro Pond. Th disparitis in ths data mphasis th nd to study slctd standard indx sits in dpth, in ordr bttr to undrstand pattrns of habitat us, and thus to provid a scintific basis for intrprting data.

19 4.2 Sasonality and movmnts Numbrs of Blu-wingd Tal wr highst in Fbruary and dclind in March and April (Tabl 3; Figur 3). Figur 3: Numbr of Blu-wingd Tal Obsrvd by Month Numbr (all sits) JAN FEB MAR APR Month Data from Arial Survys Th total count for January was lowr than for Fbruary and March. Th pattrn for Northrn Shovlr was diffrnt, possibly rflcting th incrasing xprinc and skill of th obsrvrs (Figur 4).

20 35 30 Numbr (all sits) JAN FEB MAR APR Month Figur 4: Numbr of Northrn Shovlr by Month - Data from Arial Survys On rason for this may hav bn abnormal rainfall pattrns. March was abnormally dry (Figur 5), and Salt Island Lagoon, which was on of th bst sits for ducks in January and Fbruary, drid out compltly in March and rmaind dry in April (Figur 7). Figur 5: Rainfall at SW Portland Bight - Spring 20and Long Trm Avrags

21 Rainfall LONGVILLE 20 LONGVILLE lta BODLES 20 BODLES lta SALT RIVER 20 TARRENTUM lta JAN FEB MAR APR 20 and Long Trm Avrags (lta) Banding rcovris showd a diffrnt pattrn, with highst numbrs in Octobr (Figur 6). Figur 6: Numbr of band rcovris by month NUMBER JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC MONTH Ths data cam from huntrs and thrfor ar affctd both by hunting pattrns and th ffcts of hunting. Th monthly totals for th thirtn wtland units with th highst total numbrs of ducks ar shown in Figur 7.

22 Origins of Blu Wingd Tals Rcovrd in Jamaica

23 Figur 7: Sasonality of Obsrvations of Ducks at Slctd Sits Numbr DUHANEY SALT ISLAND L FLASHES HELLSHIRE GALLEON HAYES PEDRO PONDS BL RIV LOWER BL RIV UPPER CABARITTA NEGRIL N COAST YALLAHS Sits JAN FEB MAR APR Th ffcts of drought wr notd at many sits, including Gallon Harbour, Black Rivr Lowr Morass (spcially Parott Pond), Black Rivr Uppr Morass and th Cabaritta Swamp in Wstmorland. Th only aras that did not xprinc a dclin in March wr Pdro and Yallahs Ponds both of which stayd wt throughout th priod (Figur 7). Th apparnt incras in numbrs at Pdro Pond, should b intrprtd with caution bcaus of th disparitis btwn th data from th arial survys and counts (Figur 2). 4.3 Gographical Distribution Ducks wr obsrvd at 99 somwhat arbitrarily dfind "sits" islandwid (Tabl 4). Ths "sits" varid from tiny isolatd ponds lss than tn mtrs across, to larg wtland systms svral

24 squar kilomtrs in ara (Appndics 2 and 5). Most obsrvations wr of groups of fwr than 10 ducks (Figur 8). Figur 8: Sizs of Groups of Ducks - Spring 20 NUMBER OF GROUPS Sris N U M B E R IN G R O U P Th largst groups wr lss than about 500. For analysis, obsrvations wr groupd by wtland unit. Bcaus obsrvations on th North Coast wr fw and scattrd, but th typs of habitat wr similar, th ntir North Coast, from Orang Bay (Hanovr) to Port Antonio (Portland) was arbitrarily tratd as a singl unit to simplify display of data. 4.4 Aras of spcial importanc to ducks Migratory ducks: Migratory ducks wr sn at many sits. Most aras wr small and supportd lss than 10 ducks (s blow). Aras which supportd largr numbrs of ducks in spring 20 includd St. (spcially Salt Island Lagoon), coastal Clarndon (spcially th Mitchll Town and Portland Cottag sctions of Wst Harbour) and St. (spcially th Pdro Ponds complx and Black Rivr Uppr Morass). Yallahs Pond in St. Thomas providd habitat for a fw hundrd ducks throughout th priod. Banding rcovris provid a similar pictur, indicating th importanc of Black Rivr and Old Harbour, although many of th othr good sits hav bn dstroyd or altrd during th priod

25 covrd by Figur 9, in particular Grat Salt Pond and th mangrovs south and wst of Kingston. Som othr aras may hav bn affctd by loss of opn watr (.g. Luana, Milk Rivr and Morant Point) whr thr is currntly littl suitabl duck habitat. Figur 9: Rcovris of Bandd Ducks by Location

26 Numbr Annotto Bay Bog Walk Cabaritta Clarks Tow Discovry Ba Montgo Ba Oracabssa Parott Pdro Pond Wakfild Yallahs Falmouth Milk Rivr Ngril Location Long Pond Portland Cottag Unknown Black Riv Luana Old Harbou Savanna la M Kingston Morant Poin Gt. Salt Pond Rsidnt ducks: Th numbr of rsidnt ducks obsrvd was vry small, compard to th numbr of migrants. Wst Indian Whistling Ducks wr sn at Black Rivr Uppr Morass, Jackson's Bay wtlands and fish ponds NW of Savannah-la-mar. No Maskd Duck wr dtctd although w survyd svral locations from which thy hav bn rportd in th past (Appndix 7). Ruddy Duck wr sn at Windsor, Monagu ponds and St Ann's Bay. 4.5 Siz of pond or wtland unit Mor than half of th ducks wr sn in ponds or wtlands arbitrarily classifid as "larg" although larg ponds comprisd only 21% of th ponds that wr usd by ducks (Tabl 4). Th aras of ths ponds should now b masurd and usd to analys ths data. Tabl 4: Pond Siz and Duck Distribution SIZE # PONDS/ # DUCKS % DUCKS AVERAGE NUMBER OF WETLANDS DUCKS/HABITAT Larg (> 0.5 km 2 )

27 Mdium( km 2 ) Small (<0.1 km 2) Vgtation Ducks wr obsrvd mainly in wtlands with hrbacous and mangrov vgtation. This is probably a rflction fding prfrncs of Blu-wingd Tal as wll as of th availability of habitat typs. Wtlands with hrbacous vgtation mad up 47% of th total ponds usd by ducks and had 69% of th ducks (Tabl 5). Tabl 5: Vgtation Us by Ducks - Spring 20 VEGETATION TYPE # OF WETLANDS # DUCKS USING TYPE % DUCKS USING TYPE Coastal vgtation Forst 1 3 <1 Hrbacous Sa Grass 1 19 < Habitat Us Ducks wr sn in all typs of shallow and dp ponds, including swag ponds, fish farms, cattl ponds, and sinkhols. Most ducks wr sn in ponds, rathr than strams or canals (Tabl 6). Only on group of ducks was sn at sa. Tabl 6: Watr Body Us By Ducks - Spring 20 POND TYPE # OF OBSERVATIONS Pond (including fish farms and oxbows) 93 Rivr, stram or canal 5 Sa Thrats (Tabl 7) Habitat disturbanc and illgal hunting appar to b th main thrats. In th cours of th survys, w obsrvd only on

28 prson who might hav bn hunting illgally. W did not obsrv any wtlands bing activly filld (xcpt at Rivrton Dump). W saw roads bing constructd in or nar wtlands nar Hodgs, St. and wst of Savanna-la-Mar. W also notd that ganja cultivation was sprading rapidly through th Black Rivr Lowr Morass, and to a lssr xtnt th Uppr Morass and Ngril Morass, and obsrvd th ffcts of fir (possibly associatd with cultivation) in ths aras. Tabl 7: Condition of Slctd Duck Habitats NAME OF DUCK HABITAT LOCATION DESCRIPTION HABITAT QUALITY 6 Duhany Wst of Svral small Good Rivr/Rivr Kingston mangrov ponds ton and rivr Salt Island Cntr of Extnsiv Vry Lagoon Hllshir hrbacous good marsh Hllshir Wst of Grat Good Flashs Salt Pond lagoons and and swag farm with Swag rd bds Ponds Gallon Cabaritta Point, Extnsiv Fair Harbour Amity Hall, Old mangrovs with Harbour Bay many lagoons and Goat Islands Hays and Vr Swag ponds, Good Rio Minho rivr and oxbow ponds Pdro Trasur Svral shallow, Vry Ponds Bach and salin, brackish Good Grat Bay and frsh ponds Black South St. Extnsiv Som Rivr hrbacous good Lowr (including marsh, coastal aras Morass Luana/Font mangrovs and CONDITION/THREATS 7 Expansion of dump, pollution Altrd by drainag for fish ponds (now abandond), may b silting up. Drid out compltly Habitat conditions appar stabl. Habitat conditions appar stabl. Nw town construction and siltation could thratn ponds. Thratnd by tourism dvlopmnt and siltation. Dry out compltly in som yars. Luana and Parot: thratnd by tourism and housing dvlopmnt. May dry out in som yars. 6 Basd on numbrs of ducks sn in spring 20 and othr accounts. 7 Basd on obsrvations.

29 NAME OF DUCK HABITAT LOCATION DESCRIPTION Hill, lagoons Wallywash and Parot Ponds) Cabaritta North, ast Coastal and wst of mangrovs, Savanna-la- swamp forst, Mar (including fish farms, rivr From) and ponds Ngril Morass Hrbacous marsh, mangrov lagoons, swag ponds North Grn Island Coastal Coast to Port mangrov Antonio fring, with many small, ponds Yallahs East of Hyprsalin Ponds Yallahs coastal lagoon HABITAT QUALITY 6 Good Fair Fair Good CONDITION/THREATS 7 Wallywash: stabl, could b thratnd by watr abstraction Lowr Morass: Limitd habitat, thratnd by ganja cultivation Thratnd by claranc of mangrovs, road construction, ganja cultivation, xpansion of town, pollution. Thratnd by xpansion of tourism and ganja cultivation. Amount of suitabl habitat vry small rlativ to th siz of th wtland. Thratnd by xpansion of tourism. Thratnd by xpansion of housing. Effcts of brin shrimp production not assssd. 5.0 Discussion Caution is advisd in intrprting th rsults prsntd abov. Although th prsnt survy rprsnts an important advanc in our knowldg, it rmains an incomplt study of part of a wintring sason. Svral yars data, covring at last Octobr to March, will b ndd to form th basis of wis managmnt of duck populations (M. Carbonll, prs. comm.). DU is planning to hlp Jamaica to complt a st of survys in wintr Population sizs, sasonal movmnts and rlativ abundanc of spcis

30 Th findings of arial survys, ground truthing and band rcovris confirmd that Blu-wingd Tal ar th most common and abundant duck spcis wintring in Jamaica, as on othr Caribban islands (.g. th Cayman Islands, Bradly 2000). Th total population of Blu-wingd Tal in Jamaica in spring 20 was not lss than 3,168, th maximum monthly total. This is a vry small proportion of th population of around 6 million in th traditional survy ara of North Amrica (Wilkins t al. 20) or th mor than 1 million tal that wr countd on a singl wtland in Cuba in spring 20 (L. Mujica Valds prs. comm.). Nvrthlss, Jamaica could b a significant habitat for th spcis, if th turnovr rat is high during th migration priod (M. Carbonnll, prs. comm.). Ancdotal accounts from huntrs suggst that this may b th cas. Thy rport that larg numbrs of ducks arriv, somtims on small rmot ponds, and mov on quickly. Th huntrs mploy local popl to monitor ponds and rport th arrival of ducks. Whn ducks ar rportd th huntrs go out as quickly as thy can and shoot thm. Whthr th ducks would stay longr if thy wr not disturbd is not known, but sms likly basd on xprinc in th Bahamas (P. Maillis, prs. comm.). Bluwingd Tal on migration ar particularly skittish (Bnt 1962). Othr migratory spcis wr uncommon in comparison to tal. Northrn Shovlr and Amrican Wigon wr both obsrvd in arial survys. Othr spcis, such as Grn-wingd Tal, Cinnamon Tal and Ring-nckd Duck ar rgularly sn in Jamaica (R. & A. Sutton, unpublishd data, Appndix 3 and various sourcs Appndix 7) but would b hard to distinguish from th air without considrabl practic. In arial survys and ground truthing, Wst Indian Whistling Ducks wr th most commonly obsrvd of th rsidnt ducks. A fw Ruddy Ducks wr obsrvd from th air. This spcis is mor likly to b sn in opn watr than th Maskd Duck, but it sms likly that its population was undrstimatd. Dspit th short-

31 comings of th survy mthods, th low numbrs of rsidnt duck spcis should b a srious caus for concrn, as thir habitats (i.. frsh-watr and brackish prmannt, sasonal, natural and manmad ponds and laks, rivrs, strams, ditchs, rsrvoirs and fish ponds) ar limitd in xtnt, and ar among th most thratnd natural and smi-natural habitats in Jamaica (Hayns Sutton 1999). 5.2 Population trnds Long trm studis in North Amrica indicat rcord high numbrs of migratory ducks in Th ovrall stimat of Bluwingd Tal in h traditional survy ara in spring 20 was 5.8 +/ million. This was 23% lss than th all tim high in 2000 of 7.4 million, but still 29% abov th long-trm avrag for Conditions on th brding grounds wr good in spring 20, and a good fall flight was anticipatd ((Wilkins t al. 20). Banding rcovris suggst that Blu-wingd Tal in Jamaica originat from th main brding grounds in cntral and astrn North Amrica (Map 2). Th population trnds in th brding population may b rlatd to th ffct of adaptiv managmnt of hunting, ffctiv habitat protction and favourabl wathr conditions during th brding sason, as wll as dclining intrst in hunting. Whthr incrass in brding populations ar rflctd in incrass in wintring populations in Jamaica dpnds on whthr local populations ar limitd by th availability of suitabl, undisturbd habitat, or by th numbr of migrating ducks. Whil th occurrnc of migrant ducks in th Cayman Islands appars to b influncd by brding succss in North Amrica (Bradly 2000), thr is littl indication of a similar linkag in Jamaica (Hayns Sutton 1996). Mor data ar ndd to valuat this rlationship. 5.3 Sasonality and movmnts Gnrally Blu-wingd Tal bgin to migrat from North Amrica with th first frosts in lat August and arly Sptmbr, arriving in th Gratr Antillan wtlands shortly aftr. Many fly on to th

32 Lssr Antills and cntral and southrn Amrica, whil som rmain. Thy bgin to rturn to th brding grounds in mid April. Howvr in som islands, such as Purto Rico (F. Rivra in litt.) and Cuba (Ramsdn, 1910) a fw rmain all yar, and vn in th Cayman Islands thy hav bn rcordd in all months (Bradly 2000). Thousands ar rportd in th Cayman Islands in Octobr, Novmbr and March. Prsumably, most ar transints or passag migrants (Bradly 2000). such as thos in Jamaica, may provid important staging aras for passag migrants (M. Carbonnll, prs. comm.). Th pattrn of sasonal habitat us in Jamaica rmains littl undrstood, dspit th prsnt survy, partly bcaus of th survy did not covr th ntir sason (i.. Sptmbr to April) and partly bcaus of th confounding ffcts of th drought in spring 20. In ithr cas, at last 10 yars of data would b ndd to bgin to addrss this issu. Th largst numbrs of ducks wr rcordd in Fbruary. Numbrs dclind in March and vn mor in April (Tabl 2 & Figur 3). Th total count for January was lowr than for Fbruary and March. This was contrary to our xpctation, basd on information from Cuba and Purto Rico (Hamilton & Sutton 1999) that numbrs would b highst in January. A study in Cuba found that tal populations incrasd gradually from Octobr to Fbruary, and thn incrasd mor rapidly until May (Acosta Cruz & Godinz, 1984). In th prsnt study howvr, thr wr som additional sourcs of bias, that may hav affctd th findings. Obsrvrs and pilots wr rlativly inxprincd in January, and som sits wr missd. Additional sits wr addd in Fbruary aftr bing locatd from th air. A svr drought, that startd in March mant that som of th bst sits (such as Salt Island Lagoon) wr dsrtd. Whr viwing conditions wr good, watr lvls wr stabl, and disturbanc minimal,.g. in Yallahs Pond and Pdro Pond, th duck populations wr also apparntly stabl. This points to th importanc of maintnanc of watr lvls. Som othr known

33 duck habitats, such as Caymanas Dyk Ponds, apparntly supportd no ducks during th priod, dspit apparntly suitabl watr lvls. Mor dtaild work is ndd to invstigat th rlationship btwn watr lvls, rainfall and duck distribution. Ducks may mov btwn habitats and islands during th sason, in rspons to changs in food availability, and disturbanc (.g. hunting). Littl is known of thir pattrns of movmnt during th wintr. It is impossibl to dtrmin or stimat what proportion of th population rmaind at particular sits or movd among sits within Jamaica or adjacnt islands. Th rlativ stability of numbrs at Yallahs Pond and Grat Pdro Pond (basd on ground truthing) suggsts that som individuals may rmain in th sam sit for th wintr, but th stabl figurs could also b an artfact of th carrying capacity of th sits. Mor work, using markd individuals, would hav to b don to dtrmin turnovr rats of ducks (s blow). 5.4 Gographical Distribution and Habitat Us Th arial survys and th invntory of habitats, suggstd that ducks us wtland habitats whrvr thy occur (Map 1). Most of th largr concntrations of ducks ar on th south coast, spcially in th Portland Bight Protctd Ara and proposd Black Rivr Protctd Ara (Massa & Sutton 1998). Th survy clarly illustratd how fw larg aras of suitabl habitat thr ar. Most habitats ar small, scattrd and vulnrabl (Tabl 7). Som larg wtlands, such as Black Rivr Lowr Morass, Cano Vally St. Thomas Grat Morass and th Ngril Morass, includ vry littl shallow, opn watr. 5.5 Thrats Loss and occlusion of frshwatr ponds through siltation, drought and ovrgrowth by vgtation: Opn frshwatr habitats ar among th most thratnd habitat typs in Jamaica (Hayns Sutton 2000). This is a srious thrat to th survival of frshwatr spcis, spcially ducks. Ponds such as Salt Island Lagoon, Black Rivr Uppr Morass and Pdro

34 Pond and may b mor pron to drying bcaus watr from strams and springs is bing divrtd to us in aquacultur and agricultur. Manwhil siltation from soil rosion is making th ponds shallowr and mor vulnrabl. For xampl, Salt Island Lagoon has always bn subjct to drought cycls, but w hypothsis that dforstation of th surrounding hills, combind with changs in drainag, associatd with th (now abandond) fish farm that was opratd in th ara in th lat 1970s and arly 1980s, may hav xacrbatd th problm. Parott Pond, which also supports ducks in good yars, although non was sn thr in spring 20, also drid out in March 20. Othr outstanding duck habitats including Grat Pdro Pond hav also bn known to dry out during th wintr dry sason as wll as during th summr (A. & R. Sutton, unpublishd data). Th dforstation and dvlopmnt of th surrounding lands may hav incrasd siltation, making th ponds shallowr and mor suscptibl to drought, whil abstraction of watr from coastal aquifrs may hav rducd inflows from springs and rivrs. Svral studis hav shown that maintnanc and manipulation of watr lvls is th simplst way to nsur suitabl habitats for watrfowl and shorbirds. A study of som managd wtlands in North Amrica found that wtland siz and topographic variation corrlatd positivly with concntrations of som spcis, but watr dpth was th bst ovrall prdictor (Colwll & Taft 2000). Optimum dpths ar <5 cm for small shorbirds, 5-11 cm for larg shorbirds, cm for tal and >20 cm for larg dabbling ducks. Managing wtlands with variabl bottom topography to hav watr lvls of cm would nsur habitat for many typs of watrfowl (Isola t al. 2000). Spcific masurs may b ncssary for crtain spcis, for xampl masurs to incras th availability of zooplankton and bnthic invrtbrats may b ncssary to attract wintring shovlr (Guillmain t al., 2000). Mor rsarch is ndd into pattrns of habitat us and spcific habitat rquirmnts of slctd spcis. This should start with broad gographic data. Road construction: Road construction paralll to th coasts, as wll as nw accss roads to bachs, continu to b constructd at th xpns of coastal wtlands.

35 Ganja cultivation: This practic is sprading rapidly throughout th Black Rivr Lowr Morass, and th Ngril Morass. Th cultivators crat planting aras by digging ditchs and piling th pat in a paralll mound, which is raisd abov th watr lvl. Whil this practic dos not affct duck habitats dirctly, it is rportd that larg amounts of psticids and hrbicids ar usd, which could pollut th morasss and affct food chains. Tourist villa dvlopmnt: Two of th bst sits for ducks in Jamaica - Grat Pdro Pond and Parot Pond ar both bing affctd by tourist dvlopmnt, mainly construction of villas along thir coastal priphris. Apart from a culvrt, built by th Natural Rsourcs Consrvation Dpartmnt (NRCD) in th 1980s, Parott Pond is cut off from th sa and th tidal flushing that usd to sustain it. Manwhil lots ar still bing sold in th wtland - that ar actually undr watr for most of th yar. At Grat Pdro Pond, th road systm of a larg subdivision on th south sid was badly dsignd, and following th indiscriminat bulldozing of th sit, carris larg quantitis of silt into th pond. Havy Industry: Plannd xpansion of th solar salt factory at Portland Cottag, poss a possibl thrat to duck habitats in Wst Harbour, both through th dirct ffcts of convrsion of mangrovs and ponds, and through th ffcts of spag and pollution incidnts on watr quality. Othr plans to dvlop havy industry in Portland Bight thratn th intgrity of th mangal. Fish and shrimp cultur: Whil th dvlopmnt of fish farms has rducd th amount of mangrov wtland, it has not rsultd in a total loss of duck habitat. Our obsrvations show that ducks rgularly us ponds at activ and abandond fish farms. Howvr birds using such habitats may b particularly at risk from illgal huntrs. Anothr potntial impact coms from changs in food chains, that might rsult from scapd or dlibratly rlasd culturd spcis such as th Australian Rd-claw Chrax quardricarinatus. This spcis was rlasd in th wtlands of Portland Bight and appars to b sprading. Its ffcts hav nvr bn

36 assssd. Pollution - dundr and swag: Pollution from dundr dos not appar to b a dtrrnt to som spcis of ducks (.g. Blu-wingd Tal) which hav bn obsrvd in havily pollutd watrs in south Clarndon, and in habitats affctd by pollution in th Black Rivr Uppr Morass. Thy also frqunt th rd bds of th Hllshir swag tratmnt plant (R. & A. Sutton, B. Hay, prs. obs.). Modrat lvls of nutrint pollution may incras th food availability for som spcis of ducks in th short trm but long trm xposur or vry high lvls of nutrints ar dtrimntal to th habitat and th ducks that fd thr. Pollution - us of lad shot: Sport hunting rsults in dumping of undtrmind quantitis of poisonous lad shot into th Jamaican nvironmnt ach yar. Watrfowl and othr birds swallow and rtain in thir gizzards small stons to assist in braking up thir food. If lad shot is lying on th surfac thy may tak it up, bcaus it is th right siz. It is stimatd that many as thr million watrfowl di in th US ach yar from lad poisoning (Sandrson & Bllros, 1986). A rcnt study in Spain of stifftail ducks (Oxyura spp.) showd that ingstd lad shot was prsnt in 32% of huntd birds and 70% of dad or moribund individuals. That study rcommndd an immdiat ban on us of lad for watrfowl hunting in Spain and clanup of spnt shot in major wtlands (Mato t al. 20). Aftr th publication of this rsarch lad shot was bannd in protctd wtlands in Spain (A. Grn in litt.). "Watrfowl di from ingsting lad shotgun pllts dpositd on th bottoms of laks and marshs and in filds. In most instancs, thy di aftr ingsting 1 or 2 pllts, thir bodis wasting away ovr a priod of svral wks, losing from 30 to 50 prcnt of normal wight. No othr disas producs such a consistnt chronic wight loss. Lss frquntly, a larg numbr of shot ar ingstd, an acut form of lad poisoning rsults, and th bird dis in good wight. Mor dfinitiv diagnoss of lad toxicosis hav bn mad from lvls of lad in wing bons, in blood, and in th livr and othr organs. Bcaus of th widsprad distribution of lad shot from th northrn brding grounds to th southrn wintring grounds, it is availabl fall through spring

37 to watrfowl fding on aras that hav bn huntd. As a rsult, mortality accrus on a day-to-day basis. Ths losss, howvr, ar usually ovrlookd bcaus prdators quickly dispos of moribund birds. Studis in Missouri and Txas, for xampl, rvald that prdators rapidly rmovd watrfowl carcasss placd by biologists in wtland habitats. Morovr, dad ducks in natural sttings ar difficult to find, and frshly plantd carcasss in marsh vgtation wr largly ovrlookd by sarchrs mployd to find thm. Only whn massiv di-offs of watrfowl occur in a limitd ara do losss from lad poisoning attract public attntion. Such di-offs ar th rsult of unusually high rats of shot ingstion; howvr, nutrition and low tmpraturs may b ancillary causs. Undr ths conditions, watrfowl di in numbrs that xcd th ability of prdators to consum thm and to kp th nvironmnt tidy. Most di-offs from lad toxicosis occur aftr th hunting sason - in wintr and arly spring. Th potntial impact of lad poisoning on watrfowl populations has bn ascrtaind from divrs sourcs of information. Almost 200,000 gizzards from mor than 16 spcis of watrfowl in a numbr of gographical rgions hav bn xamind for lad shot during hunting sasons in fall and arly wintr. Scors of xprimnts with pnnd wild and gamfarm watrfowl hav bn conductd by numrous invstigators to valuat th ffcts of shot dos, nutrition, ag, and sx and to study th physiological manifstations of lad toxicosis. A prtinnt finding of nutrition studis was that protin, calcium, and phosphorus play an important rol in dtrmining th lthality of lad. Spcis of watrfowl vary in thir proclivity to ingst shot and, bcaus of diffring food habits, in thir suscptibility to ingstd lad. Lad toxicosis poss th gratst thrat to mallards, followd in lssning dgrs by black ducks, mottld ducks, pintails, canvasbacks, rdhads, and ring-nckd ducks. Th potntial for lad poisoning in othr duck spcis is low. At tims swans and gs bcom victims in numbrs sufficintly larg to caus concrn." Sandrson & Bllros, Thr ar no stimats of how many birds in Jamaica di from lad poisoning. Birds tnd to di outsid th hunting sason, and thir carcasss ar rarly obsrvd, bing takn by crocodils and othr prdators. Studis hav shown that largr spcis (Sandrson & Bllros, 1986) and stifftails (Mato t al. 2000) ar particularly vulnrabl. This suggsts that Jamaica's rsidnt spcis may b at risk but no studis hav bn don of th ffct of th lad on Jamaica's forst or wtland cosystms. Lad is partially solubl in som mangrov swamps which tnd to b acidic. Lad accumulats in food chains and may alrady b

38 causing damag to all lvls of th cosystm. A significant proportion of columbid hunting in Jamaica also occurs in or nar coastal aras and wtlands (21% of birds wr shot in coastal and wtland aras, NRCA 2000). Th potntial for long trm damag to Jamaica's wtlands is vidnt. Th us of stl shot as a substitut for lad shot in watrfowl hunting is th only currntly fasibl solution to th problm of lad poisoning. Stl shot is lss dns than lad shot but producs a tightr pattrn and shortr shot string. Th lowr dnsity of stl shot can b compnsatd for by incrasing shot siz and vlocity, thus dlivring similar lvls of nrgy to th targt. No significant diffrncs in crippling rats wr found in all but 3 of 15 tsts comparing th ffcts of stl and lad shot. In only 1 of thos 3 tsts did stl shot crippl mor ducks than th lad shot bing tstd. Crippling losss to watrfowl populations from stl shot ar lss harmful than crippling losss plus lad toxicosis from lad shot. Svral rlatd points mrit considration. Lad poisoning causs important losss to th most abundant spcis of watrfowl. Th sublthal ffcts of lad poisoning ar rcognizd but hav not bn quantifid. Excpt for a brif priod in spring, lad may affct fmals mor advrsly than mals. Finally, sasonal diffrncs in th tim of losss ar important. A crippl lost during th hunting sason has lss impact on th brding population than a lad-poisond duck lost during th wintr or spring." Sandrson & Bllros, Illgal Hunting: Th xtnt and impacts of illgal hunting ar not known. Only on possibl cas of illgal hunting was obsrvd during th survy but huntrs claim that significant numbrs of popl hunt illgally. Howvr ths rports rmain unconfirmd by intrcptions and convictions, probably bcaus of low lvls of rporting. Ducks that ar huntd tnd to abandon th ara, moving on to othr aras. Thrfor w hypothsisd that aras that had a history of supporting larg numbrs of ducks, in which xtnsiv, apparntly good habitat prsists, on which w saw fwr ducks than xpctd, could hav bn affctd by illgal hunting. At last thr aras in this catgory ar known to b usd by illgal huntrs. Thy includ Cabaritta Swamp in Wstmorland, Caymanas Dyk Ponds in St. and Boggy Pond, Clarndon, ast of th Rio Minho. Illgal duck hunting can b rducd.

39 For xampl, th lvl of illgal hunting at Pdro Ponds sms to hav dclind sinc a local policman was intrcptd in 1996 (R. & A. Sutton, prs. obs.). Th nd to control illgal hunting is citd by th huntrs as a justification for opning a sason for ducks, although th rasoning bhind this argumnt is unclar, givn th currnt low lvls of intrcption and activ nforcmnt by gam wardns. It is difficult to assss th validity of th argumnt, in th absnc of data about th xtnt and impacts of illgal hunting. Proposd opn hunting sason: Although w rcognis th high lvl of intrst in duck hunting, and th many argumnts in favour of hunting, th rsults so far, although incomplt, do not suggst that thr ar nough ducks wintring in Jamaica to support a hunting sason. Proposals mad in calld for wknd hunting from January to March, with a daily bag limit of 25 birds. Th prsnt survy indicats that thr ar vry fw sits at which on huntr might xpct to shoot his bag, vn on a singl day. In 2000 th NRCA issud 1278 licncs to huntrs (NRCA 20). Th maximum numbr of ducks obsrvd on any day was about 3,500. Although it is likly that this undrstimats th total wintring population by an unknown factor (Appndix 6), it appars that th numbrs of ducks wintring ar insufficint to support hunting vn if only a fraction of th traditional currnt huntrs will participat in watrfowl hunting. W rcognis that. In addition, th survy tchniqu may hav not adquatly sampld th transint or passag migrant componnt of th population, which according to huntrs, stops ovr brifly in larg numbrs in Jamaica in spring and autumn. Unfortunatly, th huntrs agr that th timing of any pisodic influxs of ducks ar irrgular and unprdictabl, in both timing and location. It would b difficult and risky to try to stablish a hunting sason to tak advantag of ths movmnts. If a sason was to b opnd, and th duck population was insufficint, huntrs might naturally b tmptd to tak non-targt spcis. Th fact that most huntrs ar unfamiliar with Jamaican watrfowl and ar accustomd to facing larg numbrs of potntial targts in a columbid hunting sason incrass th liklihood

40 of non targt, protctd, spcis bing shot. Rsidnt duck populations would b most at risk from accidntal or dlibrat tak of protctd spcis. Th Wst Indian Whistling Duck is globally thratnd and is found only in th Gratr Antills and northrn Lssr Antills. It is dclining throughout its rang. Th status of Jamaica's Wst Indian Whistling Duck population is incompltly known but it has bn stimatd as about 500 (Sutton & Sutton 1997) and is subjct to habitat loss, poaching and prdation from introducd spcis. Thr ar currntly only a fw placs whr thr ar rcnt rports of Wst Indian Whistling Ducks and ths habitats ar also favourd by migratory ducks, spcially Blu-wingd Tal. Currntly non of ths aras is part of ffctivly managd protctd aras (xcpt for a small ara in th Ngril Environmntal Protction Ara. Wst Indian Whistling Ducks This spcis could asily b xtirpatd from Jamaica in a singl sason of hunting (Sutton & Sutton 1997). Maskd and Ruddy Ducks ar not globally thratnd but ar crtainly vry uncommon in Jamaica and would b at grat risk of local xtinction. Othr spcis whos populations could b affctd, although to a lssr xtnt, includ Common Moorhn Gallinula chloropus, Glossy Ibis Plgadis falcinllus, Northrn Jacanas Jacana spinosa, Clappr Rails Rallus longirostris and larg shorbirds.g. Yllowlgs Tringa spp., snip Gallinago gallinago, Plovrs Charidrius spp. and Willt Catoptrophorus smipalmatus. Although hunting is not rcommndd undr th currnt lgislativ and administrativ framwork, th possibility of allowing hunting in th futur, undr a diffrnt framwork should not b rjctd. In fact, undr carfully rgulatd circumstancs, duck hunting could contribut to wtland consrvation. Effctiv managmnt of protctd aras including th majority of Wst Indian Whistling Duck habitat, as wll as rsrvoir aras clos to proposd hunting aras and hunting rsrvs managd spcifically to nhanc and sustain populations of migratory ducks, would b prrquisits. Du to th grat potntial for loss of biodivrsity hunting of migratory ducks in Jamaica should only b don undr

41 strictly controlld circumstancs in aras managd as hunting rsrvs spcifically for this purpos. Funds from this typ of hunting should b usd to rhabilitat othr aras of natural habitat in Protctd Aras and or othr rsrvs that ar managd as Watchabl Wildlif ponds. Huntrs that ar intrstd in duck hunting should b ncouragd to organis thir rsourcs to facilitat th stablishmnt of watrfowl hunting rsrvs. Th dvlopmnt of a partnrship btwn National Environmnt and Planning Agncy (NEPA), NGO's and huntrs' groups to xamin th fasibility of this proposal should b considrd. Introducd prdators: Th ffcts of introducd prdators, spcially mongoos, dogs and cats on migratory ducks hav not bn assssd. Thy ar probably a gratr thrat to rsidnt ducks, whn on th nst, spcially Wst Indian Whistling Ducks. In Antigua, Wst Indian Whistling Duck nsting succss has incrasd dramatically, following radication of rats from islands. Onc nsting aras hav bn idntifid, control and radication programms for mongoos, rats and othr spcis should b implmntd. 5.6 Assssmnt of mthods Survying Migrant spcis: Arial survys providd an ffctiv way to carry out xtnsiv survys of migrant spcis in difficult trrain. Migrant spcis tnd to frqunt opn watr during th day, fly in rspons to disturbanc, and hav obvious fild marks and ar thrfor asy to dtct from th air. Nonthlss, arial survys ar unlikly to provid information about th occurrnc and distribution of uncommon and rar spcis and it is possibl that som of th birds idntifid as Blu-wingd Tal wr fmal or immatur Grn-wingd or Cinnamon Tal, which would b difficult to distinguish from th air. Prvious obsrvations from Grat Pdro Pond, St., suggst that th proportion of ths spcis is lss than on prcnt (A. & R. Sutton, unpublishd data). Although som spcis wr probably ovrlookd bcaus of difficultis of distinguishing ducks in wintr plumag from th air, th rlativ occurrncs of ducks obsrvd from th air and ground obsrvations wr similar.

42 Survying Rsidnt spcis: Th survy confirmd prvious findings (Sutton & Sutton 1997) that Wst Indian Whistling Ducks, cannot b ffctivly survyd from th air. Obsrvations bor littl rlationship to knowldg of distribution and population. Similarly, Maskd Duck cannot b survyd from th air. It inhabits small ponds, spnding th day partially submrgd in dns vgtation, and submrging, rathr than flying, whn disturbd. Othr mthods nd to b dvlopd for th urgntly ndd status assssmnt of rsidnt duck spcis. Timing and frquncy of survys: Ducks Unlimitd rcommndd twic monthly survys from Octobr to April (Hamilton & Sutton 1999). This was too costly and th dcision was takn to survy onc pr month. Howvr, it was not possibl to bgin th survy until January. At last on mor sason of survys, covring th ntir priod is ndd. Basd on th findings, it should b possibl to cut down on th numbr of survys. Ducks Unlimitd has offrd to provid funds to pay for transportation for wintr Problms with arial survys: Problms with implmnting th arial survys includd lack of hadsts on th plan, which mad if difficult to communicat with ach othr and th pilot; rluctanc of som pilots to start arly nough in th morning or fly low and slow ovr th slctd aras, and problms with rcording data (bcaus w did not hav tap rcordrs that could function on th plan, w had to writ obsrvations, and may hav missd som sightings). W would also hav likd to hav a GPS unit on which to automatically rcord locations of sightings. Ground truthing: Data from ground truthing did not corrspond closly to data collctd from arial survys. This is bcaus:! Whil arial survys provid bttr ovrall covrag, thy rly on quick stimats and thrfor som birds may b ovrlookd, spcially if thy ar in thick vgtation.! Ground truthing was usually don latr in th day than arial survys. Mor ground survys ar ncssary to assss th fasibility of this mthod.

43 6.0 Rcommndations 6.1 Consrvation of spcis Non of th spcis of migratory ducks that occur in Jamaica is globally thratnd. Howvr, du to low populations and widly scattrd distribution in small and vulnrabl habitats, thy should b considrd to b locally thratnd. Rsidnt ducks ar vn mor vulnrabl to diminishing local habitats, bcaus ar thy must brd hr and sufficint good quality habitat is ssntial for brding succss. Th Wst Indian Whistling Duck is alrady considrd to b thratnd at th global lvl. Maskd Ducks and Ruddy Ducks should b considrd as locally vulnrabl. W rcommnd that:! Rcovry action plans should b prpard and implmntd for ths spcis. 6.2 Consrvation of habitats Exprinc in othr countris (.g. th Bahamas P. Maillis, prs. comm. and Purto Rico (Villla & Gray 1997) has dmonstratd that ffctivly managd protctd aras incras populations of ducks, vn whn thr is lgal hunting. Most of th bst duck habitats in Jamaica ar within dclard or proposd protctd aras, svral fall within th Portland Bight Protctd Ara such as Salt Island lagoon, Wst Harbour, Amity Hall, Boggy Pond and Mitchll Town ponds. Howvr som important aras ar not currntly within th proposd systm,.g. Yallahs Ponds and many small ponds (probably including th majority of habitats for Maskd and Ruddy Ducks. Exprimntal work in th wtlands of Humacao in Purto Rico has dmonstratd that wtland habitats can b rstord and duck populations incrasd (Villla & Gray 1997). W rcommnd that:! Th invntory of actual and potntial duck habitats should b compltd.

44 ! Th rang and habitat nds of rsidnt ducks should b dtrmind (s blow) and usd to idntify th xtnt to which critical habitats ar includd in th xisting or proposd protctd ara systm. Whr ncssary additional aras should b addd.! Managrs of xisting aras should b ncouragd to includ managmnt of ducks and thir habitats as a priority in thir managmnt planning.! Trial projcts in Jamaica to assss fasibility of managing slctd aras to incras duck populations ar now urgntly ndd (s abov).! Masurs should b takn to liminat ganja cultivation in wtlands. 6.3 Public ducation Although wtlands and watrfowl hav immns potntial for public ducation, this is hardly utilizd in Jamaica. Organizations such as th Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridg in th UK and Oak Hammock Marsh in Manitoba, Canada hav playd an important rol in incrasing public apprciation of wtlands. Svral wtlands in Jamaica hav th potntial for dvlopmnt as Watchabl Wildlif Ponds (a trm dvlopd by th WIWD Working Group of th Socity for Caribban Ornithology). Ths includ svral sits in Portland Bight (Hllshir Flashs, Mitchll Town Ponds, Salt Island Lagoon) as wll as Black Rivr Uppr Morass, Black Rivr Bridg, Grat Pdro Pond and Parott Pond in St. and th Royal Palm Rsrv in Wstmorland. Ths sits provid options for diffrnt typs of ducational, cotourism and consrvation cntrs, ranging from sits dsignd to handl larg numbrs of tourists and school childrn, to low impact sits, with littl infrastructur. W rcommnd that:! On or mor Watchabl Wildlif Ponds should b dvlopd as pilot projcts (.g. in Ngril, Black Rivr Lowr and Uppr Morasss, Portland Bight, Falmouth and othr similar locations). Thr is a grat nd to ducat th public in gnral. Th nwly

45 publishd "Woundrous Wtlands of th Wst Indis" (Hayns Sutton t al. 20) provids a starting point for school childrn, but thr is a nd to communicat and dvlop partnrships with huntrs. It is vry important that th rasons for asking for furthr rstraint ar communicatd to th hunting fratrnity, and ngotiations opnd about th options. This is likly to incras thir support for rstrictions on watrfowl hunting which will b ssntial to nsur a sustainabl rsourc and nhanc th lvl of voluntary complianc with all masurs to manag gambird populations. W rcommnd that:! A national programm to dissminat and us "Wondrous Wtlands of th Wst Indis" should b dvlopd.! An ducation programm for huntrs, focusing on th rasons why th NEPA cannot support duck hunting at prsnt, as wll as issus rlatd to th dvlopmnt of a hunting thic, should b dsignd and implmntd. 6.4 Hunting An islandwid opn sason for duck hunting dos not appar to b biologically sustainabl at prsnt, bcaus of low populations and th risk of collatral damag to protctd and thratnd spcis. Howvr, undr appropriat circumstancs, duck hunting can b a sustainabl activity, and can contribut to wtlands consrvation. Essntial prrquisits would includ:! Dmonstration of th fasibility of managing wtlands to nhanc duck populations! An ffctiv ntwork of ffctivly managd protctd aras, covring ky habitats for rsidnt spcis, as wll as aras of good habitat for gam spcis, to srv as rsrvoirs;! Support for hunting to b rstrictd to aras managd by huntrs, at thir own xpns, for that purpos. W rcommnd that NEPA should:! Educat all staff and wardns about th importanc of nforcing laws rlatd to protctd spcis (including ducks).

46 ! Rsist calls to opn a hunting sason for ducks undr prsnt circumstancs.! Encourag NGO's and huntrs to form partnrships to xamin th fasibility of dvlopmnt of managd hunting prsrvs. 6.5 Ban on us of lad shot NEPA should adopt th prcautionary approach, and should find a way to implmnt a total ban on th us of lad shot for hunting in Jamaica. This will involv cration of nw rgulations and intnsiv public ducation, to win th support of huntrs. At th sam tim NEPA, in partnrship with NGOs that ar involvd in protctd ara managmnt, should undrtak a baslin survy in slctd aras that ar subjct to intns hunting to valuat th prsnc of lad in forst, agricultural lands and wtlands. W rcommnd that:! NEPA should ban th us of lad shot. This action should b accompanid by a suitabl public ducation programm.! A study of th ffcts of lad shot on th natural nvironmnt of Jamaica, spcially wtlands, should b carrid out. 6.6 Dirctions for futur monitoring and rsarch Population survys: At th workshop on duck survys in th Caribban which was hostd by Ducks Unlimitd at th SCO mting in Cuba 20, th participants ndorsd th utility of arial survys as an xpnsiv and risky but cost-ffctiv tchniqu for dtcting and counting ducks ovr larg aras. Whnvr it is possibl, thy should b combind with monitoring from th ground of important aras that can srv as indx sits W rcommnd that:! Th prsnt survy should b xtndd to covr Octobr 20- March DU has offrd to provid funding to covr th cost of flights.! A programm of monitoring at last two indx sits (g. Grat Pdro Pond and Salt Island Lagoon) onc a wk in th morning, should b

47 implmntd. Status and distribution studis of rsidnt spcis In ordr to dtrmin th nd for and natur of consrvation masurs, it is ncssary to assss th status and distribution of rsidnt spcis (Wst Indian Whistling Duck, Maskd Duck and Ruddy Duck). This cannot b don by arial survy. Survy mthods for Wst Indian Whistling Duck ar undr dvlopmnt by th Wst Indian Whistling Duck Working Group of th SCO (A. Hayns Sutton in prp.). W rcommnd that NEPA should:! Initiat islandwid survys of rsidnt ducks. Analysis of pattrns of habitat us and movmnts among habitats: Th monitoring of indx sits should involv counting and possibly banding or anothr form of marking in ordr to dvlop an undrstanding local, national and intrnational movmnt pattrns. It is also important to monitor th ffcts of sason, rainfall and disturbanc on movmnt pattrns. Huntrs ar anothr potntially usful sourc of information, if thir trust can b gaind. NEPA should work with huntrs to documnt information about movmnt pattrns i.. us thir rporting ntwork to gathr information and assss thir rcommndations. W rcommnd that:! NEPA and slctd NGOs should dvlop a collaborativ programm to gathr information with th hlp of th huntrs. Habitat improvmnt projct pilot projct: Thr ar svral tchniqus that NEPA or othr habitat managmnt agncis could implmnt on a trial basis to improv habitat quality and us by migrant ducks. Ths includ managmnt of watr lvls in slctd wtlands, managmnt of vgtation and th us of dcoys. Such programms should b carfully plannd so that thir ffctivnss can b assssd and monitord, in ordr to

48 dtrmin whthr thy ar suitabl for widr application in Jamaica. Sits should b slctd according to critria such as cological, managmnt and conomic fasibility, protction status, and history of us of th sit by wildfowl. Th idntification and slction of such sits is byond th scop of this rport, but could includ a sit in Portland Bight Protctd Ara. W rcommnd that:! A trial l projct on habitat improvmnt should b implmntd at a sit to b slctd (possibly Salt Island Lagoon in th Portland Bight Protctd Ara). Control of introducd prdators W rcommnd that:! Pilot control programms for mongoos and rats should b implmntd in slctd aras.

49 Litratur Citd Acosta Cruz. M. & Godinz, E Variacions poblacionals dl Pato d la Florda (Anas discors) y gallarta d Pico Blanco (Fulica amricana) durant la migracion Poyana 266:1-8. Bnt, A.C Lif Historis of North Amrican Wild Fowl. Dovr Publications Inc. Nw York. Colwll, M.A. & Taft, O.W Shorbird communitis in managd wtlands of varying watr dpth. Watrbirds 23(1): Florida Gam and Frshwatr Fish Commission Florida Huntr Education Manual. Guillmain, M., Fritz, H., & Guillon, N Foraging bhavior and wintr habitat choic of Northrn Shovlr in a major wintring quartr in Franc. Watrbird 23(3): Hamilton, M. & Hayns-Sutton, A.M Summary of th Caribban watrfowl survys and monitoring projct workshop, Nassau Bahamas, March 6-10, NRCA rport. Hayns-Sutton, A.M Out for a duck - th nd for consrvation of ducks in Jamaica. Jamaica Journal 26 (1): Hayns-Sutton, A.M Wst Indian Whistling Duck Rsarch and Consrvation Projct - Rport to Discovry Initiativs. Unpublishd ms. Hayns-Sutton, A.M Survys of Wst Indian Whistling Ducks in Black Rivr, St., Jamaica. Papr prsntd at Socity for Caribban Ornithology Annual Mting, Guadloup. Hayns-Sutton, A.M Portland Bight Wtland Rsourcs Assssmnt Projct Final Rport (In prp.).

50 Hayns-Sutton, A.M Rport on flora of th trrstrial and frshwatr nvironmnts of Jamaica. National Biodivrsity Stratgy and Action Plan, Natural Rsourcs Consrvation Authority, Kingston, Jamaica. Hayns-Sutton, A.M. & Hilton, G. A manual for survying Wst Indian Whistling Ducks. In prp. Massa, A. & Hayns-Sutton, A.M Draft Environmntal Policy Framwork for St., Jamaica. NRCA rport. Hayns-Sutton, A., Vogl, P. & Strong Y Prliminary assssmnt of suitability of duck hunting sits proposd by huntrs in1998. NRCA rport. Hayns-Sutton, A., Sornson, L. & Kly, M. 20. Wondrous Wst Indian Wtlands - A rsourc book on Caribban wtlands for tachrs and othr ducators. Wst Indian Whistling Duck Working Group of th Socity of Caribban Ornithology. Isola, C.R., Colwll, M.A., Taft, O.W. & Safran, R.J Intrspcific diffrncs in habitat us of shorbirds and watrfowl foraging in managd wtlands of California s San Joachim Vally. Watrbirds 23(2): Massa, A. & Hayns-Sutton, A.M Draft Managmnt Plan for th Proposd Black Rivr Protctd Ara. NRCA rport. Matco, R. Grn, A.J., Jsk, C.W., Urios, V. & Griqu, C. In prss. Lad poisoning in th globally thratnd Marbld Tal and Whit-hadd Duck in Spain. Environmnt and toxicology and Chmistry. NRCA, 20. Bird Shooting Sason 2000 Annual Rport.

51 Ramsdn, C.T Th Blu-wingd Tal in Cuba in Summr. Auk 27:452. Sandrson, G.C. & Bllros, F.C A rviw of th problm of lad poisoning in watrfowl. Illinois Natural History Survy, Spcial Publications 4 August 1986 Scott, D.A.& Carbonll M.1986, A Dirctory of Notropical Wtlands. IUCN Cambridg and IWRB Slimbridg. Villla F.A.&M.J. Gray Ecological and Managmnt Plan for th Humacao Wildlif Rfug, Final Rport. Mississippi Cooprativ Fish and Wildlif Rsarch Unit. Mississippi Stat, Mississippi. Williams, I & Rs, D Th status and distribution of th Wst Indian Whistling Duck in Wstrn Jamaica. Royal Socity for th Protction of Birds, Wals.

52 Appndix 1: TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE CONSULTANTS ON MIGRATORY DUCKS 8 SPECIFIC TASKS 1. Carry out arial survy of major wtland aras island-wid in ordr to dtrmin th distribution of migratory ducks. 2. Idntify duck habitats and if possibl indicat habitat condition. 3. Collct background data, from litratur sarch, on duck populations in Jamaica. 4. Provid rcommndations on sustainabl managmnt of migratory duck populations. 5. Th migratory duck survy should b typd in simpl, clar languag and formattd as follows:! Main hadings should b bold and titl cas! Subhadings should b titl cas and undrlind! Doubl column! Font siz 12! Pag stup is lttr siz Th final documnt should b providd as a hard copy and on disktt as html vrsion (dos not nd to b doubl-spacd) and as Word 97 format or highr. Output Th total Contract priod is 21 man-days, which will b xtndd ovr th priod January 20 to Jun 30, 20. Th du dats for ach output is as follows- -! Provid th first baslin study on th migratory duck population by May 30, 20! Examin sasonality of duck occurrncs in Jamaica by May 30, 20! Dtrmin which ar th bst aras for ducks in by May 30, 20! Final arial survy rport including rcommndations as indicatd in itms 2 and 3 abov submittd by Jun 30, 20 8 Thr wr two consultants on this projct - th Principal Consultant (Ann Sutton) and th Local Consultant (Brandon Hay). Th Trms of Rfrnc for th two consultants was th sam.

53 Appndix 2: RAW DATA FROM AERIAL SURVEYS DATE TIME LOCATION 09-Jan- 759 Pond nar Tinson Pn UNIT NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH Duhany 1 BWTE Small Rd Pond Kingston 09-Jan- 813 Rivrton Duhany 1 BWTE Small Rd Pond Kingston 09-Jan- 820 Rivrton Duhany 75 BWTE Small Rd Pond Kingston 09-Jan- 840 Gratr Portmor swag plant Flashs 40 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 09-Jan- 844 Hllshir Flashs Flashs 22 BWTE Mdium Rd Pond St. 09-Jan- 845 Hllshir Flashs Flashs 20 BWTE Mdium Rd Pond St. 09-Jan- 855 Pond nar UDC sit offic Hllshir 70 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. 09-Jan- 859 Wrck Point Hllshir 1 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. 09-Jan- 9 Old Hous Point Hllshir 11 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. 09-Jan- 908 Amity Hall Gallon Harbour 20 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. 09-Jan- 909 Amity Hall Gallon Harbour 35 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. 09-Jan- 919 Cabaritta Point Gallon Harbour 1 NSHO Larg Rd Pond St. 09-Jan- 934 Old Harbour microdam PB Wst 70 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Clarndo n 09-Jan- 941 Portland Cottag Portland Cottag 14 BWTE Larg Rd Pond Clarndo n

54 DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 09-Jan- 948 Btwn Portland Portland Cottag 3 BWTE Larg Rd Pond Clarndo n Cottag and Barnswll 09-Jan Salt Island Lagoon Salt Island Lagoon 0 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 10-Jan- 758 Salt Island Lagoon Salt Island Lagoon 500 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 10-Jan- 810 Wst Harbour, N of Mitchll Wst Harbour 3 BWTE Small Rd Pond Clarndo n Town 10-Jan- 817 Jacksons Bay Jackson's Bay 2 BWTE Mdium Rd Pond Clarndo n 10-Jan- 819 Boggy Pond Jackson's Bay 20 BWTE Larg Rd Pond Clarndo n 10-Jan- 819 Boggy Pond Jackson's Bay 2 NSHO Larg Rd Pond Clarndo n 10-Jan- 820 Bauchamps Macarry Bay 12 BWTE Small Rd Pond Clarndo n 10-Jan- 820 Bauchamps Macarry Bay 2 NSHO Small Rd Pond Clarndo n 10-Jan- 841 Grat Pdro Pond (1) Pdro 150 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 10-Jan- 841 Grat Pdro Pond (1) Pdro 35 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 10-Jan- 841 Grat Pdro Pond (1) Pdro 8 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 10-Jan- 842 Grat Pdro Pond (2) Pdro 250 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 10-Jan- 850 Thatchfild Parrot 12 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. 10-Jan- 909 Baptist Pond BRLM 8 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond St. 10-Jan- 915 Uppr Morass BRUM 5 WIWD Larg Hrbacous Pond St. Thomas 10-Jan- 940 Uppr Morass BRUM 40 WIWD Larg Hrbacous Pond St. Thomas 10-Jan- 945 Baptist Pond BRLM 50 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. Thomas 10-Jan Rio Minho lowr Rio Minho 30 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr Clarndo rachs n

55 DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 10-Jan Rio Minho lowr Rio Minho 12 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr Clarndo rachs n 10-Jan Rio Minho lowr Rio Minho 4 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr Clarndo rachs n 10-Jan Rio Minho lowr Rio Minho 6 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr Clarndo rachs n 10-Jan Rio Minho lowr Rio Minho 2 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr Clarndo rachs n 11-Jan- 759 Auchindown Auchindo wn 6 BWTE Small Rd Pond Wstmor land 11-Jan- 815 Fish ponds N of Cabaritta 4 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond Wstmor Savanna la Mar land 11-Jan- 820 Pond nar Littl Cabaritta 1 UNKN Small Rd Pond Wstmor London land 11-Jan- 838 Ngril (pond NE Ngril 30 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Wstmor of villag, s. of land S. Canal) 11-Jan- 838 Ngril (pond NE Ngril 10 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Wstmor of villag, s. of S. Canal) land 11-Jan- 10 Stwart Bay N Coast 15 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. Ann 11-Jan Point N Coast 16 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 11-Jan- 12 Cratr Lak N Coast 1 UNKN Small Rd Pond St. Ann 12-Jan- 953 Blvdr Morant Bay 4 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. Thomas 12-Jan- 10 Yallahs Pond Yallahs 150 BWTE Larg Coastal Pond St. Thomas 12-Jan- 16 Yallahs Rivr Yallahs 4 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. Thomas 12-Jan- 17 Grants Pn Albion 1 UNKN Mdium Rd Pond St. Thomas 12-Jan Bull Bay Bull Bay 6 BWTE Mdium Rd Pond Wstmor land 13-Fb- 735 Rivrton Duhany 185 BWTE Small Rd Pond Kingston 13-Fb- 735 Rivrton Duhany 10 NSHO Small Rd Pond Kingston 13-Fb- 735 Rivrton Duhany 5 WIGE Small Rd Pond Kingston

56 DATE TIME 13-Fb- 13-Fb- 13-Fb- 13-Fb- 13-Fb- 13-Fb- 13-Fb- 13-Fb- 13-Fb- 13-Fb- 13-Fb- 13-Fb- 13-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- LOCATION UNIT NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 802 Flashs Flashs 200 BWTE Mdium Rd Pond St. 812 Wrck Point Hllshir 12 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. 822 Cabaritta Hllshir 4 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. 823 Amity Hall Gallon 20 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. Harbour 831 Amity Hall Gallon 30 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. Harbour 831 Amity Hall Gallon 4 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. Harbour 843 Old Harbour Bay E Gallon Harbour 50 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. 845 Gallon Gallon 25 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. Harbour Harbour 847 Old Harbour Gallon 30 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. Bay E Harbour 912 Portland Portland 15 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. Cottag Cottag 917 Michll Town Wst 20 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond Clarndo Harbour n 936 Hill Run Hill Run 60 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 936 Hill Run Hill Run 8 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 716 Salt Island Lagoon Salt Island Lagoon 300 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 716 Salt Island Salt Island 200 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. Lagoon Lagoon

57 DATE TIME 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- 14-Fb- LOCATION UNIT 732 Jacksons Bay Jackson's Bay NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 5 WIWD Mdium Rd Pond Clarndo n 748 Rio Minho Rio Minho 28 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr Clarndo n 750 Hays Hays 307 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Clarndo n 810 Trasur Bach Pdro 290 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 810 Trasur Bach Pdro 200 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond St. 810 Trasur Bach Pdro 30 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 810 Trasur Bach Pdro 6 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 823 Parott Parrot 2 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. 823 Parott Parrot 1 NSHO Larg Rd Pond St. 833 Luana Luana 5 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. 838 Baptist Pond BRLM 25 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond St. 844 Holland S BRLM 9 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 847 Lacovia BRLM 12 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 851 Nar BRUM 3 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. Aquacultur 853 Pumping BRUM 5 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. Station 858 Pumping BRUM 200 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. Station 858 Pumping BRUM 2 NSHO Larg Hrbacous Pond St. Station 858 Pumping BRUM 1 WIWD Larg Hrbacous Pond St. Station 911 Lacovia BRLM 8 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 911 Lacovia BRLM 10 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 920 Lowr Morass BRLM 2 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St.

58 DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 14-Fb- 920 Lowr Morass BRLM 1 NSHO Small Hrbacous Pond St. 14-Fb- 940 Osbourn Stor Osbourn Stor 20 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Clarndo n 15-Fb- 820 SavlaMar E Cabaritta 20 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb- 823 SavlaMar W Cabaritta 50 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb- 823 SavlaMar W Cabaritta 2 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb- 832 Sav N Cabaritta 1 NSHO Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb- 833 From W Cabaritta 4 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb- 836 From W Cabaritta 5 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb- 836 From W Cabaritta 15 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb- 844 Gorgs Plain Cabaritta 5 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb- 857 Ngril Spots Ngril 2 NSHO Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb- 858 Ngril Spots Ngril 30 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb- 909 Johns Point Cabaritta 5 BWTE Small Rd Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb Ngril S Canal Ngril 4 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb Ngril S Canal Ngril 10 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb Ngril S Canal Ngril 20 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb Ngril S Canal Ngril 10 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb Ngril S Canal Ngril 30 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb Ngril S Canal Ngril 25 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 15-Fb Montpllir Montplli 3 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond St. Jams r 15-Fb Montpllir Montplli r 4 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. Jams

59 DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 15-Fb Airport N Coast 4 UNKN Mdium Hrbacous Pond St. Jams 15-Fb- 15-Fb- 15-Fb- 15-Fb- 15-Fb- 15-Fb- 16-Fb- 16-Fb- 16-Fb- 16-Fb- 16-Fb- 16-Fb- 16-Fb- 16-Fb- 16-Fb- 16-Fb- 16-Fb- 16-Fb- 16-Fb Manat Hol N Coast 30 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 1100 Manat Hol N Coast 5 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 1112 Hampdn Qun of 7 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Trlawny Spains Vally 1114 Hampdn Qun of 6 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Trlawny Spains Vally 1114 Hampdn Qun of 4 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Trlawny Spains Vally 1118 Hampdn Qun of 3 WIGE Small Hrbacous Pond Trlawny Spains Vally 738 Monagu Monagu 4 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. Ann 738 Monagu Monagu 3 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. Ann 804 Glistning N Coast 4 BWTE Larg Rd Pond Trlawny Watrs 810 Trlawny Bach N Coast 50 BWTE Mdium Rd Pond Trlawny 815 Trlawny Bach E 815 Trlawny Bach E N Coast 13 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny N Coast 8 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 820 Duncans W N Coast 6 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 820 Duncans W N Coast 100 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 821 Braco N Coast 12 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. Ann 821 Braco N Coast 5 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. Ann 828 Discovry N Coast 2 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. Ann Bay/Purto Sco 836 St Anns Bay N Coast 12 RUDU Small Rd Pond St. Ann 838 St Anns Bay N Coast 20 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. Ann

60 DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 16-Fb- 839 St Anns Bay N Coast 16 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. Ann 16-Fb- 856 Robins Bay N Coast 8 BWTE Small Rd Pond St.Mary 16-Fb- 858 Grn Castl N Coast 3 BWTE Small Forst Pond St.Mary 16-Fb- 903 Wag Watr N Coast 30 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr St.Mary 16-Fb- 903 Wag Watr N Coast 3 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr St.Mary 16-Fb- 910 Windsor N Coast 1 RUDU Small Rd Pond Portland bydump 16-Fb- 913 Black Hill N Coast 8 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Portland 16-Fb Plantain Gardn Plantain 10 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr St. Rivr Gardn Rivr Thomas 16-Fb Plantain Gardn Plantain 3 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr St. Rivr Gardn Rivr Thomas 16-Fb Plantain Gardn Plantain 12 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr St. Rivr Gardn Rivr Thomas 16-Fb Plantain Gardn Plantain 2 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr St. Rivr Gardn Rivr Thomas 16-Fb Plantain Gardn Plantain 2 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr St. Rivr Gardn Thomas Rivr 16-Fb Yallahs Pond Yallahs 200 BWTE Larg Coastal Pond St. Thomas 16-Fb Yallahs Rivr Yallahs 5 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. Thomas 16-Fb Grants Pn Albion 12 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. Thomas 16-Fb Grants Pn Albion 8 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. Thomas 22-Mar- 722 Rivrton Duhany 1 BWTE Small Rd Pond Kingston 22-Mar- 722 Rivrton Duhany 2 BWTE Small Rd Pond Kingston 22-Mar- 724 Rivrton Duhany 20 BWTE Small Rd Pond Kingston

61 DATE TIME 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- LOCATION UNIT NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 737 Skt Club Port 8 BWTE Mdium Rd Pond St. Hndrson 737 Skt Club Port 5 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. Hndrson 744 Flashs Flashs 12 BWTE Mdium Rd Pond St. 744 Swag Ponds Flashs 18 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 746 Flashs Flashs 2 BWTE Mdium Rd Pond St. 746 Flashs Flashs 5 NSHO Mdium Rd Pond St. 746 Flashs Flashs 10 NSHO Mdium Rd Pond St. 751 UDC Sit Offic Hllshir 16 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. 752 Shrimp Farm Hllshir 2 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. 759 Cabaritta Gallon 15 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. Harbour 803 Cabaritta Gallon 1 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. Harbour 806 Amity Hall Gallon 24 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. Harbour 807 Amity Hall Gallon 5 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. Harbour 819 Salt Gully Gallon 6 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. Harbour

62 DATE TIME 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 22-Mar- 23-Mar- 23-Mar- 23-Mar- 23-Mar- 23-Mar- 23-Mar- 23-Mar- 23-Mar- 23-Mar- 23-Mar- LOCATION UNIT 829 Old Harbour Gallon Bay Harbour 830 Old Harbour Gallon Bay Harbour 840 Mitchll Town Wst Harbour 840 Mitchll Town Wst Harbour 844 Portland Portland Cottag Cottag 845 Portland Portland Cottag Cottag 846 Portland Portland Cottag Cottag 847 Portland Portland Cottag Cottag NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 4 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. 12 BWTE Larg Rd Pond Clarndo n 30 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Clarndo n 2 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Clarndo n 4 BWTE Larg Rd Pond Clarndo n 15 BWTE Larg Rd Pond Clarndo n 16 BWTE Larg Rd Pond Clarndo n 1 BWTE Larg Rd Pond Clarndo n 921 Hill Run Hill Run 16 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond St. 921 Hill Run Hill Run 1 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond St. 733 Rio Minho Rio Minho 2 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr Clarndo n 735 Hays Hays 15 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Clarndo n 735 Rio Minho Rio Minho 12 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Clarndo n 738 Hays Hays 45 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Clarndo n 741 Rio Minho Rio Minho 2 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr Clarndo n 741 Rio Minho Rio Minho 7 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr Clarndo n 743 Macarry Bay Macarry 4 BWTE Mdium Rd Pond Clarndo Bay n 8 Trasur Bach Pdro 2 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 805 Trasur Bach Pdro 15 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond St. 805 Trasur Bach Pdro 3 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond St.

63 DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 23-Mar- 810 Trasur Bach Pdro 450 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 23-Mar- 810 Trasur Bach Pdro 500 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 23-Mar- 834 Lacovia BRLM 4 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 23-Mar- 836 Lacovia BRLM 10 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 23-Mar- 838 Lacovia BRLM 4 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 23-Mar- 840 Uppr Morass BRUM 15 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 23-Mar- 846 Pumping Station BRUM 12 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 23-Mar- 855 Canal BRUM 8 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Cana l St. 23-Mar- 855 Pumping Station BRUM 100 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 23-Mar- 855 Pumping Station BRUM 30 WIWD Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 23-Mar- 900 Pumping Station BRUM 2 NSHO Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 23-Mar- 903 S of Holland BRLM 3 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. /Can al 23-Mar- 918 S of Holland BRLM 2 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. /Can al 23-Mar- 919 S of Holland BRLM 1 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. /Can al 23-Mar- 919 S of Holland BRLM 1 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. /Can al 23-Mar- 955 Osbourn Stor Osbourn Stor 2 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Clarndo n 23-Mar- 958 Osbourn Stor Osbourn Stor 3 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Clarndo n 23-Mar Clarndon Park Osbourn Stor 4 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Clarndo n 23-Mar- 16 Church Pn Church Pn 1 NSHO Small Hrbacous Pond St.

64 DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 25-Mar- 807 Applton Applton 4 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr St. 25-Mar- 807 Applton Applton 14 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr St. 25-Mar- 807 Applton Applton 4 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr St. 25-Mar- 810 Applton Applton 3 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr St. 25-Mar- 820 Rdgat Rdgat 30 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond St. 25-Mar- 820 Rdgat Rdgat 2 NSHO Mdium Hrbacous Pond St. 25-Mar- 851 From Cabarita 1 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 25-Mar- 852 SavlaMar Cabarita 4 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 25-Mar- 852 SavlaMar Cabarita 12 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 25-Mar- 853 Cabaritta Rivr Cabarita 10 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr Wstmor land 25-Mar- 853 Cabaritta Rivr Cabarita 3 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr Wstmor land 25-Mar- 922 Rtriv Cabarita 2 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 25-Mar- 941 S Ngril Canal Ngril 10 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 25-Mar- 941 S Ngril Canal Ngril 3 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 25-Mar- 941 S Ngril Canal Ngril 2 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 25-Mar- 941 S Ngril Canal Ngril 3 NSHO Small Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 25-Mar- 951 Swag Ponds Ngril 4 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 25-Mar N Ngril Canal Ngril 2 BWTE Small Rd Pond Hanovr 25-Mar Falmouth N Coast 4 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Trlawny 25-Mar Orang Bay N Coast 10 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Portland Pond 26-Mar- 805 Hampdn Qun of Spains Vally 10 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Hanovr

65 DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 26-Mar- 807 Hampdn Qun of 1 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Trlawny Spains Vally 26-Mar- 807 Hampdn Qun of 8 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Trlawny Spains Vally 26-Mar- 817 Falmouth E N Coast 5 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 26-Mar- 817 Falmouth E N Coast 12 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 26-Mar- 818 Trlawny Bach N Coast 3 BWTE Mdium Rd Pond Trlawny E 26-Mar- 824 Trlawny Bach N Coast 4 BWTE Mdium Rd Pond Trlawny E 26-Mar- 829 Silvr Sands N Coast 3 NSHO Small Rd Pond Trlawny 26-Mar- 830 Duncans N Coast 18 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 26-Mar- 832 Silvr Sands N Coast 4 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 26-Mar- 832 Silvr Sands N Coast 34 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 26-Mar- 832 Silvr Sands N Coast 4 NSHO Small Rd Pond Trlawny 26-Mar- 835 Braco N Coast 2 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 26-Mar- 835 Braco N Coast 1 BWTE Small Rd Pond Trlawny 26-Mar- 841 Purto Sco N Coast 15 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. Ann 26-Mar- 851 Priory N Coast 3 NSHO Small Rd Pond St. Ann 26-Mar- 853 Runaway Bay N Coast 18 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. Ann 26-Mar Plantain Gardn Plantain 1 BWTE Small Hrbacous Rivr St. Rivr Gardn Thomas Rivr 26-Mar Morant Point S Morant Point 19 BWTE Larg Sa Grass Sa St. Thomas 26-Mar Yallahs Pond Yallahs 200 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. Thomas 26-Mar Grants Pn Albion 15 BWTE Larg Rd Pond St. Thomas

66 DATE TIME LOCATION UNIT NUMBE R SPECIE S SIZE VEGETATION TYPE PARISH 26-Mar Yallahs Rivr Yallahs 5 BWTE Mdium Hrbacous Pond St. Thomas 18-Apr- 724 Pond nr. Rio Cobr Rio Cobr 3 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. 18-Apr- 738 Hllshir by UDC offic Hllshir 5 BWTE Small Rd Pond St. 18-Apr- 822 Portland Cottag Portland Cottag 2 BWTE Larg Rd Pond Clarndo n 18-Apr- 840 Hill Run Hill Run 9 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 19-Apr- 820 Grat Pdro Pond Pdro 70 BWTE Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 19-Apr- 821 SE Pdro Pond Pdro 50 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond St. 19-Apr- 844 Baptist Pond BRLM 2 WIWD Mdium Hrbacous Pond St. 19-Apr- 856 Uppr Morass BRUM 2 WIWD Larg Hrbacous Pond St. 20-Apr- 809 Nw Sav Fish Ponds Cabarita 1 WIWD Larg Hrbacous Pond Wstmor land 20-Apr- 958 W Falmouth N Coast 17 BWTE Small Rd Pond Wstmor land 20-Apr- 958 W Falmouth N Coast 5 BWTE Small Rd Pond Wstmor land 20-Apr Hampdn Qun of 5 BWTE Small Hrbacous Pond Trlawny Spains Vally 20-Apr Monagu Monagu 5 RUDU Small Hrbacous Pond St. Ann 21-Apr- 850 Yallahs Yallahs 70 BWTE Larg Coastal Pond St. Thomas

67 Appndix 3: SURVEYS RAW DATA FROM TERRESTRIAL GROUND TRUTH JANUARY - APRIL 20 DATA FROM GROUND TRUTHING: THING: JANUARY-APRIL APRIL 20 DATE TIME LOCATION OBSERVE BLUE- N. LESSER GREEN- WEST BLACK- RS WINGED SHOVELLE SCAUP WINGED INDIAN BELLIED TEAL R TEAL WHISTLING WHISTLIN DUCK G DUCK 12 -Jan Grat Pdro Pond AS, RLS > Fb Hllshir Flashs AS, RLS, BH 10-Fb Grat Pdro Pond AS,RLS > Mar Black Rivr Lowr RLS Morass 7-Mar Black Rivr Uppr RLS Morass 14-Mar Grat Pdro Pond AS,RLS Mar- 900 Hllshir Swag AS, RLS, Ponds BH 24-Mar Mitchll Town Ponds AS, RLS, BH 8-Apr Black Rivr Uppr RLS Morass 13-Apr Grat Pdro Pond AS, RLS > Apr- Hays Swag Ponds BH Apr Black Rivr Uppr Morass RLS 15

68 APPENDIX 4:RESULTS OF AD HOC DUCK COUNTS AT GREAT PEDRO POND, ST. ELIZABETH DATE BLUE- LESSER AMERICAN MASKED RUDDY MALLARD CINNAMO GREATER WINGED TEAL SCAUP WIDGEON DUCK DUCK N TEAL SCAUP 10/17/ /28/ /12/ /17/ /24/ /13/ /29/76 0 // /19/ /07/ /27/ // /06/ /24/ /12/ /05/ /16/ /09/ /13/ /17/ /04/ /11/94 0 /11/ /23/ /18/ /30/ /10/ /20/ /28/ /16/

69 Appndix 5: JAMAICA SPECIMENS OF DUCKS FROM THE INSTITUTE OF COMMON NAME LOCATION DATE SEX Northrn Pintail Gallon Harbour 13 Jan 1952 F Shovlr Caymanas Estat 1951 M Shovlr Morant Point 1959 F (juvnil) Blu-wingd Tal Gallow Crk st. Fb 1952 M Blu-wingd Tal Passag Fort Undatd Not rcordd Maskd Duck Not rcordd 29 May 1985 Not rcordd

70 APPENDIX 6: ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL SOURCES OF ERROR AND HOW THEY WERE ADDRESSED SOURCE OF ERROR HOW ERROR WAS MINIMISED % ERROR 9 A. MISSED HABITATS Missing larg habitats du to lack Usd litratur, fild xprinc, maps, and 1 of knowldg, bad navigation or bad wathr information from huntrs and knowldgabl prsons to idntify sits; chckd all potntial sits Som important habitats wr missd in January but not subsquntly Missing mdium habitats As abov 0 Missing small habitats with larg As abov; also 10 populations lookd out for additional sits during flights. B. MISIDENTIFICATION OF DUCKS Idntifying birds as ducks whn thy wr not or idntifying ducks as othr spcis Rviwd fild guids bfor trips, spcially noting fild marks, Carrid id card on plan; Circld back to doubl chck sightings. 5 C. MISCOUNTING Miscounting larg and mdium groups of ducks Miscounting small groups of ducks Practisd using "Count" programm to bring 10 accuracy within10%; Circld back to doubl chck sightings; Compard nots immdiatly on landing. As abov. 5 D. MISRECORDING Rcording wrong numbr or sit Trid using voic activatd rcordr; Compard nots on landing 1 TOTAL ESTIMATED ERROR % rror applis to th catgory not th total population 10 Basd on rlativ importanc of factors listd abov.

71 Appndix 7: RECORDS OF DUCK OBSERVATIONS CONTAINED IN THE GOSSE BIRD CLUB BROADSHEET DY MO YR SPECIES # PLACE AUTHOR VOL PP Amrican Widgon 8 Chatham Swamp Downr Amrican Widgon Pantrpant Hardi Amrican Widgon Paradis Salmon Amrican Widgon 1 Grn Castl pond Downr Amrican widgon 1 Elim Smith D Wigon Gt Pdro Pond Hodgson Blu-wingd Tal larg flock Trasur Bach (pond nar) R Smith t al Blu-wingd Tal 11 Naggo Kidd Blu-wingd Tal 15 Naggo Blu-wingd Tal 3 Tryall Pond Downr Blu-wingd Tal Good Hop Tnison Blu-wingd Tal 1542 Gt Pdro Pond M Hodgson Blu-wingd Tal 160 Parrott Maddison Blu-wingd Tal Yallahs Ponds Fltchr Blu-wingd Tal Falmouth Dgia Blu-wingd Tal 90 Hllshir Morgan Blu-wingd Tal 30 Gt Pdro Pond Smith PW Blu-wingd Tal Btwn Elim and Santa cruz Smith D highway Blu-wingd tal 26 Dunns Rivr, pond cratd by Fairbairn irrigation systm Blu-wingd tal 2 Dawkins Pond Maddison Blu-wingd tal 1 Pdro Pond Sutton Blu-wingd tal Caymanas Ponds Smith PW Blu-wingd tal Uppr Black R morass Smith PW Blu-wingd tal Caymanas Ponds Lvy Blu-wingd tal Old Harbour Bay Lvy Blu-wingd tal 1 Old Harbour Bay Bufflhad 1 Mona Tufts Bufflhad Mona Rsrvoir Kidd Bufflhad 1 Mona Tufts Bufflhad 1 Mona Tufts Bufflhad 1 Mona Rsrvoir Tufts Bufflhad 1 Mona Rsrvoir Houston Bufflhad 3 Mona Tufts Bufflhad 3 Mona Rsrvoir Tufts 1 6

72 DY MO YR SPECIES # PLACE AUTHOR VOL PP Cinnamon Tal 1 Gt Pdro Pond Hodgson Fulvous Tr Duck 1 Tryall Salmon Fulvous Tr Duck 1 St Smith R Fulvous Whistling 1 Gt Pdro Pond M Duck Hodgson Grn-wingd Tal Trasur Bach (pond nar) R Smith t 4 16 al Grn-wingd tal 230 Caymanas Dyk Ponds Allng Lssr Scaup Mona Rsrvoir McKlvi Lssr Scaup Trasur Bach (pond nar) Smith R Lssr Scaup 1 Tryall Downr Lssr Scaup 60 Mona Black Lssr Scaup 6 Trasur Bach Pond Downr Lssr Scaup 2 Mona Fairbairn Lssr Scaup 10 Elim Smith D Mallard Paradis Salmon Maskd Duck 2 Tryall Downr Maskd Duck 2 Tryall Pond Downr Maskd Duck 3 Tryall Salmon Maskd Duck 3 Tryall Downr Maskd Duck 2 Tryall Salmon Maskd Duck 14 Trasur Bach Sutton Maskd Duck 1 Robins Bay Maskd Duck 1 Font Hill Salmon Maskd Duck Pond nar Cops Grn Maskd Duck 1 Hop mini dam Fltchr Maskd Duck 1 Jams Pond Trasur Bach Smith D Maskd Duck 1 Hop minidam Brown Maskd Ducks 4 Font Hill (roadsid pond) Salmon Maskd duck 2 Wstmorland Harvy Maskd Duck Black Rivr Uppr Morass Smith PW Maskd Duck 6 Font Hill pond Downr Maskd Duck 3 Hop mini dam Brown Maskd Duck 7 Hop mini-dam Brown Maskd Duck 2 Hop lily pond Davis Northrn Pintail Btwn Elim and Santa Cruz Smith highway Northrn Pintail 1 Trasur Bach (pond nar) Smith R 4 16

73 DY MO YR SPECIES # PLACE AUTHOR VOL PP Ring-nckd Duck Mona Rsrvoir McKlvi Ring-nckd Duck Trasur Bach (pond nar) Smith R Ring-nckd Duck 7 Mona Rsrvoir Ptch Ring-nckd Duck Gt Pdro Pond Hodgson Ring-nckd Duck 1 Trasur Bach Ring-nckd Duck 3 Mona Fairbairn Ruddy Duck 2 Mona Rsrvoir Ruddy Duck 5 St Mary (coastal pond) Cargill Ruddy Duck 25 Mona Rsrvoir McKlvi Ruddy Duck 70 Mona Rsrvoir McKlvi Ruddy Duck 100 Mona Rsrvoir McKlvi Ruddy Duck 100 Mona Rsrvoir McKlvi Ruddy Duck 300 Mona Rsrvoir McKlvi Ruddy Duck 2 Robins Bay Cargill Ruddy Duck 45 Mona Rsrvoir Ptch Ruddy Duck Hrmitag Dam Downr Ruddy Duck Mona Rsrvoir Downr Ruddy Duck 108 Gt Pdro Pond Hodgson Ruddy Duck 12 Albion micro dam Fltchr Ruddy Duck 4 Caymanas Dyk ponds Golding Ruddy Duck 10 Caymanas dyk ponds Lvy Ruddy Duck Caymanas dyk ponds Allng Ruddy Duck 6 Caymanas dyk ponds Curri Ruddy Duck 6 Elim Smith d Ruddy Duck Caymanas Ponds Lvy Scaup 6 Mona Rsrvoir Ptch Shovlr 1 Falmouth Hardi Shovlr 3 Port Hndrson swamps Smith Shovlr 2 Trasur Bach Shovlr 6 Caymanas Ponds Smith Wst Indian Whistling Duck Parott Swamp Anon Wst Indian 5 Parrott Sutton Whistling Duck Wst Indian 1 Parott Witt Whistling Duck Wst Indian 2 Grants Pn Fltchr 32 8 Whistling Duck Wst Indian 8 Grants Pn Fltchr Whistling Duck Wst Indian Whistling Duck 8 Grants Pn Fltchr 32 8

74 DY MO YR SPECIES # PLACE AUTHOR VOL PP Wst Indian 60 Black Rivr Lowr Morass Sutton Whistling Duck Wst Indian Whistling Duck 0 Elim Downr Wst Indian Whistling Duck Broad Rivr Sutton Wst Indian 3 Parott Downr Whistling Duck Wst Indian 2 Black Rivr - swaby's tour Downr Whistling Duck Wst Indian Whistling Duck 2 Ngril Royal palm rsrv Lvy Wst Indian 20 Elim Smith PW Whistling Duck Wood Duck 1 Black Rivr Sutton 49 9

75 Appndix 8: A WORKING INVENTORY OF WETLANDS AND WATER BODIES IN JAMAICAs PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION SURVEYED JAN-APR APR 20 CLARENDON Ally? Not found Ashly Hall Small impoundmnt in can filds Boggy Pond E of Rocky Point villag s and lagoon Bowr's Rivr S of Port Esquivl s Bunting's Fish Farm W of Port Esquivl Fish Ponds (svral farms) Carlisl Bay E of Rio Minho mouth s Cockpit Salt Marsh W of Portland Bight Hrbacous marsh and mangrov Dolphin Island N of Wst Harbour s and lagoon Extr Swamp Includd in Macarry Bay Hays fish farm Clos to Vr Tch Fish Ponds (svral farms) Jacksons Bay Gun Club S of Jackson's Bay s, mudflats and lagoons Lionl Town Ponds not shown on map or arial photos Luidas Val Nar shds Frshwatr pond, ducks prsnt Longvill Park E of Longvill proprty Small ponds and rivr, typha Macarry Bay Larg ara of mangrovs and lagoons Mason Rivr Nr Kllits Frshwatr wtland, opn watr largly occludd Milk Rivr mouth Farquhar's Bach s Milk Rivr lowr rachs N of Farquhar's Bach Disturbd woodland and small strtchs of opn watr Mitchll Town fish ponds W of Wst Harbour Abandond fish farm, rds and typha Monymusk Includd in Carlisl Bay Occasion Town Minidam Nar Pt Esquivl Minidam/wtland Osburn Stor N of road Svral small ponds and fish ponds Pak Bay N of Mitchll Town s Pigon Island lagoon Jacksons Bay Gun Club E of Jacksons Bay Narrow hyprsalin lagoon with mangrov fring

76 PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION Portland Cottag s and lagoons Raccours Not found Rd Watr Pond Sam as Rocky Point Port Rio Cobr uppr rachs Frsh ponds in rivr bd Rio Minho lowr rachs Frsh ponds in rivr bd Rio Minho uppr rachs Frsh ponds in rivr bd Rocky Point Port Extnsiv mangrovs and shallow lagoon Salt Island E of Salt Rivr Cay with mangrov lagoon Salt Rivr East from Monymusk GRT Club Rivr Vrnham Fild Not found Sasonal pond? Wst Harbour outr inlts Btwn W Harbour and sa V larg ara of mangrovs and lagoons Whitny Turn Not found Not chckd SURVEYED JAN-APR APR 20 HANOVER Cut Off Canal E of Ngril Morass Hrbacous marsh Grn Island Grn Island s and lagoons March Town ponds (2) Inland pond N Ngril Rivr mouth N of Ngril Morass s and lagoons Orang Bay and lagoon Orang Bay Fish Ponds NE of Orang Bay Rutland Pn Saddlrs Hall Nar Mils Town Frshwatr ponds (3) Spring Gardn pond Had of Fish Rivr Vally Winchstr Inland pond MANCHESTER Alligator Pond Rivr Alligator Hol Rivr Crombi Rivr Gut Rivr Rogrs Rivr Swift Rivr s, rivr and hrbacous swamp s, rivr and hrbacous swamps Hrbacous swamp Rivr and hrbacous swamp Rivr and hrbacous swamp s, rivr and hrbacous swamps

77 PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION SURVEYED JAN-APR APR Two Rivrs s, rivr and 20 hrbacous swamp PORTLAND Windsor Castl s. lagoons and Turtl Crawl hrbacous swamp s, littl opn watr ST ANN Cratr Lak W of Discovry Bay Blu hol, dp, lind with mangrovs Flat Point Nar Salm No opn watr Fort Point Wtland N of Discovry Bay -lind lagoons Monagu Monagu Svral cattl ponds Par Tr Bottom E of Discovry Bay Hrbacous marsh with pools, mostly occludd Rio Ho rivr had Nar Monagu Svral ponds Qun Hyth pond S of Discovry Bay Not found Salm S of Flat Point s and salina KINGSTON AND ST ANDREW Copacanana Sasonal pond, now filld Bull Bay W of town lagoon Duhany Rivr Hrmitag Rsrvoir Mona Rsrvoir Rsrvoir Rivrton s and lagoons ST CATHERINE Amity Hall W of Black Bar Abandond ric and Goat Is Black Bar S of Salt Islan -lind rivr Bodls Pn W of Old Harbour Small frsh ponds Cabaritta Swamp s and lagoon Caymanas Ponds N of Caymanas Estat Extnsiv brackish impoundmnt Colbck Ponds Sam as Boddls Coquhar Bay Grass Pic Hill Not found Wtland Dawkins Pond s and lagoon Danry Swamp s and lagoons

78 PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION Duhany Rivr Frry Rivr E of Caymanas Estat Rivr and ponds, vry dgradd Flashs W of Grat Salt Pond -lind lagoons Grat Goat Island s Grat Salt Pond S of Naggo Had -lind lagoon Grn Bay s and lagoons Hartlands N of Hllshir Hills Small frsh pond Hllshir Swag Ponds NW of Grat Salt Pond Swag Ponds Hill Run N of Hllshir Hills Fish Ponds (svral farms) SURVEYED JAN-APR APR 20 Littl Goat Island s and lagoons Long Pond S UDC Manat Bay S of Hllshir s and lagoons Naggo Had S Port Hndrson Port Hndrson ponds N of Port Hndrson s and lagoons, mostly filld Prospct Park? Rd Watr Pond S Flashs Rio Cobr lowr rachs Rivrton dump ponds Cumbrland Pn -lind lagoons.5) Salt Is Lagoon Cntr of Hllshir Larg shallow hrbacous pond Skt Club Portmor -lind lagoons Thtford Small frsh ponds Old Harbour Bay E s and lagoons Old Hous Point S of Hllshir UDC Sit Offic Hllshir -lind lagoon Wrck Bay SE of Hllshir -lind lagoon ST ELIZABETH Black Rivr Lowr Morass Vry larg brackish hrbacous wtland Black Rivr Uppr Morass Vry larg frsh hrbacous wtland Luana/Font Hill Many small salin/frsh ponds Hodgs Small frsh ponds Lacovia Many small-mdium frsh ponds

79 PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION SURVEYED JAN-APR APR Maggotty Frshwatr swamp with 20 Parott springs s and lagoons Pdro Ponds Brackish sasonal ponds Wallywash Thatchfild Frsh lak Small sasonal ponds ST JAMES Bogu Includd in Montgo Bay Marin Park Blu Hol Nar Endavour, E of Not assssd Montplir Chatham (Donald Sangstr Lagoons at airport Intrnational Airport) Grat Rivr Logan S of Ros Hall (about 10 mils) Montpllir Montgo Bay MP s Providnc Airport E of runway s Saddlrs Hall N of Montplir Svral small cattl ponds Spring Val S of Grnwood Tryall N of golf cours - 2 smal frsh ponds ST MARY Annotto Bay wtland Hrbacous swamp, mangrovs and woodland Dovr s and lagoons Grn Castl Tr-lind pond and rivr Palmtto Point Sam as Dovr Wag Watr Rivr W of Annotto Bay Rivr with pools Wmyss SE of Adlphi 1 small pond Windsor Castl Sam as Dovr ST THOMAS Albion Ponds Cow Bay s and lagoons Albion Minidam On hillsid nar Easington Frshwatr pond Bull Bay W of polic station pond Copacabana W of Bull Bay Sasonal pond Easington Minidam S Albion Elvn Mil E of Bull Bay Pond Flmari W of Yallahs Ponds Rivr mouth closd by brm

80 PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION Grants Pn ponds S Albion Hartas Pond Fish pond? Holland Bay Includd in Grat Morass Lloyds N of Yallahs Pond on Back Rivr Morant and Ngro Rivr floodplain Mundicot Rivr E of Yallahs Rivr s and lagoon Plantain Gardn Rivr Rivr in banana cultivation Port Morant s Stanton Nr Stanton (Nutts Grat Rivr) Small Frshwatr Pond? St Thomas Grat Morass s and lagoons Yallahs Ponds Hyprsalin lagoons Yallahs Rivr Ponds in rivr bd Yallahs Mini dam E of rivr mouth Impoundmnt SURVEYED JAN-APR APR 20 TRELAWNY Carrion Crow Cliffs W of Duncans lagoon Clarks Town 1 small pond Cockl Bar s and salina Duncans Bay s and pools Dvil's Cookroom W of Rio Buno -lind lagoons (2) Dromilly S of Wakfild Not assssd Flamingo Pond E of Duncans logoon Fontabll Fish Farm Glistning Watrs W of Falmouth Larg mangrov, ponds and fish ponds Good Hop S of Falmouth Small cattl ponds Half Moon/Salt Marsh W of Falmouth Lagoon and ponds Hampdn 6 Ponds in can filds Hyd Hall 2 small cattl ponds Jamaica Salt Works W of Duncans lagoon Long Bay? Long Pond Ponds in can filds Point Duncans Lagoon Martha Bra Includd in Glistning Watrs Martha Bra Fish Farm S of Falmouth >20 fish ponds, various sizs, abandond?

81 PLACE LOCATION DESCRIPTION SURVEYED JAN-APR APR 20 Mountain Spring Point and E of Glistning Watrs lagoon Forida Lands Pantrpant 2 small cattl ponds Quaws Pond Cockpit Co. Salt Marsh Bay s and lagoon Shrwood Contnt Nar Windsor Nor assssd Wals N of Good Hop 2 small cattl ponds Wakfild W of Good Hop 1 small pond Winn's Marsh/Hagu Swamp E of Falmouth Salin marsh and mangrovs WESTMORELAND Alma Not found? Auchindown s Cabaritta Rivr lowr rachs Cabaritta Rivr uppr rachs Cabaritta Swamp Many scattrd ponds in can Hrbacous swamp and filds agricultural lands and scrub mangrovs Clifton N of From Frshwatr pond Cutting Grass Spots Rivr Rivr Darliston S of Darliston Frshwatr pond Enfild 5 ponds Frindship W of From Frshwatr pond Grang Hill (4) NW of From Frshwatr ponds Lnnox Bigwoods Nar Darliston Frshwatr ponds John's Pont s Town Had N of From Blu hol? Paradis Hrbacous swamp, mangrovs and swamp forst

82 Appndix 9: AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF SELECTED WETLANDS Plat 1: Caymanas Dyk Ponds Plat 2: Long Island Plat 3: Hllshir Flashs Plat 4: Wst Harbour Plat 5: Jackson s Bay Plat 6: Rio Minho

83 Plat 7: Grat Pdro Pond Plat 8: Broad Rivr Plat 9: Lacovia Plat 10: Parott Pond dry Plat 11: Ganja cultivation - Black Rivr Plat 12: Black Rivr Lowr Morass - swamp forst

84 Plat 13: Baptist Pond Black Rivr Lowr Morass Plat 14: Ngril Morass Plat 15: Cabaritta Canal Plat 16: Montplir Plat 17: South Ngril Rivr Plat 18: Chatham - Montgo Bay

85 Plat 19: Annotto Bay Rivr Plat 20: Mitchll Town Ponds Plat 21: Wag Watr Rivr Plat 22: Wtlands north of Sav-la-mar Plat 23: Yallahs Pond (ducks flushd from pond) Plat 24: Larg fir at Black Rivr Lowr Morass

86 Appndix 10: PHOTOGRAPHS OF SURVEY ACTIVITIES Plat 25: Ann givs pilot pr-flight brifing Plat 26: Ducks flushd from Yallahs Plat 27: Final prparations for takoff Plat 28: Rcording data on standard datashts Plat 29: On Cours for Mona Rsrvoir Plat 30: Low pass ovr Caymanas Ponds

87 Appndix 11: DUCKS OF THE WEST INDIES 87

88 88